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Nation

Hacking probe flags six immigration officers

JOHOR BARU: Investigations into the recent hacking of the Immigration Department's database to issue fraudulent Temporary Employment Visit Passes (PLKS) have implicated at least six immigration officers here.

Myanmar

Former junta chief visits Putin at Kremlin

Rus­sian Presi­dent Vladimir Putin hosted Myanmar leader Min Aung Hlaing at the Kremlin, the ex-junta chief's first visit to Moscow since taking office as civilian president.

Nation

Nightmare as family break turns deadly

KUALA LUMPUR: What was supposed to be a family holiday turned into a tragedy when three members of a family were fatally struck by an Immigration Department lorry.

Nation

Hybrid taxation plan under review

PUTRAJAYA: Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim has instructed the Finance Ministry to conduct a comprehensive study on the proposed hybrid taxation system that combines the current Sales and Service Tax (SST) with the Goods and Services Tax (GST).

Other Sports

Ridzuan defies back injury to compete and lift title in debut

KAJANG: For any weightlifter, a lower back injury is too heavy a burden to bear in a competition and it's much safer to pull out.

Banking

Review finds fraud at major Australian banks

Australia's financial crimes agency identifies coordinated mortgage fraud that could reach into the hundreds of millions of dollars following a review of the country's major banks.

Economy

S. Korea lifts 2026 growth forecast

South Korea's state-run think tank raises its growth forecast for this year, surpassing the government's already bullish projection as a stronger-than-expected global semiconductor boom, fuelled by artificial intelligence (AI), drives exports and investment.

Property

China to tap into US$1.6 trillion fund to spur home spending

China is mobilising an often overlooked pool of funds worth 10.9 trillion yuan (US$1.6 trillion) to boost a broad range of housing-related consumption, the country's first policy response after its economic slowdown deepened in July.

Insight

S. Korea makes billions, and takes home little

South Korea, home to the world's two-largest memory chipmakers, is in the midst of an artificial intelligence (AI)-fuelled exports boom. Generating wealth and keeping it at home isn't the same thing, however.

Diving

One last hurrah

SHAH ALAM: Years of early starts and relentless training finally paid off as Yong Rui Jie of Federal Territories struck individual gold at Malaysia Games (Sukma) for the first time.

Football

Malaysia's campaign in Hyundai AFF Cup over after loss to Vietnam in Hanoi

KUALA LUMPUR: The Malaysian football team's journey in the Hyundai AFF Cup has ended after they suffered a 2-0 loss to Vietnam in their second-leg semi-final in Hanoi on Wednesday (Aug 19).

Nation

Zayn Rayyan case: Sept 28 set for Ismanira’s appeal decision

SHAH ALAM: The High Court has fixed Sept 28 for its decision on Ismanira Abdul Manaf's appeal to overturn her conviction and five-year prison sentence for neglecting her six-year-old son, Zayn Rayyan Abdul Matin, resulting in physical injury three years ago.

Sri Lanka

Cricket - Suthar's spin masterclass helps India beat Sri Lanka, and rain, in Galle by 165 runs

Manav Suthar claimed six second-innings wickets in a spin-bowling masterclass to fashion India's 165-run victory in the opening Test against Sri Lanka in Galle.

AseanPlus News

Asean news headlines as at 10pm on Wednesday (Aug 19)

Here's a look at the news highlights from Asean countries in the Star-AseanPlus section for Wednesday (Aug 19, 2026).

Golf

Golf-Woodland named US captain's assistant for Presidents Cup

Aug 19 (Reuters) - ⁠Former U.S. Open champion ⁠Gary Woodland has been ‌named the fourth and final captain's assistant for Brandt Snedeker's U.S. ​Team at the 2026 ⁠Presidents Cup.

Indonesia

Indonesia foils attempt to smuggle 75.7 tonnes of tin sand to Malaysia

JAKARTA: The Indonesian Navy has thwarted a suspected attempt to smuggle about 75.7 tonnes of illegally mined tin sand to Malaysia from the Bangka Belitung Islands off the east coast of Sumatra, with the haul estimated at Rp76.04 billion (RM17.27 million).

AseanPlus News

Proud coach Hudson admits Thailand must improve their form ahead of Asean Hyundai Cup 2026 final

Coach Anthony Hudson admitted his Thailand team needed to make improvements ahead of the Asean Hyundai Cup 2026 final.

Technology

Australia secures court-enforceable child safety undertaking from Roblox

SYDNEY, Aug 20 (Reuters) - Australia's ⁠internet regulator secured a court-enforceable undertaking from Roblox to improve protections ⁠against grooming and sexual exploitation, after tests found adult strangers ‌could still contact children despite safety measures introduced by the world's biggest gaming platform.

Singapore

Man jailed for assaulting 59-year-old coffeeshop employee, who suffered spinal fracture

SINGAPORE: A man who hit a coffeeshop drink stall attendant in the face with a plastic chair and placed her in a headlock has been sentenced to one year and six weeks' jail.

Japan

Foreign visitors to Japan hit 3.33 million new record in July

TOKYO: The number of foreign visitors to Japan in July inched up 0.1 per cent from a year earlier to 3.44 million, a record for the month, government estimates showed Wednesday (Aug 19), with travel demand remaining strong amid the summer holiday season in the northern hemisphere, Kyodo News reported