KUALA LUMPUR, Oct 17 — The ringgit opened stronger against the US dollar on Friday, lifted by growing expectations...

• Malay Mail
• 1 gün, 16 saat, 18 dakika

WASHINGTON : The admiral who leads U.S. military forces in Latin America will step down at the end of this year, two years ahead of schedule, Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth announced on Thursday, in a surprise move amid escalating tensions with Venezuela. A source familiar with the matter told Reuters that there had been tension between Admiral Alvin Holsey and Hegseth over operations in the Caribbean and questions about whether he would be fired in the days leading up to the announcement. The top Democrat on the Senate Armed Services Committee, Senator Jack Reed, called Holsey’s unexpected resignation troubling given mounting fears of a potential U.S. confrontation with Venezuela. “Admiral Holsey’s resignation only deepens my concern that this administration is ignoring the hard-earned lessons of previous U.S. military campaigns and the advice of our most experienced warfighters,“ Reed said in a statement. Hegseth, in a social media post, did not disclose the reason for the departure of Holsey, who is one of two Black four-star officers leading a U.S. combatant command. On X, Holsey said he would retire on December 12, but did not give a reason. “It’s been an honor to serve our nation, the American people and support and defend the Constitution for over 37 years,“ he said. Holsey’s departure comes against the backdrop of a military buildup in the Caribbean that includes U.S.-guided missile destroyers, F-35 fighter jets, a nuclear submarine and around 6,500 troops as President Donald Trump escalates a standoff with the Venezuelan government. U.S. military strikes against suspected drug boats off Venezuela have killed at least 27 people, raising alarms among some legal experts and mostly Democratic lawmakers, who question whether they adhere to the laws of war. The Trump administration argues it is in a war with narcoterrorist groups from Venezuela, making the strikes legitimate. On Wednesday, Trump disclosed that he had authorized the Central Intelligence Agency to conduct covert operations inside Venezuela, adding to speculation in Caracas that the United States is attempting to topple President Nicolas Maduro. Holsey is the latest in a series of flag officers to leave their positions since Hegseth took over the Pentagon. Some firings have been abrupt, including those of the chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, C.Q. Brown, who was Black, and the top naval officer, Lisa Franchetti, who was the first woman to hold the position. “The Department thanks Admiral Holsey for his decades of service to our country, and we wish him and his family continued success and fulfillment in the years ahead,“ Hegseth said on X. Less than a week ago, the Pentagon announced its counter-narcotics operations in the region would not be led by the Miami-based Southern Command, but by II Marine Expeditionary Force, a unit capable of rapid overseas operations that is based at Camp Lejeune in North Carolina. That decision came as a surprise to U.S. military-watchers, since a combatant command like Southern Command would normally lead any high-profile operations. - Reuters

• theSun
• 2 gün, 20 dakika

PARIS, Oct 17 — Portugal great Cristiano Ronaldo once again topped the Forbes highest-paid footballers list for th...

• Malay Mail
• 1 gün, 16 saat, 21 dakika

U.S. President Donald Trump and Germany's Merck KGaA on Thursday said they had struck a deal that would cut the cost of some drugs needed for in-vitro fertilization in exchange for protection from future tariffs. Trump also said Merck would offer all new drugs launched in the U.S. at the prices it charges in other developed countries. Trump said the German drugmaker's U.S. arm, EMD Serono, had agreed to sell its fertility treatments, including Gonal-f, Ovidrel and Cetrotide, directly to consumers. Merck said when all three drugs are used in IVF, patients will get a combined discount of 84% off list price. “We’re also taking historic steps to vastly expand access to insurance coverage for fertility care, including IVF, something that, as you know, was not covered,“ Trump said from the Oval Office. Senior administration officials said the cuts would save families $2,200 per cycle. Merck said it had made a deal with the U.S. Commerce Department to exclude its drugs from industry-specific tariffs, if those are introduced, provided the company invests in U.S. manufacturing and research. In February, Trump signed an executive order directing the government to expand access to IVF and reduce the costs of the popular fertility treatment. IVF involves combining eggs and sperm in a laboratory to create an embryo for couples having difficulty conceiving. The costs for IVF can range from $12,000 to $25,000 per cycle and multiple cycles may be needed to get pregnant. Merck KGaA is one of the world's largest manufacturers of fertility treatments. Its most popular treatment, Gonal-f, generated $973 million in sales last year. Merck's discounted drugs will be available in early 2026 through TrumpRX, a website the administration plans to launch to help consumers buy some medicines directly from manufacturers, Trump said. Trump, in an effort to lower drug costs for U.S. patients who pay far more than in other wealthy nations, has so far struck deals with Pfizer and AstraZeneca to lower their prescription drug prices in the Medicaid program for lower-income Americans in exchange for tariff relief. The company also said it planned to seek U.S. approval for its fertility drug Pergoveris under the FDA Commissioner's National Priority Voucher, a new program intended to shorten review times to one to two months from the typical timeline of about 10-12 months. Trump also said on Thursday that the administration would make it legal for companies to offer supplemental insurance plans specifically for fertility. To further expand access to IVF treatment, the U.S. Treasury, Labor, and Health and Human Services departments would issue guidance on what they call an employer benefit option to encourage companies to offer IVF and broader infertility coverage directly to workers, senior administration officials said. The guidance allows small businesses to offer infertility coverage separately, a move the White House expects will expand the benefit. The White House will not provide any subsidies for employers that offer the coverage, and there will be no mandate that they participate, according to the officials. – Reuters

• theSun
• 2 gün, 24 dakika

PETALING JAYA: Skuad Harimau Malaya berazam menutup tirai tahun ini dengan rekod bersih apabila turun menentang Nepal dalam aksi Kumpulan F Kelayakan Piala Asia 2027 di Stadium Nasional Bukit Jalil (SNBJ) pada 18 November ini. Perlawanan itu bukan sahaja peluang untuk mengekalkan rekod tanpa kalah tahun ini, malah menjadi medan penting memastikan skuad kendalian Peter ... Read more The post Cklamovski mahu tutup 2025 dengan rekod bersih appeared first on Utusan Malaysia .

• Utusan Malaysia
• 2 gün, 24 dakika

ISKANDAR PUTERI, Oct 17 — The Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission (MACC) is developing an artificial intelligence...

• Malay Mail
• 1 gün, 16 saat, 25 dakika

SHAH ALAM : Police have confirmed that a fight involving a group of students at a school in Telok Panglima Garang has been resolved among the parties concerned. Kuala Langat police chief Superintendent Mohd Akmalrizal Radzi said police first discovered the viral video of the incident at 8.30 am before proceeding to the school. Police from the Kuala Langat District Police Headquarters also arrived at the scene at approximately 10 am to obtain further details about the incident. Preliminary investigations revealed that no students sustained injuries in the altercation according to his statement. Mohd Akmalrizal stated that following the incident a meeting was held involving the school the parents of the students involved and the police. All parties have agreed to take no further action and to resolve the matter amicably and peacefully he confirmed. Meanwhile Mohd Akmalrizal urged the public not to circulate false information or speculate as doing so could create confusion within the community. Earlier a video of the incident which lasted over a minute went viral showing several students engaged in a fight at the school. – Bernama

• theSun
• 2 gün, 25 dakika

IPOH, Oct 17 — A man reported missing while hiking at Mount Liang in Tanjong Malim for the past two days was found...

• Malay Mail
• 1 gün, 16 saat, 26 dakika

LIVERPOOL – Manchester United dijangka menurunkan skuad sama ketika menewaskan Sunderland 2-0 minggu lalu apabila berkunjung ke Anfield hujung minggu ini, namun Ruben Amorim mungkin terpaksa merehatkan Casemiro. Kemenangan penting ke atas Sunderland sedikit melegakan tekanan terhadap Amorim dan melonjakkan The Red Devils ke kelompok teratas Liga Perdana Inggeris (EPL), namun cabaran di Anfield tetap ... Read more The post EPL: Amorim mungkin gugurkan Casemiro appeared first on Kosmo Digital .

• Kosmo Online
• 2 gün, 26 dakika

We need an all-of-society involvement and commitment to get this job done.

• Free Malaysia Today
• 2 gün, 26 dakika

PETALING JAYA : Malaysia is seeing a sharp rise in influenza cases, with hundreds of schools and kindergartens nationwide hit by cluster outbreaks since September, the Health Ministry revealed. Its minister Datuk Seri Dr Dzulkefly Ahmad said although the situation remains under control, the rapid spread of infections through educational institutions – from preschools to universities – warrants close attention. He was replying to Suhaizan Kaiat (Pulai), who asked about the severity of the influenza situation, its impact on schools and measures to curb the spread. Dzulkefly explained that influenza, or seasonal flu, is a contagious respiratory illness caused by influenza viruses, mainly types A and B. “Most individuals recover within a week, but high-risk groups such as children, the elderly and those with chronic illnesses are vulnerable to serious complications such as pneumonia or encephalopathy,” he said. He added that the ministry monitors influenza through its Influenza-Like Illness and Severe Acute Respiratory Infections surveillance systems, with outbreaks managed by the National Crisis Preparedness and Response Centre. In 2025, consultation rates have climbed from 7.4% in Epidemiological Week 40 (Sept 28 to Oct 4) to 9.2% in Week 41 (Oct 5 to Oct 11), a moderate rise compared with 2024, when cases peaked at 9.6% in late July and early August before stabilising at about 8%. Although the current figures remain slightly below last year’s peak, Dzulkefly said the upward trend since late September indicates the need for continued vigilance. From Epidemiological Week 1 to 41, influenza cluster outbreaks have been reported across 535 institutions, with schools accounting for the majority. Breakdown of clusters: 0 schools at 352 (65.8%); 0 kindergartens at 96 (17.9%); 0 colleges/institutions at 35 (6.5%); 0 private homes at 33 (6.2%); 0 workplaces at 10 (1.9%); 0 care centres at six (1.1%); and 0 prisons/rehabilitation centres at three (0.6%). He said the number of school clusters surged from eight in Week 39 to 111 in Week 40, peaking at 202 in Week 41 before easing to 56 in Week 42. He added that secondary schools recorded the steepest increase, from one cluster in Week 39 to 47 in Week 40 and 65 in Week 41. “Primary schools showed a similar trend, rising from three to 26 (clusters) and then 72 clusters during the same period. Vocational colleges, private schools and childcare centres also reported smaller but notable spikes.” To prevent further transmission, the Health Ministry has issued several guidelines for parents, teachers and schools. Among the key measures are: 0 parents should keep children with fever, cough or cold at home and seek medical attention; 0 teachers should advise symptomatic students to avoid classes and obtain treatment promptly; and 0 schools must reinforce health education, encourage mask-wearing and hand hygiene, and report suspected outbreaks early to the district health office. Temporary school closures may be considered in consultation with the health office if clusters become widespread. “The cooperation of parents, teachers and health authorities is essential in preventing further spread of the influenza virus,” he said, adding that the ministry will continue to monitor the situation closely.

• theSun
• 2 gün, 26 dakika

FLOTILLA Gaza Sumud, sebuah inisiatif kesedaran yang lahir daripada semangat ketabahan rakyat Gaza, menyeru masyarakat dunia agar tidak tunduk kepada arus propaganda, sebaliknya berdiri teguh mencari kebenaran berdasarkan sumber sahih. Sumber maklumat yang sahih bukan sahaja memberikan fakta yang tepat, tetapi juga membentuk pandangan objektif. Laporan media rasmi, pandangan pakar dan organisasi bukan kerajaan yang ... Read more The post Perangi berita palsu, pupuk kesedaran fakta isu Gaza appeared first on Utusan Malaysia .

• Utusan Malaysia
• 2 gün, 26 dakika

Melayu Singapura setidak-tidaknya majoriti mereka untuk sekian lama tidak minat dengan retorik 'identity politics'.

• Free Malaysia Today
• 2 gün, 27 dakika

TEBING BARAT: Tentera Israel terus memaksa puluhan ribu penduduk Palestin berpindah dari kem pelarian Nur Shams dan Tulkarem dengan meratakan kawasan itu menggunakan peralatan yang dibekalkan dari Amerika Syarikat (AS). Serangan darat besar-besaran yang disertai dengan penggunaan jentolak, pembakaran dan penembak tepat menjadikan kehidupan di situ mustahil, menyebabkan majoriti penduduk terpaksa mencari perlindungan di pusat ... Read more The post Tentera Israel ratakan kawasan Tebing Barat guna jentolak dibekal AS appeared first on Utusan Malaysia .

• Utusan Malaysia
• 2 gün, 27 dakika

MISI Global Sumud Flotilla ke Gaza merupakan antara contoh jelas bagaimana pengaruh media sosial dapat digunakan untuk menyebarkan maklumat dan meningkatkan kesedaran global terhadap isu kemanusiaan. Siaran langsung di media sosial yang dilakukan oleh para peserta ketika pemintasan berlaku telah menjadi sumber utama maklumat kepada masyarakat antarabangsa mengenai insiden tersebut. Tayangan langsung dan rakaman yang ... Read more The post Pempengaruh perjuang isu Gaza wajar dicontohi appeared first on Utusan Malaysia .

• Utusan Malaysia
• 2 gün, 27 dakika

KITA semua dapat lihat melalui pengorbanan dan keberanian para sukarelawan dari seluruh dunia yang menyertai misi Global Sumud Flotilla, dimana ia merupakan satu inisiatif hebat dan berani untuk menghantar bantuan kemanusiaan ke bumi Gaza yang sedang dikepung dan diuji dengan penderitaan yang tidak henti. Ada dalam kalangan mereka yang menjual harta sendiri untuk membiayai perjalanan ... Read more The post Contohi pengorbanan misi Sumud Flotilla appeared first on Utusan Malaysia .

• Utusan Malaysia
• 2 gün, 27 dakika