Please help me find a job for my son. Employers are reluctant to hire them because of myths and exaggerations about the accommodations needed to support their work. Some are not prepared for the job market because of a lack of attention and funding given to K-12 (kindergarten to 12th grade) special education. And yet the Autism Alliance of Michigan estimates the unemployment rate for people with autism is in the 75-90% range. My son and people like him are part of a hidden workforce in Michigan — 1.7mill adults with disabilities who are not employed.

KUALA LUMPUR: Zumba activities and organisers involved in a recent session carried out in school uniforms have been prohibited from using the Bukit Badong public hall. Sinar Harian reported on Tuesday (Jan 20) that the Bukit Badong Village Development and Security Committee (JPKK) took strict action by immediately stopping the activity and banning the organisers from future use of the hall. Village JPKK chairman Muhammad Nasir Ahmad said the action followed a TikTok Live broadcast of the session which sparked controversy and community discomfort. He said the incident occurred between 9am and 10am during a women-only programme that has run since 2018 at the Kampung Bukit Badong Community Hall. Since the incident went viral, a social media user has apologised, claiming the incident happened spontaneously and without the organisers' knowledge.

PETALING JAYA: Istora Senayan in Jakarta is an ideal stage for Justin Hoh to test his mental resilience against a hostile home crowd when he makes his Indonesian Masters debut this week. "Against this Chinese player, who is very skilful, you cannot play to his rhythm. "I believe it will be the first time for both of them playing at Istora Senayan, which in itself is an experience. "The player who deals best with the environment there, the draft and the crowd, will have the biggest success. Last week in New Delhi, Justin bowed out in the opening round of his first tournament of the year after going down to another Chinese shuttler, Lu Guangzu.

"The president is right in focusing on affordability", Fraser said during an interview to CNBC from Davos. "But capping rates would not be good for the US economy", she added. A rate cap would cut access to credit to a large part of clients in the US and affect airlines, retailers and restaurants, she added. Asked about support in Congress for legislation limiting credit card rates, Fraser said she does not think there is bipartisan support for that.

US bonds started the day in sharp decline amid a fierce selloff in Japanese government debt, which spilled over into global markets. Treasuries then ticked even lower after a Danish pension fund said it will sell its holdings of US government debt, before reversing some losses. The US 30-year yield rose more than 10 basis points (bps) to nearly 4.95%, the highest level since Sept 3. Still, the spike in Treasury yields is sending the administration a message it’s unlikely to ignore, McIntyre said. The US Treasury selloff reflects “a combination of factors,” said Ian Lyngen, head of US rates strategy at BMO.

It could also meaningfully change the composition of the UK’s landmark FTSE 100 index, potentially pushing out smaller domestic firms for larger global rivals. Minimum free float requirements help ensure that stocks included in key indices have enough liquidity to be freely traded. The FTSE 100 contains a handful of companies not domiciled in the UK including Hong Kong’s Prudential plc, Mexico-based Fresnillo plc and Switzerland-headquartered Glencore plc. The free float requirements for FTSE UK indexes were last changed in 2022 following a market consultation the year before. The minimum requirements were cut from 25% for UK domiciled firms, while they were dropped from 50% for international companies.

KUALA LUMPUR (Jan 21): Education Minister Fadhlina Sidek has described the launch of the National Education Blueprint (RPN) 2026-2035 as a new chapter for the country's education system. The post also featured six infographics on important initiatives under the National Education Blueprint 2026-2035 involving two ministries — the Ministry of Education (MOE) and the Ministry of Higher Education (MOHE). The new education blueprint is a strategic national education plan that encompasses the entire national education ecosystem, from the school level to higher education. She added that education is the pulse of the nation and requires the commitment of all parties to ensure the successful implementation of National Education Blueprint 2026-2035 for the future of Malaysian children. Let's make RPN 2026-2035 a success for the children of Malaysia.

(Jan 21): Geert Wilders’ far-right Freedom Party lost its status as a leading opposition bloc in the Dutch lower house on Tuesday after seven lawmakers defected amid internal fighting. “This is a black day for the Freedom Party,” Wilders told reporters in The Hague on Tuesday. The Freedom Party was initially tied with the centrist Democrats 66 in the legislature as the largest opposition forces, with both holding 26 seats. Rob Jetten, whose Democrats 66 party received the most votes, is seeking to form a government with the Christian Democrats and the liberal People’s Party. The lawmakers who’ve left Wilders’ party plan to form a new parliamentary faction led by Gidi Markuszower.

(Jan 21): The US Supreme Court didn’t rule on President Donald Trump’s tariffs on Tuesday, meaning it probably will be at least another month before a challenge to his signature economic policy is resolved. The court is preparing to begin a four-week recess, and under its usual procedures for releasing opinions, the next potential day for a tariff decision is Feb 20. A ruling against Trump on tariffs would deliver his biggest legal defeat since returning to the White House. It could also undercut his threat to impose more tariffs on European countries that are resisting his attempt to take over Greenland. Although the justices will be hearing arguments on Wednesday on Trump’s effort to oust Federal Reserve governor Lisa Cook, the court isn’t scheduled to release opinions.

The Bloomberg Dollar Spot Index slipped to its weakest level since Jan 6 and was on track for its worst two-day stretch in about a month. The euro rose to a more than two-week high while the Swiss franc led gains in the Group of 10 currencies. Elias Haddad, global head of markets strategy at Brown Brothers Harriman & Co, said that dollar weakness likely reflects increased hedging by non-US investors who hold dollar securities. Short-dated volatility firmed as last year’s pattern of a weaker dollar coinciding with higher hedging costs re-emerged. Data from the Depository Trust & Clearing Corporation show investors have favoured long exposure in the euro and the Australian dollar versus the dollar since Monday’s open.

KUALA LUMPUR: The latest phase of the MH370 seabed search in the Southern Indian Ocean has achieved substantial survey coverage, with no significant discovery or conclusive finding identified to date. Search operations conducted onboard Armada 8605 covered a cumulative area of approximately 7,236.40 square kilometres as of Jan 15, 2026, according to the MH370 Search Operation Summary Progress Report (Jan 5 - Jan 16, 2026) posted on the Association for Families of the Passengers and Crew on board MH370 (MH370 Families) Facebook. "The operation continues to progress methodically within the defined search area, with further outcomes dependent on continued surveying and favourable operational conditions,” it added. On April 3 last year, the Malaysian government signed an agreement with Ocean Infinity (United Kingdom) to reinstate the search for the missing Malaysia Airlines flight MH370. MH370 disappeared on March 8, 2014, after departing from Kuala Lumpur en route to Beijing, with 239 passengers and crew members on board.- Bernama

KUALA LUMPUR (Jan 20): The Malaysian Higher Education Blueprint (RPTM) 2026-2035 outlines a new direction for the country's higher education based on human values, well-being and sustainability to produce knowledgeable, ethical and globally competitive individuals. According to the Ministry of Higher Education (MOHE) RPTM executive summary, higher education must not only function as an economic driver, but also shape responsible individuals and societies. "RPTM 2026-2035 will be anchored on four core values that are outlined in the Higher Education Framework: humanity-centred, holistic well-being, shared prosperity and sustainability,” according to the document. In terms of impact, RPTM 2026-2035 targets a higher education system capable of producing talent that is future-ready, adaptive and geared towards solving real-world problems. The summary also stresses the importance of the well-being of campus residents as a prerequisite for the success of higher education.

KUALA LUMPUR (Jan 20): ICT Zone Asia Bhd (KL:ICTZONE) has received a RM17.29 million purchase order to lease information and communication technology (ICT) hardware and software for a five-year period. The leasing contract, awarded by Juricco Holding Sdn Bhd, covers laptops, desktops and related peripheral devices, which Juricco will subsequently deliver to an undisclosed government agency, said ICT Zone. No ICT services are included under the scope of work, the company said in a bourse filing on Tuesday. ICT Zone said it plans to fund the procurement of the ICT hardware and software using a combination of bank borrowings and internally generated funds. On Jan 6, the company said it had secured a RM27.8 million purchase order from Haynik Holding Sdn Bhd to lease ICT hardware, software and bundled services to a government agency over 60 months.

KUALA LUMPUR (Jan 20): Malaysia’s export outlook is expected to remain challenging in 2026 as economists forecast a slowdown driven by renewed US tariffs, heigntened geopolitical risks, and the fading of "front-loading" activities. This cautious outlook comes despite a historic performance in 2025, where Malaysia's exports grew by 6.5% to reach an all-time high of RM1.61 trillion, supported by a strong finish in December, with shipments abroad surging 10.4% to RM153 billion from a year earlier. December's growth far exceeded the 2.5% median estimate in a Bloomberg survey and a sharp acceleration from November's 7% growth. For the full year of 2025, Malaysia's exports grew 6.5%, while imports rose 6.2%, raising total trade by 6.3% past RM3.1 trillion for the first time. “These spillovers could, however, provide a potential tailwind for Malaysia’s trade as global supply-chain diversification further gathers pace,” it said.

DUNGUN (Jan 20): The Central Terengganu Development Authority (Ketengah) has approved a RM48.355 million budget for the First Rolling Plan (RP1) under the 13th Malaysia Plan (13MP), involving the implementation of 28 projects this year. Ketengah chairman Datuk Rozi Mamat said the allocation encompasses 22 extension projects valued at RM42.855 million and six new projects worth RM5.5 million. Commenting on last year's performance, Rozi said that RM36.436 million, or 95.05% of the total allocation of RM38.319 million, was used for development expenditure. He added that operating expenditure, meanwhile, stood at RM39.029 million, or 99.47% of the total allocation of RM39.237 million. He added that 13 Ketengah subsidiaries also recorded encouraging levels of profit despite the challenges of a rapidly complex economic and social landscape last year.