PUTRAJAYA: The government has consistently taken firm measures to ensure the safety of foreign dignitaries during their visits to Malaysia, says Communications Minister Datuk Fahmi. "Firm measures will be taken to ensure and guarantee that public safety and the security of visiting dignitaries are safeguarded," he said at a post-Cabinet press conference here on Friday. Malaysia will receive a two-day official visit by Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Feb 7 and 8. In 2025, total trade between Malaysia and India reached RM79.49bill (US$18.59bil), with Malaysia's exports amounting to RM52.30bil (US$12.24bil) and imports totalling RM27.19bil (US$6.35bil). Major exports include palm oil and palm-based agricultural products, as well as electrical and electronic products, while imports from India comprise agricultural products, petroleum products and chemical products.

KUALA LUMPUR: Malaysia's men's team campaign ended with a 3-0 defeat to superior Japan at the Badminton Asia Team Championships (BATC) in Qingdao, China, on Friday. Nonetheless, the encouraging performance of the young squad will offer fresh options for the Thomas Cup challenge in May. National singles coaching director Kenneth Jonassen conceded that Malaysia were unable to challenge a powerful Japan team. "The players' support and team spirit have been strong, and clear team camaraderie has been displayed." 5 and are in a strong position to claim their spot at the 16-team Thomas Cup in Horsens, Denmark.

While successive governments rolled out subsidies to reduce utility fees during that timespan, out-sized gains for food prices limited the overall impact of the aid on household budgets. Even as overall spending dipped, Japanese households continued to devote an increasing portion of their spending to food. The proposal to cut tax on food sales has broad support from consumers and food retailers. There are indications that food price inflation will moderate in coming months partly due to comparisons with the fast pace of growth last year. The latest inflation data showed that gains in food prices slowed to 5.1% in December from 6.1% a month earlier.

AWAMI LEAGUE ⁠VOTERS SHIFTING TO BNP, JAMAATA ‍survey of various voters published this month found that nearly half of former Awami League voters now prefer the BNP, the frontrunner in most opinion polls, followed by roughly 30% who favour Jamaat. In Gopalganj, families of Awami League activists say the transition away from Hasina has come at a high personal cost. Several Awami League activists and members of minority communities said they are now living in fear. “The ‌Awami League isn’t here. "This time, I want to believe things will be ​different.”What Awami League voters do next may shape the outcome, said political analyst Asif Shahan, a professor at the University of Dhaka.

"China notes that the US continues in its statement to hype up the so-called China nuclear threat. US President Donald Trump wants to replace it with a new agreement including China, which is rapidly increasing its own arsenal. Expiry of New Start leaves arms control voidNew Start's expiry leaves a vacuum in arms control for the first time since 1972. The Kremlin said Russia and the US both recognised the need to launch talks soon about nuclear arms control. Arms control deals are highly complex to negotiate, and the environment has changed significantly since New Start was signed in 2010.

Consumer staples firms, already considered havens in a downturn, are up 4.7% and heading for their best week since 2022. Now, investors fret many tech players will be left behind in that very transformation — and the world of physical goods looks more attractive by comparison. “If a rotation out of tech stocks is helping push the prices higher for my builders, so much the better.”Then there are machinery makers and transports, both heading for their best weeks since May. Back to basicsConsumer staples and chemicals are also among AI-resistant firms, JonesTrading’s O’Rourke noted. Baskets of truckers, machinery stocks and consumer staples all notched record highs, while the tech-heavy Nasdaq 100 extended losses to 6% from its late-October all-time high.

“We are long Main Street, short Wall Street until Trump approval rating up on policy pivot to address affordability,” they wrote in a note. Investors have recently driven a rotation out of tech stocks amid concerns around a disruption from artificial intelligence. According to BofA, the flip from asset-light to asset-heavy business models suggests there is a “major threat” to the market leadership of the so-called Magnificent Seven technology stocks. They note that AI capex spending from the biggest technology stocks is estimated at about US$670 billion, or 96% of cash flows, this year. “No longer the best balance sheets, no longer the biggest stock buybacks,” they said.

PUTRAJAYA (Feb 6): The Home Ministry has urged the public not to hold any gatherings in public places during the official visit of Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi this weekend. “The police will meet the organisers and request their cooperation in not proceeding with the planned gathering,” the statement read. “The ministry, through PDRM, will continue to carry out its duties in a professional and firm manner to ensure public safety and national stability,” the statement said. Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi will undertake a two-day official visit to Malaysia from tomorrow until Sunday. Fahmi also said the government would take firm measures to ensure the safety of visiting dignitaries during their stay in Malaysia.

SPENDING under the Sumbangan Asas Rahmah (Sara) assistance scheme reached RM4.8bil in the domestic market last year with 99% of recipients using the cashless aid via their identity cards, says Datuk Seri Amir Hamzah Azizan. The Finance Minister II said of the RM5bil allocated for monthly Sara assistance under the Sumbangan Tunai Rahmah (STR) programme, nearly 5.6 million recipients used their MyKad to purchase essential goods at registered premises. “Sara is a cashless aid programme credited directly to recipients’ identity cards and can be used at registered partner outlets to buy items across 14 categories of basic necessities. Direct aid: Amir Hamzah says nearly 5.6 million Malaysians used their MyKad to purchase essential goods under Sara. He said for last year’s one-off Sara assistance, 96% of recipients – about 21 million beneficiaries – recorded transactions in the local market amounting to more than RM2.05bil.

IPOH: The public has been reminded to refrain from activities that could spark fires during the current hot weather. Perak Fire and Rescue Department director Datuk Sayani Saidon said that with lesser rainfall in the past few weeks in the state, the people have to be alert at all times. "The hot weather can cause fire to spread quickly," she said. "There have been cases in other states but no cases so far in Perak. "Prolonged fires can cause air pollution and incur a lot of cost to us," she added.

THREE organised human trafficking syndicates were crippled and 55 victims of forced labour, sexual exploitation and job scam rackets were rescued last year, says Datuk Seri Saifuddin Nasution Ismail (pic). The Home Minister said the ministry is stepping up efforts to combat human trafficking through tighter controls at the country’s entry points with coordinated operations by the police, Immigration Department, Malaysian Maritime Enforcement Agency and Border Control and Protection Agency. The minister said a total of 145 human trafficking cases were investigated last year involving 274 arrests and 477 rescued victims. He was responding to Aminolhuda Hassan (PH-Sri Gading) who asked about the ministry’s achievements in crippling human trafficking syndicates, particularly at the country’s entry points and action taken against officers involved or negligent in allowing syndicates to operate. On another matter, Saifuddin Nasution said a total of 42 deaths in custody were recorded last year.

(Feb 6): Norway launched a corruption investigation into former prime minister Thorbjorn Jagland as revelations from the Epstein files roil the Nordic nation. The authority for economic crime, Okokrim, opened a probe into “aggravated corruption” by Jagland, who is also former head of the Norwegian Nobel Committee. The investigation will look into whether he received gifts and loans as well as paid travel from convicted paedophile Jeffrey Epstein. Former foreign minister Borge Brende is being investigated by his employer, the World Economic Forum, for his connections to Epstein. Norway plans to put forward a proposal to the Council of Europe’s Committee of Ministers that Jagland’s immunity be revoked, Foreign Minister Espen Barth Eide said on Thursday.

PUTRAJAYA (Feb 6): A task force will be set up to address misuse of social visit passes (PLS), said Madani government spokesman Datuk Fahmi Fadzil. We expect the MOF, after holding meetings, to issue a statement on the setting up of the task force,” he told a post-Cabinet meeting media conference here on Friday. Fahmi said the task force would comprise members from the Ministry of Investment, Trade and Industry (Miti); Home Ministry (KDN); Ministry of Domestic Trade and Cost of Living (KPDN); Ministry of Entrepreneur and Cooperatives Development (Kuskop); and Ministry of Housing and Local Government (KPKT). Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim stressed during last week's Cabinet meeting the need for strict enforcement action against foreigners who misuse social visit passes or visa relaxation to work in Malaysia. As such, he said the Cabinet has instructed the Transport Ministry to initiate follow-up measures.

As of 2025, Anta — based in southeastern Fujian province — commanded 23% of China’s sportswear market, surpassing both Nike and Adidas. He launched the Anta brand in 1991. A wave of global sportswear giants surged into China, squeezing local players like Anta and domestic rival Li Ning. “Arc'teryx and Salomon are some of the best-run brands in China,” said Shaun Rein, managing director at China Market Research Group. Beyond that, the Anta brand has limits as to how far it can go outside Asia.

KUALA LUMPUR (Feb 6): Plantation company Matang Bhd (KL:MATANG) said on Friday its unit is expanding its durian plantation footprint through the acquisition of 10 adjacent parcels of agricultural land in Tangkak, Johor, for RM18.2 million in cash. Upon completion, Matang’s total plantation land bank will increase to 1,170.02 hectares from 1,150.38 hectares, representing an addition of 19.64 hectares, or about 1.71%. The land parcels are planted with durian varieties including Musang King, Black Thorn, IOI and Kampung, with trees ranging from one to nine years. Matang said the acquisition price of RM18.2 million represents a premium of RM196,042.48, or 1.09%, over the independent market valuation of RM18 million. Currently, the group operates about 121.03 hectares of durian plantations across its Segamat and Yong Peng estates, accounting for approximately 10.7% of its total plantation land allocation.