Abdullah, who was sworn in as Malaysia's 16th king in January, urged Malaysians to work towards unity in a meaningful way, which he said was especially important in a multicultural and multiracial country. "Various efforts have been undertaken to strengthen unity among the multiracial population of the country," he said. "In this regard, calls for unity must not remain mere slogans but have to be followed through by sincere actions." Abdullah also urged the government to ensure the country was not left behind in terms of new technology and new economic opportunities, especially in a challenging global economy. "I hope the government will continue to increase the numbers of entrepreneurs, inventors and innovators who are capable of creating new wealth, " he said. "Besides, the small and medium enterprises must increase their productivity using the latest technology and automation to add to the value chain, to be able to compete at the global level." The new parliament will convene from … [Read more...] about Malaysia’s new King calls for unity at parliament session
Gender equality slogans
How the world is marking women’s day
Here are some of the events: Strikes and tear gas In Turkey authorities sought to quash Women's Day demonstrations on Friday, with police firing tear gas to disperse a sea of demonstrators at the entrance of the city's main pedestrianised shopping street Istiklal Avenue. Protesters had gathered at the central avenue despite a ban on their protest, with crowds chanting slogans including: "We are not silent, we are not scared, we are not obeying." They were blocked by police in riot gear, who then used tear gas and dogs to disperse them. Across Spain, women downed tools in a strike for equality, a mass movement which drew in female employees from across the spectrum, from nuns to journalists and even the mayor of Madrid, Manuela Carmena. Authorities said more than half a million people took part in Women's Day protests in Madrid and Barcelona. In France, thousands of people took to the streets to mark the day, with demonstrators in Paris carrying banners with slogans including … [Read more...] about How the world is marking women’s day
Spanish feminists rally against far-right ‘sexist’ party
The feminist demonstrators chanted "Our rights are not negotiable". — AFP/VNA PhotoViet Nam News SEVILLE, Spain — Spain’s powerful feminist movement rallied across the country on Tuesday against far-right party Vox for seeking to scrap tough laws against gender violence which it argues "criminalises" men. Thousands of people, mainly women, gathered outside Andalusia’s regional parliament in Seville, where Vox will today endorse a conservative coalition government made up of the Popular Party and Ciudadanos, putting an end to 36 years of Socialist rule in Spain’s most populous region. The demonstrators - many wearing purple, a colour long associated with gender equality -- chanted "Our rights are not negotiable". Crowds gathered across the country in the evening for protests against Vox, notably in the capital Madrid and Barcelona, the country’s second-largest city. "We have to keep fighting with all means at our disposal against … [Read more...] about Spanish feminists rally against far-right ‘sexist’ party
The Sun Never Sets
Viet Nam News By Hồ Anh Thái It would be a waste to stay inside during a Northern European white night, the writers tell each other. They have come to attend the International Writers’ Conference being held in the old quarter of Stockholm. Alright. Gaggles of writers surge out of the hotel, cross Kungsgatan or King Street to Drottninggatan or Queen Street, then walk along the latter to get to the Royal Palace. Ten in the evening and the sky is still as bright as midday, the sun shining radiantly. Midnight: the sky still blue, the clouds still white. As time moves towards morning, the air remains luminous, the leaves in the surrounding trees glowing incandescently as the sunlight shines through them. The writers sit on a bridge behind the Royal Palace, talking all night in reverent murmurs. Would the sun that has shone so brilliantly all night long ever stumble, relent even a little bit to allow a transition into a new dawn? She remembers her first white … [Read more...] about The Sun Never Sets