Technology

Indian top IT firms set for another tepid quarter on weak US demand, client spending

Jan ‌8 (Reuters) - India's information technology firms are expected to report another muted quarter, as tepid demand in the U.S. and ‌holiday-period client shutdowns continue to weigh on tech spending, nine brokerages said ahead of earnings.

Markets

Profit-taking in banks drag KLCI into the red

KUALA LUMPUR: The FBM KLCI fell in morning trading as investors took profit from financials after a weak showing by Wall Street's large-cap banks overnight.

Nation

Stay the course and embrace differing views, Zahid advises youth leaders

PUCHONG: Youth leaders must be prepared to accept criticism and refrain from taking easy shortcuts, says Datuk Seri Dr Ahmad Zahid Hamidi.

Nation

Four Bersatu assemblymen sworn in as Perlis Exco members

ARAU: Four Bersatu assemblymen were sworn in as members of the Perlis State Executive Council (Exco) at Istana Arau.

Gadgets

Dose of uncertainty: Experts wary of AI health gadgets at CES

Health tech gadgets displayed at the annual CES trade show make a lot of promises. A smart scale promoted a healthier lifestyle by scanning your feet to track your heart health, and an egg-shaped hormone tracker uses AI to help you figure out the best time to conceive.

Arts

Betty Boop, Blondie, Nancy Drew, and Miss Marple enter the public domain in 2026

Betty Boop and comic strip 'Blondie' enter the public domain in 2026, accompanied by a trio of detectives. 

Nation

King urges civil servants to uphold integrity

KUALA LUMPUR: His Majesty Sultan Ibrahim, King of Malaysia, advised all civil servants to uphold integrity and trust in carrying out their duties for the benefit of the people and the nation.

Vietnam

New e-commerce law expected to curb online trade fraud

HANOI: Tightening verification requirements and promoting technology application is essential to curb increasing sophisticated online trade fraud as Vietnam is looking to restore market order and better protect consumers under the new Law on E-Commerce.

Football

Soccer-New Chelsea manager Rosenior looks to hit the ground running

Jan 8 (Reuters) - Liam Rosenior knows ‌he has no time to waste as he begins the task of ‌transforming Chelsea from Premier League also-rans to title contenders and the ‌Englishman has told the squad he wants to hit the ground running.

Laos

Lao education ministry vows to build better-qualified workforce

The Ministry of Education and Sports has reaffirmed its intention to train up young people so they are better equipped to contribute to national development and meet the needs of today's job market.

Nation

Ice lorry driver pleads guilty to breaking into Nadi centres and destroying evidence

PONTIAN: An ice lorry driver pleaded guilty at the Magistrate's Court here to five charges involving breaking into three National Information Dissemination Centre (Nadi) premises and disposing of stolen items to destroy evidence.

Nation

New design passports, upgraded MyKad to be introduced within six months, says Saifuddin

PUTRAJAYA: Malaysia will have a newly designed passport and enhanced security MyKad within six months, says Datuk Seri Saifuddin Nasution Ismail.

World

Saudi coalition says separatist leader fled Yemen with UAE help, advances to Aden

ADEN, Jan 8 (Reuters) - The Saudi-led ‌coalition in Yemen said on Thursday that the United Arab Emirates had spirited a separatist leader out of the country by boat in a dramatic twist to a rift ‌between the Gulf powers, as Saudi-backed forces advanced to the port of Aden after losing ground there.

India

South Korean man stabbed to death in India in fight with girlfriend

SEOUL: A South Korean man in his 40s was fatally stabbed by his Indian girlfriend following a dispute at their apartment near New Delhi, local media reported.

World

Two die in shooting in Salt Lake City church parking lot, several injured

Jan 7 (Reuters) - Two ‌people were killed and several injured in a shooting during an altercation outside ‌a funeral at a church in the Utah capital of Salt Lake ‌City, police said on Wednesday, as they launched a manhunt for suspects.

Nation

PAS has selected a candidate for Perikatan chairman post, says party info chief

KUALA LUMPUR: PAS has selected its candidate for the Perikatan chairman's post, according to its information chief Ahmad Fadhli Shaari.

Nation

Special Branch to brief Saifuddin on alleged S. Korean cult this week

PUTRAJAYA: Datuk Seri Saifuddin Nasution Ismail will be briefed by Bukit Aman this week on the purported existence of a cult from South Korea believed to be operating in the country.

Myanmar

USDP secures majority in Phase One of Myanmar’s 2025 polls, winning 89 of 102 seats

YANGON: According to a statement released by the Union Election Commission, in the first phase of the election held on Dec 28, 2025, the Union Solidarity and Development Party (USDP) won 89 out of 102 Pyithu Hluttaw constituencies.

Nation

Economy ministry to fast-track small-scale projects, says minister

PUTRAJAYA: Small-scale projects under the 13th Malaysian Plan (13MP) will be fast-tracked by the Economy Ministry, says its minister Akmal Nasrullah Mohd Nasir.

Forex

Australian dollar hovers near highs on many crosses, bonds rally

SYDNEY: The Australian dollar hovered near new highs on many crosses on Thursday, buoyed by the recent bullish run in commodities and prospects of rate rises at home.