Sabah & Sarawak

Man gets jail, caning for raping teen who took pity on him

KOTA KINABALU: A 51-year-old man has been sentenced to 20 years' jail and nine strokes of the cane for raping a teenage girl who brought him a meal out of compassion.

Badminton

No more easy money as Zafrul plans to be more $elective

BUKIT JALIL: The Badminton Association of Malaysia (BAM) will not only be more selective in sending players to tournaments this year but will also be transparent about the value of each player's contract.

AseanPlus News

Hong Kong shelter saves 351 animals in 6 months as trapping, smuggling cases surge

Paws Guardian Rescue Shelter reports that animal cruelty cases are 'alarmingly common' as it calls for stronger action to be taken

World

It is Europe's right to say no if U.S. makes unacceptable proposal, France says

PARIS, Jan 9 (Reuters) - Europe ‌is perfectly within its rights to push back against the United States at a time ‌when it is making unacceptable proposals, France's foreign minister said on Friday.

World

Trump cancels second wave of attacks on Venezuela after cooperation

Jan 9 (Reuters) - U.S. President ‌Donald Trump said he had canceled a second wave of ‌attacks on Venezuela following cooperation from the South American nation.

Nation

Court sets April 29 to deliver verdict on Parliament suspension judicial review

KUALA LUMPUR: The High Court has fixed April 29 for decision in a judicial review filed by two MPs and two others challenging the advice by former prime minister Tan Sri Muhyiddin Yassin to the Yang di-Pertuan Agong to suspend Parliament during the Covid-19 pandemic five years ago.

World

South Korea's ex-President Yoon faces potential death sentence request in trial

SEOUL, Jan 9 (Reuters) - South ‌Korea's special prosecutor is expected to make a sentencing request for former president Yoon Suk ‌Yeol on charges of insurrection over his brief imposition of martial law in 2024, as ‌a lower court trial convened on Friday for its final session.

STARPICKS

10 years of enabling success for Malaysian MSMEs

OVER the past decade, Malaysia's e-commerce landscape has undergone a significant transformation, reshaping how businesses of all sizes reach and serve customers.

Markets

Bursa Malaysia rallies on broad-based gains, improved sentiment

KUALA LUMPUR: Bursa Malaysia rallied on Friday, supported by broad-based gains that lifted the benchmark index to an intraday high and secured a positive close for the week.

Nation

Listen to 'big bro': Stay on for the party's struggle, Umno sec-gen tells Akmal

KUALA LUMPUR: Dr Muhamad Akmal Saleh should not give up as Umno Youth chief but stay on and fight for the greater agenda, says party secretary-general Datuk Dr Asyraf Wajdi Dusuki.

Nation

Thunderstorm warning for four states, Federal Territories until 7pm

KUALA LUMPUR: Thunderstorms, heavy rain and strong winds are expected to prevail until 7pm on Friday (Jan 9) in four states, as well as the Federal Territories of Kuala Lumpur, Putrajaya and Labuan, according to the Malaysian Meteorological Department.

Football

Soccer-Japan's ageless 'King Kazu' delighted with J-League return

TOKYO, Jan 9 (Reuters) - ‌Japan soccer great Kazuyoshi Miura, 58, said on Friday he had all but ‌given up on a return to the J-League before signing for Fukushima ‌United, adding that he hopes to contribute with goals and assists in the latest chapter of his age-defying career.

Football

Soccer-Man City snap up winger Semenyo from Bournemouth

Jan 9 (Reuters) - Manchester City pulled off ‌a major January coup by signing Ghana winger Antoine Semenyo from Bournemouth on Friday on a ‌deal running until 2031, bringing in the Premier League's third-highest scorer this season to ‌bolster their title charge.

Cricket

Cricket-Australia's Head to skip Big Bash to prepare for T20 World Cup

MELBOURNE, Jan 9 (Reuters) - Australia ‌opener Travis Head will skip the Big Bash ‌League (BBL) for a third straight season to rest and ‌prepare for next month's Twenty20 World Cup in India and Sri Lanka, Cricket Australia (CA) said on Friday.

World

Iran's Supreme Leader to give speech about protests shortly, state TV says

Jan 9 (Reuters) - Iran's ‌Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei will give a speech ‌in a few minutes on "the terrorist actions" ‌in the country, Iranian state TV reported on Friday, as protests over economic hardships continued nationwide.

Nation

Cooking up a scam: Victims tell of lure tactics that cost them dearly

KUALA LUMPUR: The bait was free cooking lessons, and the trap was an investment opportunity for extra income.

Entertainment

How ‘Stranger Things’ landed ‘Purple Rain’ and gave it a big Gen Z boost

The mesmerizing guitar-centric tune has seen a 243% jump in streams on Spotify.

Nation

Man sent to gallows for throwing four-year-old off third floor

KUALA LUMPUR: A Nigerian was sent to the gallows by the High Court here for murdering his step-grandson by throwing the child off the third floor of an apartment.

AseanPlus News

World food prices extend fall in December, UN's FAO says

World food prices declined for a fourth consecutive month in December, marking ‌the lowest average since January, ⁠the United Nations' Food ​and Agriculture Organization said on Friday.

AseanPlus News

Asean Championship spotlight: Bergson da Silva is flying high and that augurs just great for Malaysia's JDT

Scoring goals comes naturally to Johor Darul Ta'zim FC's Bérgson da Silva but the Brazil-born centre forward who netted the first hat-trick of the 2025/26 Asean Club Championship Shopee Cup season insists there is no secret to his phenomenal striking prowess.