Premarital courses not enough to save marriages, say experts

AS the government mulls mandating a premarital course for non-Muslims due to the rising divorce rate, experts are divided on whether such measures could make a difference. They said though Western studies have shown such courses to be helpful, it is not the solution for the growing divorce rate.

Century-old sundry shop serves people of Bakam

A CENTURY-old wooden sundry shop, built when the Brookes ruled Sarawak, continues serving the fishing community of Bakam, near Miri town till today. According to local history buff Yi Chang, the shop was built by Goh Mee Lok, a Chinese immigrant from Fujian Province that settled in Kuala Bakam in the early 1900’s.

Iran police plan ‘smart cameras’ to nab unveiled women

POLICE in Iran said yesterday they plan to use “smart” technology in public places to identify and then penalise women who violate the country’s strict Islamic dress code. A statement said the force would “take action to identify norm-breaking people by using tools and smart cameras in public places and thoroughfares”.

Pakatan, BN agree parties will defend seats in state elections

PAKATAN Harapan (PH) and Barisan Nasional (BN) have agreed to allow their parties to defend their seats in the six state elections due this year. PH secretary-general Saifuddin Nasution Ismail said a consensus was reached during preliminary discussions on seat allocation.

Companies told to set AI policy

PETALING JAYA: Companies should put into place effective policies on the use of the Artificial Intelligence-powered tool ChatGPT in the workplace as its use increa­ses among employees, say human resour­ces and IT experts. Read full story

Great time to get some greens

PETALING JAYA: Thanks to some sunny weather, the arrival of foreign workers and a good harvest, locally grown greens are abundant and now a bargain for shoppers with Hari Raya just around the corner. Read full story

Ultimately the King decides

SHAH ALAM: Although he would be involved in the process to decide on Datuk Seri Najib Razak’s royal pardon application, the Prime Minister maintained there would be no conflict of intere Read full story

King strongly condemns attack on Al-Aqsa Mosque

KUALA LUMPUR: Yang di-Pertuan Agong Al-Sultan Abdullah Ri’ayatuddin Al-Mustafa Billah Shah has strongly condemned the recent attacks against worshippers and the incursions into the Al-Aqsa Mosque by Israeli forces. Read full story

PM has to be on the board, says lawyer

PETALING JAYA: With no Federal Territories Minister appointed to the current Cabinet, Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim will be part of the Pardons Board as the de facto minister, says senior lawyer Mohamed Haniff Khatri Abdulla. Read full story