Tan-Azriyn reach Thailand Masters quarters, good day for Ling Ching and Co too
Wee Kiong and Azriyn even trailed 7-16 in the second game but the world No. 28 duo kept their composure and patience, clawing back point by point to secure a 21-12, 22-20 victory. They will now face China’s Hu Keyuan and Lin Xiangyi, who earlier defeated Aaron Tai and Kang Khai Xing 21-23, 18-21. In the women’s singles, all Malaysia’s representatives continued their fine form with Wong Ling Ching, K. Letshanaa and Goh Jin Wei reaching the last eight. Ling Ching gained a confidence boost after eliminating seventh seed Julie Jakobsen of Denmark 21-18, 21-11, and will face India’s Isharani Baruah in the quarter finals.
Source:The Star
January 29, 2026 17:25 UTC
Gold retreats in sudden selloff after breaking through US$5,500
(Jan 30): Gold fell the most since October, reversing earlier gains that took the precious metal to a fresh record above US$5,500 (RM21,543) an ounce, as the US dollar strengthened. A gauge of the dollar rose as much as 0.3%, reversing earlier declines. The precious metal had climbed more than 20% just this month, with some technical indicators pointing to a near-term price correction. Spot gold fell 2.6% to US$5,276.46 an ounce as of 11.25am in New York. Spot silver fell 3.6% to US$112.44 an ounce.
Source:The Edge Markets
January 29, 2026 16:36 UTC
Bharat Petroleum plans Singapore trading hub to cut costs and boost margins
“The price at which we buy crude, liquefied petroleum gas, and liquefied natural gas is very crucial,” Khanna said. “There is definitely an advantage in having our own trading desk.”Singapore is a trading hub for a wide range of commodities including oil, energy, metals and agriculture. ONGC is discussing a similar partnership with European oil majors, while IOC is in talks with Vitol Group for such a venture, Bloomberg News reported earlier. Bharat Petroleum had partnered with Shell plc in the middle of the last decade to improve its trading acumen. A global trading partner may again be sought, should there be a need in the future, he said.
Source:The Edge Markets
January 29, 2026 16:26 UTC
RM9.5 mil in incentives distributed to 94,677 rubber smallholders from January to November last year
KUALA LUMPUR (Jan 29): A total of 94,677 smallholders benefitted from the Rubber Production Incentive (IPG), receiving RM9.5 million in payments between January and November 2025, the Ministry of Plantation and Commodities (KPK) said. The ministry said the IPG was activated four times in Peninsular Malaysia and nine times each in Sabah and Sarawak in 2025. Regarding whether the IPG activation price threshold (PHP) of RM3 per kg remains relevant, the ministry said the rate is based on government finances. “However, the ministry is reviewing and assessing improvements to the IPG implementation mechanism to make it more inclusive and targeted. “This includes proposals to introduce productivity-based incentives and to increase the IPG rate for latex production, to sustainably boost productivity, national rubber output, and smallholders’ incomes,” the ministry said.
Source:The Edge Markets
January 29, 2026 15:51 UTC
‘Pawn Stars’ alum Corey Harrison hospitalised after breaking 11 ribs in motorcycle crash
Pawn Stars alum Corey Harrison was hospitalised after breaking 11 ribs in a motorcycle crash. “Pretty messed up but I’m good,” Harrison, 42, captioned an Instagram post on Monday (Jan 26) showing himself in a hospital bed. The History Channel alum added that he would say more about the crash in an upcoming episode of his Corey Harrison Show podcast. “Sorry, Pops, looks like I’m missing your wedding,” he added, referring to Gold & Silver Pawn Shop owner Rick Harrison’s nuptials to Agripina “Angie” Polushkin. Pawn Stars debuted in 2009 and followed the Harrisons’ and their Las Vegas shop.
Source:The Star
January 29, 2026 15:04 UTC
KTMB to operate special Ramadan, Aidilfitri train services, tickets go on sale on Friday
“The special service (Ramadan Edition) will operate for four days, namely on Feb 20 and March 6 for the KL Sentral–Tumpat route, as well as Feb 22 and March 8 for the Tumpat–KL Sentral route. A total of 1,584 tickets will be offered, including sleeper coaches for this service,” the statement said. One-way fares are offered from as low as RM80 for the Superior Class, while fares for Superior Class sleeper berths are RM90 (upper berth) and RM95 (lower berth), with Premier Class fares set at RM95. Meanwhile, the Northern edition ELA service involving the KL Sentral–Padang Besar–KL Sentral route will operate four services, with 1,200 tickets offered for Superior Class seating coaches at a one-way fare of RM70. The special train will operate on March 17 and March 22 for the KL Sentral–Padang Besar route, as well as on March 18 and March 23 for the Padang Besar–KL Sentral route.
Source:The Edge Markets
January 29, 2026 14:26 UTC
China agrees to halve tariffs on UK whisky after Xi-Starmer talks
BEIJING (Jan 29): China will reduce its tariffs on Scotch whisky to 5% from 10% following talks between Prime Minister Keir Starmer and Chinese President Xi Jinping, the British premier's press secretary said on Thursday. Starmer discussed lowering whisky tariffs in talks with Xi in Beijing earlier on Thursday, as he sought economic wins despite disagreements in other areas such as human rights. China agreed to strengthen labelling requirements for Scotch whisky to help protect it from counterfeiting and tampering a year ago during a financial dialogue when British finance minister Rachel Reeves visited Beijing. In 2024 China was the 10th biggest export market for Scotch whisky, according to Scotch Whisky Association figures, which also showed the Asia-Pacific is its largest regional market by value. China's commerce minister told Britain's trade minister that Beijing is willing to expand goods and services imports from Britain in pursuit of a more sophisticated relationship between the countries.
Source:The Edge Markets
January 29, 2026 14:11 UTC
US trade gap widens from smallest since 2009 as imports rise
The goods and services trade gap nearly doubled from the prior month to US$56.8 billion (RM222.49 billion), Commerce Department data showed on Thursday. The trade data have been prone to volatility related to the implementation of US trade policy. That was the case again in November, with a surge in inbound shipments of pharmaceuticals and a slide in gold exports. The value of all US goods and services exports fell 3.6% in November. The latest trade data will help economists firm up their estimates for fourth-quarter (4Q) gross domestic product (GDP).
Source:The Edge Markets
January 29, 2026 14:06 UTC
DOE DG and deputy nabbed by MACC in e-waste probe
KUALA LUMPUR: The director-general and deputy director-general of the Department of Environment (DOE) have been detained by graft busters to assist in investigations linked to alleged irregularities involving electronic waste (e-waste). Sources said the two suspects were detained at about 6.30pm on Thursday (Jan 29) after they turned up to give statements at the Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission (MACC) headquarters in Putrajaya. Meanwhile, MACC chief commissioner Tan Sri Azam Baki confirmed the arrests, adding that investigations are being conducted thoroughly and professionally in accordance with the law. He stressed that the commission would not compromise with anyone involved in corrupt practices, regardless of position or rank. The case is being investigated under the provisions of the MACC Act 2009.
Source:The Star
January 29, 2026 14:03 UTC
Fall of top Chinese general stirs US uncertainty about China's military
China's defence ministry said on Saturday that Zhang Youxia, second-in-command under President Xi Jinping as vice-chairman of the Central Military Commission (CMC), is under investigation. For Washington, Zhang's surprising demise removes a respected and well-known figure within China's military at a time when successive US administrations have worked to build senior-level contacts to avoid mishaps between the world's two most powerful militaries. Thompson said he believed Zhang was the one active-duty PLA officer who could give Xi objective advice about China's military capabilities and shortcomings, as well as the human cost of conflict. US interactions with senior CMC generals have been an infrequent feature of bilateral diplomacy over the past two decades. Eric Hundman, a Chinese military expert at Washington-based security consultancy BluePath Labs, said military-to-military exchanges under Xi, even at the CMC level, tended to be scripted.
Source:The Edge Markets
January 29, 2026 14:01 UTC
US weekly jobless claims fall slightly; prior week's data revised up
Initial claims for state unemployment benefits dropped 1,000 to a seasonally adjusted 209,000 for the week ended January 24, the Labor Department said on Thursday. The prior week's level of claims was revised up by 10,000 to 210,000. High-profile layoffs last year, including by the two companies, did not result in a notable surge in jobless claims. Continuing claims covered the period during which the government surveyed households for January's unemployment rate. The unemployment rate likely remained elevated this month.
Source:The Edge Markets
January 29, 2026 13:51 UTC
JB lorry driver gets RM100,000 fine, three months in jail for illegal dumping
JOHOR BARU: A lorry driver has been sentenced to three months’ imprisonment and fined RM100,000 by the Sessions Court here for illegal dumping. S. Ganesan, 51, pleaded guilty to four charges under the Environmental Quality Act 1974 before Judge Che Wan Zaidi Che Wan Ibrahim on Thursday (Jan 29). The court ordered Ganesan to serve a jail term of three months starting from Thursday and pay a fine of RM100,000 in default two months’ imprisonment. The court also ordered the seized lorry to be forfeited and handed over to the government. “Failure to comply with the Environmental Quality Act 1974 will result in legal action towards the individual offender, company and also company director,” he said.
Source:The Star
January 29, 2026 13:28 UTC
Hoarse but not out: Dr Wee marches back into Parliament
KUALA LUMPUR: After being recently released from the hospital, MCA President Datuk Seri Dr Wee Ka Siong has returned to Parliament to continue his duty as Ayer Hitam MP. Dr Wee, who has been hospitalised since Jan 19 due to a lung infection, said he was eager to continue his duty as an elected Member of Parliament. “My condition is steadily improving, though my voice is still a little hoarse at the moment. They truly mean a great deal to me,” he said in a Facebook post on Thursday (Jan 29). In a Facebook post on Jan 21, Dr Wee said he had informed the Dewan Rakyat Speaker, Tan Sri Johari Abdul, that he would be on medical leave for a week to treat his lung infection.
Source:The Star
January 29, 2026 13:24 UTC
'Bombshell': What top general's fall means for China's military
BEIJING: China has purged top generals before, but the announcement that Zhang Youxia (pic), the vice-chairman of the powerful Central Military Commission (CMC), is being investigated for corruption shocked defence observers. Zhang, 75, is a vice-chairman of the CMC, the body overseeing China's military that is chaired by Xi. Despite the turmoil, "China's military readiness does not appear to have been retarded significantly and the PLA can carry on as normal", said James Char from Singapore's Nanyang Technological University (NTU). Will it affect China's Taiwan strategy? The PLA has increased the number and scope of military drills around Taiwan in recent years.
Source:The Star
January 29, 2026 13:10 UTC
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150 MPs wind up debate on motion of thanks for royal address
KUALA LUMPUR (Jan 29): A total of 150 members of Parliament (MPs) have wound up the debate on the motion of thanks for the royal address in the Dewan Rakyat, which commenced on Jan 20. Prior to adjourning on Thursday, Dewan Rakyat Speaker Tan Sri Johari Abdul said the ministers' reply session regarding issues raised during the debate is scheduled to proceed from Feb 4 to 10. He also announced that the Dewan Rakyat sitting will not be held on Monday and Tuesday next week to allow for the observance of Federal Territory Day and Thaipusam. During Thursday’s debate, which preceded this announcement, a key issue raised by MPs was the Madani government's initiative to launch the Malaysia Agreement 1963 (MA63) Dashboard. To date, 13 of the 29 key issues have been resolved, nine of which were implemented under the current Madani government administration.
Source:The Edge Markets
January 29, 2026 11:20 UTC