21 houses in Simpang Pulai hit by flash floods
IPOH: Twenty-one houses in Lorong Pulai Raya 4, Simpang Pulai, were hit by flash floods after two and a half hours of relentless heavy rain on Thursday (Dec 25) night. The team arrived at the Simpang Pulai flood site for monitoring at 10.28pm, accompanied by four personnel from the Simpang Pulai police station. The cause of the flooding was a blocked drainage system due to a new housing project," the statement read. No temporary relief centres have been opened, as the blocked drains have been cleared and the floodwaters have fully receded. Simpang Pulai assemblyman Wong Chai Yi and officials from the Ipoh City Council also visited the affected area.
Source:The Star
December 26, 2025 11:51 UTC
S&P 500 eyes 7,000 mark as investors look for upbeat end to strong 2025
The S&P 500 posted a record close on Wednesday, ahead of the Christmas holiday on Thursday, and was about 1% from reaching the 7,000 level for the first time. Heading into the new year, investors are highly focused on when the Fed might further cut interest rates. With just a handful of trading sessions left in 2025, the S&P 500 was up nearly 18% for the year, with the technology-heavy Nasdaq Composite up 22%. Despite rebounding this week, the S&P 500 tech sector has declined more than 3% since the start of November. The market moves indicate some rotation into areas where valuations are more moderate, said Anthony Saglimbene, chief market strategist at Ameriprise Financial.
Source:The Edge Markets
December 26, 2025 11:24 UTC
Thai defence minister to attend truce talks with Cambodia, PM says
BANGKOK (Dec 26): Thailand's defence minister will join ongoing talks with Cambodia on Saturday that could lead to a truce, the Thai premier said on Friday, as border clashes between the two Southeast Asian neighbours continued for a third week. A Cambodian defence ministry spokeswoman did not immediately respond to a request for comment. Thai and Cambodian officials have been holding parleys at a border crossing since Wednesdayas hostilities between the two countries continued. Since the conflict restarted, neither Malaysian Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim — chair of the Asean bloc that facilitated the previous ceasefire — nor Trump have been successful in halting hostilities. Thailand and Cambodia have accused each other of moves that led to the breakdown of the July truce, which was expanded into a wider agreement in October to help settle the conflict.
Source:The Edge Markets
December 26, 2025 11:14 UTC
Thailand tells banks to declare transactions of US$200,000 and up
(Dec 26): The Bank of Thailand has instructed commercial banks and state-owned financial institutions to declare foreign currency transactions of US$200,000 (RM807,800) and above to help it manage the baht’s persistent appreciation. Effective Dec 29, banks must request evidence of sales abroad for every foreign currency transaction relating to gold, according to the Bank of Thailand letter. Documentation may be submitted on the trade date or by the next business day for transactions conducted outside business hours. For foreign banknotes in amounts of US$15,000 and above, banks must request documentation demonstrating that such foreign currency was brought into the country. For foreign currency received from abroad into foreign currency deposit accounts of residents, banks shall apply the same requirements as those for spot foreign currency purchase transactions.
Source:The Edge Markets
December 26, 2025 11:09 UTC
Japan sees first primary balance surplus in 28 years in 2026
“I believe we have put together a budget that strikes a balance between achieving a strong economy and ensuring fiscal sustainability.”Securing a primary balance surplus has been a government goal for more than two decades. The primary balance at the national level is projected at a surplus of ¥1.34 trillion in the budget for the fiscal year starting in April, according to the finance ministry. Given that local governments have posted primary surpluses in recent years, Japan is likely to meet the primary balance target under the Cabinet Office measure. While the government hasn’t abandoned the primary balance as a yardstick for fiscal discipline, Finance Minister Satsuki Katayama said that the administration is looking at it over multiple years rather than focusing on single-year results. Japan’s government initially aimed to achieve a primary balance surplus in fiscal 2011 but kept pushing back the timeline for over a decade.
Source:The Edge Markets
December 26, 2025 10:59 UTC
China slaps symbolic sanctions on US firms over Taiwan arms sale
(Dec 26): China announced largely symbolic sanctions against 20 US defence companies and 10 executives, signalling its anger over Washington’s latest arms sales to Taiwan while stopping short of a broader escalation. The measures include freezing any assets the companies hold in China and banning them from doing business with Chinese entities. The sanctions follow what Beijing described as “large-scale” US arms sales to Taiwan. “Any enterprise or individual involved in arms sales to Taiwan will pay the price for their misguided actions.”Limited impactIn reality the impact of the measures is likely to be limited. China views Taiwan as a breakaway province that must ultimately be brought under its control, by force if necessary — a position Taipei firmly rejects.
Source:The Edge Markets
December 26, 2025 10:49 UTC
51-year-old man charged with murder of Suri Narudin
TAMPIN: A 51-year-old man was charged in the Magistrate's Court here today with the murder of Suri Narudin, whose body was discovered in a bag buried behind a house near Rembau. The unrepresented man was accused of murdering Suri, 53, behind a house at Jalan Pedas Linggi, Rembau, between Dec 7 and 18. He was charged under Section 302 of the Penal Code, which carries a death sentence or imprisonment of between 30 and 40 years. If the death sentence is not imposed, the offender shall also be punished with at least 12 strokes of the cane. Subsequently, the deceased's identity was confirmed as Suri through a fingerprint comparison with records from the National Registration Department.
Source:The Star
December 26, 2025 10:45 UTC
More rubbish bins needed in public areas to solve littering issue
PETALING JAYA: Netizens have suggested that more rubbish bins be placed in public areas to tackle the issue of littering. This comes after Housing and Local Government Minister Nga Kor Ming expressed anger over the ongoing issue of littering, particularly in city centres and public areas. It is already the 21st century, there is no reason for anyone to simply throw rubbish in public places. User Chen Lin Yong asked for “more bins so people can throw their rubbish.”Lill Rq agreed, adding that rubbish bins were also hard to come by based on her last visit to Kuala Lumpur. “Though the absence or lack of rubbish bins should not be an excuse for littering…but I guess we are far away from the Japanese culture of carrying your rubbish with you.
Source:The Star
December 26, 2025 10:25 UTC
PETRONAS Gas announces revised RP3 gas tariffs
KUALA LUMPUR: Petronas Gas Bhd (PGB) announced revised tariffs for its gas transportation and regasification services under Regulatory Period 3 (RP3), to be implemented from Jan 1, 2026 to Dec 31, 2028, following government approval. The compression tariff for the supply of high-pressure gas to Singapore has been set at RM1.609/GJ/day, with an allowed tariff of RM1.592/GJ/day. Regasification tariffs have been revised to RM3.542/GJ/day for the Regas Terminal Sungai Udang and RM3.142/GJ/day for the Regas Terminal Pengerang, with corresponding allowed tariffs of RM3.540/GJ/day and RM3.103/GJ/day. “PGB remains steadfast as a trusted energy partner, dedicated to supporting the nation’s transition and growth agenda through successful implementation of RP3,” PGB said. “The approved RP3 tariffs are expected to enable both segments to sustain their positive contribution to PGB and its subsidiaries’ earnings,” it added.
Source:The Star
December 26, 2025 10:21 UTC
Explosions in Nilai: Suspect had knowledge, skills in making explosives, say cops
SEREMBAN: The suspect involved in the explosion in Desa Palma, Nilai near here, on Dec 22 is believed to have technical knowledge and special skills in making explosives. Negri Sembilan police chief Datuk Alzafny Ahmad said this was based on the discovery of devices and equipment seized from the rented house of a man known as Yeoh Hock Sun, 62, including explosive devices, flammable cleaning agents and carbon as well as sulphur elements. "Investigations found that the suspect has knowledge in the field of chemistry and had worked in a pharmaceutical factory for three years, as well as knowledge in the field of information technology (IT). He said that an inspection of the man's house, which was suspected of being used as a laboratory, also found 31 more improvised explosive devices (IEDs), all of which were destroyed by the police. "The fragments used were nails and a folding knife that were finely shredded, so looking at the preparation we interpret that he had the knowledge to prepare a perfect explosive,” he said.
Source:The Star
December 26, 2025 10:05 UTC
Green debt sales hit record levels despite climate backlash
Global green bond and loan issuance has reached a record US$947 billion (RM3.83 trillion) so far this year, according to data compiled by Bloomberg Intelligence. China had a record US$138 billion in green bond issuance, led by its biggest lenders. US green debt issuance fell 7% to US$163 billion this year and supranational bond sales declined by a similar amount. Sales of sustainability-linked debt slumped about 50% this year to US$165 billion amid greenwashing concerns, Bloomberg Intelligence data show. Overall, global sustainable debt volumes stood at about US$1.6 trillion this year, down more than 8% from 2024, the Bloomberg Intelligence data show.
Source:The Edge Markets
December 26, 2025 09:54 UTC
FBM KLCI breaks winning streak on profit-taking
KUALA LUMPUR: The FBM KLCI snapped its winning streak on profit-taking, ending the session slightly lower as selling pressure weighed on the broader market. The 30-stock closed 1.21 points, or 0.07%, lower at 1,677.10 after trading between an intraday high of 1,678.29 and a low of 1,670.83. Among the banks, Maybank fell six sen to RM10.40, Hong Leong Bank added 18 sen to RM22.42, RHB Bank rose six sen to RM7.80 and CIMB climbed four sen to RM8.15. Meanwhile, the ringgit was last quoted at 4.0463, up 0.02% against the US dollar, bringing its year-to-date gain to about 10%. Taiwan’s Taiex closed 0.65% higher at 28,556.02, while China’s CSI300 advanced 0.32% to 4,657.24 and the Shanghai Composite added 0.1% to 3,963.68.
Source:The Star
December 26, 2025 09:45 UTC
Miha in the spotlight as Lamag by-election speculation grows
KOTA KINABALU: Political parties are eyeing popular Kinabatangan youth activist Mohd Ismail Ayob, better known as Miha, as a potential candidate for the Lamag state seat by-election. When contacted, Miha said he was aware of speculation surrounding his name but stressed that no formal discussions had taken place. He said his focus remained on community work in Kinabatangan and Lamag, adding that any decision on contesting would depend on discussions with his family and supporters. Meanwhile, other sources within Sabah Umno said the party would need to take into account the views of local Kinabatangan Umno leaders before deciding whether to field an external candidate for Lamag. On the other hand, Gabungan Rakyat Sabah and Parti Warisan have hinted that they may not field candidates in the by-election, although neither has confirmed its stance.
Source:The Star
December 26, 2025 09:44 UTC
Senior citizen and son die in blaze at Sentul PPR
KUALA LUMPUR: A senior citizen and her son were killed after a fire broke out at a People's Housing Project (PPR) in Sentul. The city's Fire and Rescue Department Operations Control Centre received an emergency call via the MERS NG999 system at 7.18am on Friday (Dec 26). "Firemen from the Sentul fire station, assisted by personnel from the Gombak station, were immediately dispatched to the scene. "Our personnel fully extinguished the blaze at 8.27am and conducted overhaul works," the department added. "Both were pronounced dead at the scene by medical personnel," the department said, adding that the Fire Investigation Unit is looking into what caused the blaze.
Source:The Star
December 26, 2025 09:24 UTC
1MDB probe a fulfilment of MACC's duty to the country, says Azam
PUTRAJAYA: The Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission (MACC) was only carrying out its duty to the nation in the long-running 1Malaysia Development Bhd (1MDB) investigation, says its chief commissioner Tan Sri Azam Baki. "Rather, it reflects the fulfilment of our responsibility and duty to the nation, carried out in accordance with the trust and mandate entrusted to us. He congratulated the MACC's investigating officers and the prosecution team following the conclusion of the 1MDB probe, which began in July 2015. Earlier, former prime minister Najib was found guilty of four abuse of power charges over the misappropriation of RM2.3 billion in 1MDB funds. Azam also applauded the team for remaining steadfast in meeting the rigorous legal standards required for the case to be brought before the courts.
Source:The Star
December 26, 2025 09:05 UTC