Malaysia Drops Corruption Case Against Deputy Prime Minister Malaysian Deputy Prime Minister Ahmad Zahid Hamidi has had 47 charges dropped concerning various fraud allegations about his work at the Yayasan Akalbudi charity. Politics
Miss Universe Organization Cuts Indonesia Ties The Miss Universe Organization has cut ties with its franchise in Indonesia after several contestants accused local organizers of sexual abuse during the beauty pageant's crowning ceremony in Jakarta. Social issues
Malaysia Asks Interpol to Investigate Comedian Who Made MH370 Joke A US-based comic is under investigation by Malaysian authorities over a joke she made about the 2014 disappearance of Malaysia Airlines Flight MH370. Police chief Acryl Sani Abdullah Sani said Interpol will be asked to help find the location and full identity of the comic. Social issues
Report: Malaysian Financial Crimes Fugitive Hiding in Macau The Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission has confirmed that white-collar criminal Jho Low is believed to be hiding in Macau, the first assurance of his whereabouts since leaving Malaysia in 2016. Malaysia
Malaysian Parliament Moves to End Mandatory Death Penalty Malaysia's House of Representatives on Monday approved a parliamentary bill abolishing the mandatory death penalty and lifelong imprisonment, after years of the government seeking to make such punishment optional in the country.... Singapore
UK Joins Trans-Pacific Trade Pact On Friday, the UK announced it has agreed to join an 11-country trans-Pacific trade deal, named the Comprehensive and Progressive Agreement for Trans-Pacific Partnership (CPTPP) — a step PM Rishi Sunak's office called the biggest trade deal since Brexit.... Iran
Malaysia: Former PM Najib Loses Bid to Review Corruption Case Malaysia's top court on Friday dismissed the ultimate court challenge by jailed former Prime Minister Najib Razak to review his corruption conviction and 12-year prison sentence.... Malaysia
Bangladesh: Journalist Arrested Over Report on Rising Food Prices Bangladesh police on Wednesday detained the journalist Samsuzzaman Shams — employee at the leading local newspaper Prothom Alo — over allegations he promoted 'false news' that violated the controversial Digital Security Act (DSA).... Bangladesh
Myanmar Jails 112 Rohingya Myanmar's state media reported on Tuesday that a court in the southern city of Bogale sentenced 112 Rohingya to jail, including a dozen children, for traveling 'without any official documents.'... Myanmar
World Food Program to Cut Aid to Rohingya Camps On Friday, the United Nations World Food Program (WFP) announced that it would be cutting funding for food assistance to the Rohingya refugees living in Bangladeshi camps. If donations don't increase, additional cuts will be made beginning in April.... Bangladesh
Iranian President Raisi Visits China Iran's President Ebrahim Raisi on Tuesday kicked off a three-day trip to China, marking the first state visit by an Iranian leader to China in 20 years. The visit is reportedly a move to boost bilateral political and economic ties.... Metaculus
Syrian Refugee Who Lived in Airport Becomes Canadian Citizen Hassan Al Kontar — the now 41-year-old Syrian refugee who became stranded in Malaysia's Kuala Lumpur International Airport in 2018 for seven months and spent two months in a Malaysian detention center — was officially granted Canadian Citizenship on Wednesday. Social issues
Malaysia: Anwar Ibrahim Sworn In as PM Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim, chairman of the coalition Pakatan Harapan (PH), was sworn in as Malaysia's 10th Prime Minister on Thursday after being appointed by Sultan Abdullah Ahmad Shah to form a unity government amid a hung parliament. World
Malaysia: Currency, Stock Volatile As Vote Ends In Hung Parliament Malaysia's stock market and ringgit currency plunged in early trade on Monday, after the nation elected a hung parliament for the first time in its history over the weekend. World
Malaysia to Hold Early Elections On Thursday, Malaysia's electoral commission announced that the country will hold its 15th general election on Nov. 19. PM Ismail Sabri Yaakob dissolved parliament on Oct. 10 with an eye toward an early election that he reportedly hopes may end the country's recent instability. World
Mossad Allegedly Behind Kidnapping Incident in Malaysia Malaysia's New Straits Times broke a story on Monday suggesting that Israel's national intelligence agency, Mossad, recruited a group of Malaysians to abduct two Palestinian men they believed to be assets of the Hamas's al-Qassam Brigade. World
Malaysia: Former First Lady Rosmah Mansor Given 10 Year Sentence For Bribery On Thurs., the Kuala Lumpur High Court sentenced Datin Seri Rosmah Mansor, the wife of former PM Najib Razak, to 10 years in prison for seeking and receiving bribes in exchange for a government contract. Rosmah denied the charges. World
Malaysia: Court Upholds Former PM's Graft Conviction On Tues., Malaysia's five-member Federal Court panel unanimously dismissed former PM Datuk Seri Najib Razak's final appeal in a graft case connected to the multi-billion dollar 1Malaysia Development Berhad (1MDB) fraud scandal. World
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