Ukraine Recovery Conference concludes with focus on funding, not peace
The two-day Ukraine Recovery Conference wrapped up in Rome on Friday, but the vision of rebuilding the war-torn country remains largely theoretical am...
Singapore has directed Meta, the parent company of Facebook, to block Singaporeans' access to posts by three foreigners accused of attempting to influence the country's upcoming election along racial and religious lines.
Singapore has ordered Facebook parent Meta to block Singaporeans' access to posts made by three foreigners accused of trying to influence a national election next month on racial and religious lines.
The orders were issued after some posts deemed "intended to promote or prejudice the electoral success or standing of a political party or candidate", the Elections Department and home affairs ministry said on Friday.
Meta did not respond to a request for comment. Two of the three people whose posts were blocked rejected the accusations.
The May 3 election, the first under new social media rules introduced in 2023, looks set to be dominated by the People's Action Party, which has won most seats in every vote since independence in 1965.
The rules bar foreigners from publishing online election advertising, which it defines as online materials that could help or hurt any political parties or candidates.
Authorities identified the foreigners behind the posts as Iskandar Abdul Samad, treasurer of the Islamist party Parti Islam Se-Malaysia; Mohamed Sukri Omar, its party's youth chief in the Malaysian state of Selangor; and Facebook and Zulfikar bin Mohamad Shariff, an Australian who renounced his Singapore citizenship in 2020.
The PAP-led government said their posts interfered with domestic politics and influenced citizens to vote on racial and religious lines.
Authorities found that Zulfikar had accused Malay-Muslim lawmakers of failing to represent Muslim interests. Sukri had reposted Zulfikar's post and Iskandar had expressed support on social media for the Workers' Party's vice chair.
Iskandar did not respond to a request for comment.
In a Facebook post on Saturday about the order, Sukri said he never sought to interfere in the election and his concerns were for the plight of Malay-Muslims in Singapore "a community increasingly marginalised in various aspects, whether in education, economy, or cultural freedom."
Parti Islam Se-Malaysia secretary general Takiyuddin Hassan said the views of the two party leaders did not reflect its official policy or stance.
While the party respected Singapore's concerns, the government's response to their remarks was "somewhat exaggerated and unilateral," he added.
Zulfikar on Facebook said that the order showed the PAP and its supporters were scared and that "desperation reeks".
The Workers' Party said in a statement on Saturday that it has no control over foreign parties who express support for its candidates. The PAP did not respond to a request for comment on Zulfikar's remarks.
A series of earthquakes have struck Guatemala on Tuesday afternoon, leading authorities to advise residents to evacuate from buildings as a precaution against possible aftershocks.
A deadly mass shooting early on Monday (7 July) in Philadelphia's Grays Ferry neighbourhood left three men dead and nine others wounded, including teenagers, as more than 100 shots were fired.
Dozens of international and domestic flights were cancelled or delayed after Mount Lewotobi Laki Laki erupted on Monday, but Bali’s main airport remains operational.
The 17th Summit of the Economic Cooperation Organization (ECO) was successfully held in Khankendi, Azerbaijan, highlighting the region’s revival and the deepening economic cooperation among member states.
French member of parliament Olivier Marleix was found dead at his home on Monday, with suicide being considered a possible cause.
The two-day Ukraine Recovery Conference wrapped up in Rome on Friday, but the vision of rebuilding the war-torn country remains largely theoretical amid the absence of a ceasefire.
A preliminary investigation by India’s Aircraft Accident Investigation Bureau (AAIB) has revealed that both engines of the Air India Flight AI-171 shut down mid-air within seconds of takeoff, leading to the deadly crash on June 12.
Norway could soon receive a major boost to its airborne defence, as Washington signals readiness to expand military cooperation through a new high-value arms deal.
A British man accused of running a $100 million fake wine loan scam pleaded not guilty in New York, denying claims that he sold investors a vintage collection that didn’t exist. The high-stakes fraud allegedly duped victims with promises of rare bottles and big returns.
The U.S. is set to support Lebanon’s military readiness with a $100 million deal to sustain A-29 Super Tucano aircraft, enhancing the Lebanese Armed Forces’ ability to uphold the recent ceasefire in southern Lebanon.
You can download the AnewZ application from Play Store and the App Store.
What is your opinion on this topic?
Leave the first comment