IPOH: A 24-year-old man is feared drowned after falling off a boat into a lake at Bandar Baru Lahat Mines here. Perak Fire and Rescue Department assistant director of operations Sabarodzi Nor Ahmad said the victim, a volunteer fireman, was conducting a training exercise and testing the boat prior to the incident on Sunday (March 8) at about 7.30pm. "The victim and driver of the boat both fell into the water. "The boat driver was rescued while a search for the victim is still ongoing," he said in a statement. "The victim is believed to have fallen some 150m away from the side of the lake," he added.

(March 9) : Oil rose over US$100 a barrel and US stock futures fell as escalating hostilities in the Middle East and widening stress on oil shipping and infrastructure had global investors braced for more turbulence when trading resumes Sunday. Brent crude oil rose to more than US$102 a barrel after notching its biggest-ever weekly gain on Friday. Overnight Sunday, Iran pressed attacks on Mideast neighbors, while Israel struck fuel depots in Tehran and threatened the Islamic Republic’s power grid. The attacks will continue “until they surrender or, more likely, completely collapse!” he said in a social media post. “The worst is yet to come in the stock market reaction,” said Michael O’Rourke, chief market strategist at JonesTrading.

PETALING JAYA: Azizulhasni Awang finished off his World Cup campaign on a wonderful note by claiming an unexpected bronze medal in the sprint event at the Speed Dome in Perth, Australia. Azizul's bid to make the final ended after he lost in two heats to sprint world record holder Matthew Richardson of Britain. But true to his fighting style, Azizul bounced back superbly to beat Israeli Mikhail Yakovlev in two heats to secure a first-ever World Cup bronze medal. Having won a dramatic keirin final race on Saturday, Azizul will return home with two medals for Malaysia. Making it to the sprint podium will bring him great satisfaction as Azizul's previous accomplishments have all come in the keirin discipline.

KANGAR: The Malaysian Maritime Enforcement Agency (MMEA) early Saturday morning (March 7) seized nearly 16,500 e-cigarette devices worth over RM500,000 at the Fisheries Development Board (LKIM) jetty in Kuala Sanglang, believed to be destined for smuggling to a neighbouring country. Kedah and Perlis Maritime director, First Admiral Romli Mustafa, explained that this seizure followed the interception of a lorry at 1.15am, based on intelligence from the Kedah, Perlis, Kuala Perlis, and Kuala Kedah maritime zones. "Checks revealed the vehicle, driven by a man with two local male workers aged 19 to 47, was carrying 56 brown boxes holding nearly 16,500 vape devices of various kinds. Romli said the lorry and the three men were taken to the Kuala Perlis Maritime Zone office, with the case investigated under Sections 135(1)(a) and (d) of the Customs Act 1967. He said authorities will take a tough stance on smuggling, stepping up patrols and enforcement in national waters ahead of the festive season.

KUALA LUMPUR: Voice370, the support group representing the next-of-kin of those on board the missing Malaysia Airlines flight MH370 urged the Malaysian government to extend its "No Find, No Fee" search agreement and to consider other capable deep-sea exploration companies under the same framework. "This is a 'No Find, No Fee' search. Any request by OI to extend the search contract should therefore be granted without hesitation. "A simple addendum extending the contract period without altering the core terms of the agreement would allow the search to continue without delay,” it said. Flight MH370 disappeared while en route from Kuala Lumpur to Beijing on March 8, 2014, in one of the world's greatest aviation mysteries.

GEORGE TOWN: Police have confirmed the arrest of an individual allegedly linked to threats against independent preacher Zamri Vinoth. Penang police chief Datuk Azizee Ismail said a man in his 20s was detained in Bukit Mertajam early on Sunday morning (March 8). He said police received a report from Zamri at the Seberang Perai Tengah district police headquarters. "The suspect is being held to assist with the investigation under Sections 506 and 427 of the Penal Code,” he told Bernama on Sunday. The incident is believed to be linked to the preacher’s remarks about a small house of worship near a hospital in the state.

NAGANO, Japan: Japanese local authorities and ski resorts in winter destinations are struggling to deal with a surge of stranded foreign backcountry skiers and snowboarders, some of whom require rescue operations, Kyodo News Agency reported. Although the man later descended on his own, the woman was caught in an avalanche and went missing. The signs warn in English and Japanese that skiers put their own lives at risk by going off trails. The app's developer, Yukiyama Inc., has worked with a ski resort in Minakami, Gunma Prefecture, in eastern Japan, to improve its safety functions. Yoko Yashiro at the Nagano prefectural government's mountain highlands tourism section said the lack of legal controls on backcountry skiing means all authorities can do is "continue promoting safety awareness."

WASHINGTON (March 8): US President Donald Trump vowed in a social media post on Sunday that he would not sign any other legislation until Congress approves a voter bill that Democrats believe would disenfranchise some voters. In a post on his Truth Social platform, Trump laid down a tough marker for the Save America Act, which passed the Republican-led House of Representatives in February but faces an uphill battle in the Senate, also controlled by Republicans. "I, as President, will not sign other Bills until this is passed," said Trump, who is spending the weekend at his Doral, Florida, golf club. Whether Trump would follow through on his vow was unclear. If lawmakers pass a bill and he takes no action for 10 days while Congress is in session, the measure becomes law without his signature.

PETALING JAYA: A late strike by Safawi Rasid secured three points for Kuala Lumpur as they moved up to second place in the Super League after beating Melaka 2-1 on Saturday (March 7). But just as Kuala Lumpur looked set to drop points, Safawi struck in injury time to seal victory for his side. Kuala Lumpur now sit second with 39 points, while Melaka remain 12th with 11 points. Meanwhile, Kuching City are just two points behind Kuala Lumpur after they beat Sabah 2-0. Both teams share 19 points in the Super League as Negri are ahead by goal difference in seventh and Penang are in eighth.

Kien Keat-Boon Heong had defeated China’s Cai Yun-Fu Haifeng in a thrilling final to end the country’s 25-year long wait for the title in 2007. Now, the former greats are hoping Aaron-Wooi Yik can shatter the country’s 19-year wait. "I hope our boys will play like they have never won any major tournaments before – although they have already won the world title," said Kien Keat. Aaron-Wooi Yik lifted the world title in 2022 but have fallen short in the All-England final twice, in 2019 and 2024. All Malaysian fans are hoping Aaron-Wooi Yik, currently training under Indonesian coach Herry Iman Pierngadi, can finally make it happen.

Dubai (Bloomberg): The United Arab Emirates and Kuwait started reducing oil production, as the near-closure of the crucial Strait of Hormuz ripples through energy markets and affects global supply. Kuwait Petroleum Corp. said it was lowering production at both its oil fields and refineries after "Iranian threats against safe passage of ships through the Strait of Hormuz." The country produced about 2.57 million barrels a day of oil in January, according to data compiled by Bloomberg. The nation's plants - Al-Zour, Mina Al-Ahmadi and Mina Abdullah - have a combined capacity of about 1.4 million barrels a day. The UAE and Kuwait, like other Gulf nations, have been heavily targeted by Iranian missiles and drones in the region's expanding war.

Bahrain recorded a two-run win over Malaysia in a T20 bilateral series at Bayumas Oval in Klang on Sunday. PIC BY MCAKUALA LUMPUR: Bahrain snatched a nervy two-run win over Malaysia to draw level at 1-1 in a three-match Twenty20 bilateral series at the Bayuemas Oval in Klang on Sunday. M. Sharvin took three wickets for 22 runs while captain Syed Aziz Syed Mubarak claimed two for 30 after Bahrain elected to bat on winning the toss. Virandeep Singh (17) combined with opener Haziq Aiman Hafiz (19) in a 35-run partnership, but Malaysia lost wickets at regular intervals. The defeat was the first for Malaysia after three wins on the trot against Bahrain since last year.

PETALING JAYA: Calls are growing for former Umno members to return to the party, described as a “big house” that has long united and safeguarded the interests of Malays. Umno vice-president Datuk Seri Mohamed Khaled Nordin said party president Datuk Seri Dr Ahmad Zahid Hamidi had opened the door widely for those who had previously left the party to come back. “Umno is a ‘big house’ built to protect and advance the Malays. Mohamed Khaled said disagreements and differences within a large political family were normal and should not lead to hostility towards the party. “Despite its strengths and shortcomings, Umno continues to serve as a bulwark in safeguarding the dignity and interests of the Malays,” he said.

KUALA LUMPUR: The trial of former prime minister Tan Sri Muhyiddin Yassin on charges of abuse of position involving bribes totalling RM232.5mil and receiving RM200mil in proceeds from illegal activities will begin tomorrow (March 9) at the High Court, here. Deputy Public Prosecutor Datuk Wan Shaharuddin Wan Ladin said the proceedings will commence at 9am before Judge Noor Ruwena Md Nurdin. On Nov 10 last year, Judge Noor Ruwena set 29 days to hear the case. On Oct 7 last year, the Attorney General's Chambers dismissed Muhyiddin's representation to drop seven charges against him. The offence was allegedly committed at the Prime Minister's Office, Bangunan Perdana Putra in Putrajaya between March 1, 2020 and Aug 20, 2021.

SEREMBAN: A television actress and her husband under investigation for a RM1.5mil land scam in Selangor are also being probed for cheating a retiree of more than RM23,000. Seremban OCPD Asst Comm Azahar Abdul Rahim said the couple allegedly promised the victim a Datukship from a state in exchange for the money. Police began investigating the alleged scam following a report lodged by the retiree on Dec 12. "The 41-year-old male suspect told the victim that he could secure him a Datukship from a state in exchange for a sum of money. The couple, aged 41 and 35, were detained in Kg Sungai Serai in Hulu Langat.