KUALA LUMPUR: There are no plans to roll out or expand the Automated Rapid Transit (ART) system in Putrajaya after its projected 10-year cost of RM211.95mil was deemed too high, the Dewan Rakyat was told. "Preliminary studies found that the estimated cost of implementing the ART system, including infrastructure development, systems, operations and maintenance, was very high at RM211.95mil over a 10-year period. Zaliha had asked the government to provide the latest status and the official operational date for the Automated Rapid Transit (ART) system in Putrajaya, given that a pilot phase had previously been conducted. Lo however, said PPJ remains open to considering future public transport planning needs, subject to financial capability and funding approvals, particularly to support a 70:30 public transport modal share target, 70% public transport usage and 30% private vehicles. It also implemented centralised traffic management through the Putrajaya Control Centre (PCC) and integrated new public transport initiatives, such as Demand Responsive Transit (DRT), implemented in stages to ease congestion, alongside the preparation of the Transport Masterplan Study and Action Plan 2050.

She said the one-off Sara assistance received by her and her husband helps cover part of their overall Chinese New Year expenses, which usually reach around RM500. "I found out about the one-off Sara aid for all Malaysians in early February. "Therefore, RM200 from the Sara aid was used to buy essential items as preparation. "The Sara aid for all is good news. He added that the disbursement of the Sara aid was timely as most supermarkets are offering promotional discounts, enabling families to buy more necessities.

Yes, the wedding depicted during Bad Bunny's Super Bowl halftime show was real. The couple parted to reveal Lady Gaga and Los Sobrinos, a Puerto Rican salsa band who played on Bad Bunny's most recent album and at his Puerto Rican residency. They played part of Gaga's Die With A Smile before Bad Bunny joined the scene for his hit Baile Inolvidable. The unnamed husband and wife had invited Bad Bunny to their wedding, but he said they should instead be part of his halftime show. The wedding scene, which recreated a small outdoor plaza, was part of the show's greater celebration of Puerto Rico.

KUALA LUMPUR: A gold miner pleaded not guilty in the Sessions Court here today to a charge of committing gang robbery on a Chinese national woman, resulting in losses of more than RM2.1mil last year. Mohamad Al-Farouq Mat Isa, 41, is charged with three others with robbing the Chinese national, housewife Chen Kexue, 31, at a villa in Bukit Damansara at about 10.10pm on July 21, 2025. The items allegedly stolen included a designer watch valued at RM1.2 million, three gold bars totalling 300g, RM100,000 in cash, and five mobile phones of various brands, bringing the estimated loss to RM2,146,000. Deputy public prosecutor Subri Hashim appeared for the prosecution, while lawyer Bazlinda Bahrin represented Mohamad Al-Farouq. The other three accused – Mohd Syaqir Mohd Ami, 30, Nur Mohamed Mahsar Mohamed Nor, 34, and Syed Ali Imran Alqudri Syed Zulkefeli @ Syed Zulalqudri, 42 – were charged with the offence last year and pleaded not guilty.

STOCKHOLM (Feb 9): Sweden will tighten citizenship rules with applicants facing a longer, eight-year wait before they can apply, a minimum wage threshold and a test of their understanding of Swedish society, the centre-right government said on Monday. Successive governments have tightened immigration policies since 2015, when around 160,000 asylum seekers sought refuge in Sweden. But the minority coalition government is betting that an even more restrictive line on immigration will prove popular with voters in September's parliamentary election. Anyone with a criminal record, either in Sweden or abroad, will have to wait longer before they can apply. The anti-immigration Sweden Democrats, who back the minority coalition government, have blamed decades of what they say are failed immigration policies for a wave of gangland crime that has swept the country.

HONG KONG: The burgeoning development of artificial intelligence has found a sultry new frontier in the sex robot industry, as a Chinese company unveils a new series of realistic dolls designed to respond like humans. Currently, the AI sex dolls are only available for sale in overseas markets, but they could be launched in the Chinese market very soon. With an eye on customer desires, it produced its first TPE dolls in 2012. "Our customers were keen on buying TPE models of body parts that look and feel human. So we expanded into making TPE sex dolls," Liu said.

SEPANG (Feb 10): The RM3 million National Gateway Landscape Development Project at Kuala Lumpur International Airport (KLIA), which began last August, has been successfully completed within six months, said Housing and Local Government Minister Nga Kor Ming. The initiative aims to strengthen the nation's image through beautiful, organised landscape elements that reflect Malaysia's identity. "The implementation of this development, with an allocation of RM3 million, was carried out as a 'fast-track project.' He noted that the KLIA landscape project is the first national gateway development implemented by KPKT under the theme "Harmony in Diversity," emphasising cultural wealth, heritage, racial diversity, as well as Malaysia’s natural resources and biodiversity. Nga added that in conjunction with Visit Malaysia Year 2026 (VM2026), KPKT — through the National Landscape Department (JLN) — is committed to beautifying the country’s main gateways to create a positive first impression and increase appeal to international tourists.

KUALA LUMPUR: The ringgit traded higher against the US dollar on Monday after Malaysia’s December Industrial Production Index (IPI) came in above market expectations, signalling that the domestic economy remains on a firm footing. At 6 pm, the ringgit increased by 0.33 per cent to 3.9325/9375 against the greenback compared with last Friday’s close of 3.9440/9525. Bank Muamalat Malaysia Bhd chief economist Dr Mohd Afzanizam Abdul Rashid said emerging-market currencies are mostly stronger against the US dollar today. At the close, the ringgit traded mostly higher against a basket of major currencies. However, the ringgit edged down vis-à-vis the Singapore dollar to 3.0979/10.21 from 3.0965/1034, fell versus the Indonesian rupiah to 234.0/234.4 from 233.6/234.3 and declined versus the Thai baht to 12.5876/6101 from 12.4609/4933.

PETALING JAYA: A man has been arrested for allegedly threatening and assaulting a 69-year-old retiree after a minor traffic accident in Pekan Suntex at Batu 9, Cheras. Kajang OCPD Asst Comm Naazron Abdul Yusof said the retiree filed a police report at 4.49pm on Sunday (Feb 8), claiming he had been assaulted by an unidentified man at a traffic light in Pekan Suntex after their vehicles collided. ACP Naazron said police arrested the 52-year-old suspect at 11.30pm in the Kajang area and the man has been remanded for two days to assist in the investigation. He said the case is being investigated under Sections 323 (voluntarily causing hurt) and 506 (criminal intimidation) of the Penal Code. "Anyone with information on the incident may contact the nearest police station or investigating officer Sjn Ganesan Ramachandran at 012-608 9180 to assist with the investigation.

The 59-year-old American actress has confirmed she is engaged to American musician Van Hunt, 55, whom she has been dating since 2020. She started by saying she wanted to clarify some “confusion” that she had turned down Hunt’s proposal. Showing of an heirloom-style ring on her left ring finger, Berry added: “Thank you. He is great.”Back in June 2025, Hunt reportedly popped the question to Berry, but she did not give a definitive answer. I have now found my person.”At that time, she had rejected Hunt’s proposal because of their past failed marriages.

Iranian forces historically have utilized small boats and helicopters during boarding operations and have attempted to force commercial vessels into Iranian territorial waters, including as recently as Feb 3, the US government said in a maritime advisory on Monday. The US also downed an Iranian drone last week, with the US Central Command claiming the unmanned aircraft “aggressively approached” a US Navy ship. They should deny Iranian forces permission to board the vessel if possible while ensuring crew safety, but should not forcibly resist boarding. “When transiting eastbound in the Strait of Hormuz, it is recommended that vessels transit close to Oman’s territorial sea,” the advisory said. Vessels should “remain as far as possible from Iran’s territorial sea without compromising navigational safety,” it said.

(Feb 10): US consumer expectations for inflation and the job market improved slightly in January, according to a Federal Reserve Bank of New York survey. Households saw prices rising 3.1% over the next year, down from 3.4% in December, according to the median response in results of the New York Fed’s monthly Survey of Consumer Expectations, released Monday. The New York Fed survey results follow a Feb 5 Bureau of Labor Statistics report showing job openings fell in December to the lowest level since 2020, while layoffs edged up. The BLS will publish its monthly employment report for January, briefly delayed by last week’s government shutdown, on Wednesday. Expectations for inflation three and five years ahead were both unchanged at 3%.

PUTRAJAYA (Feb 9): All parties intending to build places of worship must apply for Planning Permission (KM) from the local authorities, says Housing and Local Government Minister Nga Kor Ming. He said his ministry practised an open policy on matters involving the construction of places of worship nationwide, and was ready to meet the committees of the respective places of worship. “I hope applications for any development of places of worship, including any church, mosque, temple or surau, will apply for KM. “Every year, we allocate RM50 million to assist non-Muslim places of worship nationwide. According to Anwar, Malaysia is a constitutional country, and any construction of places of worship is subject to the law.

US President Donald Trump said on Sunday in a social media post that the Super Bowl halftime show fronted by Puerto Rican singer Bad Bunny was "absolutely terrible." Weeks before the Super Bowl, Trump fired back at Bad Bunny, calling his selection as the Super Bowl halftime act "absolutely ridiculous." "The Super Bowl Halftime Show is absolutely terrible, one of the worst, EVER!" The conservative group Turning Point USA produced an alternative halftime concert, which it called the "All-American Halftime Show", featuring Kid Rock and other artists. Turning Point USA was founded by slain activist and Trump ally Charlie Kirk.

(Feb 9): Alphabet Inc is looking to raise about US$15 billion (RM59.02 billion) from a US high-grade dollar bond sale, according to people with knowledge of the matter, adding to a borrowing spree by companies at the forefront of the artificial intelligence (AI) investment boom. Massive cloud-computing companies known as hyperscalers are expected to spend more than US$650 billion this year to expand AI infrastructure. Just last week, Oracle Corp raised US$25 billion from a bond that attracted a record US$129 billion of orders at its peak. JPMorgan Chase & Co, which is helping manage the US dollar bond sale, declined to comment. The company also sold €6.5 billion (RM30.37 billion) of notes in Europe at the time.