Cuba says 32 of its citizens killed in Maduro extraction
HAVANA, Jan 4 (Reuters) - The Cuban government said on Sunday that 32 of its citizens were killed during the U.S. raid on Venezuela to extract President Nicolas Maduro for prosecution in the United States. The Cuban government statement gave few details, but said all the dead were members of the Cuban armed forces and intelligence agencies. Cuba has provided some security for Maduro since he came to power. Maduro is being held in a New York detention center awaiting a Monday court appearance on drug charges.
Source:The Star
January 05, 2026 11:55 UTC
Anwar to undertake official visit to Turkiye from Jan 6-8
PETALING JAYA: Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim will undertake an official visit to Turkiye between Jan 6 to 8. According to the Prime Minister’s senior press secretary Tunku Nashrul Abaidah, the official visit is part of efforts to strengthen the longstanding bilateral relations between both countries. The Prime Minister is scheduled to meet with Turkiye president Recep Tayyip Erdoğan, where they will chair a high-level strategic council between both countries. “The Prime Minister is also scheduled to deliver a keynote address and have an engagement with the business community in Turkiye as well as the Malaysian diaspora,” he said. “This official visit reflects the commitment of the Madani administration to continue expanding an international cooperation network that is strategic, pragmatic and results-orientated based on the principles of Malaysia Madani,” he said.
Source:The Star
January 05, 2026 11:54 UTC
Taxpayers who received CP500 to benefit from penalty waiver in 2026
PETALING JAYA: Individual taxpayers who have received Instalment Payment Notices (CP500) will not be subjected to penalties in 2026, says the Inland Revenue Board (LHDN). However, they are still advised to update their income reporting in the ITR for AY 2025 to avoid receiving CP500 instalment notices in the future. “We will also contact affected taxpayers to clarify any income reporting errors in previously submitted ITRs,” it added. For taxpayers seeking to revise their CP500 instalment amounts via Form CP502, LHDN said that any first revisions must be submitted by June 30, 2026, and any second revisions by Oct 31, 2026. On Jan 5, Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim announced a penalty-free period throughout 2026 for unintentional errors in taxpayers' CP500 filings.
Source:The Star
January 05, 2026 11:50 UTC
Wrapped in laughter and love
For cousins and friends Estelle Hillary, Krysanthe Albert, Mellisa Lee, Sunita Rahman and Lorraine Lee, Christmas came early with a casual get-together centred on food and gift exchanges. Estelle (left) and Krysanthe (right) with their cousins and friends. Laughter carried through the evening, drawing amused looks – and thumbs-up – from other diners at the restaurant as the group embraced the light-hearted antics. “It was my way of showing love and appreciation to my family and friends,” she said. Joined by Sarawakian family members and friends, the gathering unfolded over shared meals, conversations and plenty of laughter.
Source:The Star
January 05, 2026 11:49 UTC
Affordable dining spots are important, says MPAJ
FOOD courts in Ampang Jaya, Selangor, are set to undergo much needed upgrades and refurbishment this year. Ampang Jaya Municipal Council (MPAJ) is allocating up to RM10mil over the next three to five years to improve infrastructure as well as enhance cleanliness and safety at the facilities. Hasrolnizam: Most Ampang Jaya food courts are over 20 years old. “Many segments of the community continue to rely on these food courts, which have their own identity and serve as affordable dining and gathering spaces. “We do not want to let these food courts die out.
Source:The Star
January 05, 2026 11:29 UTC
Titijaya Land appoints new CFO
KUALA LUMPUR: Titijaya Land Bhd has appointed Daniel Chow Chee Keng as its group chief financial officer, effective Jan 5, 2026. In a filing with Bursa Malaysia, the property developer said Chow, 53, brings more than 32 years of experience across professional accounting firms, public-listed companies and private enterprises, with a strong background in the construction, property development and information technology sectors. His expertise covers financial reporting, taxation, compliance and governance, risk management, investor relations and treasury management. He previously held senior finance roles at MTD Capital Bhd, Dataprep Holdings Bhd , Gadang Holdings Bhd , Protasco Bhd and IFCA MSC Bhd , and was most recently an adviser to Vern’s group of companies. Chow is a fellow member of the Association of Chartered Certified Accountants and a member of the Malaysian Institute of Accountants.
Source:The Star
January 05, 2026 11:26 UTC
Jun Hao blocks out coaching switch and swap noise to stay on track
Currently, K. Yogendran is overseeing the men's singles under singles coaching director Kenneth Jonassen, who joined BAM a year ago. While not knowing who will be guiding him soon can be distracting, Jun Hao has vowed to stay focused on his job at hand. "I cannot influence what happens, so for now my focus is on playing my best under Yogendran," said Jun Hao. Jun Hao is already feeling happier after a change in training programme by Jonassen four to five months ago. Jun Hao hopes the return to the old approach can help him rediscover his spark.
Source:The Star
January 05, 2026 11:15 UTC
Bill to limit PM’s tenure to 10 years to be tabled in Parliament, says Anwar
PUTRAJAYA: A bill to limit the Prime Minister’s term to no more than 10 years or two full terms has been drafted by the government and will be tabled in Parliament this year, said Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim. “Everyone has a term limit, the Chief Secretary to the Government cannot be up to 10 years. He said the Bill to limit the PM’s term will be tabled when the next Parliament sitting resumes at the end of the month, together with another proposed Bill to separate the powers of the Attorney-General and the Public Prosecutor, the freedom of information bill, and the Ombudsman Bill. Anwar also shared a light moment with civil servants when he announced the bill to limit the prime minister’s term. Historically, Malaysia had no term limits for its prime ministers, allowing them to serve indefinitely as long as they maintain parliamentary support.
Source:The Star
January 05, 2026 11:15 UTC
Perfect record means nothing for world champs Tang Jie-Ee Wei
Mixed doubles shuttlers Chen Tang Jie-Toh Ee Wei know this all too well and are taking a cautious approach in their opening match against world No. Tang Jie-Ee Wei have already been bitten once after suffering a shock defeat to Thailand’s eventual gold medallists Ruttanapak Oupthong-Jhenicha Sudjaipraparat in the SEA Games semi-finals last month despite never losing to the latter in three previous meetings. Tang Jie-Ee Wei will be competing at home for the first time since their historic world title triumph last August in Paris. "It does not matter that we are playing at home before or after becoming world champions," said Ee Wei. Tang Jie-Ee Wei reached the semi-finals last year before going down to China’s world No.
Source:The Star
January 05, 2026 11:14 UTC
Tesla China sales drop in 2025 as EV maker sees global slowdown
(Jan 5): Tesla Inc’s China factory shipments dropped in 2025, despite a last-minute bump in December, as the Elon Musk-led carmaker struggles with a slowdown in global sales that saw it lose its number one spot. The slump in China underscores the challenges Tesla is facing after it reported a second consecutive annual drop. And despite Musk stepping back from his prominent role in politics, a consumer backlash continues to be a headwind for Tesla. The tough year saw Tesla lose its title as world’s biggest EV maker to China’s BYD Co, despite the latter facing challenges of its own. For the full-year, NEV sales rose about 25%, according to Bloomberg calculations based on association numbers.
Source:The Edge Markets
January 05, 2026 10:34 UTC
Bursa Malaysia joins Asian rally as 2026 trading picks up
KUALA LUMPUR: The FBM KLCI ended the morning session on a positive note with bank shares leading the rally, as investors started the first full trading week of 2026 with renewed optimism. Following a sluggish year-end, the index jumped 5.65 points to 1,675.41, after easing off an early morning high of 1,681.94. The rally erased losses made in the previous Friday, but has yet to return to 2025's closing price of 1,680. The broader market saw a positive breadth of 518 gainers to 435 decliners, and trading volume of 1.48 billion shares valued at RM1.15bil. Meanwhile, other stocks with notable price increases included Malayan Cement jumping 17 sen to RM7.96 and IJM adding 15 sen to RM2.46.
Source:The Star
January 05, 2026 09:30 UTC
Under the stars in Egypt's Valley of the Whales
Wadi El-Hitan, or the Valley of the Whales, located in the Fayoum governorate southwest of Cairo, is famous for being an open-air museum, featuring 40-million-year-old whale fossils. “The demand for this experience is growing every year,” Hassan said as he prepared a powerful telescope for the group. Astrotourism is growing in Egypt, with Wadi El-Hitan being one of the most popular spots for stargazing. Her husband Mostafa, a mechanical engineer, said he first discovered the magic of Wadi El-Hitan through a viral post on social media. As the desert air turns cold, the tourists sit around a crackling wood fire, making tea over the flames.
Source:The Star
January 05, 2026 09:02 UTC
Trump warns of higher tariffs on India over Russian oil purchases
"They do trade, and we can raise tariffs on them very quickly," Trump said in response to a question on India's Russian oil purchases. Republican Senator Lindsey Graham, a close Trump ally travelling with him, said US sanctions on Russian oil companies and higher tariffs on India had helped curb Indian oil imports. Graham is backing legislation to impose tariffs of up to 500% on countries such as India that continue to buy Russian oil. Trump's actions were the main reasons India was now buying "substantially less Russian oil," Graham said. "Ambiguity no longer works," Srivastava said, urging India to clearly state its stance on Russian oil.
Source:The Edge Markets
January 05, 2026 08:59 UTC
Lending a helping hand after Labu fire
A PROPERTY developer came to the aid of eight families whose homes were destroyed in a recent blaze in Labu near Seremban, Negri Sembilan. Medical personnel from Mawar Medical Centre also joined in the effort, offering both medical assistance and support to the 51 displaced residents. The Mawar Medical Centre nursing team provided on-site health screenings and immediate medical care to the residents. Matrix Medicare runs the medical centre. “We provided professional medical assistance and compassionate care to help affected families build resilience and move toward recovery with hope,” he said.
Source:The Star
January 05, 2026 08:47 UTC
Villagers living in fear of tiger
Compiled by BENJAMIN LEE, C. ARUNO and R. ARAVINTHANA CLOSE encounter with a tiger as dusk fell sparked anxiety among villagers in nearby areas, Harian Metro reported. The tiger, he said, appeared from the right side of the road. “The tiger then crossed the road and climbed up the hill slope on the left side of the road,” he said, adding that the beast later sat on the hill slope near his car. He also claimed that two cows and a buffalo had been mauled by a tiger. > The song Masuk Lagi by dangdut singer Baby Shima appears to have generated much debate, with critics upset over what they deem are lyrics with a double entendre.
Source:The Star
January 05, 2026 08:45 UTC