PETALING JAYA: National men's singles shuttler Leong Jun Hao's hopes of building momentum for next week's All-England suffered an early setback after he was knocked out in the first round of the German Open. 27 Jun Hao lost 18-21, 21-5, 20-22 to world No. It was also the end of the road for Justin Hoh as he fell 17-21, 21-12, 8-21 to world No. 33 Yew Sin-Ee Yi defeated Donovan Wee-Howin Wong of Singapore 21-15, 21-14 while Sze Fei-Izzuddin ousted France’s Mael Cattoen-Lucas Renoir 21-17, 21-19. Ling Ching defeated India’s Tanvi Sharma 21-19, 17-21, 21-16 in 56 minutes and will play Pornpawee Chochuwong of Thailand next.

WELLINGTON: Former New Zealand Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern and her family are relocating to Australia, becoming the most high-profile addition to a growing wave of Kiwis moving across the Tasman. After spending much of her time overseas since her 2023 resignation, Ardern and her family now plan to base themselves in Australia, a spokesman said. Ardern is one of hordes of Kiwis who have moved to Australia in recent months. In 2018 she became just the second world leader to give birth in office, after former Pakistan Prime Minister Benazir Bhutto. "I have given my absolute all to being prime minister but it has also taken a lot out of me,” she said at the time.

KULAI: Three more schools have been instructed to close temporarily due to the fire at a rubber and plastics storage warehouse in Sengkang here, bringing the total to five. Bukit Batu assemblyman Arthur Chiong Sen Sern said after the closure of SJKC Sengkang and SJKC Kulai Besar earlier on Wednesday (Feb 25), SK Taman Kota Kulai, Sekolah Agama Taman Kota Kulai and SK Taman Kota Kulai 2 have also been instructed to close. “In SK Taman Kota Kulai, 56 students displayed symptoms of illness while SK Taman Kota Kulai 2 had 12 students with similar symptoms. “They were told to return home on Wednesday and classes were switched to online,” he said in a Facebook post. He added that the online Home-based Teaching and Learning would go on until Friday (Feb 27).

Malaysian actress Tan Sri Michelle Yeoh recently pulled off a sweet birthday surprise for her French husband Jean Todt. In an Instagram post on Wednesday (Feb 25), the 63-year-old said she had waited patiently at an airport in France to surprise her “love” with a bouquet of white roses on his 80th birthday. It’s worth mentioning that white roses are popularly associated with new beginnings, innocence, respect and remembrance. Happy birthday Jean, my love,” Yeoh wrote in the caption. “Happy birthday Jean.

TENOM: Tenom is facing its worst flood disaster in more than a decade, with extensive efforts underway to assist affected residents and ensure their safety. Sabah Rural Development Minister Datuk Rubin Balang said that in view of the current situation and with public safety as the top priority, Tenom District Officer Alexander Liew had declared a disaster status for the district on Wednesday (Feb 25). "I understand this is among the worst floods Tenom has experienced. I also chaired a special meeting at the Disaster Operations Room at the Tenom District Office to discuss follow-up actions, logistical requirements and immediate assistance for affected residents," he said when contacted Thursday (Feb 26). Retail shop owner Rita Erin Kating, 38, described the experience of seeing strong currents inundate her premises in Pekan Tenom as terrifying and unforgettable.

(Feb 26): China removed nine military lawmakers from its national parliament in the latest sign that President Xi Jinping’s purge of key defence establishment personnel continues to widen. The removals come just a few weeks after Xi’s move to probe his top general and one-time ally, Zhang Youxia. The investigation marked the most stunning development yet in China’s biggest military purge in roughly half a century. Beijing hasn’t given an official reason for the investigations beyond saying the men are suspected of “serious discipline and law violations”. Since then, two vice military chairs, three CMC members, a former defence minister, along with at least a dozen of senior generals who oversaw military commands have been ousted.

They are hunted for their unique scales, and the demand makes them the most trafficked mammal in the world. Wildlife conservationists are again raising the plight of pangolins, the shy, scaly anteaters found in parts of Africa and Asia, on World Pangolin Day on Feb 21. The World Wildlife Fund estimates that over a million pangolins were taken from the wild over the last decade, including those that were never intercepted. A file picture of seized pangolin scales displayed by a Malaysian Customs official in Sepang, Selangor. All of them face either a high, very high or extremely high risk of extinction.

KUALA LUMPUR: An elderly painter pleaded not guilty at four Magistrates' Courts here today to four charges of breaking 13 automatic teller machine (ATM) screens at three banks in Jinjang, near here, last week. According to all the charges, the man was charged with committing mischief by breaking 13 ATM screens using a piece of stone between 8 am, Feb 16 to 9.44 pm, Feb 17, causing losses totalling RM45,183.20 to Maybank and RM24,257.76 to RHB Bank. Leong was also charged with another charge of mischief by punching the cover panel of a cash deposit machine at Maybank Jinjang Selatan, resulting in a loss of RM800 to Maybank at 10 pm, Feb 16. On Feb 18, Bernama reported that the police had arrested an elderly man believed to be involved in the act of breaking ATM screens at several bank branches around Jinjang here. Last week, a video went viral on social media showing a man breaking the screen of ATM machines screen.

PETALING JAYA: Datuk Seri Rafizi Ramli claims that PKR is trying to push him to leave the party voluntarily. The former economy minister said that in the letter, supposedly issued to him by PKR secretary-general Datuk Dr Fuziah Salleh, the party had incorrectly inferred that his statements meant he was resigning from PKR. "My previous statement was just a plan for when Parliament is dissolved and I am no longer bound by the anti-party hopping law. Once I am no longer an MP, it is entirely up to me what I choose to do. Rafizi also claimed that the letter showed PKR's lack of courage to sack him since doing so would allow him to retain his Parliament seat.

GEORGE TOWN: The Penang government has approved a special financial aid of half a month’s salary, or a minimum of RM1,000, for state civil servants in conjunction with Hari Raya Aidilfitri. Chief Minister Chow Kon Yeow said the state has approved the payment of the Special Aidilfitri Financial Assistance (BKKA), amounting to half a month's salary or a minimum of RM1,000 for state civil service members, to be paid no later than March 16. "In addition, BKKA 2026 amounting to RM300 will be given to supervisors, teachers and staff of Al-Quran and Fardu Ain classes, religious primary and secondary schools, government-aided religious schools, tahfiz centres, pondok institutions, Islamic kindergartens and Chinese private schools in Penang," he said in a statement on Thursday (Feb 26). Chow said BKKA 2026 is estimated to involve financial implications of RM8.49mil for the state government, benefiting 7,317 recipients. "It is a sign of appreciation to all members of the state civil service for their contributions and unwavering commitment in realising the Penang2030 vision of a smart and green state aligned with the nation's aspirations," he said.

PETALING JAYA: A four-wheel-drive vehicle belonging to Badrul Hisham Shaharin, also known as Chegubard, has been badly damaged in a crash in Rembau, Negri Sembilan. Rembau deputy OCPD Deputy Supt Azmi Ali said the vehicle crashed after avoiding an unidentified animal on the road. He said Badrul Hisham was driving from Universiti Teknologi Mara (UiTM) toward Kampung Lada Chengkau on Jalan Chengkau-Pilin-Lubuk Cina at 12.30am on Thursday (Feb 26) when the accident occurred. "An unidentified animal crossed the road from the right. In a Facebook post, Badrul Hisham shared his relief at surviving the crash but rued the loss of his long-time favourite car.

The market was off to a cautious start ahead of results announcements from financial heavyweights. At 9.05am, the FBM KLCI was down 2.47 points to 1,745.34 with Maybank and RHB dragging on the index. Maybank fell 10 sen to RM12.26 while RHB shed five sen to RM8.26, ahead of their respective earnings announcements expected later today. "For Malaysia, AI optimism may support interest in technology-related counters, although broader market sentiment could remain cautious amid external uncertainties. G3 slipped 0.5 sen to 1.5 sen and NationGate dropped 7.5 sen to 93.5 sen.

KUALA LUMPUR (Feb 26): TMK Chemical Bhd (KL:TMK) reported a 30.9% rise in fourth-quarter net profit despite a 16.6% drop in revenue, supported by higher factory utilisation rates that lifted margins, alongside lower finance and tax expenses. Net profit for the three months ended Dec 31, 2025 (4QFY2025) came in at RM29.33 million, up from RM22.4 million a year earlier, according to a bourse filing on Thursday. The group attributed the decline to lower sales volume, partly offset by higher average selling prices. TMK added that the 4QFY2025 performance reflected a gradual recovery in market conditions and margin improvements from efficiency gains. Finance costs more than halved to RM2.65 million from RM5.45 million, while tax expenses dropped to RM5.3 million from RM8.15 million, with the effective tax rate easing to 15.3% from 26.2%.

KUALA LUMPUR (Feb 26): Duopharma Biotech Bhd (KL:DPHARMA) saw its net profit for the latest fiscal year rise to a new record high on the back of resilient demand, complemented by a one-off surge in insulin supply in the year’s first half. Net profit for the financial year ended Dec 31, 2025 (FY2025) climbed 39.6% to RM87.46 million — its highest annual net profit on record — from RM62.65 million in FY2024, according to the drugmaker’s bourse filing on Thursday. Resilient demand from both the public and private sectors across all business segments drove a 14.5% growth in revenue to a record RM931.69 million from RM813.67 million previously. Net profit for the last three months ended Dec 31, 2025 (4QFY2025) rose 26.3% to RM19.05 million from RM15.08 million a year earlier, as revenue increased 16% to RM224.69 million from RM193.67 million. “Looking ahead, the new leadership at Duopharma will remain proactively focused on enhancing operational efficiencies, optimising cost management strategies, and executing strategic initiatives,” said Duopharma group CEO Wan Amir-Jeffery Wan Abdul Majid.

An enforcement officer knocked on his window. Tan ended up being sentenced to six hours of community service, sweeping the streets of Stulang Laut in Johor, and slapped with a RM500 fine, for littering. It was just an hour after the Solid Waste and Public Cleansing Management Act 2007 (Act 672) came into force. The Community Service Order under Act 672 came into effect on Jan 1 this year as a punishment to address the issue of littering in public places. Offenders face a fine of up to RM2,000 and must complete up to 12 hours of community service within six months.