In reply to:
(1) the extension of the first and middle finger into a "V" - held aloft, meaning peace in the 1960s and 70s, and meaning victory at other times; or held behind another's head, signifying stupidity;
Be careful with this one in the UK and possibly other places. With the palm outward it is as Sparteye says, but with the palm inward towards yourself it is similar to the US extended middle finger.
Some Indonesian gestures. One similar to the namaste means I'm sorry. The higher the hands the deeper the apology. An extended middle finger moved diagonally across the temples means crazy. To gesture come here, hold your arm out horizontally but with a slight crook of the elbow and with the fingers extended and the palm facing downwards. Bring all the fingers up towards the palm several times in fairly rapid succession.
When I was teaching Japanese students I noticed that their "who? Me?" gesture was to point at their nose rather than their chest.
Bingley
