Wednesday, 16 July 2025

Author: Bernama

Lesotho declares state of disaster due to high unemployment

CAPE TOWN, South Africa/ISTANBUL, Turkiye: Lesotho has declared a two-year state of disaster due to high unemployment following United States (US) President Donald Trump’s decision in April to impose a 50 per cent tariff on imports from the African nation. According to Anadolu Ajansi (AA), Deputy Prime Minister Nthomeng Majara

How Gua Rusa’s deadly flood led to MOCSAR’s birth

KUCHING: The tragic events of July 12, 2019, are still vividly remembered by Malaysian Fire and Rescue Department (JBPM) officer, Mohd Sufri Alulakal, who was part of a search and rescue (SAR) operation following a flash flood at the iconic Gua Rusa (Deer Cave), located within Mulu National Park in Miri.

Thailand hails Malaysia’s role in ASEAN expansion

KUALA LUMPUR: Thailand has commended Malaysia’s leadership as ASEAN Chair this year, praising its effective stewardship and support for Timor-Leste’s accession in October, a milestone that will mark the regional bloc’s first expansion in decades. Thailand’s Department of Information Director-General and Foreign Ministry spokesperson, Nikorndej Balankura, said Timor-Leste will become

German police raids Hesse homes in child pornography probe

FRANKFURT, Germany: Investigators in the central German state of Hesse revealed today that they have searched dozens of homes in a large-scale operation against child abuse and child pornography, reported the German Press Agency (dpa). Some 59 homes were searched throughout the state in the operation, which mainly took place

MCMC fines TikTok user RM10,000 for offensive content

CYBERJAYA: The Malaysian Communications and Multimedia Commission (MCMC) has received a RM10,000 compound payment from Mohamad Shafiq Abdul Halim. Shafiq Halim was penalised for uploading offensive content on TikTok on March 31, which touched on racial and religious sensitivities. In a statement today, MCMC said the enforcement action was taken

Salary hikes and aid boost to soften SST expansion impact

BY HARIZAH HANIM MOHAMED KUALA LUMPUR: Salary increases, along with the expansion of recipients and higher allocations under the public assistance programme, are expected to cushion the short-term impact of rising prices following the expansion of the Sales and Service Tax (SST). This is particularly relevant as the government undertakes aggressive efforts to raise

BMI: Palm oil production in Malaysia set to rise 0.5% next year

KUALA LUMPUR: BMI, a unit of Fitch Solutions, expects a partial recovery in Malaysia’s palm oil output in 2025 and 2026, forecasting a 0.5 per cent year-on-year increase to 19.5 million tonnes, supported by favourable weather conditions. In a note today, BMI said the Malaysian Meteorological Department has projected normal

Reserve Bank of New Zealand keeps OCR steady amid recovery hopes

WELLINGTON: New Zealand’s central bank has maintained the Official Cash Rate (OCR) at 3.25 per cent, while continuing to foreshadow further reductions, reflecting a cautious approach amid economic uncertainties, reported Xinhua. Officials expect annual consumer price inflation to edge toward the upper end of the 1-3 per cent target range

Daimler Truck to cut 5,000 German jobs, shift production abroad by 2030

BERLIN: Daimler Truck said on Tuesday it plans to cut around 5,000 jobs in Germany by 2030 and to relocate parts of its production to countries with lower costs, as the company looks to reduce expenses and strengthen competitiveness in Europe, reported Xinhua. The job reductions will primarily be achieved

Australia alarmed by US threat of 200% tariffs on pharmaceuticals

CANBERRA: The Australian government is very concerned about US threats to impose increased tariffs on pharmaceutical and copper imports, Treasurer Jim Chalmers said on Wednesday, reported Xinhua. Chalmers told Australian Broadcasting Corporation (ABC) radio that the federal government is urgently seeking clarification from the US after President Donald Trump flagged