Beyond the festive flourish of red paper couplets bearing auspicious characters, Chinese calligraphy is anchored in rigour, patience and sustained discipline. Ng Swee Kheng, the president of the Federation of Calligraphy Society Malaysia, said mastery rests on consistent training and long-term dedication, as every character carries its own architecture and technique. Growing interest, he noted, is reflected in large-scale gatherings such as the Kuala Lumpur World Calligraphy Carnival 2024 and the 2026 National Huichun Calligraphy Convention, which drew thousands of enthusiasts from diverse backgrounds. Chinese calligraphy in Malaysia, he added, has developed a distinct identity through the integration of local elements such as batik motifs and Malay poetry. “This is my first experience with Chinese calligraphy, and I am pleased to learn something new.

(The paper cites a famous Gary Larson cartoon whose premise seems to be that the very idea of cows devising tools is absurd.) This is the first scientifically documented case of tool use in cows, researchers say. A filmmaker scouting for locations had captured footage of Veronika using an old, battered rake to scratch her back. “So for her, using this tool to scratch herself was something that she was really, really looking for,” Osuna-Mascaro said. That suggests that the ability to use tools “is something that lays really deep within the nature of these animals,” Osuna-Mascaro said.

Season 10 of Love Is Blind premiered on Feb 11 on Netflix, and the show is already making headlines after contestant Elissa Finley was hospitalised for getting nail glue in her eye. In the first episode, the 38-year-old nurse can seen rushing into the women’s lounge shouting, “Oh my god! (Expletive)!”Finley was quickly rushed to the hospital after she realised she’d accidentally poured nail glue in her eye, mistaking it for eye drops. “I go in [to the pods] and there’s a little bottle there, and I wanted to put eye drops in my eye. It was nail glue,” Finley said, adding that as her vision became blurry she thought she was about to lose her sight.

South Korean actor Lee Seung-gi and his actress-wife Lee Da-in are expecting their second child. Lee Seung-gi’s agency Big Planet Made told South Korean media on Feb 12 that she is in her fifth month of pregnancy. Lee Seung-gi, 39, and Lee Da-in, 33, tied the knot on April 7, 2023, and welcomed their firstborn – a girl – on Feb 5, 2024. On Feb 5, 2025, she posted on Instagram three photos of Lee Seung-gi carrying the baby with a cake in front of them, with the words “cute” and “I love dad” on the photos. Thank you for giving me endless happiness throughout the year.”On Feb 5, she uploaded photos of the toddler’s second birthday celebration, with the girl surrounded by rabbit soft toys.

SEREMBAN: Police are probing a 46-year-old babysitter for allegedly abusing a two-year-old toddler under her care. District OCPD Asst Comm Azahar Abd Rahim said police have recorded the suspect's statement after receiving a report of the alleged abuse. "She then took him to the Tuanku Ja'afar Hospital and medical personnel confirmed the injuries, which included abrasions on the victim's chest," he said in a statement. He said the victim has been admitted to the Tuanku Ja'afar Hospital and his condition is stable. He urged those with information on the case to contact the district police at 06 6033 222.

In this context, understanding UV radiation is essential for selecting the most appropriate sunscreen. The majority of UV radiation that reaches the Earth’s surface consists of UVA, while a smaller proportion is UVB. To quantify UV exposure, the Ultraviolet Index (UVI) is used to measure the intensity of UV radiation at the Earth’s surface. Therefore, it is recommended to wear sunscreen daily for protection against UV radiation. Regardless of the SPF used, sunscreen should be reapplied every two hours, and more frequently after swimming or excessive sweating, to maintain effective protection.

A POST on social media platform Threads claimed that a supermarket in Bangi was openly allowing foreigners to purchase subsidised packet cooking oil. But are foreign nationals really buying subsidised cooking oil packets at a shop in Bangi? Verdict:FALSEThe Domestic Trade and Cost of Living Ministry's Selangor office has confirmed there were no sales of subsidised packet cooking oil to foreigners at a shop in Bangi. "The premises actually prevented the purchase of packet cooking oil by foreigners and no sales took place," it said. Earlier, media reported that the ministry was investigating a supermarket in Bangi that was allegedly allowing foreigners to purchase packet cooking oil.

According to toilet vehicle manufacturer Montelion, annual orders surged in fiscal year 2025 – from just a few units to about 250 units in around 150 municipalities. Municipal governments with toilet vehicles have signed an agreement to dispatch them to one another when a disaster strikes. In the two months immediately following the Noto earthquake, around 15 toilet vehicles were sent to affected areas where roads were still intact. Nevertheless, toilet vehicles alone will not be enough to meet the needs of evacuees. “It’s important to gradually put into place a system where toilet vehicles can be used in combination with temporary and portable toilets,” Kato said.

KUALA LUMPUR: His Majesty Sultan Ibrahim, King of Malaysia, and Her Majesty Raja Zarith Sofiah, Queen of Malaysia, have extended their Chinese New Year greetings to Malaysians celebrating the festival. Through a post on the Sultan Ibrahim Sultan Iskandar Facebook page today, His Majesty expressed his hope that the Chinese New Year celebrations would be observed in an atmosphere of joy, harmony, and a spirit of unity. "May this Chinese New Year celebration also bring continued happiness, well-being, and prosperity to our beloved country,” His Majesty decreed. According to the lunar calendar, the Chinese New Year celebrated tomorrow marks the Year of the Horse, symbolising energy, resilience, and success.

Taiwanese TV host Dee Hsu is returning to her talk show, Dee Girls Talk (2022 to present), after almost a year away. The 47-year-old stepped away from work after her elder sister, actress Barbie Hsu, died at the age of 48 in February 2025 from pneumonia during a family trip to Japan. Dee Hsu, better known as Little S, took to social media on Feb 13 to announce her return to work, uploading a photo of herself back in the studio. Hsu and Liu won Best Host in a Variety Show for Dee Girls Talk at Taiwan’s Golden Bell Awards in October 2025. “The three months mentioned by Little S refer to the recording time for a ‘special project’ we tailored specifically for her,” he said.

KUALA LUMPUR (Feb 16): The Malaysian Armed Forces (ATM) will enforce a maximum 18-month period for officers holding high-risk posts as part of a broader reform anchored on three core values to strengthen integrity, governance and operational readiness. Chief of Defence Force Gen Datuk Malek Razak Sulaiman said the cap applies to positions exposed to higher risks, including procurement-related roles, to prevent conflicts of interest and abuse of power. Malek Razak said the policy is part of a comprehensive realignment of leadership and governance to address weaknesses and restore public confidence in the ATM. On asset declarations, Malek Razak said the requirement covers all levels of command and officers handling financial management, with updates aligned to current positions and Inspectorate guidelines. Earlier in his address, Malek Razak said the new strategic direction of the ATM will be guided by Akhlak Teras (Moral Compass), Tatakelola Tuntas (Good Governance) and Martabat Tempur (Combat Credibility).

Two units of Chow Tai Fook Group, which is owned by the family of billionaire Henry Cheng, reached the settlement, according to a statement from the Securities and Futures Commission. The regulator found that Chow Tai Fook Nominee Ltd and its concert parties failed to make a mandatory general offer at HK$3.60 a share in 2016, when their combined stake in the clothing retailer surpassed 30%. That settlement would mark the largest payout tied to breaches of the Hong Kong Takeover Code, which governs takeovers, mergers and share buy-backs in the city. Under the settlement agreement, Clear Prosper and Sino Wealth International Ltd, another Chow Tai Fook entity, have agreed to make cash payments to compensate independent shareholders who held Giordano shares at the time of the rule breaches. The SFC said the settlement is in the public interest and underscored the need to comply with takeover rules.

Compiled by DIVYA THERESA and C.ARUNOSMALL, bumpy growths began appearing on her skin in early adulthood, yet Wan Noor Azaziah Wan Aziz never let that stop her from stepping out, Metro Ahad reported. I enjoy going out, especially to religious events, even with my face like this,” said the 40-year-old, who is known as Kak Noor. Kak Noor said that with her spiritual belief she was able to endure any test. > The daily also reported that Norhafaiza Taib, 48, mistook blurred vision during a boat ride for motion sickness and awoke the next morning to darkness. “I took motion sickness medication and slept on the boat.

That 40-basis-point drop is based on disinflation leading to BOE action, outweighing any nerves caused by political risks, he argued. While the “UK risk premium and political uncertainty will likely remain elevated through upcoming local elections, we think the favourable macro backdrop will drive gilt yields lower,” Cole said in a note to clients. Ongoing political uncertainty ahead of local elections in May, where Starmer’s Labour party is forecast to do badly, is likely to keep this risk premium elevated, Cole said. Political risk is also tempered by tight fiscal constraints on the British government, which Cole said “ultimately limits the degree of policy volatility” in a potential change of administration. That leaves gilts being helped by reduced macro uncertainty and further disinflation, an outlook leading money markets to price nearly two BOE rate cuts in 2026.

MOSCOW (Feb 16): The Kremlin said on Monday that what it called the "main issues", including sensitive questions of territory, would be discussed in peace talks on Ukraine due to be held in Geneva this week. The Kremlin confirmed that the Russian delegation would be led by Vladimir Medinsky, an aide to Russian President Vladimir Putin. "This time, the idea is to discuss a broader range of issues, including, in fact, the main ones. The main issues concern both the territories and everything else related to the demands we have put forward," Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov told reporters. US President Donald Trump has said he is keen to broker an end to a conflict he has called a senseless "bloodbath", though Russia and Ukraine remain far apart on key issues including territory, who controls the Zaporizhzhia nuclear power plant, and the role of any Western troops in post-war Ukraine.