Appeals Court orders retrial for two convicted of drug trafficking
PUTRAJAYA: The Court of Appeal has set aside drug trafficking convictions and 30-year sentences of two accused and remitted their case back to the High Court for a full retrial. Consequently, Justice Azmi held that the convictions and sentences against Muhammad Zarif Mohd Noor Ajala and Mohd Najmi were to be set aside and the case remitted to the Seremban High Court for retrial. He fixed Feb 24 for a case mention at the Seremban High Court and issued warrants of remand for both appellants pending the new trial. On Aug 18, 2023, the High Court had convicted Muhammad Zarif, 48, and Mohd Najmi, 38, of trafficking 768.9g of methamphetamine, sentencing each to 30 years' imprisonment and 12 strokes of the cane. Deputy Public Prosecutor Abdul Malik Ayob, however, submitted that other qualified counsel had also represented Mohd Najmi during the High Court trial.
Source:The Star
February 03, 2026 17:10 UTC
US-flagged oil tanker hailed by small armed ships in Hormuz
(Feb 4): An oil tanker that’s part of a US-military fuel procurement programme was hailed by small armed ships in the Strait of Hormuz off Iran’s coast on Tuesday, amid heightened tensions between the two countries. The US-flagged Stena Imperative was hailed over radio while transiting the vital waterway, according to multiple maritime security companies, who declined to be named citing sensitive information. Iranian media said the country’s naval forces warned a vessel to leave Iranian territorial waters after failing to produce the necessary legal documents. Last year, it diverted a ship called the Talara to its waters, before unloading its cargo and releasing it. Late last week, Greece, the world’s largest tanker-owning nation advised its ships to exercise caution while transiting the strait.
Source:The Edge Markets
February 03, 2026 17:09 UTC
Malaysian court acquits French man on drug charges
ALOR SETAR (AFP): A French national facing a possible death sentence in Malaysia on eight drug-related charges, was acquitted Tuesday (Feb 3), freeing him after nearly two and a half years in detention. "The accused is, therefore, released and acquitted," Alor Setar High Court judge Evawani Farisyta Mohammad said. Felix, in court wearing a white shirt and trousers, his hands cuffed, looked visibly pleased as the judge delivered the decision. It's finally the end of a nightmare, and we are so happy," Sylvie Felix told AFP. Felix and his parents were at the Malaysian immigration office in Alor Setar on Tuesday afternoon, where he was expected to be handed his passport before being freed.
Source:The Star
February 03, 2026 16:59 UTC
Canada seeks to resolve Gulfstream dispute after Trump threat
Transport Minister Steven MacKinnon told reporters in Ottawa on Tuesday that he does not interfere in aircraft certification, but he has communicated with the manufacturers in this case. Trump threatened last week to impose a 50% tariff on aircraft from Canada sold in the US and decertify all new Canadian-made planes until Ottawa agreed to approve certain jets made by Gulfstream, a unit of General Dynamics. Canada had “wrongfully, illegally, and steadfastly refused to certify the Gulfstream 500, 600, 700, and 800 Jets,” he said in a social media post on Thursday. Transport Canada has declined to comment on the certification status of these models, despite multiple requests. The firm’s shares have been recovering since a drop on Friday, and were up 2.67% at 11.12am Toronto time on Tuesday.
Source:The Edge Markets
February 03, 2026 16:58 UTC
German spending spree pushes borrowing costs to highest since 2011
(Feb 4): The yield on German 30-year bonds has climbed to the highest level since 2011 as investors demand higher compensation in response to a surge in government debt issuance. The additional premium demanded to hold 30-year notes over five-year peers has risen to 108bps, close to a seven-year high. Japan’s 30-year yield rose to an all-time high last month, and analysts are watching closely to see whether US peers will breach 5% for the first time since July. A number of euro area nations also received record orders for their bonds last month. A Bloomberg gauge of German debt is up 0.3% this year, lagging French and Italian peers.
Source:The Edge Markets
February 03, 2026 16:44 UTC
Official documents dumped at beach in Sabah
KOTA KINABALU: Files and confidential documents, including government tender applications and official letters, have been found strewn by the beach in Putatan, kicking up a storm among locals. It is believed that these discarded documents involved the Putatan district office, Putatan district council and Putatan Works Department. Putatan MP Datuk Shahelmey Yahya (pic) said he contacted Putatan district officer Masawi Salleh on Sunday after learning of the matter from social media. “Whoever is responsible for it does not seem to know the procedure of handling official documents. He said a review would be conducted for an update on disposal procedures of important documents.
Source:The Star
February 03, 2026 16:07 UTC
Iran president gives go-ahead for talks with US
DUBAI, Feb 3 (Reuters) - Talks with the U.S. should be pursued to secure national interests as long as "threats and unreasonable expectations" are avoided, President Masoud Pezeshkian posted on X on Tuesday. "Taking into account demands from friendly regional countries to respond to the U.S. President's suggestion for talks, I instructed the foreign minister to prepare the ground for equitable and fair negotiations ... should an atmosphere free of threats and unreasonable expectations arise," Pezeshkian said. (Reporting by Dubai Newsroom; Editing by Tom Hogue)
Source:The Star
February 03, 2026 16:05 UTC
UiTM creates history as UiTMSAT-2 enters orbit
SHAH ALAM: Universiti Teknologi Mara (UiTM) has created history by successfully releasing its second nanosatellite, UiTMSAT-2, into orbit from the International Space Station (ISS) at 6.52 pm Malaysian time on Tuesday (Feb 3). The lecturer from UiTM Electrical Engineering Faculty said the UiTMSAT-2 project carries the primary mission of an Earth observation camera and the secondary mission of a space-based Internet-of-Things. She said this to reporters at the Live Viewing Ceremony for the launch of the UiTMSAT-2 nanosatellite, which was broadcast from the Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency (JAXA) at 7.52pm Japan time. The event was also attended by UiTM vice-chancellor Professor Datuk Dr Shahrin Sahib at the Tuanku Syed Sirajuddin Chancellery Building, UiTM on Tuesday. It is a symbol of local expertise, a manifestation of confidence in the talent of Malaysian children, and proof that public universities are capable of being a driver of the country's strategic technology," he added.
Source:The Star
February 03, 2026 15:24 UTC
Nigerian 'The Voice' star Ifunanya Nwangene dies after snake bite at 26
Ifunanya Nwangene, who is known for her appearance on season 3 of The Voice Nigeria, has died after a snake bite. Nwangene’ choir director Sam C. Ezugwu confirmed the news in a Facebook post on Sunday (Feb 1), saying Nwangene died Saturday at a Nigerian hospital, describing her death as a “sudden demise.”“Amemuso Choir regrets to announce the sudden demise of our beloved Soprano, Ifunaya Nwangene,” the post read. After looking for help at a nearby clinic, The Voice star was forced to move to another hospital because of the unavailability of antivenom. The singer’s death came three days after teasing a new song with musician Tbrass, who shared a behind the scenes clip of Nwangene recording the track. “An irreplaceable loss to the Abuja music society and Nigeria at large,” he wrote on Instagram.
Source:The Star
February 03, 2026 15:05 UTC
Influencer charged with raping, sexually assaulting two teenage girls
KUALA LUMPUR: A social media influencer has been charged in two Sessions Courts here with raping and sexually assaulting two teenage girls. Muhammad Iman Hazriq Azizan, 23, pleaded not guilty after the two charges against him were read out before Judges Tasnim Abu Bakar and Mohd Kafli Che Ali on Tuesday (Feb 3). He was charged before Tasnim with raping a 15-year-old girl in a condominium room in Wangsa Maju between 1pm and 8pm on Jan 22. Before Judge Mohd Kafli Che Ali, the accused was charged with committing physical sexual assault on a 16-year-old girl for sexual purposes at the same location, date, and time. Tasnim and Mohd Kafli granted the accused bail of RM10,000 each with one surety, along with the additional conditions requested by the prosecution.
Source:The Star
February 03, 2026 14:50 UTC
‘Royal pardon not a political gift’
Sultan of Pahang says power must be exercised constitutionallyKUANTAN: The Sultan of Pahang Al-Sultan Abdullah Ri’ayatuddin Al-Mustafa Billah Shah has stressed that the power to grant royal pardon under Article 42 of the Federal Constitution must not be regarded as a political gift or an act of personal sympathy. Instead, Al-Sultan Abdullah said the power of pardon is a legitimate constitutional mechanism that serves as a final consideration in a justice system that is punitive in nature. “The power of pardon provided under Article 42 of the Federal Constitution should be assessed with calm emotions and a clear mind, not with excessive sentiment or clouded judgement,” His Royal Highness said in a post on the Kesultanan Pahang Facebook page. “The granting of pardons and sentence reductions is also not exclusive to any individual, party or position. According to the post, the Sultan made the remarks when attending the 120th Meeting of the Pahang Council of Regency here.
Source:The Star
February 03, 2026 14:10 UTC
My partner uses AI for emotional support – what do I do?
She's become obsessed with AI chatbots. When I asked her about it later, she said she likes the chats because she "doesn't feel judged", unlike with humans. I feel ridiculous being jealous of AI, but I'm genuinely worried that she's replacing real human connection with this algorithm that just tells her what she wants to hear. Your girlfriend has found an emotional outlet that feels safer and more convenient than human connection. Some people aren't ready for the messiness and vulnerability that comes with long-term human connection, and that's not something you can fix for her.You’re not competing with the AI — but you should be focused on being the kind of partner who makes human connection feel worth the risk.
Source:The Star
February 03, 2026 14:03 UTC
Measures proposed by Indonesia in wake of US$80 bil market plunge
JAKARTA (Feb 3): Indonesia has promised capital market governance reforms after global index provider MSCI flagged concerns about market transparency that have rocked Indonesian stocks, wiping about US$80 billion (RM314.6 billion) in value off the exchange. Here are some measures Indonesia has promised, what they mean, and what the hurdles would be. Measures proposed so farIndonesia's financial regulator said it would double the free float requirement for listed firms to 15% from the current 7.5%. Market insiders are concerned stock prices have been pumped up by trading between related parties — a practice brokers have dubbed "goreng-goreng saham" or "stock frying". MSCI met Indonesian officials on Monday but declined to give specifics of the meeting, even as the Indonesian regulator said the meeting had gone "well" and agreements reached on technical-level talks.
Source:The Edge Markets
February 03, 2026 12:21 UTC
Hundreds of Nazi-linked accounts discovered at Credit Suisse, US lawmaker says
(Feb 3): An investigation has identified 890 accounts at Swiss lender Credit Suisse with potential Nazi links, US Senator Chuck Grassley said ahead of a Judiciary Committee hearing on Tuesday on banks' facilitation of the Holocaust. These included previously undisclosed wartime accounts for the German Foreign Office, a German arms manufacturing company, and the German Red Cross, added the lawmaker, who chairs the committee and has followed the investigation into Credit Suisse for years. UBS, which acquired Credit Suisse in an emergency takeover in 2023, said last year it was working with former US prosecutor Neil Barofsky to shed light on Nazi-linked accounts held at its former competitor. When taking over Credit Suisse, UBS fully committed to getting the investigation back on track and has since taken extensive steps to facilitate Barofsky's review, Karofsky said. The investigation is set to conclude by early summer, according to Senate Judiciary Committee aides, and a final report expected at the end of the year.
Source:The Edge Markets
February 03, 2026 12:11 UTC
Home minister orders crackdown on illegal e-waste at all ports
PUTRAJAYA (Feb 3): Enforcement actions and operations against illegal e-waste entering the country will be intensified at all ports, Home Minister Datuk Seri Saifuddin Nasution Ismail said. The move is in line with the recent instructions by Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim to carry out frequent operations against such activities. This is what is stressed by the prime minister to the agency,” he said at a media conference after a gathering with MCBA personnel here Tuesday. Home Ministry secretary general Datuk Dr Awang Alik Jeman and MCBA director general Datuk Seri Mohd Shuhaily Mohd Zain were present at the event. Saifuddin Nasution added that the operations and enforcement would also involve elements of other enforcement bodies.
Source:The Edge Markets
February 03, 2026 12:06 UTC