Police arrested one of the suspects on Monday and discovered that he was also linked to an earlier case in Gombak, Selangor. > A micro drama production crew in China and the parents of a baby were criticised for subjecting the infant to prolonged heavy rain just to shoot an episode, reported China Press. An actress in the micro drama series Xing Yun made the startling revelation on Jan 17, accusing the production team of child abuse. It broke the hearts of many netizens and triggered a backlash against the production crew and the infant’s parents. As of press time, the production crew had yet to respond to the allegations.

When contacted, Yew Sin said he initially chose not to respond to the negative remarks sent to him through the inbox of his social media account. Most of them are fairly typical, such as people questioning why we lost,” said Yew Sin. “Honestly, I did not really want to post something like this, but there were simply too many such comments,” said Yew Sin. When you lose money, the feeling is not the same. Yew Sin is currently still considering whether to lodge a police report regarding the threats he received.

JOHOR BARU: Businesses here are gearing up for an influx of shoppers from Singapore ahead of Chinese New Year. They said the number of customers had risen gradually in recent weeks, with a sharper increase in sales expected. Hamper store owner Loo Chok Nan said he began getting Chinese New Year orders from Malaysian and Singaporean buyers about two weeks ago. Loo said he receives an average of 10,000 orders for Chinese New Year every year. “We expect to have a better idea by the end of this month, and hopefully the Visit Johor and Malaysia campaigns could help attract more visitors,” he said.

KOTA KINABALU: A student has handed over a plastic package containing the late Zara Qairina Mahathir’s notes, the Coroner's Court was told on Thursday (Jan 22). Recalled as the eighth witness, former head warden of Sekolah Menengah Kebangsaan Agama Tun Datu Mustapha, Azhari Abd Sagap, 31, said the student surrendered the package to dorm warden Syukriah Fauzi, who then passed it to him before he subsequently handed it to the police. Azhari said the student surrendered the package to Syukriah on the day Zara Qairina died. He added that he never met the student in person but had contacted her to ask when the items were given by Zara Qairina. He said the meeting also discussed matters relating to Zara Qairina, including images from two pages of her diary.

The 58-year-old pleaded not guilty after the charges were read out to him before Sessions Court judge Azura Alwi yesterday. Muhammad Hafizuddeain is accused of four counts under Section 4(1)(b) of the Anti-Money Laundering, Anti-Terrorism Financing and Proceeds of Unlawful Activities 2001. Deputy public prosecutor Datuk Wan Shaharuddin Wan Ladin asked the court to impose a RM300,000 bail in two sureties. At a separate Sessions Court, Muhammad Hafizuddeain’s third wife claimed trial to four counts of receiving proceeds from illegal activities, amounting to RM77,000. She faces a maximum 15 years in prison and a fine of no less than five times the amount of illegal proceeds, or RM5mil, whichever is higher, upon conviction.

The complaint, filed Thursday, accuses the bank of trade libel and breach of implied covenant of good faith. JPMorgan closed accounts for Trump and his businesses about seven weeks after the Jan. 6, 2021, assault on the US Capitol by his supporters. The lawsuit was brought by Trump and several Trump business entities. Beyond closing accounts, JPMorgan placed Trump, the Trump Organization and family members on a “blacklist” for wealth management accounts, according to the complaint. Trump’s complaint was filed by Alejandro Brito, an attorney in Coral Gables, Florida, who also filed the lawsuit against Capital One.

Leissner filed his pardon application to the US Justice Department last year, according to a notice on the DOJ website. Leissner, Goldman’s former Southeast Asia chairman, pleaded guilty in 2018 to engaging in a scheme to embezzle US$4.5 billion from Malaysian fund 1MDB. Goldman also sued Leissner, saying in a letter to the court it is trying to recoup at least US$20.7 million it paid Leissner while he was working on 1MDB transactions. Jho LowThe 1MDB fraud toppled the Malaysian government and led to investigations in six countries. In December, the Malaysian government announced it was seeking Leissner’s extradition for crimes related to the 1MDB fraud.

BENTONG: Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim has urged Malaysians to put an end to the prolonged bickering over language issues and refocus on building a more competitive and united future for the nation’s children. That is why language, science, mathematics, digital skills and artificial intelligence (AI) must be mastered from the early stages of schooling,” he said. He said this at a gathering with the Chinese community at Sekolah Jenis Kebangsaan Cina (SJKC) Perting here today. Also present were Finance Minister II Datuk Seri Amir Hamzah Azizan, Chief Secretary to the Government Tan Sri Shamsul Azri Abu Bakar, Pahang Menteri Besar Datuk Seri Wan Rosdy Wan Ismail and Bentong MP Young Syefura Othman. The allocation is intended to build an additional six-classroom block for the Integrated Special Education Programme (PPKI) and one classroom for the Integrated Preschool at SJKC Perting.

KUALA LUMPUR: The High Court today fixed Jan 26 to deliver its decision on the government's application for a stay of execution on a damages award exceeding RM37mil to the family of Pastor Raymond Koh. Earlier in proceedings, Nurul Farhana submitted that the defendants were not refusing payment but sought a stay pending the hearing of their appeal before the Court of Appeal. She emphasised that the case, which concerns the disappearance of a pastor and involves substantial damages, merited consideration for a stay. The application for a stay of execution was filed on Dec 17 last year. Jerald, however, opposed the application, arguing that no stay had been sought for over a month following the judgment's delivery on Nov 5, 2025.

Ran Barzilay, a psychiatrist and researcher at Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia, won’t be letting his nine-year-old son get a smartphone before age 13. Kids who owned a smartphone by age 12 had a greater risk of depression, obesity, and insufficient sleep compared to those who didn’t, a research team led by Barzilay found. The age at which kids got a phone in this cohort ranged from four to 13, with a median age of 11. By comparison, 29% of kids ages 8 to 10 and 12% of 5- to 7-year-olds had smartphones, the survey found. His team’s last analysis zeroed in on the children who did not already have a smartphone at age 12.

South Korean singer-actor Cha Eun-woo is facing allegations of tax evasion and may be required to pay over 20 billion won (RM54.97mil) in back taxes and other levies. The NTS had also summoned Cha and his mother separately for investigation. Cha enlisted in July 2025 and served as a member of the military band after completing the basic military training. “The issue centres on whether the company established by Cha Eun-woo’s mother is subject to taxation,” it said. Cha Eun-woo promises to continue faithfully fulfilling his tax reporting and legal obligations as a citizen.” – The Straits Times/Asia News Network

KUALA LUMPUR: The prosecution is committed to proving its case against former Army Chief General Tan Sri Muhammad Hafizuddeain Jantan and his wife, Salwani Anuar @ Kamaruddin, who stand accused of money laundering involving millions of ringgit. He said Muhammad Hafizuddeain will face two additional money laundering charges at the Shah Alam Sessions Court tomorrow, while his wife will face a similar charge at the Jertih Sessions Court in Terengganu next Monday (Jan 26). Earlier, the couple was brought before two separate Sessions Courts to face the money laundering charges. First, Muhammad Hafizuddeain, 58, pleaded not guilty before Judge Azura Alwi to four counts of receiving more than RM2.12 million, allegedly derived from unlawful activities. Subsequently, before Judge Rosli Ahmad, his wife, Salwani, pleaded not guilty to four charges of receiving a total of RM77,000 from similar illicit proceeds.

KINABATANGAN: Final preparations for the Kinabatangan parliamentary and Lamag state by-elections entered a crucial phase on Thursday (Jan 22) as polling equipment began to be distributed to voting centres across the constituency. For the parliamentary seat and the Lamag constituency, operations are centred at Dewan Sri Lamag. A total of 48,526 registered voters are eligible to cast their ballots in the Kinabatangan parliamentary by-election, while 13,703 voters are registered for the Lamag state seat contest. The Kinabatangan parliamentary seat will see a three-cornered fight between Mohd Kurniawan Naim Moktar of Barisan Nasional, Datuk Saddi Abdul Rahman of Warisan and independent candidate Goldam Hamid. Meanwhile, the Lamag state seat is a straight contest between Mohd Ismail Ayob of Barisan Nasional and Mazliwati Abdul Malek of Warisan.

KUALA LUMPUR: Malaysians could be paying a monthly premium of as low as RM50 with the Base Medical and Health Insurance/Takaful (MHIT) plan, which will be rolled out early next year. According to the Base Medical and Health Insurance/Takaful (MHIT) White Paper released on Thursday (Jan 22), there are two plans, namely the Standard Plan and the lower-cost Standard Plus Plan. ALSO READ: New 'base plan' medical insurance to make coverage more affordable, says Bank NegaraThe monthly premiums for the Standard Plan for those aged between 31 and 35 years old range from RM80 to RM120, and Standard Plus at RM50 to RM70. Those aged 61 to 65 will pay RM280 to RM350 for the Standard Plan, while for the Standard Plus Plan, they will be paying RM220 to RM280. Those aged above 75 will be paying RM500 to RM780 for the Standard Plan, while the Standard Plus Plan will cost them RM400 to RM660.

On Jan 19, Brooklyn Beckham, 26, posted a series of missives on Instagram aimed at his parents, football icon David Beckham and fashion designer Victoria Beckham, that have since ricocheted around the Internet and turned the family’s rift into global headlines. Brooklyn Beckham and Nicola Peltz married in 2022. During the wedding, Brooklyn claims that his mother, a former Spice Girl, “hijacked” his first dance with his wife. Netizens are comparing this feud between Britain’s pop royal family with another royal feud – Prince Harry and Meghan Markle’s departure from the Palace. Others are comparing this feud between Britain’s pop royal family with another royal feud – Prince Harry and Meghan Markle’s departure from the Palace.