Author - James Lim

Ringgit opens slightly lower against US$ as Fed leaves rate unchanged

KUALA LUMPUR: The ringgit opened a tad lower against the US dollar today after the US Federal Reserve (Fed) kept its benchmark interest rate unchanged. At 9 am, the ringgit opened at 4.7705/7775 against the greenback from Tuesday’s close of 4.7700/7750. Bank Muamalat Malaysia Bhd chief economist Mohd Afzanizam Abdul Rashid said the Fed’s two-day Federal Open...

Malaysia’s manufacturing PMI rises to 49.0 in April, suggesting improved GDP growth – S&P Global

KUALA LUMPUR: The seasonally adjusted S&P Global Malaysia manufacturing purchasing managers’ index (PMI) rose to 49.0 in April from 48.4 in March, indicating a softer downturn in the country's manufacturing sector. "The latest PMI data suggests that GDP growth is running at a slightly improved rate than that seen at the end of 2023, as well...

S$3bil money laundering case: Fifth man gets 15 months’ jail, surrenders $118mil in assets to state

SINGAPORE: Zhang Ruijin, an accused in the S$3 billion money laundering case who told the court to put his lover in remand after their arrest, has been sentenced to 15 months’ jail. This is the highest jail term meted out in this case so far. The 45-year-old Chinese national, who also holds a passport issued by Saint...

Seized supercars in Germany may belong to Jho Low, two others involved in 1MDB, say sources

PUTRAJAYA: The four Buggati Veyron supercars seized by German authorities recently are believed to have links with three individuals, one of whom is Jho Low. It is learnt that investigators believe one of the supercars belong to the fugitive businessman. "If the Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission (MACC) can get a response from German authorities, then investigators' suspicions can...

May 2 hearing for Tengku Zafrul’s bid to intervene in Najib’s judicial review

KUALA LUMPUR: The High Court here has fixed May 2 to hear an application by Tengku Datuk Seri Zafrul Tengku Abdul Aziz who is seeking to intervene in Datuk Seri Najib Razak's application for leave to initiate a judicial review over a purported house arrest royal addendum order. Tengku Zafrul is seeking the intervention to file...

PAS-led Perlis govt will function as usual, says state Perikatan deputy chief

KANGAR: The PAS-led Perlis government will continue to function as usual and will not be affected by the detention of Mentri Besar Mohd Shukri Ramli by the Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission (MACC). ALSO READ: MACC detains Perlis MB Mohd Shukri Perlis Perikatan Nasional deputy chairman Abu Bakar Hamzah said the central leadership would later decide the way forward for...

Co-op chairman claims trial to misappropriating over RM420,000

SEREMBAN: A 73-year-old chairman of a cooperative in a land scheme claimed trial to a charge of misappropriating RM422,440. Zainol Ishak pleaded not guilty after the charge was read before Sessions Court judge Meor Sulaiman Ahmad Tarmizi on Tuesday (April 30). He was charged with committing the offence at a bank in Gemas between August 2020 and...

Britney Spears and her father reach settlement in legal dispute

US pop singer Britney Spears and her father, Jamie Spears, settled the remaining issues in a bitter legal battle over the weekend, around two and a half years after the singer was released from his guardianship. Britney Spears, 42, reached a multi-million-dollar settlement in a Los Angeles court on Saturday over the payment of her 71-year-old...

QuickCheck: Did a scuffle take place at a Pahang temple?

PLACES of worship are generally seen as locations where people can seek refuge from the stresses and chaos of the every-day world and touch base with their spiritual beliefs. As such, altercations at these places - such as temples - would draw attention given how disruptive they can be. It was claimed recently that a scuffle took...