Manuel Gual posted a photo:

Vintage Meccano Workshop: Mechanical Dreams in Brass and Steel

Description:
A detailed visual collection inspired by classic Meccano engineering, captured inside a warm vintage workshop filled with metal strips, brass gears, pulleys, axles, wheels, tools, blueprints, cranes, bridges, clockwork mechanisms, model vehicles and carefully organized construction parts. The series celebrates the beauty of mechanical imagination, precision assembly, old workshop craftsmanship and the nostalgic charm of hands-on model engineering. Each scene evokes the atmosphere of an inventor’s bench, where miniature machines, structural frames and experimental mechanisms come together like a tribute to industrial design, educational toys and timeless creative tinkering. These images have been generated by Artificial Intelligence.

KUALA NERUS, June 6 — The Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission (MACC) today launched MACCAMPUS, a digital platform incorporating artificial intelligence (AI) and gamification to strengthen integrity education and anti-corruption awareness among tertiary students.

MACC Chief Commissioner Datuk Seri Abd Halim Aman said the initiative reflects their commitment to engaging university students in enhancing integrity education, corruption prevention and positive values through smartphones and information technology applications.

“To ensure MACC remains capable of engaging university students consistently and effectively, it requires a more innovative, interactive and technology-driven educational approach,” he said when speaking at the Integrity Financial Literacy @ Student Anti-Corruption Programme 2026 at Dewan Sultan Mizan, UMT, here. 

He said MACCAMPUS would serve as a digital hub for students involved in anti-corruption initiatives, particularly members of the Student Anti-Corruption Force (AMAR), while facilitating collaboration among participants from more than 120 higher learning institutions. 

In addition, the application also features comprehensive learning modules with academic collaboration platforms and student networking functions, while could be expanded to support competitions, mini projects, academic forums, as well as the sharing of ideas and research among students nationwide.

Being the first anti-corruption and integrity education application of its kind to be developed by MACC, MACCAMPUS has the potential to become a technology and intellectual-based platform that integrates education, simulation, gamification, artificial intelligence and academic collaboration.

Through the application, students are expected to become more knowledgeable, confident in making ethical decisions and capable of serving as agents of change who drive a culture of integrity on campuses and in society.

Abd Halim said all university students should make full use of this application to share ideas, reflect and engage in scholarly discourse through its modules, forums and academic discussions. 

"This is your space to debate constructively, challenge the status quo with sound arguments and distinguish between facts and propaganda that may distort thinking," he said.

Also present at the programme were UMT Pro-Chancellor and Employees Provident Fund Board Chairman Tan Sri Mohd Zuki Ali and UMT Vice-Chancellor Prof Dr Mohd Zamri Ibrahim. — Bernama

PUTRAJAYA, June 8 — The Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission (MACC) Chief Commissioner, Datuk Seri Abd Halim Aman, has required all agency personnel to submit or update their asset declarations within one month of receiving an official notification, which will be issued at a later date.

He said the directive was among the first measures introduced under his leadership to strengthen the agency’s integrity and rebuild public confidence in the MACC as an independent, professional and impartial institution.

“To spearhead efforts to build and maintain public trust, I am directing all MACC officers to submit their asset declarations within a month from the date the official notification is issued.

“In line with that commitment, I will personally be the first to undertake the asset declaration process, InsyaAllah,” he said during his first address at the MACC monthly gathering here today.

He also emphasised that the MACC would not yield to pressure from any source, whether public sentiment, media scrutiny or political influence.

“Justice and the rule of law, applied without exception or compromise, are principles we will uphold. Integrity must go beyond rhetoric and pledges; it must be demonstrated through confidential decision-making and fearless investigations,” he said.

He also cautioned MACC personnel against damaging the organisation’s reputation through any wrongdoing, saying that even a small act of misconduct can taint the integrity of the entire institution.

He also emphasised that MACC staff should embody two core values, namely strength and trustworthiness, as highlighted in Surah Al-Qasas (the 28th chapter of the Quran).

He said strength relates to capability and expertise in carrying out tasks, while trustworthiness embodies honesty, which is central to the public service ethos, adding that the combination of the two qualities will ensure that the MACC continues to be respected as a key pillar in safeguarding the nation’s integrity.

Abd Halim also urged MACC personnel to shun arrogance and ego in the course of their duties, stressing that their conduct is always under public scrutiny.

He further emphasised that justice cannot be compromised, and that genuine integrity is measured by the ability to resist interference or undue influence from vested interests. — Bernama

KUALA LUMPUR, June 5 — The Election Commission (EC) has received official notification of the dissolution of the Negeri Sembilan State Legislative Assembly today. 

EC chairman Datuk Seri Ramlan Harun said the commission received a letter from Negeri Sembilan State Assembly Speaker Datuk M K Ibrahim Abd Rahman notifying it of the dissolution of the 15th State Legislative Assembly under Article 56(2) of the state constitution.

He said Article 56(4) of the state constitution requires a state election to be held within 60 days of the dissolution of the assembly.

“Accordingly, a special meeting to discuss the key dates for the Negeri Sembilan state election will be held on a date to be announced later,” he said in a statement today.

Last night, Menteri Besar Datuk Seri Aminuddin Harun announced at a special press conference at his official residence that the state assembly had been dissolved effective today to pave the way for the 16th state election.

Aminuddin said the dissolution followed the consent of the Yang Dipertuan Besar of Negeri Sembilan, Tuanku Muhriz Tuanku Munawir, during an audience at Istana Besar Seri Menanti. — Bernama

China’s market regulator announced a sweeping investigation on Friday against three major brokers running cross-border trading, as it launched a two-year crackdown on investment leaving the country.

China does not allow private individuals to directly invest in overseas markets, requiring them to trade assets only through approved third-party channels.

However, regulations differ in the semi-autonomous city Hong Kong, and some brokers have been able to legally operate there, attracting investors from mainland China to open trading accounts in the Chinese finance hub.

Authorities have sought to regulate the loophole in recent years, and in 2022 barred private Chinese investors from opening accounts with such brokers.

The China Securities Regulatory Commission (CSRC) said on Friday it will probe and impose penalties on Hong Kong-registered brokers Futu and Longbridge, as well as New Zealand-registered Tiger Brokers.

Regulators said the brokers had conducted securities-related business in China “without obtaining the necessary approvals or licenses”, violating China’s securities law.

The CSRC said in a separate statement Friday it will join forces with seven other bodies, including the Ministry of Public Security and the People’s Bank of China, to carry out a two-year campaign targeting illegal cross-border securities activities.

The campaign aims to “completely eradicate the illegal cross-border operations of overseas securities, futures and fund management institutions”, it said.

Futu said in a filing that Chinese authorities have proposed a fine of about 1.85 billion yuan (US$271 million).

Futu “has already ceased opening accounts for applicants with mainland Chinese identities… has consistently engaged in active dialogue with regulatory authorities and complied with their rectification requirements”, it said in a statement.

Chinese investors accounted for about 13 percent of the firm’s total client base of 29.2 million users registered globally, it added.

UP Fintech, a US-listed brokerage firm who owns Tiger Brokers, said CSRC fined the company 308.1 million yuan and confiscated 103.1 million yuan of illegal income.

The firm “accepts the penalty with sincerity,” it added.

The two brokers’ CEOs were also fined.

Chinese authorities’ aim “is to gain full control of capital outflows, and to block any loopholes of these illegal activities”, Kelvin Lam, a China-focused economist at Pantheon Macroeconomics, told AFP.

“What China is trying to do at the moment is to make sure no overseas branches of these companies… take funds out of Chinese investors and help them to invest overseas,” Lam said.

Hong Kong cross-border brokers have operated in a regulatory grey zone until now, he said, but authorities are seeking to fully stem the flow of Chinese investment out of the country.

“Rather than worrying the fact of capital leaving China illegally, the aim of Chinese authorities is to seek full control of the situation rather than anything else,” Lam said.

Shares in Nasdaq-listed Futu tumbled more than 25 percent in Friday’s trading, with UP Fintech dropping about 20 percent.

Hong Kong authorities recorded 40 online sexual grooming cases targeting minors in the first four months of this year, the city’s security chief has said, as the government mulls a legal revamp.

Secretary for Security Chris Tang said on Wednesday that police logged 100 such cases in 2025, while a total of 2,156 child sexual abuse cases were recorded over the past three years.

Since last year, the police force has begun tallying figures related to online child sexual grooming, the minister said in a written reply to enquiries by lawmaker Elizabeth Quat.

Online child sexual grooming refers to cases whereby adults befriend children through the internet, typically via social media, online games, or messaging applications, to sexually abuse them.

The government also aims to propose legislative amendments to the city’s sex offence laws this year, Tang said.

“The exercise aims to review and improve the laws on sexual offences in Hong Kong in a comprehensive manner, which includes enhancing the legal protection to children,” Tang said, without elaborating further.

The proposals will be based on two reports published by the Law Reform Commission in 2019 and 2022, which outlined a raft of recommendations to improve the city’s sexual offence laws, he said.

Authorities plan to consult lawmakers and the public on the proposals in the second half of this year and hope to complete the legislative amendments by the end of June next year, when the term of the current administration concludes, he added.

A new set of recommendations for minors regarding the proper use of electronic devices and social media is expected to be ready this year, Tang said.

The Advisory Group on Health Effects of Screen and Social Media Use for Children and Adolescents, established in October, is reviewing scientific evidence and overseas experience and engaging with experts on the matter.

The updated health recommendations are expected to be released this year, he added.

Tang vowed that Hong Kong police would continue to combat crimes relating to online child sexual abuse material through cooperation with other jurisdictions.

Last month, the force arrested nine men in a joint operation with law enforcement in six other jurisdictions targeting online child sexual abuse material.

At a press conference last month, police psychologist Michael Fung warned of the pervasiveness of online sexual grooming of minors, citing a survey conducted by the force and two universities in the city.

The survey said 15 per cent of respondents admitted to having consumed child sexual abuse material on the internet, Fung said, but added the figure represented only “the tip of the iceberg.”

PUTRAJAYA, June 8 — The Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission (MACC) has recorded 1,095 charges and secured 563 convictions from 2,633 investigation papers opened since 2024, said Chief Commissioner Datuk Seri Abd Halim Aman.

He said 583 of the investigation papers involved high-profile and public interest cases, reflecting the commission’s commitment to taking action regardless of rank or position.

Abd Halim said the MACC’s focus goes beyond prosecuting offenders, with equal emphasis placed on dismantling corruption networks through aggressive asset recovery measures.

“Based on records from the Legal and Prosecution Division up to April 2026, a total of 115 asset forfeiture applications were filed in court, compared with 179 applications for the whole of last year.

“During the period, the MACC seized assets worth RM16.49 million, froze assets amounting to RM425,464.60 and secured forfeitures totalling RM3.42 million. Compounds amounting to RM10.47 million were also collected,” he said in his inaugural address at the MACC Monthly Assembly here today.

Abd Halim stressed that he would not allow the people’s rights to be eroded by those driven by greed.

He said the MACC is also strengthening the capabilities of its officers to tackle increasingly complex financial crimes involving advanced technology, cross-border transactions and cryptocurrencies.

“We can no longer work using old methods. The use of advanced technology, stronger strategic intelligence, data analytics and cooperation with international agencies is essential to ensure we remain one step ahead of criminals,” he said.

Nearly a month into his tenure, Abd Halim introduced five key leadership principles: uncompromising integrity, fair enforcement, prevention over punishment, technology and transparency, and building public trust.

“My personal principle is simple: ‘If you dare to do it, dare to take responsibility for it.’ No one in this organisation should become a liability that tarnishes the image of the MACC, which is currently at its strongest,” he said. — Bernama 

Banks, crypto firms and Kremlin oil reserves also targeted in 21st set of measures since full-scale invasion of Ukraine

The EU hopes to ban Russian soldiers from entering its territory as part of further sanctions against Moscow that also target banks, crypto firms and the Kremlin’s oil revenues.

Announcing the proposals on Tuesday, the European Commission president, Ursula von der Leyen, said: “We propose for the first time to ban from entry into the European Union anyone who has served in the Russian armed forces since the beginning of the war. So Europe stays off limit for anyone who has participated in the invasion of Ukraine, as simple as that.”

Hong Kong’s competition watchdog has announced that it is considering criminalising bid-rigging, proposing a maximum penalty of seven years’ imprisonment.

Barrister Jat Sew-tong, chairperson of the Competition Commission, announced on Friday plans to amend the Competition Ordinance to criminalise bid-rigging, local media reported.

The commission hopes to table the amendment by the end of this year, Jat said, adding that the proposed maximum penalty would be seven years in jail.

Under the Competition Ordinance, bid-rigging is currently a civil violation, not a criminal offence, and it is penalised with a fine.

Jat said that he had been discussing the proposal with the city’s leader John Lee and the Hong Kong Bar Association, NowTV reported.

He said Lee had conveyed “orders” or “expectations” but did not specify what.

The commission’s move comes after a deadly fire broke out at Wang Fuk Court, a residential estate in Tai Po, in November. The estate was undergoing a large-scale renovation at the time of the fire.

The blaze, which claimed 168 lives, has brought to light the widespread issue of bid-rigging and corruption in major maintenance works at residential buildings.

Residents told HKFP in February that they had suspected graft and bid-rigging in the renovation project, and had attempted to report it to authorities without any success.

Jat also said on Friday that investigations by the Competition Commission revealed triads were involved in rigging bids for many large-scale maintenance projects.

However, due to the Competition Ordinance’s limitations, the commission cannot prosecute the cases and has to transfer them to law enforcement departments.

The Competition Commission is a statutory body established under the Competition Ordinance in 2012.

Secretary for Development Bernadette Linn said in February that the city’s corruption watchdog had received multiple complaints involving bid-rigging in building maintenance works over the past five years.

The Independent Commission Against Corruption (ICAC) received 24 complaints in 2025, more than double the number in 2021, Linn said.

SEREMBAN, June 4 — The Negeri Sembilan State Legislative Assembly, which has 36 seats, will be officially dissolved tomorrow to pave the way for the upcoming State Election (PRN).

The announcement was made by Menteri Besar Datuk Seri Aminuddin Harun during a special press conference at his official residence here tonight, bringing an end to weeks of speculation surrounding the timing of the assembly’s dissolution.

Aminuddin said the dissolution was carried out after obtaining the consent of the Yang Dipertuan Besar of Negeri Sembilan, Tuanku Muhriz Tuanku Munawir, during an audience at Istana Besar Seri Menanti earlier today. — Bernama