Japan

Japan releases first sakura forecast for 2026; Tokyo to see blooms from mid-March

TOKYO: Japan's Meteorological Corporation (JMC) on Thursday (Dec 18) released its first sakura – or cherry blossoms – forecast for 2026, with the famous flowers expected to bloom in the capital around mid-March.

Nation

Family escapes harm as house front collapses in Seremban

SEREMBAN: Three members of a family had a close call when the front structure of their double-storey terrace house in Taman Pinggiran Senawang collapsed.

Corporate News

Yinson Renewables acquires 94.6MW Mt Cass Wind Farm in NZ

KUALA LUMPUR: Yinson Renewables has acquired the rights to the 94.6MW Mt Cass Wind Farm in Canterbury, New Zealand, from MainPower New Zealand Limited.

Sabah & Sarawak

Sabah to shut down GLCs showing no recovery after five years, says Hajiji

KOTA KINABALU: State government-linked companies (GLCs) in Sabah that fail to generate earnings for five consecutive years may face shutdown orders if they show no prospects of recovery, says Chief Minister Datuk Seri Hajiji Noor.

Nation

Namewee ill, so drug case postponed

KUALA LUMPUR: The proceedings in a drug case involving controversial rapper Namewee at two Magistrate's Courts here have been postponed after the musician took ill.

Brunei

Brunei arrests nine in Belait drug crackdown

BANDAR SERI BEGAWAN: The Narcotics Control Bureau (NCB) has arrested nine individuals aged between 23 and 74 during a multi-agency crackdown on drug abuse and trafficking hotspots in the Belait District

Archery

Veteran archer Juwaidi strikes gold in team, silver in individual

BANGKOK: Reliable archer Juwaidi Mazuki led Malaysia the men's compound team to their first SEA Games gold in Thailand on Thursday (Dec 18). 

Starpicks

Ring in the New Year with special corporate and group stay promotions

AS the new year begins, Sunway Hotel Georgetown is welcoming 2026 with a series of stay promotions tailored for corporate travellers and group bookings.

Nation

Floods worsen in several states; Pahang records highest number of evacuees

KUALA LUMPUR: Flood conditions in several states worsened on Thursday (Dec 18) morning as the number of evacuees continues to rise, with Pahang recording the highest number of victims relocated to temporary relief centres (PPS).

AseanPlus News

Air India finds missing plane 13 years after it ‘vanished’

SINGAPORE: An airline finally found a plane that went missing 13 years ago, but the bad news is, it has to pay a hefty fine.

World

Takeaways from Trump's year-end address to the nation

WASHINGTON, Dec 17 (Reuters) - U.S. President Donald Trump used a pre-holiday address from the White House on Wednesday to portray his first year in office as a success story, even as Americans worry about the economy and Republicans face tough midterm elections in 2026.

Sabah & Sarawak

Sabah govt gets RM50mil dividend from state-owned SMJ Energy

KOTA KINABALU: State-owned SMJ Energy Sdn Bhd has declared and paid a RM50mil dividend to the Sabah government for the financial year ending Dec 31.

Nation

Multi-role combat aircraft programme may be pushed forward, says Air Force chief

SHAH ALAM: The multi-role combat aircraft (MRCA) programme plan slated for 2035 could be brought forward to address current needs, says the Royal Malaysian Air Force (RMAF).

Nation

Give authorities space to probe report of animal neglect at PJ clinic, says vets group

PETALING JAYA: Any allegation involving animal neglect is viewed with utmost seriousness, says the Malaysian Small Animal Veterinary Association (MSAVA).

Nation

Agriculture Dept shortens grain import approval, bolsters food and feed industries

PUTRAJAYA: In a proactive move to bolster national food security, the Department of Agriculture has halved the grain import approval period from two months to one, ensuring smoother operations for the food and feed industries.

Banking

SME Bank strengthens MSME ecosystem by providing over RM50bil in financing since 2005

KUALA LUMPUR: Small Medium Enterprise Development Bank Bhd (SME Bank) has channelled more than RM50 billion in approved financing to more than 26,000 customers nationwide since its establishment in 2005, building a legacy of transformative entrepreneurial support and national development.

Entertainment

Superstar actor says he no longer will kiss women in movies

'I'm not doing romantic films anymore,' says George Clooney, 64.

Video games

Netflix to launch FIFA World Cup video game

The game, developed and published by Delphi Interactive, will be available to Netflix subscribers and can be played solo or online with friends using only a smartphone, the company said.

Nation

Perak Prisons Dept, MAIPk joining forces to help former inmates, says Sultan Nazrin

IPOH: The Perak Islamic Religious and Malay Customs Council (MAIPk) and state Prisons Department are collaborating in initiatives to support inmates upon their release.

Nation

AGC rejects representation for teacher facing sexual assault, CSAM charges

SEREMBAN: The Attorney General's Chambers (AGC) has rejected a representation filed by a counselling teacher, who faces charges for committing sexual assault against an 11-year-old and possessing child pornography.