How we’ll eat in 2026: More caution, more crunch
Rather, let me serve you some educated guesses at where we’re all headed, through the lens of how we eat. Restaurateurs are seeing the value of informed, personal service that feels genuine, not scripted, and to that end some chefs are scaling down, say food forecasters. — JULIE GOLDSTONE/ Filepic/ The New York TimesExtra textureTaste and nutrition have long been the leading reasons people crave particular foods. Homegrown produce like pawpaws, yaupon tea and juneberries, also called service berries or Saskatoons, will be popular in 2026, say food forecasters. Food forecasters say that most people will be more discriminating.
Source:The Star
January 05, 2026 08:34 UTC
Group: Cease all hostile military actions against Venezuela
PETALING JAYA: Leaders from several local non-governmental organisations and activists have called on the United States to immediately cease military actions against Venezuela. In a joint statement yesterday, the group condemned the move, calling it an unprovoked and illegal military attack against Venezuela. The group called on the United Nations Security Council and General Assembly to address the breach of international peace and security, while holding the United States accountable. It said an immediate and unconditional cessation of all hostile military actions against Venezuela is needed, including the full withdrawal of US forces from Venezuelan territory and airspace. The group claimed that the attack was not an isolated incident, but part of a broader historical pattern of intervention by the United States in the Global South.
Source:The Star
January 05, 2026 08:30 UTC
MiniMax plans to price HK IPO at top of range on Chinese AI fervour, Bloomberg reports
(Jan 5): MiniMax plans to price its Hong Kong initial public offering (IPO) at the top of the marketed range, people familiar with the matter said, reflecting investor enthusiasm for Chinese start-ups that are increasingly challenging US rivals like OpenAI. At the top of the range, MiniMax will raise at least HK$4.2 billion. MiniMax’s IPO drew demand from investors for several times the shares on offer, the people said. The company is expected to begin trading on Friday, fuelling a busy start of the year for Hong Kong. They are the first of the so-called Chinese AI dragons to list, emerging from a field that includes fellow start-ups Moonshot and Stepfun.
Source:The Edge Markets
January 05, 2026 08:29 UTC
Chinese, South Korean companies sign nine cooperation agreements
BEIJING (Jan 5): Chinese and South Korean companies signed nine cooperation agreements, authorities said on Monday, during a state visit by South Korean President Lee Jae Myung with Chinese President Xi Jinping in Beijing, their second meeting in just two months. South Korea's Trade Ministry announced the nine agreements on Monday and said Alibaba International, Lenovo and South Korean retailer Shinsegae were among the companies that signed deals. However, South Korean Presidential Chief of Staff Kang Hoon-sik said in a radio interview on Monday that Beijing was unlikely to lift its unofficial ban on Korean culture anytime soon. China and South Korea are expected to discuss matters such as supply chain investment, the digital economy and cultural exchanges during Lee's visit, China's state broadcaster CCTV said. South Korea and Beijing's ties have warmed as China and Japan navigate a diplomatic spat.
Source:The Edge Markets
January 05, 2026 08:24 UTC
Pensioner loses RM1mil to scam
GEORGE TOWN: A government retiree recently lost more than RM1mil to an online investment scam, says the Penang police chief. He said the man initially befriended a woman on Facebook in August last year where she introduced him to an online investment scheme via WhatsApp. “He was interested in the investment scheme and was asked to download an app by the woman to register his membership before investing,” Azizee said in a statement yesterday. He added that the man made 22 payments totalling RM760,200 to six different bank accounts between Aug 8 and Dec 10 with a promised returns of RM7,488,492. He also paid an advance of 3% of his profits if he wished to withdraw his investment.
Source:The Star
January 05, 2026 08:10 UTC
Foreign investors offload US$1.05bil in Asian equities
KUALA LUMPUR: Foreign investors were net sellers of Asian equities for the week ended Jan 2, 2025, offloading US$1.05 billion (US$1=RM4.06) across the eight markets tracked by MBSB Investment Bank Bhd (MBSB IB). Meanwhile, Indonesia posted its 13th straight week of foreign inflows, with net inflows totalling US$124.4 million, while Vietnam recorded a second straight week of net foreign inflows, totalling US$61.8 million. In addition, foreign investors turned net sellers in Thailand, recording outflows of US$20.8 million after two consecutive weeks of inflows. "The top three sectors that recorded net foreign inflows were Telecommunication & Media (RM16.6 million), Industrial Products & Services (RM14.8 million), and Technology (RM8.1 million). "Meanwhile, the top three sectors that recorded net foreign outflows were Financial Services (RM482.8 million), Utilities (RM258.2 million), and Plantation (RM75.9 million),” it said.
Source:The Star
January 05, 2026 08:10 UTC
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PM directs ministries to expedite shift to online processes
PUTRAJAYA (Jan 5): Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim on Monday directed all ministries and government departments to expedite the shift to online processes as part of ongoing bureaucratic reforms. He said the digitalisation drive also applies to the Cabinet to save time, improve service quality and reduce administrative red tape that burdens the public. “I therefore urge all ministry secretaries general and directors general to ensure that all processes are conducted online, unless they are bound by legal requirements,” he said. Meanwhile, the prime minister stressed that the quality of public service delivery must be aligned with the implementation of the improved Public Service Remuneration System (SSPA), as the people are entitled to faster and more efficient services. They expect that the quality of service must be more efficient and faster.
Source:The Edge Markets
January 05, 2026 08:04 UTC
RM800m allocated for one-off early schooling aid — PM
PUTRAJAYA (Jan 5): The government has allocated RM800 million to provide a one-off early schooling aid (BAP) of RM150 to all students from Year One to Form Six this year. The Education Ministry had announced that the BAP distribution will begin at schools as early as Jan 11. In addition, he said the government had agreed to increase allocations for Chinese national-type schools (SJKCs) to RM80 million, up from RM50 million last year, and to allocate RM50 million for Tamil national-type schools (SJKTs). Previously, we provided RM50 million, and this year we have increased it to RM80 million for SJKCs. “Although the number of SJKTs is smaller, some of these Tamil schools are also in dilapidated condition, which is why we have allocated RM50 million,” he added.
Source:The Edge Markets
January 05, 2026 07:59 UTC
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Expenditure warrant issued, PM orders fast-tracking of small projects
Anwar, who is also finance minister, said the projects include rural roads, construction of quarters and repairs to dilapidated clinics. To speed up implementation, Anwar said the government had issued the general expenditure warrant for this year earlier than usual, in December 2025, compared with the previous practice of March or April. “The government has allocated RM2.4 billion for small projects involving G1 to G4 contractors, most of whom are Bumiputera contractors... He stressed that while major projects such as flood mitigation works, public housing, the East Coast Rail Link (ECRL) and the Pan Borneo Highway were progressing according to schedule, greater urgency was needed for small projects. Anwar said that the Economy Ministry, Finance Ministry and Works Ministry must ensure small-scale issues are addressed promptly, stressing that three years is sufficient to see more effective implementation.
Source:The Edge Markets
January 05, 2026 07:29 UTC
Anwar: Malaysia will continue to speak out for sovereign rights of all nations
PUTRAJAYA (Jan 5): Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim said Malaysia will continue to uphold and speak out for the sovereign rights of all nations, particularly those that were once colonised, in line with international law. He said Malaysia’s stance reflects its position as a developing nation that consistently respects the principles of international law and global order. Referring to his remarks on recent developments in Venezuela, Anwar said Malaysia, despite being a developing country, remains a free and sovereign nation guided by legal principles and international norms. He said the use of force against a sovereign nation to remove its head of government through external intervention was unjustifiable. Trump also announced that the US would administer Venezuela until a “safe, proper and judicious transition” is secured.
Source:The Edge Markets
January 05, 2026 07:09 UTC
‘Release Maduro at once’
US action in Venezuela clear violation of international law, says PMPETALING JAYA: Describing the military operation by the United States in Venezuela as a clear violation of international law, Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim has called for the immediate release of President Nicolas Maduro and his wife. “President Maduro and his wife must be released without any undue delay. He said Malaysia commits to respect for international law and sovereignty as paramount to peaceful relations between states. On Saturday, US President Donald Trump announced that his country’s forces had bombed Venezuela and captured Maduro and First Lady Cilia Flores in a dramatic overnight military attack that followed months of rising tensions. “These are fundamental principles enshrined in the Charter of the United Nations and international law,” it said.
Source:The Star
January 05, 2026 06:55 UTC
Guan Huat Seng eyes retail expansion after ACE Market listing
KUALA LUMPUR (Jan 5): Frozen food distributor Guan Huat Seng Holdings Bhd plans to expand its retail outlets in the Klang Valley and Johor following its ACE Market listing. Speaking to reporters on Monday after the prospectus launch, managing director Yeo Tien Ee said the group only currently operates one retail outlet in Melaka. Besides the opening of the new retail outlets, the group is also planning a new integrated complex in Melaka to be partially funded by its IPO proceeds. The revenue contribution from the domestic market was RM82.38 million (88.47%), while the international market contributed RM10.74 million (11.53%). For the financial year ended July 31, 2025, the group made a net profit of RM7.23 million on the back of RM93.11 million revenue.
Source:The Edge Markets
January 05, 2026 06:44 UTC
No free pass in Johor: Three Singaporeans caught littering
- Pic courtesy: FB/SWCorp Negeri JohorJOHOR BARU: Three Singaporeans have been caught littering in the state capital since the start of the year, under the newly enforced anti-littering laws aimed at curbing irresponsible behaviour in public spaces. Community service may include cleaning drains, public toilets, public spaces, and grass-cutting duties. SWCorp chief executive officer Khalid Mohamed said enforcement operations under Op Cegah were ongoing and not limited to festive seasons or special campaigns. It will be conducted continuously nationwide through sustained monitoring at the state and branch levels," he said during enforcement operations at Larkin Sentral, one of Johor Baru's busiest transport hubs. Khalid said enforcement efforts in Johor were aligned with the Johor Clean City Strategy 2025–2030, which aims to realise the vision of a "Clean Johor City 2030."
Source:New Strait Times
January 05, 2026 06:44 UTC
Man shot dead at restaurant in Banting
PETALING JAYA: A local man was shot dead in an incident at a restaurant in the Banting area on Sunday night (Jan 4). Kuala Langat OCPD Supt Mohd Akmalrizal Radzi said police received information about the shooting at about 10.05pm following a call to the MERS 999 emergency line. “The incident resulted in the death of a local man. The case is being investigated under Section 302 of the Penal Code and the motive is still under investigation,” he said in a statement on Monday (Jan 5)He urged anyone with information to come forward to the nearest police station or contact the operations room at 03-3187 2222 to assist in the investigation. The incident previously went viral on social media, showing a video of spent bullet casings and the victim lying at the scene.
Source:The Star
January 05, 2026 06:23 UTC
RM100 Sara aid to be credited beginning Feb 9, says PM
PUTRAJAYA: The RM100 Bantuan Sumbangan Asas Rahmah (Sara) will be credited to all adult citizens aged 18 and above beginning Feb 9, says Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim. Meanwhile, Anwar said Sumbangan Tunai Rahmah (STR) monthly recipients will receive RM200 in their IC beginning Jan 9. For the first phase of STR payments, RM500 will be credited into the accounts of eligible Malaysians“Last year, 69% of Malaysians used STR, and that was nearly RM2.1bil,” he said. Anwar said the RM150 early schooling aid would be credited on Jan 13 to students up to Form Six. When tabling Budget 2026 in Oct last year, Anwar had said the early schooling aid would benefit 5.2 million pupils from Standard One to Form Five in government schools.
Source:The Star
January 05, 2026 06:15 UTC