Nation

Doing more than ‘lights off’ for 20th Earth Hour

PETALING JAYA: A three-day event was held here for the first time to mark the 20th Earth Hour global event, says World Wide Fund for Nature Malaysia (WWF-Malaysia).

Squash

Duncan hopes tight schedule won’t loosen his grip on bid to reach world meet

PETALING JAYA: National squash player Duncan Lee (pic) has a busy schedule lined-up for May, but he's hoping to include an appearance at the World Championships in the mix.

Golf

Koepka co‑designs Memorial Park

BROOKS Koepka already has several accolades to his credit, but signature golf course designer is a new one.

More costly now for players to leave BAM before contract ends

PETALING JAYA: Any national player planning to leave the Badminton Association of Malaysia (BAM) before their contract ends may have to think twice, as they could be required to pay substantial compensation.

Education

Fixing Maths attitudes

THE increase in primary school Mathematics teaching time from next year is a step towards arresting declining global scores (see infobox), but educators say changing pupils' attitudes towards the subject is just as crucial for it to be effective.

Nation

Govt support eases burden of rising agricultural costs for padi farmers

KUALA LUMPUR: Padi farmers have welcomed the government's decision to maintain input subsidies and cash assistance, describing them as crucial amid rising global agricultural costs following ongoing tensions in the Middle East.

Nation

Water levels drop at three Melaka dams

MELAKA: The recent dry spell has caused water levels at three main dams in Melaka to drop between 10% and 30%, says Datuk Hameed Mytheen Kunju Basheer.

Squash

Hania hails Rachel and her bag of tricks after bagging tough win

PETALING JAYA: National squash player Rachel Arnold put up a strong fight before her run at the Optasia Championship ended in the quarter-finals.

Nation

Umno to discuss returnees at April 17 meet

KOTA TINGGI: Applications by several former Umno leaders, including Datuk Seri Hishammuddin Hussein and Khairy Jamaluddin, to rejoin the party will be tabled at the Umno supreme council meeting on April 17, says party vice-president Datuk Seri Mohamed Khaled Nordin.

Nation

Focus on employment for military veterans

KOTA TINGGI: Long-term employment and economic empowerment, rather than reliance solely on welfare assistance, will be the focus of support for military veterans, says Datuk Seri Mohamed Khaled Nordin.

Football

Fired-up Vietnam could be too hot for keepers to handle

PETALING JAYA: Malaysia's final 2027 Asian Cup Group F qualifier against Vietnam is shaping up to be a tense encounter, with a strong element of revenge in the air.

Nation

Traveller Scheme to roll out soon

KUALA LUMPUR: A proposed Traveller Scheme to protect more than 400,000 Malaysians commuting daily to work in Singapore is among the key initiatives to be rolled out soon, says Datuk Seri R. Ramanan (pic).

Behind The Headlines

The allies are restive

Empires have vassals, not allies, so when countries that consider themselves 'friends' start to think for themselves, upsets are bound to occur.

Nation

Hunt on for individuals who set off fireworks from car

SHAH ALAM: Police are tracking several people suspected of setting off fireworks in a dangerous manner from the sunroof of a moving car at Persiaran Ficus, Section U15, here recently.

Nation

Middle East conflict a wake-up call for MSMEs to diversify

PETALING JAYA: Heightened geopolitical tensions in the Middle East are expected to weigh on Malaysia's micro, small and ­medium enterprises (MSMEs), particularly in the textile, cement and steel industries.

Nation

Malaysia-Cambridge Urban platform mooted

PETALING JAYA: A Malaysia-Cambridge Urban platform to advance sustainable development goals under the Madani economic framework has been mooted, says Nga Kor Ming.

Nation

Boosting local businesses

PETALING JAYA: In the first 100 days since taking over as Entrepreneur Development and Cooperatives Minister, Steven Sim has led multi-billion ringgit initiatives in support of local businesses.

Sabah & Sarawak

Govt mulls phased diesel subsidy in Sabah, Sarawak and Labuan

KOTA KINABALU: The Finance Ministry is reviewing a proposed framework for implementing targeted diesel subsidies in Sabah, Sarawak and Labuan, says Domestic Trade and Cost of Living Minister Armizan Mohd Ali (pic).

Nation

M’sian tankers cleared for passage

REMBAU: The seven Malaysian tankers currently stranded in the Strait of Hormuz would be able to sail soon, says Foreign Minister Datuk Seri Mohamad Hasan.

Star Biz7

Bracing for building material price increase 

Hit by soaring diesel prices, the property and construction industry is facing an imminent rise in building material prices as building material suppliers said they could no longer hold off the escalating costs.