Sabah & Sarawak

Warisan's Saifulah still keen on contesting Lamag by-election

SANDAKAN: Saifulah Lokman, Warisan's candidate for Lamag in the 17th Sabah Election, says he remains keen to contest the upcoming Lamag by-election.

Books

Hong Kong comics set to rock Comic Fiesta again

Hong Kong's best comics creators will once again be rocking Comics Fiesta, Malaysia's largest comic exhibition, for the fourth year running.

Boxing

Boxing-Fame and followers to the forefront as Paul faces Joshua

Dec 18 (Reuters) - Jake Paul and Anthony Joshua will bring another year of seismic shifts in boxing to an end in Miami on Friday night in a mismatch that illustrates how much the sport has changed, with online fame now almost as important as punching power. 

World

Taiwan rattled by 5.1 magnitude quake, no immediate reports of damage

TAIPEI, Dec 18 (Reuters) - A 5.1 magnitude earthquake struck 18 km (11 miles) off eastern Taiwan's Hualien city on Thursday, the island's weather administration said, with no immediate reports of damage.

Singapore

Former pre-school teacher in Singapore gets 10 months’ jail for ill-treating two-year-old girl

SINGAPORE: A pre-school teacher, assigned to a nursery class in 2022, lifted a two-year-old girl by her shoulders and placed her on the floor.

Brunei

Employer in Brunei probed for requiring staff to work on rest days

BANDAR SERI BEGAWAN: The Labour Department has launched an investigation into an employer in the Belait District for allegedly requiring employees to work on their designated rest days, following an enforcement operation carried out last week.

Other Sports

Kabaddi heroes clinch maiden SEA Games gold

BANGKOK: The national men's kabaddi team have captured a historic gold in the SEA Games.

Nation

Collision claims lives of father, son in Jeli

JELI: A father and his teenage son were killed when their multi-purpose vehicle (MPV) overturned and fell down a roadside embankment after colliding with another car in Kampung Batu Melintang on Thursday, (Dec 18).

Technology

Trump Media, fusion power firm TAE Technologies combine in $6 billion deal

Dec 18 (Reuters) - U.S. President Donald Trump's social media firm is entering the fusion-power business through a $6 billion merger with privately held TAE Technologies, betting on the 7experimental technology as AI datacenters drive a surge in energy demand.

Metro News

Selangor MB: Bt Caves village's redevelopment will realign boundaries according to land titles

THE Kampung Indian Settlement in Batu Caves, Selangor, needs to be developed in a more organised manner because some of the houses have been built on road reserves, says Datuk Seri Amirudin Shari.

Corporate News

Haily secures RM97.99mil construction contract st Setia Tropika, JB

KUALA LUMPUR: Haily Group Bhd's wholly owned subsidiary, Haily Construction Sdn Bhd, has secured a RM97.99 million construction contract from Setia Indah Sdn Bhd.

Technology

Meta's Yann LeCun targets $3.5 billion valuation for new AI startup, FT reports

Dec 18 (Reuters) - Meta's outgoing chief artificial intelligence scientist Yann LeCun is holding early talks to raise 500 million euros ($586.00 million) for a new startup that would value the AI firm at about 3 billion euros ahead of its official launch, the Financial Times reported on Thursday.

Nation

Almost 2,000 reports lodged over viral animal neglect case, says DVS

PETALING JAYA: A total of 1,920 reports have been received in connection with the deaths of two animals allegedly left inside an abandoned veterinary clinic in Damansara Damai here, says the Veterinary Services Department (DVS).

Technology

UPS company deploys AI to spot fakes amid surge in holiday returns

LOS ANGELES, Dec 18 (Reuters) - Nearly one in every 10 retail items that are returned for a refund in the U.S. is fraudulent, according to a UPS-owned reverse logistics company that says it plans to combat the $76.5 billion problem for the country's retailers with artificial intelligence. 

Technology

US crypto industry cheers 2025 wins, but party may fizzle next year

Dec 18 (Reuters) - After celebrating Donald Trump's second presidential term by swilling cocktails and partying to Snoop Dogg at a pre-inauguration event in January, the crypto industry went on to notch major legislative and regulatory victories this year.

Corporate News

Axiata rules out investments in India

KUALA LUMPUR: Axiata Group Bhd announced today that it has no plans to make new investments in India.

Nation

Proposal to raise 'Bantuan Wang Ihsan' to be presented to the Cabinet, says Zahid

KUANTAN: A proposal to increase the amount of 'Bantuan Wang Ihsan' cash aid (BWI) for disaster victims will be brought to the Cabinet meeting, says Datuk Seri Dr Ahmad Zahid Hamidi.

Nation

Body found in bag in vacant house in Pedas

SEREMBAN: Police say a body has been found in a bag left at an unoccupied house in Kampung Batu 4, Pedas, near here.

Nation

Government to maintain toll freeze on 10 highways in 2026

PETALING JAYA: The government will cover the financial costs of the nationwide toll freeze on the 10-highway concession in 2026, according to Works Minister Datuk Seri Alexander Nanta Linggi.

Football

Haqimi makes amend with a winner to give M'sia first football medal in eight years

BANGKOK: Harimau Muda have ended the nation's eight-year wait for a SEA Games medal in football after beating the Philippines 2-1 in the bronze-medal playoff at the Rajamangala Stadium on Thursday (Dec 18).