For example, Trump has asserted that all interpretations of law and review of agency expenditures, including by the Fed, fall within the purview of the White House and Justice Department. The administration also has taken control of all Fed regulatory policy, including its oversight of bank capital and leverage. The White House may claim that its control does not apply to the institution’s conduct of monetary policy, but this is a distinction without much difference. The Trump administration’s approach to global alliances and tariffs, though, has created uncertainty about its willingness, when needed, to backstop global dollar liquidity. Substantively, though, the Fed’s independence has already been eroded by White House oversight and Trump’s politicisation of interest-rate decisions.

PETALING JAYA: A blanket social media ban for all kids below 16, without proper safeguards and supporting measures, may only worsen anxiety and social isolation among children, say experts. Consultant paediatrician Datuk Dr Amar Singh HSS said the overall impact of a social media ban on children may vary heavily for certain groups. “For those who are more reserved or are from marginalised segments of society, social media can be a key support system. “Any social media ban would also create a vacuum, so how will this be filled? To resolve this, Dr Amar said parents must use the opportunity of a social media ban by cutting back on their own social media use and spending quality time with their children.

"Greenland is very important for the national security, including of Denmark," Trump told reporters in the Oval Office. "We didn't manage to change the American position," Rasmussen told reporters outside the Danish embassy in Washington. The Danish military will support the preparation of exercise activity, according to the nation's Joint Arctic Command. 'We stand with the kingdom' of Denmark, Greenland saysGreenlandic leaders appear to be shifting their approach to handling the diplomatic crisis. Trump's desire for Greenland contrasts with Americans' opposition to annexation of the Arctic island, according to a new poll.

PETALING JAYA: Tenaga Nasional Bhd (TNB), Electricite Du Laos and the Electricity Generating Authority of Thailand have signed a tripartite Energy Wheeling Agreement Phase 2 under the Lao People’s Democratic Republic (Lao PDR)-Thailand-Malaysia-Singapore Power Integration Project (LTMS-PIP 2.0), marking a further step in advancing the Asean Power Grid initiative. The agreement enables the cross-border transmission of up to 100MW of renewable electricity from Lao PDR to Singapore, with Thailand and Malaysia acting as power wheelers using existing interconnection facilities. It also completes the full implementation of LTMS-PIP 2.0, lifting the total capacity of electricity traded under the framework to as much as 200MW, including additional supply from Malaysia to Singapore.

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PETALING JAYA: It was a disappointing end for both men’s singles shuttlers Leong Jun Hao and Justin Hoh in the Indian Open. Misfortune in the form of a high fever forced Jun Hao to retire from his first round match against Japan’s Yushi Tanaka while Justin’s debut in the Super 750 level was cut short by China’s Lu Guangzu. The 26-year-old Jun Hao had to call it quits while trailing 5-21, 3-8 against Tanaka at the Indira Gandhi Sports Complex in New Delhi yesterday. Jun Hao looked far from his normal self as he struggled with his movement during the match. “Jun Hao started having fever yesterday (Tuesday) and his condition got worse on match day,” lamented men’s singles coach K. Yogendran when contacted.

KUALA LUMPUR (Jan 15): BMI maintained its view that Bank Negara Malaysia (BNM) will leave the overnight policy rate (OPR) unchanged at 2.75% for the rest of 2026 amid support from resilient domestic demand. “We are aligned with the bank and expect growth to slow from an estimated 4.6% in 2025 to 4.1% in 2026, the lower end of the BNM’s forecast of 4.0%-4.5%,” BMI said. BMI noted that the central bank had minimal concerns about inflation for now, as headline inflation has largely turned out as expected, averaging 1.4% between January 2025 and November 2025. BMI said the revised forecast sits at the upper bound of the Malaysian government’s forecast of 1.3% to 2.0% but is broadly in line with its 2020-2024 average of 1.8%. “With BNM standing pat, this means that yield differentials should move in the ringgit’s favour,” BMI said.

Then Kuamut assemblyman, the late Datuk Abdul Malek Chua, was instrumental in setting up the settlement. “When people still remember my late father, introductions do become easier,” she said. “Oh, Datuk Malek!” comes the familiar response, often followed by brief recollections of his visits and his role in addressing problems faced by riverine communities. Abdul Malek served as Kuamut assemblyman from 1976 to 1986, and again from 1999 to 2004. She contested for the Kinabatangan parliamentary seat in 2022, where she faced the late Datuk Seri Bung Moktar Radin.

JEMPOL: Police have detained a 34-year-old man for allegedly forcing his 10-year-old son to shoplift on several occasions. Jempol deputy OCPD Supt R. Premkumar said the suspect was detained after the victim was caught shoplifting in a store in Bahau near here. "A store supervisor caught the boy stealing a 200g packet of coffee powder. "The victim said the suspect often forced him to shoplift items from various stores in Bahau and Batu Kikir," he said. Supt Premkumar said the boy was also threatened if he refused to obey the suspect.

KUALA LUMPUR: Umno deputy president Datuk Seri Mohamad Hasan has paid tribute to the late Datuk Seri Bung Moktar Radin and Umno leaders who have since passed away. Mohamad said the legacy left behind by these leaders will continue pushing the party to pursue its struggle. “Before we begin, let us say a prayer for the late Bung Moktar and Umno leaders who left before us. Bung Moktar, the former Sabah Umno strongman, passed away in December last year. He held the Kinabatangan parliamentary seat and the Lamag seat in the Sabah state assembly, with by-elections scheduled for both on Jan 24.

I know everyone is doing their best to make the conditions better for the players, but I think there’s still a long way to go. This marks the third consecutive year that Antonsen has pulled out of the Indian Open, despite it being a Super 750 event. “Many are curious why I have pulled out of the Indian Open for the third consecutive year. ‘‘Due to the extreme pollution in Delhi at the moment, I don’t think it’s a place to host a badminton tournament. “I’m crossing my fingers that it will be better in the summer when the World Championships take place in Delhi.’’

PETALING JAYA: Frequent travellers who have grown accustomed to the speed and convenience of MyBorderPass say MyNIISe (National Integrated Immigration System) must not merely replace what is already working well. While many welcome the government’s push to modernise border clearance through a single integrated platform, travellers say MyNIISe will be judged against MyBorderPass, which they regard as fast, intuitive and hassle-free. “More awareness and digital literacy programmes should be provided to those who need guidance on how to use MyNIISe,” he told The Star. Lam Thye also noted that MyBorderPass has gained popularity among travellers while MyNIISe remains relatively unfamiliar. “I really enjoy using MyBorderPass, it’s super easy and intuitive.

AN ORTHOPAEDIC surgeon describes hip replacement surgery as “one that changes people’s lives, which may improve quality of life and increase mobility of the patients”. “The hip degenerates when the cartilage between the ball and socket in the hip becomes thinner or destroyed over time. “A person’s pain progression and tolerance is linked to their ‘envelope of function’,” said Dr Suhail Suresh. “A hip replacement surgery is a high-risk surgery due to anaesthesia and surgery risks,” said Dr Suhail Suresh. “However, robotic-assisted hip surgery is a surgeon-controlled procedure that incorporates digital planning tools and imaging guidance.

For the first time, PHA jointly organised a Thala Ponggal celebration with the Rokkumalai Sri Muniswarar Bathrakaliamman Temple in Air Itam for couples brought together through the programme. Although it was their second Ponggal celebration, they were excited to celebrate with other couples. Goldsmith S. Prakash, 46, said space constraints mean his family now uses a gas stove, but they still cook Ponggal in clay pots. Uma, with one of the colourful Ponggal pots for sale at the shop in Little India, Ipoh. Fellow trader P. Prabhu, 32, said customers prefer clay pots as a way to stay connected to their roots.

KUALA LUMPUR: Issues related to Muafakat Nasional will be among the topics touched on by Datuk Seri Dr Ahmad Zahid Hamidi in his policy speech at the Umno Annual General Assembly, says an Umno supreme council member. Datuk Seri Mohd Sharkar Shamsuddin said the party president would explain this in detail this coming Friday (Jan 16). “It's just the usual topics and those that have been lingering - Muafakat Nasional, the recent Umno Youth convention and also the Sabah state elections. The possibility of reviving cooperation between Umno and PAS was raised during the recent special Umno Youth convention earlier this month. The proposal, raised by Umno Youth Chief Datuk Dr Muhamad Akmal Saleh, also included Umno withdrawing from the current unity government.