KINI ROUNDUP Here are the key headlines you may have missed yesterday, in brief.

Maria's 'CIA links'

Umno information chief Annuar Musa claimed that Bersih chairperson Maria Chin Abdullah has links to the US Central Intelligence Agency (CIA), who along with her late husband Yunus Lebai Ali, worked for NGOs backed by the spy agency back in the 1980s, he said.

Former Bersih chairperson Ambiga Sreenevasan has taken Annuar to task over his remarks regarding Maria, describing his allegations against the Bersih chairperson as outrageous and irresponsible.

Maria's detention under the Security Offences (Special Measures) Act (Sosma) was not politically-motivated or related to the recent Bersih 5 rally, said inspector-general of police Khalid Abu Bakar, responding to brickbats from those saying her arrests was to silence dissent.

Hadi's bill poser

Parti Amanah Negara has questioned why the government is explaining the Syariah Courts (Criminal Jurisdiction) (Amendment) Bill 2016 (Act 355) on behalf of PAS president Abdul Hadi Awang.

In any case, Hadi's proposed amendments to the Act 355 has been modified to raise the punishment ceiling to 30 years' jail, RM100,000 fine and 100 times of whipping instead of completely doing away with the punishment cap.

PKR wants Hadi to personally hold a briefing to explain in detail the contents of his private member's bill to amend Act 355.

Obama's one-liner

US President Barack Obama's one-liner during his speech at the Asia Pacific Economic (Apec) summit mentioning leaders who siphon development funds to Swiss banks sets tongues wagging.

Former premier Dr Mahathir Mohamad claimed Obama was referring to Prime Minister Najib Abdul Razak in his speech at the summit in Peru over the weekend.

However, Communication and Multimedia Minister Salleh Said Keruak disagreed, and described Mahathir and those who made a similar conclusion of "bordering on wishful thinking and being delusional", the Umno treasurer adding that perhaps Obama was referring to the good doctor himself.

More Kini bites

The Selangor government has instructed the state Islamic Religious Affairs Department (Jais) to invite teachers to a seminar on 'The Thoughts of Anwar Ibrahim' next Monday.

Kuala Lumpur City Hall (DBKL) will send by the end of this week, bills amounting to RM27,373.66 to the organisers of the Bersih 5 and red-shirts rallies on Nov 19 to recover the cost of landscape damage and cleaning up.

A mother of four who lost her post as untrained attachment teacher due to her pregnancy was awarded RM40,000 in damages by the Court of Appeal today, for breach of constitutional rights, and emotional and mental distress.

Looking ahead

Today is case management hearing for Maria's habeas corpus application.