AWANI Tonight: NHMS 2023: Number of people with depression doubles in 4 years

#AWANITonight with @_farhanasheikh

1. Footballer Faisal Halim came close to quitting, pledges to play again
2. Zayn Rayyan’s parents plead not guilty to child neglect

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More than 1.5 million Muslim pilgrims have been streaming into Makkah ahead of the start of the Hajj later this week, as the annual pilgrimage returns to its monumental scale.

In a first public appearance after suffering from an acid attack, national footballer Faisal Halim reveals he contemplated ending his career on the pitch for the safety of his family.

The parents of Zayn Rayyan Abdul Matiin have been charged with child neglect at the Sessions Court. The couple pleaded not guilty and claimed trial.

#AWANITonight with @sarayamia

1. Singapore-M'sia: RTS, SEZ talks near final agreement
2. Bill on carbon trading to be tabled in parliament by year-end

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More than 500 people from the Bajau Laut community in Semporna, Sabah, were evicted by the authorities last week, and their stilt houses demolished, some even burned. The plight of the Bajau Laut has since dominated national attention after several video recordings of the incident were uploaded to social media with the hashtag #PandangKeSabah. On this episode of #ConsiderThis Melisa Idris speaks to Dr Vilashini Somiah, an anthropologist at the Faculty of Arts and Social Sciences in Universiti Malaya, and Wong Kueng Hui, director of the independent youth group Mandiri Borneo.

More than 500 people from the Bajau Laut community in Semporna, Sabah, were evicted by the authorities last week, and their stilt houses demolished, some even burned. The plight of the Bajau Laut has since dominated national attention after several video recordings of the incident were uploaded to social media with the hashtag #PandangKeSabah. On this episode of #ConsiderThis Melisa Idris speaks to Mukmin Nantang, founder of the Sabah-based NGO Borneo Komrad, who first uploaded the now viral videos. For almost a decade, Borneo Komrad has been running Sekolah-Sekolah Alternatif, which provides free education for stateless, undocumented, and under-served children in Sabah.

In preparation for the 2024 Hajj season, the Saudi Arabian government has issued 1.7 million "nusuk" cards. Astro AWANI News Editor Shafizan Johari shares about the issuance of the cards.

The Marriott Perhentian, the first five-star resort on the East Coast, is set to elevate state tourism and boost the local economy through job creation and increased business opportunities.

Although the decision is unpopular, Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim says that targeted subsidies are being implemented to save the country.

#AWANITonight with Farhana Sheikh

- Targeted diesel subsidies needed to save Malaysia - PM
- France: Macron calls snap vote after far-right triumphs in EU polls

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The Malaysian palm oil sector, which is the second-largest producer globally after Indonesia, is facing mounting challenges, particularly from the European Union's incoming Deforestation Regulation. This regulation aims to halt the sale of any products linked to deforestation in its markets. Despite efforts to promote sustainability through certification schemes like MSPO and RSPO, questions remain: Can certification alone redeem palm oil's tarnished reputation? And how might the EU’s new regulation impact smallholders, who produce about 40% of the total output of palm oil in Malaysia? On this episode of #ConsiderThis Melisa Idris speaks to Dr Serina Rahman, Lecturer at the Department of Southeast Asian Studies at National University of Singapore, where her research interests include political ecology through the lens of environmental anthropology and ethnography.

The Malaysian palm oil sector, which is the second-largest producer globally after Indonesia, is facing mounting challenges, particularly from the European Union's incoming Deforestation Regulation. This regulation aims to halt the sale of any products linked to deforestation in its markets. Despite efforts to promote sustainability through certification schemes like MSPO and RSPO, questions remain: Can certification alone redeem palm oil's tarnished reputation? And how might the EU’s new regulation impact smallholders, who produce about 40% of the total output of palm oil in Malaysia? On this episode of #ConsiderThis Melisa Idris speaks to Khor Yu Leng, Senior Economist at Segi Enam Advisors & Associate Director for Sustainability at the Singapore Institute of International Affairs.

Qarbotech is shaking up agritech with a product that boosts plant photosynthesis, resulting in higher crop yields for farmers. Founders Dr. Suraya Rashid and Chor Chee Hoe discuss what's driving the next big leap for the company.

#AWANITonight with Farhana Sheikh

- PH candidate for Sungai Bakap by-election to be unveiled next week
- World Oceans Day: Stepping up efforts to protect our oceans

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