FILE PHOTO: The 2026 AFC Women's Asian Cup trophy is seen ahead of the official draw, opposite the Sydney Opera House in Sydney on July 28, 2025. The 2026 AFC Women's Asian Cup will be hosted by Australia, and will run from March 1 to 21, 2026. - AFP picPROFESSIONAL standards for female footballers in Asia still lag global benchmarks but the upcoming Women's Asian Cup presents a "generational opportunity" to improve conditions for players in the region, a report released by FIFPro said on Tuesday. The letter also called for at least 30% of the prize money from the tournament to be distributed directly to players. "The 2026 AFC Women's Asian Cup represents an enormous opportunity to address historical inequalities and set a new standard for how women footballers are valued and supported across Asia," FIFPro Asia/Oceania Secretary General Shoko Tsuji said.

KUALA LUMPUR (Feb 10): Malaysia’s palm oil industry is facing a "crisis" point, weighed down by slowing growth, stagnating yields and declining profitability, SD Guthrie Bhd (KL:SDG) group managing director Mohd Haris Mohd Arshad warned during an industry event on Tuesday (Feb 10). The sector's decline is largely due to ageing plantations and growing competition from other vegetable oils such as soybean oil, whose global production rate has outpaced palm oil by sixfold in recent years. “It (the palm oil industry) is sort of stuck between a rock and a very hard place,” Mohd Haris said, as he described an industry caught between escalating domestic costs and tougher global competition. Negotiations for a similar EU-Malaysia free trade agreement (FTA) are ongoing. Panel moderator and Malaysian Palm Oil Council CEO Belvinder Sron expressed optimism that a conclusion could be reached by 2027.

"To my eternal love, my everything, how are you there? Reflecting on the quiet moments of his bereavement, Koo confessed to feeling adrift in the empty spaces of their home. Despite the passage of time, the emotional weight of that day remains heavy, leading Koo to offer a tender apology for his vulnerability. The late actress' sister, television personality Dee Hsu, also expressed her profound gratitude to Koo for his devotion. Affectionately known as "Taiwan's Sweetheart," Barbie Hsu became a household name across Asia following her breakout role as Shancai in the 2001 phenomenon Meteor Garden.

Hong Kong coach Wong Choong Hann during the MoU ceremony between the National Sports Council and the Hong Kong Sports Institute in Bukit Jalil on Tuesday. Choong Hann, now the Hong Kong head coach, stressed that Malaysia do not lack quality in the singles department. Choong Hann believes a fully fit squad would be capable of delivering more convincing performances and restoring fan confidence. With major assignments such as the Asian Games coming up this year, Choong Hann said recovery and proper preparation must be prioritised. On developing new talent, Choong Hann called for patience, noting that grooming young players requires time and structured planning.

“The repayment period can also be delayed if borrowers are furthering their studies to a higher level,” he said. To date, Adam Adli said some RM77.5bil has been disbursed to help more than 4.26 million students. Some 3,000 disabled students at public higher education institutions, polytechnics and commu­nity colleges also stand to obtain free education, he said. This is just the beginning as more initiatives will be available for the rakyat once PTPTN loans are collected systematically without burdening borro­wers,” he said. He also asked about measures taken by the ministry to assist students from lower-income groups who have been forced to take up part-time jobs during their studies, as PTPTN funds are inadequate.

The first was created by nine-year-old Anna Ke Qing who has spina bifida, a condition that occurs when the spine and spinal cord don’t form properly. The red packets were printed by Yong Peng assemblyman Ling Tian Soon, who is also the state health and environment committee chairman. “Husband, since being with you in 2017, we cherished and loved each other, and we never once quarrelled. The 35-year-old singer said she will miss baking cakes with him and that their children will miss him dearly. It was earlier reported that Tai has pursued Ee while she was studying in Japan.

PUTRAJAYA: Frozen food is now included as part of the Sumbangan Asas Rahmah (Sara) programme, says Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim. The Prime Minister said the decision was made following public requests for the list of basic items to be extended to cover frozen food. The latest phase of Sara will also include more than 10,000 stores nationwide by the end of the year, he added. ALSO READ: Sara 2.0 runs like clockworkAnwar said the programme’s accessibility will be improved by reducing the coverage distance to participating Sara outlets to within 7km, compared with 10km currently. “Previously, there were issues as Sara purchases could only be made at large stores.

KUALA LUMPUR (Feb 10): Johor Corporation has created its sustainable finance framework that will govern how the state-owned investment firm raise and deploy finance across its main businesses. Maybank Investment Bank has been appointed as the sole sustainability structuring adviser to Johor Corporation, according to a joint statement on Tuesday. “Sustainability is not an add-on; it is embedded in how we allocate capital, govern risk, and steward assets,” said president and chief executive of Johor Corporation Datuk Syed Mohamed Syed Ibrahim. Johor Corporation manages assets worth over RM25 billion across wellness and healthcare, real estate and infrastructure, agribusiness, food and restaurants as well as patient capital. Eligible green and social use of proceeds categories outlined in the framework include energy efficiency, affordable housing, and food security among others.

Under the proposal, a total of 155.86 million shares, representing 27.62 per cent of BHIC’s issued share capital, along with 23.63 million RCPS A and 132.17 million RCPS-i A, will be cancelled. KUALA LUMPUR: Boustead Holdings Bhd has proposed to privatise its 72.38 per cent-owned Boustead Heavy Industries Corp Bhd (BHIC). Boustead will need to fork out about RM149.59 million to complete the privatisation exercise, assuming no changes to the entitlement base. The proposal will be funded through advances from Boustead to BHIC, financed via bank borrowings and/or internally generated funds. Boustead said it has sufficient financial resources to fully implement the proposal and ensure all entitled shareholders and RCPS holders are paid in cash.

KUALA LUMPUR: Rising star Arghpiez is currently riding a wave of success with his breakout hit, Harapalsu. While the track's popularity has arguably eclipsed his own name for the time being, the 25-year-old singer remains unfazed by the lack of personal recognition. "There's nothing wrong if music lovers don't know me. As long as they know my song, I'm most delighted," he said in a news report yesterday. The singer expressed his profound gratitude after Harapalsu clocked an impressive number of streams in the short window following its release.

A total of 14 ministry secretaries-general must undergo performance assessments after their development project implementations fell short of targets, said Chief Secretary to the Government Tan Sri Shamsul Azri Abu Bakar. BERNAMA PICKUALA LUMPUR: A total of 14 ministry secretaries-general must undergo performance assessments after their development project implementations fell short of targets, said Chief Secretary to the Government Tan Sri Shamsul Azri Abu Bakar. He said the assessment is conducted under a merit-based system using demerit and remerit mechanisms to evaluate actual performance. Also present were Public Service director-general Tan Sri Wan Ahmad Dahlan Abdul Aziz and Border Control and Protection Agency (MCBA) director-general Datuk Seri Mohd Shuhaily Mohd Zain. On Jan 15, he said that the 14 ministries had been identified as failing to meet their physical development project targets for the previous year, with development expenditure recording only 87.91 per cent, which is below the national average and requiring serious attention.

SEPANG (Feb 10): The Ministry of Tourism, Arts and Culture (Motac) has proposed that Malaysia Airports Holdings Bhd (MAHB) explore ways to ensure goods and food sold at airports are priced reasonably. Tourism, Arts and Culture Minister Datuk Seri Tiong King Sing said the ministry had received complaints from tourists and the public over higher prices at airport outlets compared with those outside. Also present was MAHB managing director Datuk Mohd Izani Ghani. Tiong also expressed hope that MAHB would provide more shop lots offering local food in conjunction with Visit Malaysia Year 2026 to better promote Malaysian cuisine to both foreign and domestic tourists. Commenting on the ShopLAH campaign, he said the initiative enhances the shopping experience for tourists arriving at the country’s main gateways.

Sultan Pahang, Al-Sultan Abdullah Ri'ayatuddin Al-Mustafa Billah Shah, helmed the FA of Malaysia from 2014-2017. Al-Sultan Abdullah is a man of vision, and his heart is still with the game. Al-Sultan Abdullah was FAM president from 2014 to 2017. "The late Sultan Ahmad Shah and Al-Sultan Abdullah — we worked like family." Other football figures, including former national player Lim Teong Kim and former AFC general-secretary Alex Soosay, have also called for the Al-Sultan Abdullah to lead the association.

Former prime minister Datuk Seri Ismail Sabri Yaakob with Loke Kim Yen and her son Soh Zhe Hong during the visit. "I am grateful that we have not been forgotten," she said during a visit from former prime minister and Yayasan Keluarga Malaysia (YKM) chairman Datuk Seri Ismail Sabri Yaakob at her home in Larkin today. Her eldest son, Soh Zhe Hong, 18, has learning disabilities and autism, while her daughter, Soh Zhe Qi, is 16. Zhe Hong is currently enrolled in the Special Education Integrated Programme at SMK Tasek Utara 2, while Zhe Qi is a student at Foon Yew High School. "I am deeply moved to receive a visit from the former prime minister, whom we previously only saw on television.

As Malaysia marks the East Coast Rail Link (ECRL) reaching 90% completion, it is timely to reflect on what connectivity of this scale means for patients and healthcare providers, particularly those outside major urban centres. Private healthcare plays an important role within Malaysia’s dual healthcare system; including support for initiatives such as Rakan KKM, private providers can help alleviate capacity pressures while complementing public services. We have seen this among patients who travel long distances from outside of Terengganu to receive chemotherapy treatment at KMI Kuala Terengganu Medical Centre. Looking ahead, broader regional connectivity will further support patient mobility and medical access. For healthcare providers such as KMI Healthcare, improved connectivity also supports our ability to serve wider catchment areas and, in time, facilitate medical tourism growth to other parts of the country – a development that benefits patients, providers and regional economies alike.