“The smartphone is your most personal device and it’s perfectly positioned to enable better, richer and more meaningful AI experiences. And for a smartphone manufacturer, of course that’s paramount because it’s your personal device, you carry it with you everywhere. Approximately 77% of users in Southeast Asia are using a Galaxy AI feature, said Nordenberg. Personalisation requires access to personal data, but privacy and security are non-negotiable, he added. This ensures sensitive personal data is processed on the device wherever possible, and cloud processing is used when necessary, said Nordenberg.

SEOUL (Jan 16): Former South Korean President Yoon Suk Yeol is due to face the first court ruling on Friday stemming from criminal charges over his failed martial law attempt, a case that could result in a long prison sentence if he is found guilty. His arrest was the first ever for a sitting president in South Korea. Prosecutors have asked the court to give him the death sentence on this charge, with a ruling scheduled for February. Parliament, joined by some members of Yoon's conservative party, voted within hours to overturn his surprise martial law decree and later impeached him, suspending his powers. While his bid to impose martial law lasted only about six hours, it sent shockwaves through South Korea, which is Asia's fourth-largest economy, a key US security ally and long considered one of the world's most-resilient democracies.

14 ministries fail to meet targets, says chief secretaryPUTRAJAYA: Fourteen ministries failed to meet their targets in implementing physical development projects allocated last year, says Tan Sri Shamsul Azri Abu Bakar. The Chief Secretary to the Government said expenditure on development projects by the ministries concerned stood at 87.91%, which is below the national average and warrants serious attention. “People-oriented projects such as road repairs, construction of schools, clinics and hospitals are being implemented, but at a slow pace, which explains why the achievement rate is only 87%. Shamsul Azri said as of Dec 22 last year, a total of 9,578 development projects had been implemented nationwide, involving an allocation of RM83.06bil, with actual expenditure amounting to RM81.67bil. This translated into a national average expenditure performance of 98.33% for development projects.

“The loan sharks are vile. Heng said she learnt that the couple had borrowed about RM20,000 from 20 loan sharks since 2024. He is back in debt with loan sharks. Chia said she received threatening calls from loan sharks earlier this month, demanding her to settle her brother’s debts. The loan sharks, she said, seemed to know where she lives and have details of her vehicle.

Performance committee chairman Datuk Seri Lee Chong Wei said the move, proposed by national singles coaching director Kenneth Jonassen, is part of a revamped national programme and will apply across all departments, not just singles. Chong Wei explained that the new structure allows BAM to accelerate the development of standout talents in singles, doubles and mixed doubles, ensuring they receive elite-level exposure earlier. Chong Wei said he did not expect major changes in terms of names qualifying for the 2028 Los Angeles Olympics or the 2032 Brisbane Games. “Junior development is critical,” he said, adding that talent identification must begin at the school level before players enter the national system. Chong Wei also confirmed that BAM are continuing to restructure their coaching set-up, including the promotion of Datuk Tey Seu Bock from junior singles head coach to lead the senior team, with more coaching appointments expected.

JOHOR BARU: A 33-year-old doctor will be charged in the Magistrate’s Court today for allegedly murdering his wife and young son, following a tragic incident at their home in Bandar Dato Onn late last year. Johor police chief Comm Datuk Ab Rahaman Arsad said police found the victims, a 36-year-old accountant and her four-year-old son, dead at about 8.20am on Dec 31 with injuries consistent with criminal acts. Comm Ab Rahaman said the autopsy found that the woman died due to asphyxia-related causes. Comm Ab Rahaman said the suspect was remanded for 13 days where checks showed that he had no prior criminal record and tested negative for drugs. Comm Ab Rahaman reminded the public not to speculate or spread unverified information.

HOUSTON: Oil prices settled down around 4% on Thursday ending a five-day streak of gains after US President Donald Trump said the crackdown on protesters in Iran was easing, allaying concerns over potential military action against Iran and oil supply disruptions. Further weighing on prices, US crude and gasoline inventories rose last week by more than analysts had estimated, the Energy Information Administration said on Wednesday. Elsewhere, Venezuela has begun reversing oil production cuts made under a US embargo, with crude exports also resuming, three sources said. On the demand side, Opec said on Wednesday that 2027 oil demand was likely to rise at a similar pace to this year and published data indicating a near balance between supply and demand in 2026, contrasting with other forecasts of a glut. China's crude oil imports in December rose 17% from a year earlier, while total imports in 2025 were up 4.4%, government data showed, with daily crude import volumes hitting record highs.

It led to her borrowing RM3,000 from loan sharks late last year to fulfil the supposed boyfriend’s demands for cash. “The loan sharks are also going after my mother and threw several severed chicken heads into the compound of her home as a warning,” she said. Back then, she ended up in debt with loan sharks after taking a loan of over RM12,000 to please her online suitor whom she met on Facebook. Chong said his department handled 422 cases of people borrowing money from loan sharks last year involving a total sum of RM44mil. Despite repeated warnings about the consequences of borrowing from loan sharks, he said many people would not hesitate taking the risk.

Over RM50mil in assets confiscated in probe involving militaryPUTRAJAYA: More than RM50mil worth of cash, assets and money from frozen accounts were seized in two high-profile investigations involving the military. Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission (MACC) chief commissioner Tan Sri Azam Baki said the items that were seized included cash, luxury watches, jewellery, gold and even a luxury vehicle. Major haul: Some of the items seized in the probe include cash, luxury watches, jewellery, gold and a luxury vehicle. — KAMARUL ARIFFIN/The Star“Other items seized were RM4.4mil in cash, RM1.4mil in foreign currencies, 26 luxury watches, mostly Rolex, valued at RM2.3mil, jewellery and gold worth more than RM3.4mil, as well as a luxury vehicle estimated at RM360,000,” he told a press conference at the MACC headquarters yesterday. He said among the items seized were 66 gold bars weighing 2.49kg, three vehicles, RM1.5mil cash and RM4.7mil in eight company accounts and four private accounts.

That includes a previous US$100 billion commitment made in 2025 by Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Co (TSMC), Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick said. The framework also caps sector-specific US tariffs on auto parts, timber, lumber and wood derivative products from Taiwan at 15%. In addition, Taiwanese semiconductors would receive relief from future tariffs. The Commerce Department concluded an investigation that found chip imports harm US national security, but held off on imposing broader tariffs. Taiwanese President Lai Ching-te had indicated he supported Trump’s goal of reindustrialising the US but said American land, electricity and workforce policy reforms were needed so projects could move ahead.

WHILE the world is rightly waking up to the implications of China’s rising technological prowess, it’s time for a reality check. Their contribution to economic activity is dwarfed by traditional engines such as property and infrastructure investment, years after they collapsed. At the same time, the increase in economic activity from six newfangled growth drivers was less than one percentage point. Billed as a consumer subsidy, in reality this scheme offers support to the industrial giants so important for the country’s future. It will take time for China’s industrial giants to get to the point where they can truly propel growth.

KUALA LUMPUR: Police are hunting for three men believed to have stolen a safe during a break-in at a house in Taman Hillview, Hulu Kelang, on Dec 26, resulting in losses estimated at RM2mil. "Further inspection found that a safe was missing from the master bedroom, with losses estimated at RM2mil," he said in a statement here on Thursday. Khairul Anuar was commenting on a video showing three suspects carrying a safe, which went viral on Wednesday. After the report was lodged, he said police detained six foreign nationals, including a woman, to assist in the investigation. Earlier, a 38-second closed-circuit television (CCTV) video went viral showing three men, each wearing a cap, carrying an object believed to be a safe estimated to weigh about 100kg at a house.

KUALA LUMPUR: The Umno supreme council special meeting has received and heard reports from council members who attended the Women's, Youth and Puteri wings meetings. Umno secretary-general Datuk Dr Asyraf Wajdi (pic) said all motions raised by delegates from the three wings were also deliberated at the meeting. The meeting was chaired by Umno president Datuk Seri Dr Ahmad Zahid Hamidi and attended by the party's top leadership, including deputy president Datuk Seri Mohamad Hasan and information chief Datuk Seri Azalina Othman Said. Ahmad Zahid is scheduled to deliver his presidential policy speech on Friday. A total of 6,412 delegates have registered, comprising 2,928 delegates for the Umno General Assembly 2025 and Wanita (1,165), Youth (1,173) and Puteri (1,146) wings.

KUALA LUMPUR: The absence of former prime minister Datuk Seri Najib Razak is felt at the Umno Youth meeting, with debaters highlighting the former party president's influence in the political landscape. Pekan Umno Youth chief Mohd Fakhrul Akhmal Mohamed attributed Barisan Nasional and Umno's dominance at the Melaka and Johor state elections to Najib's presence. "This is a reminder that we need Najib Razak," he said when debating the Youth wing chief's policy speech on Thursday (Jan 15). Pasir Mas Umno Youth chief Nik Ikhwan Haqim Hanafi said the atmosphere at the Umno annual general assembly would be electrifying if Najib was present. Meanwhile, an Umno Youth delegate was jeered by the wing after shouting the slogan "Reformasi" when beginning his debates.

PETALING JAYA: The journalist whose question posed a lecture here caused a controversy has issued a full apology. "My name is Rex Tan, a journalist at Free Malaysia Today. I genuinely and unequivocally apologise for the question I posed during a public lecture titled, 'Gaza Exposes the Complicity of International Actors' on Jan 12. Tan also pointed out that he did not use the term "apartheid" nor suggest a parallel with the present condition of Chinese Malaysians. The incident stemmed from a public lecture titled "Gaza Exposes the Complicity of International Actors" held on Jan 12, featuring British politician George Galloway, where the reporter posed a question that later drew widespread criticism online.