If I were palm oil, as the Snake makes way for the Horse
Palm oil as in palm olein? And because refined palm oil carries a neutral flavour, it never competes with the dish. In sauces and gravies, refined palm oil provides a neutral, glossy base that carries spices evenly and keeps flavours rounded rather than sharp. If refined palm oil is the quiet workhorse of festive kitchens, red palm oil is its storyteller. With a smoke point comparable to refined palm oil, it remains stable for sautéing and light frying, while its colour transforms dishes visually.
Source:The Star
February 18, 2026 23:32 UTC
S&P 500 advances as AI jitters ease, data shows strong economy
The S&P 500 Index gained 0.6% in New York, while the technology-heavy Nasdaq 100 Index rallied 0.8%. Investors snapped up beaten-down stocks following a stretch of volatile trading driven by concern about the potential disruption that AI poses to a bevy of sectors. New residential construction in the US also rose to a five-month high in the final month of last year. “Figuring out the winners and losers in AI is likely to be a center theme in 2026. New York Times Co shares rose after Berkshire Hathaway built a stake in the publisher, while slashing its holding in Amazon by more than 75%.
Source:The Edge Markets
February 18, 2026 23:12 UTC
Asia shares get tech lift as Iran, rate uncertainty loom over markets
In currencies, the dollar firmed after minutes from the Federal Reserve's (Fed) latest meeting showed policymakers were in no rush to cut rates. Oil prices held gains after surging in the previous session, as investors priced in potential supply disruptions on concerns of a conflict between the US and Iran. Brent crude futures were down slightly at US$70.31 a barrel after jumping 4.35% in the previous session, while US crude was last at US$65.10, holding on to most of Wednesday's 4.6% gain. I think this is just designed to put more pressure on Iran to come back with more reasonable objectives from these talks," said Sycamore. The New Zealand dollar was up 0.11% at US$0.5972, having tumbled 1.4% in the previous session after the country's central bank tempered market expectations for a hawkish pivot at its policy meeting.
Source:The Edge Markets
February 18, 2026 23:07 UTC
Stocks get tech boost amid strong economic reports
About 320 shares in the S&P 500 rose. “The magnitude, persistence, and breadth of buying activity have materially exceeded prior peaks,” said Scott Rubner, the firm’s head of equity and equity derivatives strategy. The S&P 500 rose to around 6,880. Despite Wednesday’s equity gains, the S&P 500 has been struggling to breach the 7,000 level since it first made its push toward that level back in October. “We view the stock market as currently being in a ‘shaken, not stirred’ state,” said Craig Johnson at Piper Sandler.
Source:The Edge Markets
February 18, 2026 23:02 UTC
Cops nab 67-year-old man for vandalising ATM machines in Sentul
KUALA LUMPUR: A vandal who damaged a dozen ATMs has been arrested by the police. Sentul OCPD Asst Comm Basri Sagoni in a statement said that follow up investigations led to the arrest of a 67-year-old man within Sentul on Wednesday (Feb 18). "Questioning found that the suspect committed the act because he was dissatisfied after failing to withdraw money from the ATM," he said. "With the arrest of the suspect, the police have successfully solved five reported cases of ATM screen vandalism." Previously the suspect allegedly broke the screens of 12 ATMs at bank branches in the Sentul area.
Source:The Star
February 18, 2026 19:29 UTC
MetMalaysia: Thunderstorm warning for KL, five states until 6pm
KUALA LUMPUR: The Malaysian Meteorological Department (MetMalaysia) has issued a thunderstorm warning for the Federal Territory of Kuala Lumpur and five states until 6pm on Wednesday (Feb 18). MetMalaysia said thunderstorms, heavy rain and strong winds are expected in Kedah (Kulim and Bandar Baharu) and Perak (Kerian, Larut, Matang dan Selama, and Kuala Kangsar). The same warning has also been issued for Selangor (Klang, Gombak, Petaling and Hulu Langat) and Johor (Batu Pahat, Pontian, Kulai and Johor Bahru). In Sabah, the affected areas include the Interior (Tenom, Beaufort, Nabawan, Keningau and Tambunan), the West Coast (Papar, Putatan, Penampang, Kota Kinabalu, Tuaran and Ranau), Tawau (Tawau), and Sandakan (Tongod and Telupid).
Source:The Star
February 18, 2026 17:23 UTC
Fireworks shop explosion kills 12 in China
BEIJING: An explosion at a fireworks shop in central China killed 12 people on Wednesday (Feb 18), the second day of the Lunar New Year holiday, according to state broadcaster CCTV. Setting off fireworks and firecrackers is common during holiday celebrations in China, especially around Lunar New Year, which fell on Tuesday. On Sunday, an explosion at a fireworks shop in eastern China's Jiangsu province killed eight and injured two. An explosion at a biotech factory in northern China's Shanxi province killed eight people this month. And in late January, an explosion at a steel factory in the neighbouring province of Inner Mongolia left at least nine people dead.
Source:The Star
February 18, 2026 16:44 UTC
Prince William opens up on mental health, understanding his 'emotions'
LONDON: Britain's Prince William opened up Wednesday (Feb 18) about his mental health strategies, the heir to the throne revealing he takes "a long time trying to understand my emotions". Joining a panel discussion on the BBC's youth-focused Radio 1 station, William called for "more male role models" to help normalise mental health discussions, noting it was vital to "be kind to yourself". The 43-year-old prince and his wife Catherine have long made mental health support one of their signature causes, with their philanthropic foundation last year launching a new national suicide prevention network. His comments came as the president of the Royal College of Psychiatrists urged the government to address a "silent mental health pandemic" affecting people across England. Last year, in a video released to mark World Mental Health Day, the prince fought back tears as he discussed the impact of suicide with a woman whose husband took his own life.
Source:The Star
February 18, 2026 16:35 UTC
Sabah needs Philippines Consulate, not Indian Consulate says Kitingan
KOTA KINABALU: Sabah needs a Philippines Consulate rather than an Indian Consulate, says former deputy chief minister Jeffrey Kitingan. "Sabah also does not need to take in Indian workers because it has more than enough foreign workers from Indonesia and the Philippines, who also speak Bahasa Malaysia. "Therefore, we do not support the establishment of an Indian Consulate in Sabah," stressed Kitingan in response to the Prime Minister’s announcement of support for the proposed Indian Consulate, here. In short, while there may be a few who welcome the opening of the Indian consulate, the majority of responses on social media show concern regarding the necessity and priority. Kitingan also proposed that Anwar Ibrahim engage diplomatically with the Philippines President to establish their consulate in Sabah.
Source:The Star
February 18, 2026 15:54 UTC
Video shows great white shark circling divers in Australia
SYDNEY: Life savers have released chilling helicopter footage of a 4.5-metre (15-foot) great white shark that was circling two unsuspecting divers in Western Australia. "Unaware of the danger, our crew sounded the siren, alerting the divers who exited the water onto their jet ski and headed to safety," Surf Life Saving Western Australia said in a social media post this week. Western Australia's government says shark encounters are rare but people should take precautions including using a SharkSmart mobile app that gives near real-time alerts of shark activity. There have been more than 1,280 shark incidents around Australia since 1791, of which more than 250 resulted in death, according to a database of the predators' encounters with humans. The most recent fatality was a 12-year-old boy who died after being attacked by a shark in Sydney Harbour in January.
Source:The Star
February 18, 2026 15:02 UTC
King and Queen extend Ramadan greetings
KUALA LUMPUR: His Majesty Sultan Ibrahim and Her Majesty Raja Zarith Sofiah, King and Queen of Malaysia, today sent their Ramadan greetings to Muslims in the country. In a Facebook post shared on the King’s official page, Their Majesties urged the people to make the most of the blessed month by increasing acts of worship, strengthening unity, and fostering a spirit of mutual assistance. "We pray that Malaysia continues to be blessed and that all its citizens enjoy well-being, peace, and harmony,” Their Majesties said. Muslims in Malaysia will begin fasting on Thursday (Feb 19).- Bernama
Source:The Star
February 18, 2026 14:48 UTC
Penang PH machinery told to gear up for next GE
GEORGE TOWN: The Penang Pakatan Harapan (PH) machinery has been asked to begin early preparations for the next general election (GE). Penang PH Leadership Council chairman Chow Kon Yeow said, with this in mind, the current focus of the coalition is on internal strengthening, including restructuring party machinery, work strategies, and organisational enhancement at all levels. "Time will pass very quickly, so we need to start preparations for the upcoming election. Also present were PKR Wanita chief and Education Minister Fadhlina Sidek, State Leadership Council chairman Datuk Mohamad Abdul Hamid, who is also Deputy Chief Minister I, and members of the state party leadership. In a press conference later, he also said the decision on whether the GE and state election would be held simultaneously rests with the central leadership, and Penang PH would abide by any decision made.
Source:New Strait Times
February 18, 2026 14:16 UTC
Buntong care centre residents hit by flash floods seek urgent help
IPOH: Residents at a care centre run by the Sri Annapurani Alayam temple in Buntong are appealing to the public and relevant agencies for assistance after their premises were hit by a flash flood last Monday (Feb 16). Temple staff member Gayathri, 35, said the 45 residents, comprising families, children and orphans, are now facing hardship as nearly all their belongings were destroyed by flood waters. "We are now in urgent need of community support to help restore the centre. Many of the residents are children and some are orphans who rely entirely on this care facility." The upper reaches of Sungai Kinta and Sungai Pari experienced heavy rain, recording 83.5mm, causing Sungai Pari to overflow and flood low-lying areas in Manjoi, Buntong, Taman Hock Aun and along Jalan Kuala Kangsar.
Source:The Star
February 18, 2026 14:15 UTC
Study: Your lifespan could be inherited from your ancestors
People are twice as likely to inherit their lifespan than was previously thought, according to a team of researchers led by scientists at the Weizmann Institute in Israel. The “genetic contribution” to how long a person lives is around half, the team found, following a trawl of health databases in Denmark and Sweden. “For many years, human lifespan was thought to be shaped almost entirely by non-genetic factors, which led to considerable scepticism about the role of genetics in ageing and about the feasibility of identifying genetic determinants of longevity,” said study lead author and Weizmann Institute PhD student Ben Shenhar. Other recent research has pointed to a potential role for taurine, an amino acid, in slowing the ageing process. Still other scientists have pointed to the 200-year lifespan of the bowhead whale – a longevity that has been put down to the Arctic giant having a protein in its cells that protects from carcinogenic mutations.
Source:The Star
February 18, 2026 14:05 UTC
Keep trading activities away from Dataran Merdeka, says DBKL
KUALA Lumpur City Hall (DBKL) has warned the public that Dataran Merdeka and the surrounding areas are off-limits to petty traders and hawkers. The images sparked criticism among internet users who expressed concerns over cleanliness and the image of central Kuala Lumpur. In a statement on Wednesday (Feb 18), DBKL said personnel were dispatched to the location on Sunday to carry out enforcement actions. "This is to preserve the image, cleanliness and heritage value of the area, which is a source of pride for city residents," it said. DBKL also reminded the public to play a role in keeping the city clean and refrain from buying from illegal traders in the capital.
Source:The Star
February 18, 2026 13:32 UTC