Arts

Malaysian painter brings Monet’s garden to life on canvas

Najib Bamadhaj's 'The Promised Garden' draws inspiration from Giverny, the French village where Monet created his iconic works

Singapore

How love sparked this Singapore heartland baker’s rise to win World Confectioner of the Year 2025

SINGAPORE: When Joanne Huang picked up baking over a decade ago, she did not expect it to become her life's work. What began as an act of love to ease her baker husband's workload ended up taking her to the global stage.

Nation

Bung Moktar’s last question in Parliament was on MA63 progress

KUALA LUMPUR: Datuk Seri Bung Moktar Radin's final question in Parliament as an MP was on the Malaysia Agreement 1963 (MA63), before he passed away on Friday (Dec 5).

Nation

Limited seats mean top scorers may miss first choice at public unis

KUALA LUMPUR: Limited seats are among the reasons why even students with a CGPA of 4.0 may not secure their preferred courses at public universities, the Higher Education Ministry has clarified.

Sabah & Sarawak

Chinese tourist found dead after plummeting from ninth floor of hotel in Kota Kinabalu

KOTA KINABALU: A Chinese tourist was found dead after she was believed to have fallen off the ninth floor of a hotel here, early Sunday (Dec 7).

China

China woman receives handmade doll’s eyes a decade after the order due to ‘crafting process’

BEIJING: A Chinese woman who bought handmade doll's eyes online has received the goods 10 years after placing the original order.

Living

German bakers bring Christmas specialty to life with rich tradition and sweetness

When pastry chef Tino Gierig is asked what the famous Dresdenstollen tastes like, his eyes sparkle and his voice rises to an enthusiastic sing-song as as he describes the rich delicacy filled with raisins and other dried fruits.

Social media

Scale of social media use in pre-school children ‘deeply alarming’

Hundreds of thousands of pre-school children are "being fed content and algorithms designed to hook adults", a former education minister in Britain has warned.

Nation

Two children die in separate drowning incidents in Negri Sembilan

PORT DICKSON: A four-year-old boy died after he was believed to have drowned in a pool at a homestay in Batu 4, Jalan Pantai on Saturday (Dec 6) evening.

Nation

Melaka local councils ordered to inspect trees

MELAKA: Local authorities in Melaka have been instructed to inspect trees, especially those located along roads, to prevent potential hazards to road users.

Nation

Dr Wee slams Education Minister for creating obstacles in Chinese school projects

KUALA LUMPUR: Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim should replace the Education Minister Fadhlina Sidek, in any Cabinet reshuffle, for her dismal performance in addressing education issues, says MCA president Datuk Seri Dr Wee Ka Siong.

Indonesia

Residents climb over logs in walk to aid centre as flood deaths in Aceh rise over 900

JAKARTA: Residents in Aceh Tamiang climbed over slippery logs and walked for about an hour on Saturday (Dec 6) to get aid, as the death toll from floods and landslides that hit Sumatra this month rose to more than 900 people.

Nation

Loss of tax-exempt status will hurt thousands of TAR UMT students, says Dr Wee

KUALA LUMPUR: MCA president Datuk Seri Dr Wee Ka Siong has voiced concern over the pending expiry of Tunku Abdul Rahman University of Management and Technology's (TAR UMT) tax-exempt status on Dec 31, warning that the Inland Revenue Board (IRB) has yet to approve an extension.

World

Russian strike hits Ukrainian city of Kremenchuk, cutting utilities, mayor says

Dec 7 (Reuters) - Russian forces launched an overnight combined air strike on infrastructure in the central Ukrainian city of Kremenchuk, causing power and water outages, its mayor Vitalii Maletskyi said on Sunday.

Nation

Lost hikers on Bukit Cherok Tokun found safe

BUKIT MERTAJAM: Four 25-year-old women who went missing during a hike on Bukit Cherok Tokun here yesterday were found safe on Saturday (Dec 7) night.

Economy

World Bank: Malaysia shows strong progress in reducing poverty, must now focus on inclusive growth

PUTRAJAYA: The World Bank has commended Malaysia for its strong progress in reducing poverty, particularly hardcore poverty, while noting that further improvements in education and health outcomes are crucial to support inclusive and equitable growth.

Philippines

Wilma weakens into low-pressure area; 8K+ evacuees, landslides reported in Cebu, Philippines

CEBU, (Philippines): Tropical Depression Wilma on Sunday (Dec 7), has weakened into a low-pressure area (LPA), but its persistent rains continued to inundate parts of Cebu Province, forcing the evacuation of more than 8,000 residents and triggering landslides that blocked several roads, disaster officials said.

Nation

MCA committed to BN but ready to forge own path if policies harm public

KUALA LUMPUR: MCA will remain in Barisan Nasional for the current term but is prepared to chart its own path if the coalition continues to back policies and political arrangements that hurt the people or undermine its founding spirit, says party president Datuk Seri Dr Wee Ka Siong.

Business

Nestlé for Healthier Kids marks 15th anniversary, aims for 500,000 students by 2030

KUALA LUMPUR: Nestlé for Healthier Kids (N4HK) programme has reached over 220,000 children across 865 schools nationwide, marking its 15th anniversary.

Sri Lanka

Disaster death toll in Sri Lanka climbs to 618, 209 still missing

COLOMBO: (Bernama-Lankapuvath) The death toll from the disaster situation triggered by Cyclone Ditwah in Sri Lanka has risen to 618, while 209 people remain missing, Lankapuvath News Agency reported, citing the Disaster Management Centre (DMC)