Jonassen insists he’ll remain in current position and stick to his mission
PETALING JAYA: National singles coaching director Kenneth Jonassen has stressed that he has no plans to leave and will remain in his position to continue developing the country’s shuttlers. Jonassen acknowledged that last year brought few notable achievements for both the men and women’s singles squads. 1 men’s singles player Leong Jun Hao, whose results often fell short of expectations. For example, the claim that he would be demoted and assigned to coach only the women’s singles squad. However, Jonassen denied the rumours and said he remains fully committed to his role as national singles coaching director.
Source:The Star
January 04, 2026 16:39 UTC
How people find joy in baking, especially on dark, emotional days
But the real draw of baking starts long before you roll out the pie crust. There’s something comforting about the structure of it: the measuring, the stirring, the transformation of a handful of ingredients into something delicious. Trust the processAlex George of the blog Lily P. Crumbs finds something satisfyingly tactile and tangible about baking. Cracking eggs, creaming butter – there’s a lot of sensory pleasure to be had, especially in a screen-centric world. Things may get messy when you're baking, but trust the process and you will be fine.
Source:The Star
January 04, 2026 16:01 UTC
As Europe stumbles, Malaysia gains the upper hand in trade talks
NSTP FILE PICTHE past years can hardly be called a golden age of European trade negotiations. One region where the EU had remarkable success in this decade, however, is Southeast Asia. Singapore and Vietnam have had free trade agreements in force since 2019 and 2020, respectively. And, with Malaysia, negotiations were reopened last January after a 13-year break. The EU's rush for new trade agreements and renewed focus on Southeast Asia gives Kuala Lumpur unprecedented leverage in its dealings with Brussels.
Source:New Strait Times
January 04, 2026 15:15 UTC
Missing woman turns up back at Hospital Shah Alam
PETALING JAYA: The 41-year-old woman, who went missing after visiting her husband at Hospital Shah Alam, has returned, say police. According to Sinar Harian, the woman, Nurul Nazla Abdul Halim, came back to visit her husband around 6.30pm on Sunday (Jan 4). "At the moment, we don't know where she went," said the woman's younger sister, Nadia. Shah Alam OCPD Asst Comm Ramsay Embol also confirmed that the woman had returned safe and sound. Earlier, police were seeking public help to look for Nurul as she went missing after leaving the hospital at about 2pm on Saturday (Jan 3).
Source:The Star
January 04, 2026 15:10 UTC
Venezuela today, Taiwan tomorrow? The precedent Trump may be setting
They now call it the Donroe document," Trump told a news conference, slapping his name on the policy principle. Trump had justified intervention by alleging drug-smuggling from small boats off Venezuela and by Maduro himself. The Venezuela raid came days after China carried out major military exercises aimed at simulating a blockade of Taiwan following a major US arms deal. Trump has spoken favourably of China and played down the risks of a Taiwan invasion. Before taking office Trump suggested Taiwan should pay more for its US "insurance policy".
Source:New Strait Times
January 04, 2026 15:07 UTC
Man filling RON95 in a Singapore-registered car identified, says Johor cop
KULAI: A man who was caught pumping subsidised RON95 petrol in a Singapore-registered car has been identified as a Singapore permanent resident. Kulai OPCD Asst Comm Tan Seng Lee said the owner of the vehicle had been found in Singapore following the viral incident. He added that the case is being investigated under Section 108(3)(e) of the Road Transport Act 1987 with regard to exhibiting an altered or tampered vehicle registration number. “The public is reminded not to alter or attempt to hide certain characters of their vehicle registration plate as they please because it is against the law,” said ACP Tan. Police confirmed the man allegedly covered the registration number of his Singapore-registered vehicle to pump RON95 petrol at a petrol station in Kulai.
Source:The Star
January 04, 2026 15:05 UTC
Remand extended for lawyer linked to prison drug smuggling case
KUALA BERANG: A lawyer suspected of conspiring with an inmate to smuggle drugs into Marang Prison has been remanded for a further four days from Sunday (Jan 4). Magistrate Nur Athirah Hashim issued the remand order against the 32-year-old man to facilitate investigations under Section 39B of the Dangerous Drugs Act 1952. Earlier, the suspect was brought to the Kuala Berang Magistrate’s Court at about 9.45am under police escort. He was later arrested at about 10.45am on Dec 29 along Jalan Hiliran near Pulau Kambing in Kuala Terengganu. Police are also looking for a housewife, Nurul Norasikin Aladin, 30, from Kampung Batin, Seberang Takir near Kuala Nerus, to assist with the investigation.
Source:The Star
January 04, 2026 14:56 UTC
Fire leaves family of five homeless in Tumpat
A dejected Siti Nor Amira Mat Rifin (centre) looks at the remains of her home in Wakaf Baru. - NSTP/SITI ROHANA IDRISTUMPAT: A family of five was left homeless after their house in Wakaf Baru was completely destroyed by fire this afternoon. Siti Nor Amira added that the family had only rented the house two weeks ago and did not expect to face such a tragedy. Meanwhile, Wakaf Baru Fire and Rescue station chief, Mohd Nasrin Ismail, said the emergency call about the fire involving two houses was received at 6.48pm. He said a total of 14 officers and personnel, including those from Tumpat and Pengkalan Kubor stations, rushed to the scene.
Source:New Strait Times
January 04, 2026 14:45 UTC
Floods: Number of victims in Sabah rises to 498
KOTA KINABALU: The number of flood victims in Sabah has risen to 498 people from 160 families as of noon on Sunday (Jan 4), up from 315 people on Saturday, says the Sabah Disaster Control Centre and Disaster Management Committee. Kota Kinabalu was declared a flood disaster area at 9pm on Saturday (Jan 3). So far, the Beaufort and Kota Kinabalu districts have been affected, involving nine villages and two temporary evacuation centres. In Beaufort, 316 people from 114 families have been relocated to the Selagon permanent evacuation centre, While in Kota Kinabalu, 182 people from 46 families are sheltering at Dewan Masjid Al Munir in Kampung Darau, Manggatal. The public is advised to remain vigilant as rain and thunderstorms are still forecast in several parts of Sabah.
Source:The Star
January 04, 2026 14:45 UTC
PM Anwar expected to make significant announcements tomorrow
MELAKA: Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim is expected to make several important announcements during the Prime Minister’s Department monthly assembly for January on Monday (Jan 5). Transport Minister Anthony Loke stated that during the assembly, the Prime Minister will deliver his 2026 New Year Message and make key announcements regarding critical issues involving the economy, education, and institutional reform. "Tomorrow (Monday), the first day of January [work week], the Prime Minister will call a special Cabinet meeting where several urgent issues will be discussed. Loke said that the expected announcements demonstrate the seriousness of the Prime Minister and the Madani government leadership in addressing the current issues and problems faced by the people, particularly in navigating a challenging economic climate. "However, these matters will be addressed, especially regarding tax refunds, and I am confident that positive announcements will be made tomorrow to tackle critical issues such as these,” he said.
Source:The Star
January 04, 2026 14:30 UTC
France to ban food imports containing EU-prohibited pesticides
(Jan 4): France plans to prohibit food imports from South America or elsewhere that contain pesticides banned for use in the European Union. “Avocados, mangoes, guavas, citrus fruits, grapes, and apples from South America or elsewhere will no longer be allowed to enter the national territory,” Lecornu said in a post on X on Sunday. Lecornu said the new decree is a “first step” meant to protect consumers and supply chains, while combating unfair competition. “Reinforced inspections will be carried out by a specialised unit to ensure compliance with our health standards,” he said. Farmers in France have also been blocking roads to protest the culling of cattle as part of strict measures to battle animal diseases.
Source:The Edge Markets
January 04, 2026 14:01 UTC
Egypt, Qatar sign MOU to boost LNG sales and import cooperation, Egypt says
(Jan 4): Egypt and Qatar signed a memorandum of understanding to boost cooperation in LNG sales and imports, including terms for supplying Qatari shipments to Egypt's Ain Sokhna and Damietta ports, Egypt's petroleum ministry said on Sunday. QatarEnergy said in a statement that the agreement includes supplying Cairo with up to 24 liquefied natural gas (LNG) cargoes for the upcoming summer. Egypt, the Arab world's most populous nation, has been trying to increase its own gas production and diversify import sources to meet its growing energy needs. Egypt produced 3,635 million cubic metres of gas in October last year, up slightly from 3,525 million cubic metres in September but down from 3,851 million cubic metres in October 2024, according to the Joint Organizations Data Initiative. Despite the decline, Egypt's Petroleum Minister Karim Badawi said last week that Egypt plans to achieve self-sufficiency in oil and gas, according to a Cabinet statement.
Source:The Edge Markets
January 04, 2026 13:51 UTC
China link pays off for VTAR
Goh added that through the experience, he not only mastered key new energy vehicle maintenance skills but also gained greater confidence. VTAR Institute chief executive officer Tan Cheng Liang said the achievement marked the institute’s first joint participation in an international skills competition with a China institution. Tan further shared that since November 2024, VTAR has arranged three batches of students to participate in exchange programmes in China. Looking ahead, Tan said VTAR plans to arrange a fourth batch of students to participate in a short-term study programme in China in April. The joint representative team from VTAR and QCT participated in three categories: Materials, Automotive Manufacturing and Maintenance, and Mechanical Design and Manufacturing.
Source:The Star
January 04, 2026 13:44 UTC
Family holds on to hope as two fishermen go missing at sea
(From left) Muhd Nur Hakimi, Muhd Nur Hairul and their two sisters at the Sungai Tongkang jetty waiting for news of their father. The sons of a fisherman who went missing at sea near the Sungai Tongkang jetty last Friday were clinging to hope that their father would return safely. Since news of the incident spread, Muhd Nur Hakimi, his three siblings and their mother, Nur Aslinnah Ibrahim, 37, had been waiting anxiously at the jetty for any updates. Meanwhile, Saiful Azli's sister, Nur Syaza Lina, 40, said she learned about her brother's disappearance after being informed by her sister-in-law. "I immediately went to the Sungai Tongkang jetty and found my brother's car there before lodging a police report.
Source:New Strait Times
January 04, 2026 13:33 UTC
Contradictheory: Celebrate justice – not just the result
In the slightly mathy corners of football fandom, there’s a thing called a “justice table”. It sits alongside the league table and asks a deceptively simple question: Have teams actually deserved the results they got? And the stark, objective, “justified” truth is that my team, Aston Villa, does not deserve its current place in the league table. Villa’s third-place standing should, according to the justice table, be somewhere just under mid-table. Beyond that, justice isn’t only about what happens in a judge’s mind.
Source:The Star
January 04, 2026 13:03 UTC