KINABATANGAN: Once political rivals, leaders who previously stood on opposing sides are now closing ranks under Barisan Nasional, framing unity as the central message ahead of the Lamag state by-election. Barisan’s Lamag candidate Mohd Ismail Ayob, popularly known as Miha, said past political differences have been set aside to allow all sides to work together towards a shared goal - development for Lamag and Kinabatangan. What matters now is that we share the same objective - to develop Lamag and Kinabatangan,” he said at a community gathering. Naim added that political unity should not be undermined by internal divisions, stressing that prolonged political fragmentation would only weaken the constituency. Nomination day has been set for Jan 10, early voting on Jan 20, and polling day on Jan 24.

Joey, a freelance graphic designer in the Lao capital Vientiane, described the past year as a whirlwind of deadlines, client meetings, and late-night projects. I didn't want to worry about traffic, road bumps, or driving, so I chose the China-Laos Railway for this trip." They chose the China-Laos Railway for its convenience and affordable tickets, allowing them to travel comfortably as a couple. The China-Laos Railway makes it so easy. Paopao and Nounoy agree that the China-Laos Railway has made travel easier, more enjoyable, and a part of the holiday experience itself.

Crans-Montana, Switzerland: Sparklers held under a foam-clad ceiling likely ignited a deadly blaze that killed 40 New Year's revellers in a Swiss ski bar, authorities said on Friday, but the bar owner insisted that all safety standards were followed. "Everything suggests that the fire started from sparklers or Bengal candles" waved high near the ceiling, the chief prosecutor of the Wallis region, Beatrice Pilloud, told a press conference. When the party-goers realised the danger they were in, chaos broke out, with videos showing them scrambling and screaming. The exact number of people who were at the bar when it went up in flames remains unclear. As authorities on Friday began moving bodies from the burned-out bar, locals described Crans-Montana as stunned.

PUTRAJAYA (Jan 3): The Malaysian Communications and Multimedia Commission (MCMC) is investigating online harm on social media platform X and will summon its representatives to seek clarification over the alleged misuse of artificial intelligence (AI) to generate harmful content. In a statement on Saturday, the MCMC said it views seriously public complaints involving the misuse of AI on X, particularly the manipulation of images of women and children to produce obscene, highly offensive and harmful material. The MCMC said it will also initiate investigations against X users suspected of breaching the CMA. Although X is currently not a licensed service provider, the MCMC stressed that the platform remains subject to Malaysia’s online safety standards and is responsible for preventing the dissemination of harmful content accessible in the country. The MCMC urged all platforms accessible in Malaysia to implement safeguards in line with local laws and online safety standards, particularly in relation to AI features, chatbots and image manipulation applications.

ISKANDAR Puteri City Council (MBIP) is Johor’s first local council and second in the country to join the Unesco Global Network of Learning Cities (GNLC). Iskandar Puteri mayor Hasrin Kamal Hashim said the city council was accepted as a GNLC member on Dec 4. “By joining the GNLC, we can gain expertise and create holistic, accessible and sustainable learning opportunities for everyone. In a separate matter, Hasrin Kamal said 70,000 people took part in the Iskandar Puteri Local Plan 2035 (RTIP2035) Draft. “RTIP2035 is a master plan that guides the future development of Iskandar Puteri until 2035,” said the mayor.

AS the city of Subang Jaya in Selangor ushers in a new year and a fresh council term, residents are demanding more than just grand announcements. Lee says transparency in planning and development approvals remains a key concern.Key concerns include clogged drainage, erratic waste management, and deteriorating road surfaces. Pusat Bandar Puchong Residents Association deputy chairman Awies Ung said the public wanted better engagement with Subang Jaya City Council (MBSJ), particularly regarding land use, town planning and environmental impacts. “We hope for regular dialogue where MBSJ, residents’ associations and the wider community can sit together and coordinate effectively,” he added. He said residents wanted assurance that service quality would not be compromised.

They found that the canine had fallen into a five-foot deep drain and was unable to escape. Residents tried lowering a ladder into the drain, but it was too steep for the dog to climb out. A spokesperson from APM said they went to the scene at around 9.30am and rescued the dog within half an hour. Video footage of the incident showed residents distracting the dog, which allowed a member of APM to slip a loop on a catch pole around its neck before pulling it to safety. When paramedics arrived, they found a 64-year-old man, surnamed Zhang, unconscious with injuries to his mouth and nose.

IN recent years, sightings of civets roaming through urban parks and residential neighbourhoods have become increasingly common. Videos of these encounters frequently go viral on social media, transforming moments of wildlife presence into entertainment or novelty. However, beneath this growing fascination lies an important question that warrants serious consideration: Are civets truly meant to live in our cities? Civets are nocturnal wild mammals belonging to the family Viverridae. Instead, their presence in human-dominated spaces often reflects environmental pressure, habitat loss, and shrinking forest areas rather than successful adaptation.

ENERGY markets enter 2026 in a downbeat mood as geopolitical uncertainty clouds the outlook and increasing signs of swelling oil and gas supplies threaten to sink prices. The past year was a wild one for the oil and gas industry, punctuated by the 12-day Israel-Iran war in June, US President Donald Trump’s trade wars, the intensified targeting of energy infrastructure in Russia in its war against Ukraine, the Organisation of Petroleum Exporting Countries’ (Opec) often perplexing production decisions and the recently threatened US blockade of Venezuela.

KUALA LUMPUR: The ringgit is expected to continue strengthening against the US dollar next week, supported by favourable interest rate differentials and stronger domestic economic fundamentals. Although it ended the week slightly lower against the greenback at 4.0515/0560 compared with 4.0470/0535 last Friday, the outlook remains positive, with the local currency projected to appreciate to 3.95 by year-end. MBSB Investment Bank Bhd (IB) said in a research note that the ringgit would mostly average at 4.00 to the US dollar this year. It said the local currency would be supported by expectations that the interest rate differential between the overnight policy rate (OPR) and the US Federal Funds rate will continue to narrow throughout the year. This should translate into sustained appreciation of the ringgit against the US dollar,” he told Bernama.

PETALING JAYA: Meat, eggs and dairy products are safe to consume if handled and cooked properly, say experts. “These drug-resistant bacteria might contaminate foods like meat, eggs and milk, but the bacteria will not transmit to humans if the foods are properly cooked as most of the bacteria could not survive. To minimise exposure to drug-resistant bacteria, both experts recommended strict hygiene in the kitchen including washing hands before and after handling raw meat, cleaning utensils and surfaces thoroughly, and keeping raw and cooked food separate. “We can’t eliminate bacteria completely, but we can reduce the risks through safe handling, cooking, and proper food hygiene,” he said. The committee is made up of agencies spanning human health, animal health, food safety and environmental sectors.

Greg has an adult child who, like Nick, has had a long and difficult struggle with addiction. But some parts of their story are likely recognisable to the millions of American families affected by addiction. Family friends told The Los Angeles Times that Michele had become increasingly concerned about Nick’s mental health in recent weeks. On top of that, co-occurring mental health conditions, traumas and other factors mean that no two cases of substance abuse disorders are exactly the same. Families Anonymous counsels members to accept the “Three Cs” of a loved one’s addiction.

When Kim Niehaus first became a Taylor Swift fan in school, classmates made fun of her. "If you showed up in a Taylor Swift T-shirt, it was ultra embarrassing," she recalls. Where 'Stan' comes fromExtreme dedication in fan culture is often described with the term "Stan". She remembers seeing Taylor Swift live as a teenager: "I was 16 or 17, young and really insecure." Online and offline, she now experiences fan culture as a powerful source of connection and community.

SAN FRANCISCO, Jan. 2 (Xinhua) -- U.S. electric automaker Tesla said Friday that its global vehicle deliveries in 2025 fell by around 8.6 percent year on year, marking the first time the company has been overtaken in annual electric vehicle sales by China's automaker BYD. Tesla produced 1.655 million electric vehicles in 2025 and delivered 1.636 million, lower than the 1.773 million vehicles produced and 1.789 million delivered in 2024, according to company data. In the fourth quarter of 2025, Tesla produced 434,358 vehicles and delivered 418,227, down from 459,445 produced and 495,570 delivered in the same period a year earlier. Tesla remains the largest electric vehicle manufacturer in the United States, accounting for about 45 percent of the domestic EV market. Industry analysts expect overall U.S. electric vehicle sales to remain weak in 2026.

PKR Youth chief Kamil Munim has called for moderation, unity and mutual respect ahead of Umno Youth’s special convention today, which will discuss the party’s position in the unity government. MANIMARANKUALA LUMPUR: PKR Youth chief Kamil Munim has called for moderation, unity and mutual respect ahead of Umno Youth's special convention today, which will discuss the party's position in the unity government. Differences of opinion are natural, and therefore must be managed in a spirit of mutual respect, understanding and consideration for one another. In December 2025, party vice-president Datuk Seri Mohamed Khaled Nordin said the outcome of the special convention would be given due consideration, noting that the youth wing has the right to convene it. Earlier that month, Akmal announced that Umno Youth would hold a special convention to discuss the party's direction and its role in the unity government.