(Feb 28): Iran launched attacks targeting US military bases around the Persian Gulf in retaliation for American and Israeli airstrikes on its nuclear and government sites on Saturday, Iranian state media reported. Iran’s state-run Nour News, which is close to Iran’s security apparatus, said the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps used heavy missiles to target several bases simultaneously including the Al Udeid Air Base in Qatar, Ali Al Salem Air Base in Kuwait, Al Dhafra Air Base in the United Arab Emirates, as well as the US Fifth Fleet base in Bahrain. Bahrain said a service centre for the US Fifth Fleet was targeted in a missile attack, while CNN reported that Qatar intercepted two other missiles in its airspace. Tehran targeted the Al Udeid Air Base in Qatar last June in response to Israeli and US strikes. Iran’s attacks on Saturday came after the US and Israel began striking targets across the Islamic Republic, with US President Donald Trump urging Iranians to take over their government once the military campaign ends.

Malaysian actor Jack Lim has alleged that there is a social media smear campaign being waged against his Chinese New Year comedy film Ah Beng Vs Liang Po Po. Why was Ah Beng Vs Liang Po Po being singled out?” he asks in Cantonese. Lim says the cinema seat maps showed weekday morning and afternoon screenings on Feb 24, typically a slow period for ticket sales. Who sent you?”Ah Beng Vs Liang Po Po is the top-grossing Chinese New Year theatrical release in Malaysia, having earned over RM8.13mil as at Feb 22, the sixth day of the festive season. After his adopted daughter is kidnapped by an organ-trafficking ring, he teams up with Liang Po Po, a feisty elderly woman Neo has portrayed in local films and television over the decades.

KUALA LUMPUR: The Badminton World Federation (BWF) have strengthened efforts to protect players and officials from online abuse through a new partnership with digital safety specialists Signify Group. The collaboration will give the BWF stronger tools to detect, assess, and respond to abusive or threatening messages directed at players, coaches, officials, and staff. Using Signify’s Threat Matrix service, reports of abuse will be analysed and, if necessary, escalated for further investigation. “This partnership strengthens our ability to respond to online abuse in a clear and meaningful way while giving stakeholders tools to better protect themselves,” said Lund. The BWF hope the initiative will create a safer online environment and send a strong message that abuse has no place in badminton.

PETALING JAYA: The Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission (MACC) has clarified that the Notice to Trace Individuals issued against four people linked to the Ops Godfather probe is not a form of punishment or a “wanted list”, but a procedural step to secure their attendance to assist in investigations. In a statement on Saturday (Feb 28), the MACC said the notice was not intended to shame any party but was issued following their failure to respond to and comply with two official notices served earlier. The Ops Godfather investigation is being conducted under Sections 23 and 36 of the MACC Act 2009, as well as Section 4(1) of the Anti-Money Laundering, Anti-Terrorism Financing and Proceeds of Unlawful Activities Act (AMLA) 2001. Six investigation papers were also opened against Toh Puan Na’imah Abdul Khalid, Josephine Premla Sivaretnam and four children of the late Tun Daim for allegedly failing to fully declare assets. The MACC said a Notice to Attend for Examination was served on Feb 13 through a law firm, with attendance set for March 11 this year, but no response had been received as of Feb 26.

KUALA LUMPUR (Feb 28): Following recent developments in the Middle East region, the Malaysian Embassy in Doha, Qatar, has advised Malaysians in Qatar to remain alert and closely monitor the situation. In a statement issued on Saturday, the embassy urged Malaysians in Qatar to obtain information only from verified sources, including official announcements by the Qatari authorities and the Malaysian Embassy. Qatari authorities have also issued a notice advising everyone to remain indoors and take precautionary measures. “In this regard, all Malaysians in Qatar are advised not to remain outdoors, to exercise caution and to continue monitoring current developments. Malaysians requiring consular assistance may contact the Malaysian Embassy via +974 3374 6733 (for emergencis only) or by email at [email protected].

SINGAPOREAN chef Ethel Hoon’s 2025 was, to put it mildly, a whirlwind. She, her husband, Italian chef Jakob Zeller, and their one-year-old daughter moved into an old farmhouse in the mountains of Northern Italy in April.

JOHOR BAHRU (Feb 28): The government will examine the impact on the country’s economy following attacks by the US and Israel on Iran, said Economy Minister Akmal Nasrullah Mohd Nasir. The minister said that, from an economic standpoint, there are several key issues to examine, including Malaysia’s direct relationship with Iran and the geopolitical tensions affecting the global economy. “Of course, one important angle to be assessed is the production of oil and gas, as Iran is a major regional and global producer. “In addition, we need to see effects on the global economic supply chain,” he said after the Seorang Sekampit Beras Campaign at the Sri Stulang People’s Housing Project here on Saturday. Commenting on the possibility of rising global oil and gas prices, he said the matter depends on market mechanisms and the decisions of major oil producers.

SHAH ALAM: The Employees Provident Fund (EPF), one of the largest shareholders of IJM Corp Bhd, has yet to decide on whether to accept Sunway Bhd’s voluntary takeover offer for the construction group. He said the fund would decide whether to accept the offer after receiving the circular. On Jan 12, Sunway proposed a conditional voluntary takeover offer to acquire all 3.51 billion shares in IJM Corp at RM3.15 per share. The group said that, assuming full acceptance of the proposed offer and no adjustments to the offer price, the total consideration will be approximately RM11bil, to be satisfied via a combination of cash and the issuance of new ordinary shares in Sunway. Sunway said the proposed offer is expected to be completed by the third quarter of 2026.

KUALA LUMPUR: Thunderstorms, heavy rain and strong winds are expected to hit eight states until 6 pm on Saturday (Feb 28). In a statement, the Malaysian Meteorology Department (MetMalaysia) said the weather warning covers Perlis, Kedah (Langkawi and Kubang Pasu), Pahang (Cameron Highlands), and Selangor (Kuala Selangor, Gombak, and Petaling). The same forecast has also been issued for Negeri Sembilan, covering Seremban, Kuala Pilah and Rembau, as well as Johor (Kluang, Mersing and Kota Tinggi). In Sarawak, the affected areas include Serian, Samarahan, Sri Aman (Lubok Antu), Sarikei, Sibu, Mukah (Matu) and Kapit (Song). Over in Sabah, the warning covers the West Coast (Ranau), Tawau (Tawau and Semporna) and Sandakan (Tongod).

PUTRAJAYA: Individual and non-individual taxpayers can submit their Income Tax Return Form (BN) for the 2025 Year Remuneration and Year of Assessment starting tomorrow (March 1), according to the Inland Revenue Board (LHDN). Taxpayers and employers can access this service directly through the MyTax portal https://mytax.hasil.gov.my or via the official LHDN portal https://www.hasil.gov.my > MyTax > ezHasil Services > e-Filing. "Tax agents are encouraged to use the Tax Agent e-filing System (TAeF) platform, which can be accessed through the MyTax portal," according to the statement. To ensure the smooth process of submitting BN through e-filing, LHDN said taxpayers must ensure they have the relevant role in MyTax. "As a guide for e-Form submission, taxpayers can refer to the BN Filing Programme for the Year 2026, which can be accessed and downloaded through the official LHDN portal," said the statement.

PETALING JAYA: Selangor has emerged as the state with the highest number of bankruptcies among civil servants, with teachers identified as a particularly vulnerable group. According to the Insolvency Department, 85 teachers in the state were declared bankrupt over the last five years. The scale of the issue extends beyond educators; between 2021 and 2025, a total of 687 civil servants in Selangor were declared insolvent. National Union of the Teaching Profession secretary-general Fouzi Singon said teachers are often targeted for scams or peer-pressured into bad investments. Licensed financial planner Gunaseelan Kannan said many teachers belong to the “sandwich generation”, supporting both ageing parents and growing children simultaneously.

KUALA LUMPUR: Following recent developments in the Middle East region, the Malaysian Embassy in Doha, Qatar, has advised Malaysians in Qatar to remain alert and closely monitor the situation. In a statement issued on Saturday, the embassy urged Malaysians in Qatar to obtain information only from verified sources, including official announcements by the Qatari authorities and the Malaysian Embassy." Avoid spreading unverified information,” the statement posted on the embassy’s Facebook page said. Malaysians requiring consular assistance may contact the Malaysian Embassy via +974 3374 6733 (for emergencies only) or by email at mwdoha@kln.gov.my"Malaysians who have yet to register with the embassy may do so through the e-Consular system at the following link: https://ekonsular.kin.gov.my/login,” it added. Earlier, Anadolu Ajansi reported that Israel’s defence minister said Tel Aviv had launched a strike against Iran.- Bernama

SHAH ALAM: The Employees Provident Fund (EPF) has declared a dividend rate of 6.15% for conventional savings for 2025, with the total payout amounting to RM67.1bil. Meanwhile, the dividend rate for Syariah savings was 6.15% with the payout totaling to RM12.5bil. Both the conventional and syariah savings recorded lower dividends than the previous year. For 2024, EPF declared a dividend rate of 6.3% for conventional savings with a total payout amounting to RM63.05bil, as well as a 6.3% dividend for syariah savings, with a payout amounting to RM10.19bil. For syariah savings, it recorded dividends of 6.4% in 2017, 5.9% (2018), 5% (2019), 4.9% (2020), 5.65% (2021), 4.75% (2022) and 5.4%(2023).

A RECENT report on the sharp decline of flying foxes and fruit bats in Sabah is cause for concern. Flying foxes are among nature’s most effective pollinators and seed dispersers. As they forage over long distances nightly, they transfer pollen from flower to flower and disperse seeds far from parent trees through their droppings or discarded fruit.

Neil Sedaka , the hit-making singer-songwriter whose boyish soprano and bright melodies made him a top act in the early years of rock ‘n' roll and led to a second run of success in the 1970s, has died. Sedaka, whose hits included Breaking Up Is Hard to Do and Laugher in the Rain, died Friday at age 86. "Our family is devastated by the sudden passing of our beloved husband, father and grandfather, Neil Sedaka," his family said in a statement. He has a street there named in his honour, Neil Sedaka Way. Sedaka loved songwriting and never quit, but he craved performing.