by admin | Mar 25, 2025 | controversies, international travel, malaysia, news, passports and international travel
PETALLING JAYA: Wisma Putra stated today that no additional travel limitations for Malaysian citizens abroad have been introduced, contrary to claims made in a video circulating on social media platforms.
The foreign ministry issued a statement denying that eight countries had recently introduced new visa restrictions for Malaysians, calling such claims “misleading.”
“The ministry affirms that this allegation is completely unfounded,” it stated.
“So far, there haven’t been any modifications to the visa policies impacting Malaysian travelers in the aforementioned countries.”
The public must refrain from sharing unchecked details and should consistently consult official channels for precise and current travel updates.
The statement also noted that a police report has been filed and the footage was forwarded to the Malaysian Communications and Multimedia Commission (MCMC) for additional scrutiny.
The video claimed that nations including Australia, Canada, Greece, Italy, New Zealand, South Korea, Switzerland, and the United Arab Emirates have imposed stringent travel limitations specifically affecting individuals with Malaysian passports.
The report stated that the measures included extended screening processes upon entry, specific visa conditions, and extra financial obligations for travelers from Malaysia.
The video also claimed that these limitations were part of “a broader trend of global pressure on Malaysia,” with Malaysian travelers being used as “unaware pawns.”
by admin | Mar 25, 2025 | culture, faith and religion, news, religion, society
KUALA LUMPUR – The World #QuranHour 2025 successfully brought together Muslims from around the globe for contemplation and recitation of Surah Al-Saff, a passage rich with profound messages relevant to our current times.
The event, initiated by the founder of Warisan Ummah Ikhlas Foundation (WUIF), Datuk Hussamuddin Yaacub, celebrated its tenth anniversary with an emphatic plea for solidarity and resilience among Muslims.
At the event held today, Minister in the Prime Minister’s Department for Religious Affairs, Datuk Dr Mohd Na’im Mokhtar, emphasized the importance of this year’s theme. The focus was on ‘bunyan marsus,’ which refers to building a strong and well-organized structure.
Al-Saff refers to lines or formations, and in verse four of this surah, the idea of ‘bunyan marsus’ is emphasized, representing a strong and well-structured arrangement.
“This theme holds significant importance, particularly in our current situation, as it emphasizes the need for solidarity and fortitude within the Muslim community,” he stated to journalists during the World #QuranHour 2025 event conducted at the Sultan Haji Ahmad Shah Mosque of International Islamic University Malaysia (IIUM) in Gombak today.
Na’im stressed that Surah Al-Saff ought to act as a guiding principle for leaders, ‘umara’ (rulers), ‘ulama’ (scholars), and the whole Muslim community.
He mentioned that the purpose of the event was to encourage people to return to reading the Quran, fostering unity and camaraderie particularly during the holy month of Ramadan.
He additionally highlighted the link between the theme and the challenges encountered by individuals in Palestine, notably those in Gaza.
The message conveyed through “Bunyan Marsus”—a term signifying robust organization—is a potent appeal urging Muslims across the globe to come together in safeguarding Palestinian rights and battling against their subjugation by Zionist forces.
“This is precisely why unity and solidarity, drawing inspiration from Surah Al-Saff, have been selected as the main theme for World Quran Hour 2025,” he stated.
This year, World Quran Hour 2025 was themed around ‘Preserving the Ummah,’ highlighting the significance of solidarity in maintaining Islamic faith under Allah SWT.
The 10th edition of the World Quran Hour 2025 program gathered numerous participants via in-person presence at the primary location, live TV transmissions, and online streaming.
Moreover, this year’s event saw registrations from 1,370 sites within the nation, alongside 25 venues located in 19 different foreign nations.
by admin | Mar 25, 2025 | budgets, fiscal policy, government, news, politics and government
Rachel Reeves
Is anticipated to unveil several billion pounds in expenditure reductions during her Spring Statement on Wednesday as she rushes to find ways to save money.
The Chancellor plans to tighten the budget for certain government departments as she aims to address a significant deficit in public funds.
At her
Budget
In October, Ms Reeves set aside nearly £10 billion as ‘buffer room’ in accordance with her fiscal guidelines.
However, fresh data from the Office for Budget Responsibility indicate that these gains have now vanished due to slow economic expansion and increasing lending expenses.
The Chancellor has already managed the implementation of cuts amounting to £5 billion from the increasing UK welfare budget, which involves restricting eligibility for disability benefits.
She has also been required to approve plans for slashing Britain’s foreign aid budget.
aid budget
, in order to finance an escalation in defense expenditure to 2.5 percent of GDP by 2027.
However, additional reductions are anticipated later this week, as Ms Reeves has ruled out any further ‘tax and spend’ policies following her £40 billion series of tax increases last October.
Data from public spending for the previous fiscal year indicates that a significant portion of tax money went towards social benefits, government retirement funds, and financing the National Health Service.
For instance, an individual earning approximately £37,000 per year in the United Kingdom would anticipate that about £1,920 of their taxes go towards welfare, £1,592 goes to the NHS, and roughly £1,013 funds state pensions.
Use our interactive tool below to check where your own taxes go…
Mrs. Reeves is already aiming at welfare as part of her effort to achieve savings, following Work and Pensions Secretary Liz Kendall’s announcement of proposals to tighten benefit conditions the previous week.
In the period of 2023-24, the government continued to allocate more funds towards debt interest payments compared to spending on education.
In the previous fiscal year, police and transportation were also significant spending categories. Moreover, billions of pounds were allocated to environmental initiatives, housing projects, as well as libraries, museums, and sports facilities.
The UK continues to make contributions to the EU under the terms of the Brexit agreement, and even though these payments have been reduced multiple times recently, £7.2 billion was still allocated for international assistance.
Given that Labour MPs are already displeased with the reductions in welfare and foreign aid, Ms. Reeves must proceed cautiously as she contemplates additional financial restrictions.
The Chancellor has confirmed that she will make reductions in the budget for Whitehall before presenting her Spring Statement, particularly focusing on cutting costs associated with running government departments.
She has detailed strategies to reduce civil service operational expenses by 15 percent by the end of the decade. Additionally, the Treasury is anticipated to introduce a fresh initiative against tax evasion.
Ms Reeves stated that Whitehall officials will be requested to identify savings of over £2 billion from administrative expenses, which would probably result in approximately 10,000 job losses.
However, trade unions have cautioned that the number might actually be closer to 50,000. Additionally, the Treasury is believed to require much larger cuts to achieve their financial goals due to declining growth projections.
The gap in the public funds might reach up to £15 billion, even after revealing plans to reduce benefit spending by £5 billion.
Even though budgets are anticipated to increase in actual value over the next few years, unprotected sectors will face reductions.
It has been asserted that the reduction in expenditures will amount to an average of 4.7 percent across most sectors, although the specific figures won’t be disclosed until the spending review scheduled for June.
Read more
by admin | Mar 25, 2025 | pensions, personal finance retirement, retirement, retirement planning, social security
The
UK
state pension
The retirement age will climb from 66 to 67 for both men and women by 2028. This increment will start phased implementation beginning May 6, 2026.
State pensions in the
UK
are examined at minimum every five years according to the 2014 Pensions Act. This evaluation takes into account elements like
increased life expectancy
.
People from Britain affected by the rise
state pension
Individuals will get a notice from the Department for Work and Pensions (DWP) prior to the implementation of this change.
You can view the
state pension
age-related schedules on the official government site
here.
You can find out your state pension age on the official government site.
here.
So what about the UK’s status?
pension
age compared to the rest of them
world
?
What are the maximum and minimum retirement age limits globally?
-
The nations with the oldest pension ages include Italy, Australia, the Netherlands, Greece, Denmark, and Iceland, all set at 67 years old.
-
The nation having the minimum retirement age for pensions is Sri Lanka, set at 55.
Highest retirement ages
By 2024, the nations having the highest retirement ages for both genders will be Italy, Australia, the Netherlands, Greece, Denmark, and Iceland, where the retirement age stands at 67 years old.
In Israel, the retirement age for men is set at 67 years old, whereas women have the option to retire at 63 years old.
Several nations have advanced retirement ages as well; these include the United States where the age stands at 66.7 years for both genders, Spain which has set this threshold at 66.5 years, and Portugal with an age of 66.3 years.
Lowest retirement ages
Only a few countries have a state retirement age below 60.
Sri Lanka boasts one of the lowest pension ages globally, set at 55.
Indonesia and Bangladesh have retirement ages of 58 and 59, respectively.
What is the amount of the state pension in the UK?
The UK state pension amounts to £221.20 per week. To qualify, you need to have contributed for at least 35 years.
National Insurance
(NI) contributions or acknowledgments required to qualify for the total sum.
To be eligible for any state pension, you need to have made National Insurance contributions for a minimum of 10 years. If your contributions range from 10 to 34 years, you will receive a portion of the total amount.
The sum might vary based on:
-
If your contract ended prior to 2016.
-
The total count of national insurance contribution years you’ve accumulated.
-
If you contributed to the Additional
State Pension
before 2016.
In April 2016, a new national pension scheme was launched. The specific program applicable to you hinges on whether you attained the state pension age prior to or following the introduction of this system.
If your National Insurance contributions began prior to April 2016, you get a ‘starting amount,’ which is whichever is the greatest among these options:
-
The total you were supposed to get with the previous system
-
The sum you would receive if the updated
State Pension
began right from when you first started working.
Generally, you can’t make an additional claim for state pension using your spouse or civil partner’s National Insurance credits unless specific conditions apply. If you’re widowed, however, you might qualify to receive part of their additional state pension accumulated before 2016.
What steps should you follow to claim your state pension in the UK?
Residents of the United Kingdom do not get their state pension automatically. Typically, you will receive a notification from The Pension Service around four months prior to attaining the state pension age. Following this, you have the option to apply for your pension through an online process, via telephone, or by postal mail.
You have the option to keep working past your state pension age without impacting the amount you will get.
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here
.
by admin | Mar 25, 2025 | european football, football clubs, football players, soccer, sports
At merely 18 years old, Endrick is already encountering skepticism regarding his prospects. Despite being a Brazilian forward who has played only 16 times and scored once in La Liga for Real Madrid, he got selected for the national team because of an injury to Neymar. These circumstances have sparked discussions about where he stands among Brazil’s players as they look towards the 2026 World Cup.
On Romario TV, the promising Madrid youngster did not conceal his worries: “Honestly, I’m concerned that I might not make it to the World Cup as it is one of my biggest aspirations.”
Is your World Cup dream fading away?
Although penetrating into one of the largest clubs globally isn’t simple, Endrick remains hopeful: “Each time I step onto the field, I aim to demonstrate some aspects of my gameplay so that I might catch the attention of the national team selectors. My aspiration for next year is to join their ranks and, with divine favor, help us clinch victory in the World Cup.”
His statements reveal not just his aspirations but also the increasing strain on Brazil’s emerging talent—as he continues to learn how to manage the high expectations of both Real Madrid and national team football.
This Story
Endrick growing anxious over his World Cup prospects with Real Madrid
was First Published on
Kick Football
by admin | Mar 25, 2025 | government, government regulations, news, news media, social media
PETALLING JAYA: According to Deputy Communications Minister Teo Nie Ching, MCMC’s study aimed at verifying whether the count of X users in Malaysia falls under eight million is expected to conclude by the third quarter of this year.
According to Bernama, she stated that the operators of X had earlier mentioned they were ineligible for classification under the application services provider category to function within Malaysia due to their local user count falling short of the eight million-user benchmark.
“MCMC is carrying out a survey to ascertain, through our data and analysis, if X has over eight million users,” she stated in the Senate.
Teo mentioned that MCMC was interacting with the platform’s supplier as well as two additional firms, specifically Meta and Google, neither of which have acquired licenses yet.
She addressed an additional query posed by Senator Robert Lau regarding whether the communications ministry had established a timeline for qualified firms to submit their license applications and what measures would be implemented should these entities fail to adhere to this requirement.
Teo mentioned that there isn’t a strict timeline for social media platforms to obtain their licenses, however, MCMC could implement various actions should these companies fail to submit their applications.
According to Section 126 of the Communications and Multimedia Act 1998, which was amended on February 11, service providers could be subject to a maximum fine of RM1 million or imprisonment for up to 10 years. Additionally, they will incur an extra fine of RM100,000 per day for every day the violation persists post-conviction.
“Furthermore, according to Section 243, we have the authority to impose a penalty not greater than 50% of the highest possible fine,” she stated.
In response to an additional query from Senator Tiew Way Keng regarding the ministry’s actions against fraud and related problems on Meta and Google’s platforms, Teo mentioned that up until March 15, a cumulative figure of 46,929 postings was taken down from Facebook. This includes content associated with scams and illegal online betting activities.
The ministry and government will persist in supporting the liberty of expression.
Nevertheless, the difficulty we encounter lies in the enormous volume of explicit material, fraudulent schemes, and illegal betting operations present on platforms like Facebook.
“Therefore, we must implement stronger measures if Meta continues to be uncooperative,” she stated.
Teo mentioned that both the government and MCMC would ask Meta to strengthen advertisement protocols in Malaysia, akin to what has been done in Singapore.
“In Singapore, advertisers must verify their identity before posting ads or boosting content. The question is: why is this stringent screening applied only in Singapore and not globally?
“If they can strengthen their advertisement screening processes in Singapore, why not in Malaysia, Thailand, and other nations as well? It’s an idea worth contemplating,” she stated.
by admin | Mar 25, 2025 | road safety, speed cameras, speeding, traffic laws, transportation
The authorities will commence the trial of the new Automated Awareness Safety System (AWAS) this June. This innovative system will employ a novel approach to replace the current methods used for detecting speeding infractions.
AWAS trial routes
The dates and locations of the trials were disclosed by the Secretary-General of the Ministry of Transport, Jana Santhiran. The authorities have already set up the new AWAS camera system.
different places throughout the nation
The forthcoming trials will encompass just two highway routes.
One option could be from the Genting Sempah tunnel all the way to the Gombak Rest & Recreation area along the KL-Karak Expressway. Additionally, they intend to trial this system on the stretch connecting the Senawang toll plaza with the Simpang Ampat toll plaza on the North-South Expressway.
AWAS versus AES – what are the distinctions between them?
AWAS is using
the Ekin Spotter cameras
which
substituted the outdated Redflex Traffic Systems cameras with new ones
those utilized for the preceding one
Automated Enforcement System
(AES). The module-based camera can detect speeds of up to 320 km/h along with Automatic Number Plate Recognition (ANPR) technology.
Rather than recording the velocity of vehicles as they pass by, AWAS is implementing the point-to-point approach which measures the duration taken for a vehicle to arrive at its designated endpoint relative to the established speed limits along the route. Consequently, simply reducing your pace near traditional speed monitoring cameras won’t prevent you from being detected.
Consider this situation: You are meant to get to a specific toll plaza from location A within 30 minutes, assuming a speed limit of 110 km/h. However, you manage to reach the plaza in just 20 minutes. This indicates that you exceeded the speed limit, potentially getting captured by AWAS in the process.
[
SOURCE
]
by admin | Mar 25, 2025 | business, cars, commerce, community, sports
PETALONG JAYA: CARSOME has entered into a two-year agreement with the Football Association of Malaysia (FAM) to serve as their official automotive partner.
The car e-commerce platform stated that this collaboration forms part of their initiative to assist FAM in bolstering both the male and female national squads.
“This collaboration marks an important step towards progressing Malaysian football and aiding FAM’s initiatives to boost the region’s profile of the sport by guaranteeing that the national squads have all the necessary resources to perform at their peak,” the statement read.
CARSOME also mentioned that this partnership forms part of their initiative to cultivate local talent and support the wider growth of sports in Malaysia.
The collaboration will entail CARSOME supplying FAM with 15 cars over the coming two years to guarantee that both male and female players as well as managerial staff can travel comfortably while efficiently handling all transportation needs during the match seasons.
“The supported lineup comprises Proton X90 and X70, Mazda CX-5, Nissan Serena, BMW 3 Series, Volvo XC40, Mercedes-Benz GLC, and the Toyota Alphard,” CARSOME mentioned.
The CARSOME CEO Eric Cheng reportedly stated that the company strongly supports Malaysians across various sectors including business, education, and sports.
This collaboration extends further than just transportation; it represents our commitment to propel champions ahead by guaranteeing that Malaysia’s national squads receive the backing and facilities needed to thrive.
“We trust this will motivate more Malaysians to support our national teams and cheer for their progress,” Cheng stated.
In the meantime, FAM President Joehari Ayub stated that this partnership underscores the dedication of all involved parties to elevate Malaysian football to new levels.
“By entering into this collaboration, our objective is to improve the football experience for participants, spectators, and all parties involved through programs designed to boost growth, availability, and assistance within the local football environment,” he stated.
Through this collaboration, the educational wing of CARSOME Group, known as CARSOME Academy, will provide special discounts and referral benefits exclusively to the national squad and FAM members for their range of TVET programs, soft skill courses, and additional offerings.
“This programme is designed to provide players and FAM staff with essential industry insights and hands-on abilities, offering them chances for career advancement outside of their sports journeys,” according to CARSOME.
The signing ceremony occurred at the Thistle Hotel in Johor Bahru before Malaysia’s AFC Asian Cup qualifier against Nepal at the Sultan Ibrahim Stadium this evening.
by admin | Mar 25, 2025 | business, commerce, government regulations, international economics, international trade
US President Donald Trump stated on Monday that he will be announcing auto tariffs within the next few days, possibly including exceptions for specific nations regarding mutual trade levies. Additionally, he suggested that tariff decisions on items such as vehicles, timber, semiconductor chips, and medicines will be made shortly.
Last month, Trump declared his intention to enforce 25% duties on imported automobiles, medications, and semiconductors starting from 2nd April. Additionally, he issued an executive directive to scrutinize trade dealings with plans for implementing extensive retaliatory tariffs anticipated to commence on the mentioned date. Following this announcement, he provided a temporary reprieve of thirty days regarding car taxes within the framework of the United States-Mexico-Canada Agreement (USMCA), effective since 3rd March.
His remarks intensified the bewilderment surrounding the continuously inconsistent tariff policies, prompting other countries to hasten discussions with the White House aiming for exceptions. “I might grant many countries some leeway,” stated Trump.
U.S. stock markets experience a strong recovery as Tesla jumps 13%.
Trump’s remarks on potential tariff exemptions came at a time when investors were seeking bargains in the US stock markets after a four-week selloff. Dip-buys in big tech stocks buoyed Wall Street, with the Nasdaq jumping more than 2% on Monday. All the Magnificent Seven stocks finished higher, with Tesla leading gains, surging 12%. However, the electric vehicle maker’s shares are still down 31% year-to-date, as CEO Elon Musk’s political intervention continues to spark backlash.
The US dollar experienced a recovery for the fourth successive trading session after the previous week’s Federal Open Market Committee (FOMC) gathering. Chairman of the Federal Reserve, Jerome Powell, minimized the effect of President Trump’s tariffs on the economy, stating that the upward push on inflation would likely be “temporary.” The anticipation of a less stringent approach from Trump regarding tariffs coupled with the Fed’s support has aided in boosting both US stock markets and the value of the dollar.
European shares and the euro decline
By contrast, the rally in the US stock markets may have caused profit-taking moments in European equities, with both the Euro Stoxx 600 index and the DAX declining for the third consecutive trading day. Notably, the record-setting rally in Germany’s stock markets lost steam after the European Union leaders failed to secure a €5 billion Ukraine funding package last week. Europe’s defence sector retreated sharply, leading to broad losses.
Furthermore, Trump’s tariff threats could result in countermeasures from the EU, scheduled to be implemented next month. On March 12th, the European Commission declared that they plan to impose tariffs on $30 billion worth of U.S. products starting in April. This escalation in the trade conflict might spark additional sell-offs within the local markets.
The euro continued to lose strength against the dollar for the fourth consecutive day, with the EUR/USD pairing dropping below 1.08 during Tuesday’s trading in Asia—the lowest level since early March. This downturn was fueled by differing trends in government bond yields between the U.S. and Europe. Specifically, the U.S. 10-year Treasury yield surged by 8 basis points amid enhanced optimism about economic expansion, whereas Germany’s equivalent yield increased just slightly by 1 basis point.
by admin | Mar 25, 2025 | celebrities, healthy living, lifestyle, nutrition, weight loss
-
AFTV host Robbie Lyle has experienced significant weight loss over the past few months.
-
The YouTube celebrity attributed his transformation to ‘nature’s ozempic’ in a recent upload.
-
SOCCKER A-Z: Tune in now via your preferred podcast platform, or catch it on YouTube. Fresh episodes drop every Wednesday and Friday.
AFTV host Robbie Lyle attributes his significant transformation to what he calls ‘nature’s Ozempic.’
weight loss
in recent weeks.
Ozempic has become the newest celebrity obsession in recent months, catching the attention of numerous individuals including
Oprah
Oprah Winfrey and Kathy Bates — turning to it for assistance with their fitness journeys.
Nevertheless, Lyle has become part of a select group of celebrities who have opted for ‘nature’s Ozempic,’ widely recognized as berberine.
According to Medline, berberine aids in strengthening heart contractions and has additional benefits such as antibacterial properties, assisting in regulating blood glucose levels, and reducing inflammation.
One of the main ingredients in supplements produced by wellness brand Oxford Natural is what Lyle has utilized to aid in his remarkable physical metamorphosis.
Sharing thoughts via a video post
the brand’s Instagram account
Lyle clarified: “This is Robbie speaking! Let me take this moment to hype up Dr Andre and also extend my praise to everyone at the Oxford Natural Clinic.”
These supplements have truly been beneficial for me! Optimum Day and Optimum Night. This particular supplement really assists me in getting a quality rest at night.
This particular item has truly assisted me in maintaining a balanced diet and improved my metabolic rate. Let me assure you; I have shed quite a bit of weight because of it.
‘I am feeling fantastic. I’m working out regularly, maintaining a healthy diet, and these supplements have truly made a significant difference for me. Hence, kudos to them!’
Fans were swift to spot the physical transformation of Lyle, with someone sharing a before-and-after image comparing him from several months ago. The comment stated: ‘Well done to Robbie for losing weight.’
Based on what is stated on the Oxford Natural website, these supplements aim to purportedly ‘offer improved weight management, better metabolic function, and assistance with blood sugar levels’.
Berberine has been a
fixtures in Chinese and Ayurvedic medicine
For millennia, it has been used to address a wide range of issues such as conjunctivitis, itching, elevated blood glucose levels, and urinary tract infections, along with various bacterial infections.
In addition to Lyle, former Liverpool player Michael Owen is another ex-professional footballer who has supported Oxford Natural products.
On his website, Owen asserts that he has shed more than ’15kg’ after using the supplements.
In a video snippet, he mentioned: “Hello everyone, I just wanted to express my gratitude to Oxford Natural Clinic. Ever since I joined their program under Dr Andre’s guidance, I have shed 15kg. It has truly been quite a remarkable change!”
On the other hand, Ozempic imitates glucagon-like peptide-1, known as GLP-1, which is a hormone produced by your intestines upon eating. This substance suppresses appetite signals in the brain and prompts the pancreas to secrete insulin—a hormone responsible for controlling blood glucose levels.
Regarding Ozempic, numerous private physicians adhere to the policy of not prescribing it exclusively for weight management; however, a few might be willing to do so for individuals without diabetes.
Over the past several years, an increasing number of individuals have opted to use Type 2 diabetes medications. These drugs enable them to effortlessly lose weight that they had been struggling with for many years. However, these treatments might lead to potential unknown long-term side effects like pancreatitis.
Celebrity figures such as Kelly Clarkson, Whoopi Goldberg, Oprah Winfrey, Elon Musk, Rebel Wilson, Chelsea Handler, Amy Schumer, Sharon Osbourne, Sheryl Underwood, Lauren Manzo, Dolores Catania, and Golnesa ‘GG’ Gharagedaghi have acknowledged using semaglutide medications.
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