Yasin, who became a household name in Malaysia during the 1990s for his Islamic devotional and spiritual music, used cannabis for his bipolar disorder. He now faces the death penalty if convicted.
UAE’s new whistleblowing regime ‘significant and positive’ step for employees
New whistleblower regulations launched by the Dubai Financial Services Authority (DFSA), the financial regulator in the Dubai International Financial Centre (DIFC), will “bolster” protections for employees operating within the DIFC, the leading financial hub in the region, and encourage “an environment of transparency and accountability”, according to two legal experts.
East Timor votes for president in run-off amid political feud
Jose Ramos-Horta, the clear front runner is up against incumbent president Francisco “Lu Olo” Guterres in a vote seen as key to the nation’s political stability.
Coronavirus: Singapore to no longer test vaccinated visitors; most residents in Indonesia’s Java have Covid-antibodies
City state already dropped most restrictions for inoculated travellers, and people can now arrive at Changi airport without quarantine or test on arrival. Visitors still have to do a test before entering the country.
Coronavirus: South Korea to end most Covid-19 restrictions, India logs one-month high of infections
People in South Korea will still be required to wear masks, however, with the government planning to review whether to lift a rule for masks outdoors in two weeks.
Indonesia’s Joko Widodo criticised for naming popstar Maudy Ayunda to G20 role to woo youth population
President Joko Widodo’s appointment of Maudy Ayunda is being criticised as a way to woo Indonesia’s young population that is battling high unemployment.
Former adviser to Aung San Suu Kyi not among 1,600 prisoners freed by Myanmar in amnesty to mark the nation’s new year
Australian academic Sean Turnell, a former adviser to ousted leader Aung San Suu Kyi, was arrested soon after Myanmar’s military coup.
Does vegan-friendly Indonesia need to feel guilty about eating meat because of climate change?
Amid a debate on whether Indonesians should reduce meat consumption to combat climate change, foodies say it’s easy to have a plant-based diet with tempeh and gado-gado.
Singapore’s PM Lee says ‘will decide later’ when to hand power to heir apparent Lawrence Wong
Lee Hsien Loong says the timing of a general election that must be held by 2025 will be a key factor in determining when he will step down and hand power to Wong, who was backed by 15 out of 19 ‘stakeholders’ to become the next leader
Singapore’s new PM-in-waiting: what you need to know about Lawrence Wong
Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong’s guitar-shredding successor grew up in a public housing flat and went to non-elite schools – and is expected to favour ‘not rocking the boat’ when he takes over the top job.