Seven Ramsar sites a source of pride
KUALA LUMPUR: Having seven wetland areas recognised as Ramsar Sites reflects local communities’ and stakeholders’ strong commitment to conserving Malaysia’s wetland ecosystem, says Datuk Seri Arthur Joseph Kurup (pic). Arthur said Sabah is also home to two Ramsar Sites, namely the Lower Kinabatangan-Segama Wetlands and Kota Kinabalu Wetlands, which were designated in 2008 and 2016, respectively. As a testament to the country’s commitment to the conservation of wetlands, the minister said Malaysia acceded to the Convention on Wetlands, commonly known as the Ramsar Convention, in 1994. He added that the Ramsar Convention is the world’s oldest modern multilateral environmental agreement, established in 1971, with 172 contracting parties to date. As of 2025, worldwide authorities have designated a total of 2,546 wetlands of international importance, known as Ramsar Sites.
Source:The Star
February 02, 2026 23:10 UTC
Asian stocks set to climb after US data lifts mood
(Feb 3) : Asian stocks were headed for gains Tuesday after solid US factory data helped lift sentiment, supporting shares and Bitcoin while curbing losses in precious metals. Gold sank around 5% on Monday, paring a larger decline earlier in the session, while silver fell about 6%. Sustained growth would help provide reassurance that manufacturing is on the mend after languishing the past three years. In Asia, data set for release includes inflation in South Korea, building approvals in Australia and retail sales for Hong Kong. “This development is fundamentally positive for corporate earnings, benefiting both US stocks and global equities with exposure to US growth momentum,” he said.
Source:The Edge Markets
February 02, 2026 22:54 UTC
Stocks climb on solid factory report as bonds fall
(Feb 3) : Stocks climbed after solid factory data bolstered optimism about Corporate America while losses in gold and silver moderated after a dramatic rout. The S&P 500 closed near its all-time highs, with economically sensitive sectors leading the way as manufacturing activity expanded the most since 2022. The Institute for Supply Management’s manufacturing index rose to 52.6 from 47.9. “The surprisingly strong ISM Manufacturing survey this morning caused a selloff in Treasuries,” said Mark Streiber at FHN Financial. “The S&P 500 closed January with a modest 1.4% gain, which carries bullish implications for the rest of the year.
Source:The Edge Markets
February 02, 2026 22:43 UTC
Missing six-year-old in Daro found drowned
KUCHING: A six-year-old girl, who was reported missing and feared to have fallen into Sungai Daro on Sunday (Feb 1), was found drowned Monday (Feb 2). The Sarawak Fire and Rescue Department said the girl's body was discovered floating in a river near Kampung Lemang Pek at 4pm Monday. "The search and rescue (SAR) team, which discovered the body, then informed the police. The victim's body was brought ashore at the Kampong Panchor jetty before being taken to the hospital," it said in a statement Monday. According to the department, the victim had left by herself through the back gate of the house without either parent realising it.
Source:The Star
February 02, 2026 22:10 UTC
Slower decision-making and teen anxiety linked to screen usage in infanthood
A study by a Singapore government agency has found that children exposed to high levels of screen time before age two showed brain development changes linked to slower decision-making and higher anxiety in adolescence, adding to concerns about early digital exposure. It tracked 168 children for more than a decade, and conducted brain scans on them at three time points. Heavier screen exposure among very young children was associated with "accelerated maturation of brain networks” responsible for vision and cognitive control, the study found. Those children with "altered brain networks” took longer to make decisions when they were 8.5, and also had higher anxiety symptoms at age 13, the study said. Singapore’s education ministry recently announced that it will curb the use of smartphones and smartwatches in secondary schools starting in January.
Source:The Star
February 02, 2026 19:02 UTC
Elephant kills tourist at Thai national park
BANGKOK: A wild bull elephant killed a tourist in central Thailand's Khao Yai National Park on Monday (Feb 2), a park official said, the third fatality linked to the same animal. The 65-year-old Thai tourist from Lopburi province was out for a morning walk with his wife when he was trampled to death by an elephant named Oyewan, national park chief Chaiya Huayhongthong told AFP. Wild elephant numbers in Thailand rose from 334 in 2015 to almost 800 last year, prompting authorities to administer contraceptive vaccines to female animals in an effort to control their ballooning population. An elephant killed a Spanish tourist while she was bathing the animal at a sanctuary in southern Thailand in January last year. Another tourist was killed by an elephant at a national park in Loei province in northern Thailand in December 2024.
Source:The Star
February 02, 2026 17:40 UTC
Royal pardon not political gift, says Pahang Sultan
KUANTAN: The Sultan of Pahang, Al-Sultan Abdullah Ri’ayatuddin Al-Mustafa Billah Shah, has stressed that the power to grant royal pardons under Article 42 of the Federal Constitution must not be regarded as a political gift or an act of personal sympathy. Instead, Al-Sultan Abdullah said the power of pardon is a legitimate constitutional mechanism that serves as a final consideration in a justice system that is punitive in nature. "The granting of pardons and sentence reductions is also not exclusive to any individual, party or position. According to the post, the Sultan made the remarks when attending the 120th Meeting of the Pahang Council of Regency at a hotel here on Monday. The Sultan also expressed confidence that Malaysia would continue to remain a principled and firm nation, and prayed that the country, and Pahang in particular, would always be under Allah’s blessings.- Bernama
Source:The Star
February 02, 2026 16:54 UTC
The people’s prescription for healthcare
Lasting healthcare reform requires more than policies, budgets or political will. Just as Malaysians speak up for safer roads or stronger education, they must also champion a healthcare system that is equitable, modern and resilient. Reclaim the ‘public’ in public healthcareMalaysia’s public healthcare system is a national achievement that is built on equity, fairness and shared responsibility. Malaysia can build a world-class healthcare system that is preventive, inclusive, digitally-connected and resilient. This is the last in a five-part series on healthcare reform that was published weekly.
Source:The Star
February 02, 2026 16:32 UTC
Malaysia proud of seven internationally recognised Ramsar wetland sites
KUALA LUMPUR: Malaysia is proud of its seven wetland sites recognised internationally as Ramsar sites, says Natural Resources and Environmental Sustainability Minister Datuk Seri Arthur Joseph Kurup. The recognised sites include Tasek Bera in Pahang, designated in 1994; Tanjung Piai, Pulau Kukup and Sungai Pulai in Johor, designated in 2003 and Kuching Wetlands National Park in Sarawak, designated in 2005. Arthur said Sabah has two Ramsar sites: the Lower Kinabatangan-Segama Wetlands and the Kota Kinabalu Wetlands, designated in 2008 and 2016, respectively. "Malaysia is fortunate to possess a rich and diverse wetland ecosystem covering more than 5.19 million hectares," he said in a Facebook post on Monday (Feb 2), in conjunction with World Wetlands Day. "As of 2025, a total of 2,546 wetlands of international importance, known as Ramsar sites, have been designated worldwide," he said.
Source:The Star
February 02, 2026 16:25 UTC
Anwar finishes family trip to Johor, heads back to KL on ETS3
JOHOR BARU: Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim said he was thankful after spending two days on a leisurely family visit in Johor, exploring the southern state's rich historical and cultural heritage. "Alhamdulillah, Johor (visit) completed," the Prime Minister said briefly when met by Bernama before departing from JB Sentral Station for Kuala Lumpur. The Prime Minister and his family arrived at JB Sentral at 3.27pm and were scheduled to depart on the Electric Train Service 3 (ETS3) service at 4pm. Upon arrival, the Prime Minister visited Johor Zoo with his grandchildren, interacted with visitors and received briefings on the zoo's latest developments. In a Facebook post, he praised the Johor state government's continuous efforts to upgrade heritage assets and strengthen tourism attractions in line with the Visit Johor 2026 (TMJ2026) aspirations.
Source:The Star
February 02, 2026 16:13 UTC
Drowned boy's mother, aunt detained
ALOR GAJAH: Police have detained the mother and aunt of the six-year-old boy who drowned in a hot spring pool here to assist in investigations. Alor Gajah OCPD Supt Ahmad Abu Bakar said the boy’s 27-year-old mother and his 22-year-old aunt were detained on Monday (Feb 2) to have their statements recorded. "The two women are believed to have been present at the scene during the incident. "They will be released later today on police bail to allow the family to make funeral arrangements,” he said on Monday. The victim died at Alor Gajah Hospital at 8.24pm on the same day.
Source:The Star
February 02, 2026 15:54 UTC
US manufacturing activity expands by most since 2022
(Feb 2): US manufacturing activity unexpectedly expanded in January at the fastest pace since 2022, energised by solid growth in new orders and production. The Institute for Supply Management’s manufacturing index rose to 52.6 from 47.9, according to data released Monday. Sustained growth would help provide reassurance that manufacturing is on the mend after languishing the past three years. Lean customer stockpiles have the potential of providing more of a tailwind for factory orders and production in the coming months. The ISM prices-paid index climbed in January to a four-month high of 59.
Source:The Edge Markets
February 02, 2026 15:28 UTC
Four men arrested for drug trafficking in Melaka Tengah
MELAKA: Police arrested four men for suspected drug trafficking in two raids around Melaka Tengah last Wednesday (Jan 28). Melaka Tengah OCPD Asst Comm Christopher Patit said that two men, 31 and 35, were arrested during the first raid in Tanjung Minyak while another two men, in their 30s, were arrested in an oil palm plantation in Krubong from 1pm to 4pm. "Further checks on a house in Taman Bertam Setia following the first raid led to the discovery of 21 plastic packets filled with 26.68gm of heroin. All suspects tested negative for drugs, he said, and have been remanded for seven days from Thursday this Wednesday, he said. The case is being investigated under Section 38B of the Dangerous Drugs Act 1952, he added.
Source:The Star
February 02, 2026 14:39 UTC
Misbun begins stint at Hatsun Badminton Centre with positive first impressions
PETALING JAYA: Datuk Misbun Sidek has been left impressed after his first day at the Hatsun Badminton Centre in Thiruthangal, Tamil Nadu, India. The 65-year-old will work alongside head coach Rajinikanth to help polish young talents at the academy, which was established in 2018. Datuk Misbun Sidek looking at the eight-court academyThough relatively new compared to other academies, their founders were inspired by P. Gopichand’s Hyderabad centre and their role in producing future champions for India. Datuk Misbun Sidek showing the trophies by the academy's junior talents. Datuk Misbun Sidek having a word with head coach Rajinikanth.
Source:The Star
February 02, 2026 14:35 UTC
Indonesia bans import of 12 products, impacting some Thai exports
The import ban affects 12 product categories, potentially impacting Thailand’s exports to Indonesia, particularly key exports such as sugar, rice, and products within the air conditioning and refrigeration sectors. However, Indonesia still needs to import sugar due to insufficient domestic production. Consequently, the government is likely to continue limiting or not permitting rice imports for direct consumption, following the policies of previous years. 31/2025, Indonesia still allows rice imports for industrial purposes by companies with Importer Producer status, but these imports must be approved beforehand. 31/2025 remains in effect, clearly distinguishing between rice imports for direct consumption, which are limited to state-owned enterprises, and rice imports for industrial use, which can be conducted by authorised Importer Producers.
Source:The Star
February 02, 2026 14:24 UTC