Do I need to use makeup brushes, or can I just use my fingers? Photo: Azmier HisyamuqrisHow often should I wash my makeup brushes and sponges? Regular cleaning of makeup brushes and sponges also helps extend the life of your tools. – Hilda, PJPrimer functions as a barrier between your skin and your makeup, to prep your skin and prevent makeup from settling into pores. Some setting sprays can also be used before makeup, after skincare, to lightly prep the skin and help makeup apply more smoothly.

WASHINGTON, Jan ‌22 (Reuters) - U.S. President ‌Donald Trump withdrew ‌on Thursday an invitation for Canada to join ‍his Board of ‍Peace initiative ‌aimed at resolving global ‍conflicts. "Please let ​this Letter serve ⁠to represent that the Board ‌of Peace is withdrawing ⁠its invitation ‍to you regarding Canada’s joining, what ‍will be, the ‌most prestigious Board of Leaders ever assembled, at any time," Trump wrote in a Truth Social post ‌directed at Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney. (Reporting ​by Jasper Ward in Washington; Editing by Muralikumar Anantharaman)

Animal rights lawyer Rajesh Nagarajan said wildlife crime in Malaysia is overwhelmingly link­ed to organised and often transnational syndicates, rather than isolated individuals. Rajesh, who is also Pertubuhan Pelindung Khazanah Alam Malay­sia president, questioned whether high demand alone should be blamed for wildlife crime, pointing to what he described as weak follow-through after major seizures. “It is unlikely that indivi­duals acting alone could identify, target and traffic wildlife that fetches high prices in the illegal market. “The fight against wildlife crime cannot rely on enforcement alone. On public involvement, he said Perhilitan already has a reward scheme for informants to encourage tip-offs on wildlife crimes.

KUALA LUMPUR (Jan 23): Umno welcomes the Cabinet’s decision to withdraw the tabling of the Urban Renewal Bill (URA) in Parliament. Umno secretary-general Datuk Dr Asyraf Wajdi Dusuki said the party remained firm in its position that it does not oppose urban development, but stressed that the Bill must be improved and refined. He said several amendments should be made in line with the proposals put forward by the Umno Special Committee on the URA, chaired by its vice-president Datuk Seri Johari Abdul Ghani. According to him, the committee had conducted a series of engagement sessions, including the Urban Renewal Convention on Oct 3 last year. The convention approved 14 recommendations for improvements to the Bill for the government’s consideration, he added.

(Jan 23): US stock futures dipped on Friday, signaling a second consecutive week of declines for the S&P 500 and Nasdaq, as Intel's shares plunged after disappointing forecasts, while lingering geopolitical tensions weighed on sentiment. Safe-haven gold rallied to a record high in further evidence of the risk-off mood prevailing among investors. By 5.57am ET, S&P 500 E-minis EScv1 were down 16.25 points, or 0.23%. Many of the so-called Magnificent Seven stocks, including Apple, Tesla and Microsoft, are set to report earnings next week. The Federal Reserve is widely expected to hold interest rates in the 3.5%-3.75% range after its policy meeting next week.

PUTRAJAYA (Jan 23): The government will clarify the entry requirements to public institutions of higher learning (IPTA) for students who graduate from education streams that are not based on the national education system soon. Madani Government spokesperson Datuk Fahmi Fadzil said Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim had instructed the Ministry of Education (MOE) and the Ministry of Higher Education (KPT) to examine the matter during the Cabinet meeting held on Friday. “Teachers will also need to be supplied through the Teacher Education Institute (IPG) if there is an increase in student numbers. Last Tuesday, the Prime Minister launched the National Education Blueprint (RPN) 2026–2035, which is jointly led by the Ministry of Education through the Malaysia Education Blueprint 2026–2035 and the Ministry of Higher Education through the Malaysia Higher Education Blueprint 2026–2035. To strengthen national identity, students in all schools — including Sekolah Agama Rakyat, international schools and private schools — will be required to study Bahasa Melayu and History in accordance with the National Curriculum.

KUALA LUMPUR: Preliminary police data have shown a significant drop in fatal accidents involving heavy vehicles, down from 260 in 2024 to 163 last year. Transport Minister Anthony Loke (pic) said statistics from the Traffic Investigation and Enforcement Department (JSPT) showed an encouraging downward trend in fatalities involving lorries, trailers and heavy goods vehicles. “These statistics cover accidents involving heavy vehicles, regardless of whether the vehicle was the primary cause of it or merely involved in the crash,” he said in a parliamentary written reply. Loke said the decline in accidents served as an early indicator that stricter enforcement measures on heavy vehicle safety compliance, had contributed to reducing the risk of fatal accidents. The minister explained that JPJ’s enforcement against overloaded lorries did not involve the introduction of new policies.

TOKYO (Jan 23): Japan's Inpex is working to advance the start of its Abadi project in Indonesia to meet the government's request to speed up and has seen strong interest from Western majors to buy liquefied natural gas, CEO Takayuki Ueda said. The long-delayed US$20 billion project, which will produce up to 9.5 million metric tons of LNG a year, will be a major growth driver for Inpex, Japan's top oil and gas explorer. Jakarta has requested Inpex to accelerate the project to meet fast-rising local gas demand. "We will make every effort to accelerate the project," Ueda told Reuters in an interview earlier this week, adding that the company is considering various design and contracting options despite challenges. IchthysIn Australia, Inpex is on the hunt for large gas resources to feed a third LNG train and to backfill existing capacity at its Ichthys project in Darwin, Ueda said.

FOR a fortnight, celebrations for the birthday of the Yang di-Pertuan Besar of Negri Sembilan, Tuanku Muhriz Tuanku Munawir, have taken place with the usual energy and variety. On Jan 8 was the Majlis Negri Sembilan Berselawat, which brought thousands from across the state to the royal town’s Padang to sing praises for the Prophet Muhammad (PBUH), followed by a smaller tahlil the next day in conjunction with the birthday, at Tuanku Munawir Mosque.

MARANG: PAS president Tan Sri Abdul Hadi Awang says the party will continue to lead Perikatan Nasional following Tan Sri Muhyiddin Yassin's resignation as chairman on Jan 1. He said a previous PAS general meeting had adopted a resolution mandating the party to helm the coalition. "That is the PAS muktamar resolution for PAS to be the chair," he told reporters after delivering a lecture at Masjid Rusila here on Friday (Jan 23). On the colaition's chairman post, Abdul Hadi said there had been no decision yet but PAS has a candidate. The Marang MP also said PAS had yet to be invited to any official Perikatan meeting to discuss the appointment of a new chairman.

SHAH ALAM (Jan 23): A battery factory was 80% destroyed in a fire in Anggerik Mokara, Kota Kemuning, here on Friday. Malaysian Fire and Rescue Department assistant director (Selangor) Ahmad Mukhlis Mukhtar said no casualty was reported in the incident. He said the department received a call regarding the incident at 7.25am, and 25 firefighters from the Shah Alam, Subang Jaya and Andalas fire and rescue stations were mobilised to the scene. “The operations commander reported that the fire involved a class B building, namely a battery factory with an area of ​​150x150 sq ft, which was 80% destroyed. “The fire was successfully controlled at 8.20am, and the exact cause of the fire is still under investigation,” he said in a statement.

LOCALS in Kajang, Selangor, have the opportunity to shape the historic town centre, which has been earmarked for development under a Federal Government plan. Pusat Bandar Kajang was selected by the Housing and Local Government Ministry to be developed under a Special Area Plan (Rancangan Kawasan Khas). He said the council had launched a publicity and public participation programme to allow residents and stakeholders to review the Pusat Bandar Kajang Draft Special Area Plan. The document available for public review covers 53.71ha of Kajang town centre and proposes transforming the area into a heritage town and integrated arts hub. Nazli said the draft plan outlined 44 proposed projects grouped under five action zones and three specialisation sectors.

JOHOR BARU: A total of 418 notices have been issued against litterbugs nationwide since the beginning of the year. Solid Waste and Public Cleansing Management Corporation (SWCorp) chief executive officer Khalid Mohamed said the notices, recorded from Jan 1 to 22, included 103 issued to foreign nationals. Khalid said earlier on Friday that two foreign nationals – a Bangladeshi man and Indonesian woman – were the first individuals to be charged in court under the Solid Waste and Public Cleansing Management Act 2007 (Act 672), which came into effect on Jan 1. He added that the highest number of notices was issued in Kuala Lumpur (127), followed by Kedah (99), Negri Sembilan (61), Johor (58) and Pahang (30). Khalid said that under the law, offenders found guilty may be fined up to RM2,000, and the court may also impose a community service order of up to six months, involving work not exceeding 12 hours in total.

SHAH ALAM: A battery factory has been badly damaged in a fire in Anggerik Mokara, Kota Kemuning here. Malaysian Fire and Rescue Department assistant director (Selangor) Ahmad Mukhlis Mukhtar said no casualties were was reported in the incident. He said the department received a call regarding the incident at 7.25am on Friday (Jan 23) and 25 firefighters from the Shah Alam, Subang Jaya and Andalas fire and rescue stations were mobilised. "The operations commander reported that the fire involved a class B building, namely a battery factory with an area of 150x150 sq ft, which was 80% destroyed. "The fire was successfully controlled at 8.20am and the exact cause of the fire is still under investigation," he said in a statement on Monday.

(Jan 23): Prudential Financial Inc’s Japan insurance head vowed to bolster governance after revelations that improper actions by more than 100 current and former staff cost customers about US$20 million (RM80.1 million). The chief executive officer of the unit, Kan Mabara, “deeply” apologised for “multiple inappropriate cases,” at a news conference in Tokyo. Prudential Life Insurance Co had said in a statement last week that employees had received ¥3.14 billion from customers through improper acts. At Prudential Life, staff have been checking with customers since August 2024 following the discovery of multiple cases of impropriety. An internal investigation showed that about 106 current and former employees solicited around 500 customers for investment products that weren’t approved by the firm, including cryptocurrencies.