Marco Rubio, the US Secretary of State, has imposed sanctions on Francesca Albanese for speaking out against Israel and their human rights violations. The US also announces potential repercussions if the International Criminal Court does not retract their actions against Israel. We speak to Andrew Khoo, a human rights lawyer, for some better insights into what this means for Albanese and if the US legally can impose the sanctions.

Other stories we covered:

• Malaysian doctors being poached: A recent Threads post shared by doctor and influencer Dr. Amanda Elli has revealed that Singapore's Ministry of Health are setting up a recruitment drive for Malaysian doctors. The doctors will also be paid a hefty salary. We talk to Dr Muhammad, a spokesperson for Hartal Doktor Kontrak and an anonymous orthopaedic doctor in Sabah for their thoughts on the situation.

• Will Malaysia join the BRICS bank?: Malaysia weighs its next move on the global stage as Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim signals interest in joining the New Development Bank, a key financial institution linked to the BRICS bloc. With recent expansions and renewed focus on sustainable development and South-South cooperation, what does NDB membership mean for Malaysia? Goh Chien Yen from the Finance & Development Team at Third World Network weighs in

• Orang Asli principal wins prestigious award: Rasila Yas, the first Orang Asli in Malaysia to become a principal, has received the Orang Asli Icon Award. We reached out to Rasila herself to learn what this award means to her and the importance of reaching out to her community to raise awareness about education.

• Moo Deng turns 1: The infamous pygmy hippo from Thailand’s Khao Kheow Open Zoo turned one yesterday. We talk about the little animal that stole the hearts of millions around the world and how pop culture embraces animal icons like her.

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