When they interact with the public, they feel cared for and develop hope for the future,” said Guardian Angels Home deputy director Robert Ong. While the public often donates festive food and daily necessities during the season, Ong said these items carry emotional value beyond practicality. The residents will feel happy and valued to have people accompany them, especially during Chinese New Year,” she added. Yap Yoke Moey of the Sang Riang Senior Citizens’ Home in Triang, Pahang, said supplies often arrive early in the festive season, particularly snacks, cakes, meat and festive clothing. “With 485 elderly residents, we do receive steady supplies, especially during the Chinese New Year,” she said, adding that basic needs are generally met.

Wednesday's stronger-than-expected jobs report fuelled worries the Federal Reserve could now be less likely to cut rates. The S&P 500 software index fell 1.7% for its second straight loss, erasing most of the index's bounce-back from last week's drubbing. "There was weakness in the jobs report on transportation hiring," said Scott Helfstein, head of investment strategy at Global X, referring to Wednesday's jobs report. It was the biggest gainer in the S&P 500 real estate index. The S&P 500 posted 99 new 52-week highs and 32 new lows.

NEW YORK/BENGALURU (Feb 12): Airbnb on Thursday became the latest travel company to point to resilient premium demand as budget-conscious customers pull back. It could be larger listings, nicer listings or listings in markets that are more expensive," the vacation-rental company said. San Francisco-based Airbnb expects 2026 revenue to increase "at least low double-digits", roughly in line with analysts' estimates of 10.24%. Airbnb's earnings per share came in at 56 cents in the fourth quarter, compared to 73 cents a year earlier. It posted a quarterly revenue of US$2.78 billion, compared to expectations of US$2.71 billion.

In Petaling Jaya, Shah Alam and Klang, community-driven organisations are stepping up to bridge economic gaps, collaborating with local councils to provide skills training that fosters financial independence. This social enterprise has up­­skilled 260 single mothers from low-income households since it was established 13 years ago. “I find the programme helps participants become pastry chefs or even start a career in marketing, as business training is provided,” she said. He said MBDK provided free skills training and enhanced job opportunities for low-income earners. “Baking bread at home is a cost-effective way to take control of our family’s health, reducing preservatives and refined sugars found in convenience store-bought loaves,” she said.

But we cannot become casualties of the slow burn simply because the immediate crisis burns hotter or dominates more headlines. Over the next 10 to 15 years, 1.2 billion young people in developing countries will come of working age – a scale the world has never seen. On current trajectories, these economies are expected to generate only about 400 million jobs over that same period – leaving a gap of staggering proportions. It must not be ignored at coming forums like the Munich Security Conference, the Group of Seven and Group of 20. We focus where job potential is greatest, across the five sectors that consistently generate employment at scale: infrastructure and energy, agribusiness, primary healthcare, tourism and value-added manufacturing.

As of 10am yesterday, the water level stood at 6.25m, just above the final warning level of 6.09m. Kerian district has 21,000ha of padi fields as of 2024, according to the Integrated Agriculture Development Area. In Perlis, 771 farmers operating about 720ha of padi fields outside the Muda Agricultural Develop­ment Authority area have been affected. Potential padi losses are estimated at 3,240 tonnes and could rise if dry conditions continue, further affecting farmers’ incomes. Farmers have been urged to register with Agrobank and their respective Area Farmers’ Organisation branches to ensure eligibility.

Besides all the worries over whether AI investments will pay off, fears about disruption have been mounting. “For most of the past three years, investors took a ‘glass half-full’ approach to AI,” noted Sosnick. “There is simply more bad news about AI disruption than good news about AI implementation and margins right now,” said Dennis DeBusschere at 22V Research. “A major theme related to AI is the ‘software scare,’ which is still playing out in equity markets,” he said. “With AI acting both as a driver and a detractor of performance, investors should hold a diversified exposure as they dynamically evaluate the AI landscape,” she said.

KUALA LUMPUR: The new moon to mark the start of Ramadan for Muslims in Malaysia will be sighted next Tuesday (Feb 17) evening, the Office of the Keeper of the Rulers' Seal announces. Other observation sites include Telok Kemang, Port Dickson in Negeri Sembilan; Bukit Melawati, Kuala Selangor; Bukit Jugra, Banting; Kuala Langat; and Selangor Observatory, Sabak Bernam in Selangor. In Terengganu, sites include Bukit Besar, Kuala Terengganu; Bukit Geliga, Kemaman; Pulau Perhentian, Besut; and KUSZA Observatory, Setiu. Observation points in Kelantan include Bukit Peraksi, Pasir Puteh; Bukit Kampong Tembeling, Kuala Krai; and Menara Bangunan SEDC, Kota Baru. In Sabah, sites include Al-Biruni Observatory, Tanjung Dumpil, Putatan; Menara Universiti Malaysia Sabah; and Labuan International Campus.

HOUSTON: Oil prices dropped on Thursday due to falling demand, retreating fears of renewed Middle East conflict and expected increases in supply. Brent crude oil futures settled at US$67.52 a barrel down US$1.88, or 2.71%. Global oil demand will rise more slowly than previously expected this year, the International Energy Agency said on Thursday, while projecting a sizeable surplus despite outages that cut supply in January. "The fact that President Trump continues to negotiate with Iran would lead to a reduction of geopolitical risk," said Andrew Lipow, president of consultancy Lipow Oil Associates. The IEA forecast offered a "pretty significant" reduction in demand for 2026, Lipow said.

(Feb13) : Malaysia’s biggest solar company Solarvest Holdings Bhd (KL:SLVEST) plans to more than double its generation capacity in the next two years, as declining battery costs enables further deployment of renewables. Prices could drop further to US$60 per KWh, he said. A global decline in battery costs is resulting in an acceleration of installations, which help grids integrate intermittent renewables. Battery additions are forecast to grow 33% in 2026 to an all-time high, according to BloombergNEF. Solarvest, co-founded by Chong in 2012, is Malaysia’s first listed solar firm.

A LACK of coordination between land alienation and development approvals is exposing the local authority to potential legal action and compensation claims, says Hannah Yeoh. If the intended use contradicts the Kuala Lumpur City Plan (KLCP), Kuala Lumpur City Hall (DBKL) finds itself in a precarious position. Despite the push for consistency, she noted that the local plan served as a guide and was not entirely static. The report previously uncovered issues regarding unchecked approvals and the sale of public land below market value. Regarding the 139 sites identified for redevelopment under the Kuala Lumpur Local Plan 2040, Yeoh emphasised the need to balance modern community requirements with infrastructure capacity.

KUALA LUMPUR: My Digital ID Sdn Bhd aims to achieve 17 million MyDigital ID registered accounts from Malaysians by the end of 2026, as compared to 7.3 million accounts as at the end of last year. Deputy chief executive officer Azrin Aris said the company expects to hit 13 million MyDigital ID accounts by the middle of this year. "As of today, we have reached almost 10 million (accounts), and our target is a little further to reach 13 million (accounts). Azrin said the number of MyDigital ID-registered accounts increased significantly (10 million accounts) as of today, up from 1.8 million in the same period last year, driven by stronger awareness of crime and cybersecurity among Malaysians. He said MyDigital ID makes it easier for users to remember their usernames and passwords, especially as more and more applications require them.

If 2025 was palm oil at the gym, flexing under bright lights, 2026 is palm oil at the clinic – checking its pulse, reviewing its diet and listening carefully to its cardiologists. Crude palm oil (CPO) and crude palm kernel oil outputs reached 51.98 and 4.93 million tonnes respectively. Exports rose 8.7% to 32.12 million tonnes, and domestic consumption climbed 3.8% to 24.76 million tonnes, buoyed by the B40 biodiesel mandate. Mielke places Malaysian output at 19.87 million tonnes, while McGill estimates approximately 19.7 million tonnes. World palm oil output is seen declining to 84.5 million tonnes in 2026, from 85.24 million tonnes previously.

TOKYO: Despite President Donald Trump having congratulated Japan's Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi on her recent election triumph, Tokyo is under pressure to deliver on colossal investments promised in the United States. -The clock is ticking ahead of Takaichi's White House visit on March 19, and according to media reports tempers are starting to fray. In January, Trump told South Korea that he would raise tariffs to 25 per cent, saying its parliament was "not living up to its Deal with the United States". "The Trump administration is facing difficult mid-term elections.... "The Trump administration is a very tough administration."

KOTA KINABALU: The government of India’s decision to open a consulate of India here has stirred up a mix of positive and negative reactions among Sabahans. Its president, David Chan, said this move could spur investment flows, industrial cooperation, tourism development, and people-to-people ties. He said this move was a forward-looking vision by the Prime Minister, signalling strong confidence in Sabah’s economic potential and strategic importance within the Federation. However, there were many who voiced concern over what could happen if the Indian consulate were opened in Sabah. On Feb 7, Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi expressed his decision to open up the Consulate in Kota Kinabalu during an official visit to Malaysia.