Malaysia's ex-Cabinet minister out on bail
PUTRAJAYA • Former Cabinet minister and now opposition leader Shafie Apdal is out on RM100,000 (S$32,000) bail after his arrest by the Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission in an ongoing graft probe over RM1.5 billion allegedly embezzled from federal funds meant for rural development in Sabah. He had spent seven days in remand.
THE STAR/ASIA NEWS NETWORK
Indian preacher charged with inciting terror
MUMBAI • Controversial Indian preacher Zakir Naik has been charged in absentia over inciting terror and delivering hate speeches by India's National Investigation Agency (NIA), reported The Times of India.
The agency's charge sheet, filed with the NIA special court in Mumbai on Thursday, says the Muslim televangelist is accused of inciting youth to take up terror acts and join terror outfits such as the Islamic State in Iraq and Syria.
End violence in Rakhine: Tillerson to army chief
WASHINGTON • US Secretary of State Rex Tillerson has urged Myanmar's army chief to help end the violence in Rakhine state that has forced hundreds of thousands of Rohingya Muslims to flee. In a telephone call with Mr Min Aung Hlaing on Thursday, Mr Tillerson expressed "concern about the continuing humanitarian crisis and reported atrocities in Rakhine".
AGENCE FRANCE-PRESSE
Teen forced by school to dye hair sues Osaka govt
TOKYO • A Japanese teenager is suing the government of Osaka, saying her public high school repeatedly forced her to dye her naturally brown hair black or be banned from attending school, local media reported yesterday.
The girl has not attended school since September last year and claims she suffered damage to her scalp from the dyeing process, local media reported.
AGENCE FRANCE-PRESSE
