Nation

Court orders shoplot owner to pay TNB RM26,146 for undercharged electricity

PUTRAJAYA: The Sessions Court in Klang has ordered a shoplot owner to pay Tenaga Nasional Berhad (TNB) RM26,146.70 for undercharged electricity.

Markets

Bursa Malaysia rises as Iran ceasefire hopes lift sentiment

KUALA LUMPUR: Bursa Malaysia ended higher on Wednesday as Iran ceasefire optimism lifted risk appetite and raised hopes of de-escalation in the Middle East crisis.

Sabah & Sarawak

Hajiji launches long-awaited Sabah Police Gallery at state police HQ in Kepayan

KOTA KINABALU: A long-awaited Sabah Police Gallery was launched at the Kepayan state police headquarters here Wednesday (March 25) by Chief Minister Datuk Seri Hajiji Noor.

World

Denmark's Frederiksen faces tough coalition talks to remain prime minister

COPENHAGEN, March 25 (Reuters) - Denmark's Prime ⁠Minister Mette Frederiksen is expected to hand in her coalition government's resignation on ⁠Wednesday after suffering a massive election defeat, but could still emerge as ‌leader of a new cabinet in the coming weeks.

China

Exotic pet trade thrives in China despite welfare concerns

BEIJING: Pet lovers eagerly gathered around a container to snap photos of meerkats at a Beijing animal fair, each selling for US$320, while nearby a raccoon nervously paced in a cage only slightly bigger than itself.

Nation

Malaysia rises to 13th in Global Peace Index 2025

KUALA LUMPUR: Malaysia has climbed to 13th place in the 2025 Global Peace Index (GPI), and is now the second most peaceful country in Asean, following a 6.4% drop in index crime and stepped-up security operations nationwide.

Nation

Pasir Mas, Segamat latest to face yellow heatwave alert, 3 Kedah districts remain under orange alert

PETALING JAYA: Pasir Mas in Kelantan and Segamat in Johor are the latest localities nationwide hit by the heatwave, with a yellow (Level 1) alert issued there as at 4pm on Wednesday (March 25).

Sabah & Sarawak

Sarawak police intensify crackdown on fuel smuggling amid Middle East conflict

KUCHING: Sarawak police are intensifying efforts to curb fuel smuggling amid the Middle East conflict, which is affecting global oil supply and prices.

Technology

Meta’s new display glasses withheld from EU over battery rules, supply shortages

Meta Platforms Inc's rollout of new display-equipped Ray-Ban smart glasses in the European Union has been hampered by battery and artificial intelligence regulations in addition to supply constraints.

Nation

Rafizi ordered to file defence by April 9 in defamation suit brought by Caprice

KUALA LUMPUR: Pandan MP Datuk Seri Rafizi Ramli has been ordered to file his statement of defence in response to a defamation suit brought by influencer Caprice.

World

Japan PM Takaichi asks IEA chief for further oil stockpile release

TOKYO, March 25 (Reuters) - Japanese Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi asked International ⁠Energy Agency chief Fatih Birol for an additional coordinated release of ‌oil stockpiles when they met on Wednesday, as Tokyo seeks to hedge against a prolonged Middle East conflict.

Nation

Police do not simply arrest underage suspects, especially in extremism-linked cases, says Home Minister

KUALA LUMPUR: The police do not simply arrest underage suspects, especially when it involves matters of extremism, says Datuk Seri Saifuddin Nasution Ismail says.

World

UK police arrest two men over arson attack on Jewish community ambulances

LONDON, March 25 (Reuters) - ⁠British police said they arrested two men ⁠in connection with the suspected antisemitic arson ‌attack on four Jewish community ambulances in north London earlier this week.

Nation

Two nabbed over Johor Baru food truck, fireworks stall fire

JOHOR BARU: Two people have been arrested in connection with a fire involving a food truck and a fireworks stall here.

Forex

Currencies pause amid uncertainty over US efforts to end Iran war

LONDON/SINGAPORE: Currency markets took a breather on Wednesday, with traders cautious over U.S. President Donald Trump's efforts to bring an end to the war with Iran.

World

Airstrike in western Anbar kills 7 Iraqi soldiers, wounds 13

BAGHDAD, March ⁠25 (Reuters) - Seven Iraqi soldiers were ⁠killed and 13 others wounded ‌in an airstrike on a site belonging to Iraq's Shi'ite Popular Mobilization Forces near ​an army medical centre ⁠in western Anbar, ⁠security sources and the defence ministry ⁠said on ‌Wednesday.

Football

Soccer-World Cup dream in tantalising reach for New Zealand veteran Barbarouses

March 25 (Reuters) - At 36, New Zealand ⁠winger Kosta Barbarouses knows time is not on his side as he pushes for one final shot at the ⁠World Cup, 16 years after narrowly missing out on the 2010 finals.

Nation

Malaysia targets top 10 spot in Global Peace Index, says Saifuddin

KUALA LUMPUR: Malaysia's improved standing in the Global Peace Index was by design and not by chance, says Home Minister Datuk Seri Saifuddin Nasution Ismail.

Japan

Japan says Chinese embassy break-in 'regrettable'

TOKYO: Japan said Wednesday (March 25) it was "regrettable" that a member of the Japanese military broke into the Chinese embassy in Tokyo, after Beijing expressed shock over the incident.

Economy

Philippines declares emergency as energy supplies run short

THE Philippines declared a national energy emergency as the conflict in the Middle East threatens fuel supplies and the country's economy.