Thursday, 1 January 2026

Author: Bernama

Energy output reverses declines

KUALA LUMPUR: Malaysia’s crude oil, condensate and natural gas production rose in the third quarter of 2025 (3Q 2025), reaching 45.1 million barrels and 737.0 billion cubic feet respectively, according to the Department of Statistics Malaysia (DOSM). Chief statistician Datuk Seri Mohd Uzir Mahidin attributed the increase to a 7.0

Purchasing Managers’ Index breaks out of contraction

KUALA LUMPUR: Malaysia’s manufacturing sector Purchasing Managers’ Index (PMI) rose to 50.1 in November versus 49.5 in October, supported by a surge in new orders that reached their highest level in more than three years, said MBSB Investment Bank Bhd (MBSB IB). Citing S&P Global’s latest survey, MBSB IB said the PMI reached

Albert Tei charged with giving bribes over RM176,000 for mining licence approval

KUALA LUMPUR: Businessman Albert Tei was charged in the Sessions Court here today on four charges of giving bribes, totalling RM176,829.03, to former senior political secretary to the Prime Minister, Datuk Seri Shamsul Iskandar Mohd Akin, to help secure approval for a mineral exploration licence in Sabah. Albert Tei Jiann

Indonesia, Papua New Guinea, Australia strengthen security ties

ISTANBUL, Turkiye: Indonesia, Papua New Guinea (PNG) and Australia moved to strengthen security ties during their first-ever trilateral defence ministers’ meeting, Anadolu Ajansi reported. PNG’s Defence Minister, Billy Joseph, hosted Indonesian Defence Minister, Sjafrie Sjamsoeddin, and Australian Deputy Prime Minister and Defence Minister, Richard Marles, on Wednesday in Port Moresby,

Shamsul Iskandar, Albert Tei faces corruption charges

KUALA LUMPUR: The Prime Minister’s former senior political secretary, Datuk Seri Shamsul Iskandar Mohd Akin, and businessman, Albert Tei, were brought to the Sessions Court here today over corruption charges. Court system checks show that the cases of Shamsul Iskandar, 50, and Tei, 37, would be mentioned before Judge Suzana

Dewan Rakyat passes two amendment bills on skills development

KUALA LUMPUR: The Dewan Rakyat on Wednesday passed the National Skills Development (Amendment) Bill 2025 and the Skills Development Fund (Amendment) Bill 2025. Human Resource Minister, Steven Sim Chee Keong, said the amendments to the National Skills Development Act 2006 (Act 652) are aimed, among others, at providing incentives to

US pledges USD2 million in disaster assistance to Sri Lanka

WASHINGTON, United States (US): The US is providing Sri Lanka with USD2 million (around RM8.24 million) in life-saving assistance following Tropical Cyclone Ditwah, the US State Department said on Wednesday, reported Sputnik/RIA Novosti. “In response to the severe impact of Tropical Cyclone Ditwah, the US is providing USD2 million in

Malaysia committed to empowering rights of persons with disabilities

PUTRAJAYA: Malaysia is transitioning from a charity-based approach toward persons with disabilities (PwD) to one grounded in rights and empowerment, said Women, Family, and Community Development Minister, Datuk Seri Nancy Shukri. She said the PwD community should no longer be perceived merely as a group in need of assistance, but

Lithuania to take in half of EU-relocated migrants

VILNIUS, Lithuania: The Lithuanian Government decided on Wednesday that it will accept half of the migrants assigned to the country under the European Union’s (EU) solidarity mechanism next year, while paying a financial contribution for the remaining share, Xinhua reported, citing the Baltic News Service (BNS). “We propose a proportional