BUTTERWORTH: A fire destroyed six three-storey shoplot units housing a private college on Jalan Perai Jaya here yesterday. Penang Fire and Rescue Department assistant director of operations, John Sagun Francis, said the department received an emergency call at 5.10pm, prompting a fire engine from the Perai Fire and Rescue Station to be dispatched immediately. "The fire involved six three-storey shoplot units, each with an estimated floor area of 93sq m. It started on the ground floor, which had been reconfigured from six units into a single unit, before spreading to the upper levels. The blaze was brought under control at 6.34pm," he said in a statement last night. The cause of the fire and the total losses are under investigation.

KUALA LUMPUR: Bank Negara has announced the reappointed Nor Zahidi Alias as an external member to the monetary policy committee (MPC) for a three-year term starting on Jan 1, 2026. The central bank said in a statement Nor Zahidi Alias has been an external member of the MPC since Jan 1, 2021. Separately, Bank Negara also announced the reappointment of three Shariah Advisory Council (SAC) members, in accordance with section 53(1) of the Central Bank of Malaysia Act 2009. All three appointments are for a three-year term starting Jan 1, 2026, to Dec 31, 2028. According to the centra bank, the SAC is the highest authority for the ascertainment of Islamic law for purposes of Islamic financial business in Malaysia.

KUALA LUMPUR: The Employees Provident Fund (EPF) has announced a series of policy and product enhancements to strengthen retirement adequacy, expand social protection coverage and enhance the overall member experience. EPF also announced that the Retirement Income Adequacy (RIA) Framework will come into effect today with three savings tiers – Basic Savings (RM390,000), Adequate Savings (RM650,000) and Enhanced Savings (RM1.3mil) – as guidance for retirement planning. The increase of the excess savings limit that can be withdrawn will be implemented gradually at RM100,000 every year over three years, starting from RM1.1mil in 2026. Concurrently, the eligibility threshold for the Members Investment Scheme (MIS) will be aligned with the Basic Savings level. To encourage voluntary ­savings, EPF is also introducing i-­Simpan for self-contribution and i-­Topup for voluntary excess contributions (amounts exceeding the statutory rate) to complement existing contribution facilities such as i-Saraan, i-Sayang and i-Suri.

Nour al-Din al-Baba, an interior ministry spokesperson, said investigations were underway to determine the attacker's identity. The suspect was believed "to have an ideological or organisational background linked to Islamic State," he told state-run television channel Al Ekhbariya. The attack comes at a time when Syrian authorities have increased cooperation with US forces in the fight against Islamic State. The US military responded by launching large-scale strikes against dozens of Islamic State targets in the country. Wednesday's attack was carried out in Aleppo's Bab al-Faraj neighbourhood, the interior ministry said.

PUTRAJAYA: The Community Service Order under the Solid Waste and Public Cleansing Management Act 2007 will be enforced from Thursday (Jan 1) as an additional penalty for minor littering offences in public areas. For Penang, Selangor, Kelantan and Terengganu, which do not adopt the Act, implementation will start as soon as possible, subject to state authority approval. Offenders may also face fines of RM2,000 to RM10,000 for the same offence, with the Community Service Order imposed in addition to, not as a replacement for, existing fines, and only after a court conviction. Sentenced individuals are required to perform up to 12 hours of community service within six months, including collecting solid waste, washing public areas, cutting grass and clearing cobwebs, with scheduling and supervision determined by authorised officers. Members of the public may lodge complaints with SWCorp via WhatsApp at 013-210 7472 or through the SWCorp Public Complaints Management System (SISPAA) at swcorp.spab.gov.my.

ALOR SETAR: Police have arrested a woman who acted aggressively towards police officers and disturbed public order in Mergong here on Tuesday (Dec 30). "Upon arriving at the scene, the officers found the suspect, a local woman, creating a disturbance and disrupting public order. ACP Syed Basri added that the suspect also spat at the officer while uttering remarks that insulted the Islamic religion. "The incident was recorded by members of the public and later went viral on the TikTok social media platform," he said. He said the case is being investigated under Section 353 of the Penal Code for using criminal force to deter a public servant from carrying out his duties.

NILAI: A man was found dead with 12 stab wounds, believed to be murdered, at a house in Damai Ria Apartments, Mantin, on Tuesday (Dec 30). Nilai OCPD Supt Johari Yahya told the Malay language daily that the police received information about the death of the man, in his 30s, at around 11am. "Initial investigations at the scene found that the victim had 12 stab wounds, including to the back of the head, chest, and neck. A forensic examination of the deceased has been conducted, and the investigation continues comprehensively, including reviewing CCTV footage, witness statements, forensic analysis, and technical investigation. "The public is advised not to speculate or spread unverified information that could disrupt the investigation," he said.

KUALA LUMPUR: Health Minister Datuk Seri Dr Dzulkefly Ahmad yesterday hailed the late Santi Krishanan as a hero for donating her corneas, describing the nursing instructor's final act as a testament to her lifelong dedication to saving lives. In a Facebook post, Dzulkefly said Santi, who worked at the Health Ministry's Training Institute, had fulfilled her late father's organ donation wish through her selfless gesture. Dzulkefly added that Santi had truly "walked the talk" by honouring her father's dream and making the same choice herself. Earlier, in a post on X, he said Santi was also an organ donor coordinator at the National Transplant Resource Centre. "She was a beacon of hope for the country's National Agenda on Organ Transplant."

The Federal Government has gazetted Feb 1, 2026, as a dual public holiday for Thaipusam Day and Federal Territory Day. KUALA LUMPUR: The federal government has gazetted Feb 1 as a dual public holiday for Thaipusam and Federal Territory Day. "As the date falls on a Sunday, employers whose weekly rest day is Sunday must grant a replacement holiday on Monday. Alternatively, with employee consent, an employer may grant a different day as a paid holiday in lieu, in accordance with Subsection 60D(1A). "Employees who are ordered to work on either public holiday are entitled to holiday pay at the rate specified in Section 60D(3)," the statement read.

KANGAR: The Perlis State Assembly announced that there would no longer be a need to hold by-elections for these three state seats. "The decision was made under Clause (5) of Article 55 of the Perlis State Constitution and was officially communicated to the Perlis State Election Commission through a letter dated Dec 30, 2025," said Perlis Legislative Assembly Speaker Rus'sele Eizan during a press conference at the state assembly's legislative building on Wednesday (Dec 31). However, Rus'sele noted that the previously declared vacancies for the Chuping, Bintong and Guar Sanji state assembly seats would still remain in effect, as indicated in his letter dated Dec 29. Additionally, five other Bersatu assemblymen in Perlis signed statutory declarations. On Dec 26, Mohd Shukri resigned, citing health reasons and was replaced by Bersatu's Abu Bakar Hamzah on Dec 28.

KUALA LUMPUR: The Royal Malaysian Navy (RMN) has confirmed that its Super Lynx helicopter was involved in an emergency water landing off Pantai Klebang, Melaka. In a statement, the RMN said the incident occurred at 10.50pm last night while the helicopter was conducting a demonstration flight in conjunction with the 60th anniversary celebrations of the Army's Special Service Group. "Four crew members were on board at the time and all were successfully rescued before being taken to Melaka Hospital for medical examinations. "All crew members were conscious and in stable condition, and are currently under medical monitoring," it said. "The public is urged not to circulate videos of the incident to safeguard sensitivities and to ensure the smooth conduct of the investigation," it said.

GEORGE TOWN: Three Chinese nationals were charged in the Magistrate's Court here on Wednesday (Dec 31) for allegedly trafficking 26kg of drugs. The accused, Xie Zhouji, 38; Zhang Mea, 32; and Chen Cheng, 36, nodded in understanding after the charges were read before Magistrate Nadratun Naim Mohd Saidi. However, no plea was recorded as the case falls under the jurisdiction of the High Court. According to the charges, all three men are accused of jointly trafficking 26kg of methamphetamine at the Adorna Gold Complex apartment at 10.00pm on Dec 20. The court agreed to deny bail and fixed Feb 25, 2026, for the next mention, pending the chemistry report.

I used to be one of those people,” the 60-year-old actor and television host tells The Straits Times in a Zoom interview. “But because of my health scare in 2017, every day is a new chapter.”That health scare was not a minor one, but a medical mystery that left him unconscious and, briefly, without a heartbeat. It started when Singh collapsed at a gym and was later found to have lost all memory of the previous 24 hours. “All I can say is, I’m glad I’m still alive.”That brush with mortality has fundamentally altered how he looks at life and health. “And if I could, I’d live 1,000 years.”Singh is undergoing a DNA-guided wellness programme through Singapore-based company ConnectingDNA.

PETALING JAYA: A private veterinary clinic owner pleaded not guilty in the Sessions Court here to a charge of abandoning the care of two animals, causing their deaths, at a premises in Damansara Damai. Selangor State Veterinary Services Department prosecuting officer Mohd Sharif Sabran offered bail of RM10,000 with one surety, with the additional condition that the accused's passport be surrendered to the court. Judge Noor Ruzilawati Mohd Nor allowed bail of RM8,000 with one surety, along with additional conditions as requested by the prosecution. Previously, a video and photo went viral on social media, showing a dog and a cat dead at a veterinary clinic in Damansara Damai. Following this, the Selangor Veterinary Services Department announced that it received a complaint on Dec 17, and the results of the inspection found that both animals were found dead in separate cages with an estimated time of death between one to two weeks.- Bernama

SINGAPORE: Asian stocks drifted on the last trading day of a year that has seen investors brush off much of the tariff-related uncertainty and embrace AI chip stocks, while the dollar's dismal year has left the euro and sterling standing tall. Gold firmed a bit and is on track for a 66% ⁠surge in 2025 as the three-year rally shows no signs of stopping. The index is poised to clock a 27% increase for the year, its sharpest rise since 2017, mainly on a strong rally in chipmakers amid the boom in artificial intelligence-related stocks. "Notwithstanding a few little shocks, the year has been terrific for investment returns," said Kyle Rodda, senior financial analyst at Capital.com. "The biggest risks are an unwinding ‌of crowded positioning in both AI and precious metals," Chanana said.