AN elderly Indian woman and her son who were seen sleeping on a pedestrian bridge in Ipoh received some much-needed help from a local businessman, Makkal Osai reported. Ipoh-based antiques dealer John Manickam said he was informed about the duo’s plight by a staff member of Hospital Raja Permaisuri Bainun in Ipoh. They were seen sleeping on the overhead pedestrian bridge in front of the hospital with their belongings in small bags. The concerned Malay staff member asked for his help to find them a safe place to stay, and he is making the arrangements. A few days later, the three boys broke into a grocery shop belonging to the victim’s neighbour after he confronted them.

KUALA LUMPUR: Smart technology empowerment and the development of high-integrity human capital are crucial to ensuring the sustainability of Permanent Forest Reserves nationwide, says Syed Ibrahim Syed Noh. The Deputy Natural Resources and Environmental Sustainability Minister said strong synergy between digital technology and on-the-ground human expertise is essential to manage and protect the country’s forest heritage. “Mastery of modern technologies such as Geographic Information Systems, remote sensing and drones is vital in addressing today’s forestry challenges. Drones can monitor from the air, but it is you who must act on the ground,” he said at the 37th Forestry Certificate Award Cere­mony of the Forestry Training Institute here yesterday, Bernama reported. Also present were Peninsular Malaysia Forestry Department director-general, Datuk Zahari Ibrahim, and 113 graduates from the Forest Ranger Certificate Course (2023-2025 Session) and Forest Supervisor Certificate Course (2024-2025 Session).

Deputy Defence Minister Adly Zahari has dismissed claims of double standards in healthcare services for pensioned and non-pensioned veterans. - Bernama picKUALA LUMPUR: Deputy Defence Minister Adly Zahari has dismissed claims of double standards in healthcare services for pensioned and non-pensioned veterans. He told the Dewan Rakyat that last year, 8,427 non-pensioned veterans received healthcare services at a cost of almost RM39 million, while 18,554 pensioned members received healthcare services under the Health Ministry at a cost of RM74 million. "At the Malaysian Armed Forces Veterans Affairs Department (JHEV), our task is to ensure that all veterans receive free healthcare services, whether for themselves or their dependents. "The principle we want to emphasise at JHEV is that whether healthcare services are provided by JHEV or the Health Ministry, both pensioned and non-pensioned veterans will be given the best possible healthcare services," he said during the oral question and answer session.

The ESG PIA 2025 Winners Showcase was held at Menara Star here on Jan 27, bringing together past winners of ESG PIA and the inaugural Asia ESG PIA 2025, a regional award celebrating ESG (environmental, social and governance) excellence in Malaysia, the Philippines and Indonesia. “These principles underpin TM’s aspiration to become a digital powerhouse by 2030, enabling a truly Digital Malaysia that is inclusive, sustainable and future-ready,” she said. IJM Rimbayu is ESG PIA 2025’s co-sponsor. Chai added that IJM Rimbayu’s support for the ESG PIA 2025 reflects this commitment, inspiring collective action and wider adoption of responsible business practices. Submissions for the ESG PIA 2025 are now open for the 16 award categories, ranging from biodiversity conservation and water management to governance and innovation.

Deputy Youth and Sports Minister Mordi Bimol said a total of 4,687 sports associations and clubs were recorded as inactive or facing problems between 2020 and 2025, the Dewan Rakyat was told today. — BERNAMAKUALA LUMPUR: A total of 4,687 sports associations and clubs were recorded as inactive or facing problems between 2020 and 2025, the Dewan Rakyat was told today. Onn also raised concerns about youth organisations, saying they were losing influence and struggling to engage Gen Z members. He asked what measures the ministry would take to revitalise youth associations as effective platforms for youth advocacy. "According to the data from the Registrar of Youth Organisations, up to Jan 31, 8,087 youth organisations are registered, with 545,587 members aged under 30."

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KUALA LUMPUR: The Kuala Lumpur International Airport (KLIA) has been named one of the world’s more affordable airports to be stranded in, placing it in the lower-middle tier of global costs. According to a study by flight compensation service AirAdvisor, KLIA ranks as slightly more expensive than Bogota, Colombia, but cheaper than Doha, Qatar. The total cost for essentials at KLIA was recorded at RM242.06. AirAdvisor chief executive officer Anton Radchenko said major Asian hubs like Kuala Lumpur, Beijing, and Seoul remain affordable despite their global importance. AirAdvisor noted that United States and European airports dominate the expensive end of the spectrum, while Asia generally remains budget-friendly.

PETALING JAYA: A new insurance scheme will be created for Malaysians working in Singapore to ensure they remain covered even during their daily cross-border commute, says Human Resources Minister Datuk Seri R. Ramanan. “That coverage is not provided, so we are coming up with a new scheme for workers going back and forth between Malaysia and Singapore,” Ramanan told The Star in an exclusive interview. He added that the new insurance scheme was one of his main priorities since being appointed as minister in December. “Workers should not be victimised simply because they are working in Singapore. “This is the same reason why we buy life insurance – it is a very small cost to pay for our safety,” added Ramanan.

KUALA LUMPUR: Malaysia's reform agenda must continue beyond administrations and leadership personalities, Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim said today. Anwar, who is also finance minister, said reform efforts undertaken by the current administration were already producing positive results, with investors responding favourably to greater consistency and predictability. Anwar said that rules must outlast individuals and reforms must endure beyond political cycles, adding that firmer governance and clearer policy direction were reinforcing investor confidence. Anwar said education remained central to the reform agenda, noting that the over RM84 billion allocation under Budget 2026 underscored the government's commitment to long-term reforms in education and training. On climate and industrial policy, Anwar said the energy transition was no longer optional but a practical response to shifting global markets.

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AS online shopping, food delivery and ride-hailing services become more popular in Malaysia, concerns are emerging about how prices for these conveniences are actually set behind the screen. While much attention has focused on the United States, where artificial intelligence is being used to personalise prices for individual consumers, similar practices may already be taking shape closer to home.

SYDNEY: Bill Gates has voiced regret over "every minute" he spent with Jeffrey Epstein, even as the Microsoft co-founder's former wife Melinda said he still had questions to answer over his relationship with the convicted sexual offender. "Every minute I spent with him, I regret, and I apologize," Gates, a billionaire philanthropist, told 9News Australia in an interview broadcast Wednesday. A Gates spokesperson issued a similar denial after the fresh cache of millions of files related to the investigation into Epstein, who died by suicide in prison in 2019, were released. Melinda French Gates told US National Public Radio in an interview that the document dump brought back "memories of some very, very painful times in my marriage." Bill Gates told 9News that he met Epstein in 2011 and had several dinners with him over three years, but never visited his Caribbean island and didn't have relations with women.

Against a grey London skyline, a spiky round brush protruded from the chimney of a large family house as Josh Firkins got to work. Chimney sweeps were once an essential part of British life, when households relied on coal and wood-burning fires to heat their homes. Now, many sweeps, including those in the Firkins family business, say the trade has been experiencing an improbable resurgence. Chimney sweeps have been in business in Britain since at least 1519, the date of the first recorded payment to one, according to a history of the trade, "British Chimney Sweeps” by Benita Cullingford. More than a century and a half after the family business began, chimney sweeping remains profitable for H Firkins & Sons.

TOKYO: Japan votes in snap elections Sunday (Feb 8) with polls pointing to a resounding win for Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi's conservatives after a honeymoon start for the country's first woman leader. This followed a string of calamitous elections for the once-mighty Liberal Democratic Party (LDP), leaving it short of a majority in both houses of parliament. The new Centrist Reform Alliance of the main opposition Constitutional Democratic Party (CDP) and the LDP's previous partner Komeito could lose half their current 167 seats. China has never ruled democratic Taiwan, but Beijing claims Taiwan as part of its territory and has not ruled out force to annex it. Last month, Japan's two remaining pandas -- animals long used by Beijing as diplomatic tools -- were even returned to China.

The ringgit’s recent strength reflects improved and clean governance under the Madani administration, said Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim.-NSTP FILE PIC. KUALA LUMPUR: The ringgit's recent strength reflects improved and clean governance under the Madani administration, Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim said. These are encouraging signs, reflecting disciplined fiscal management and a renewed seriousness in governance. Also present were Deputy Prime Minister Datuk Seri Fadillah Yusof, Home Minister Datuk Seri Saifuddin Nasution Ismail, Economy Minister Akmal Nasrullah Mohd Nasir, and Sarawak Premier Tan Sri Abang Johari Openg. "That trust is being rebuilt because this Madani government has taken a clear, principled and uncompromising stand on governance.