(' , ')

By SHYAFIQ DZULKIFLI PETALING JAYA: Almost 15,000 hotspots were detected in Indonesia's Kalimantan and Sumatra between January and August this year, according to data from the Asean Specialised Meteorological Centre (ASMC). As of Aug 28, of 14,964 hotspots detected across the two regions, 11,697 were in Kalimantan, accounting for 78.1% of the combined total. Meanwhile, Sumatra recorded 3,267 hotspots.  Most of Kalimantan’s hotspot activity occurred in July and August, rising from 1,339 detections in July to 9,334 in August. Together, the two months accounted for 10,673 hotspots, or 91.2% of Kalimantan’s January-to-August total. The 9,334 hotspots recorded in August alone were 72.7% higher than the 5,406 detected in Kalimantan in the whole of 2025. Sumatra also recorded its highest monthly hotspot count of the year in August, with 1,596 detections. However, the increase in Sumatra was less pronounced, with August accounting for 48.9% of...

By SHYAFIQ DZULKIFLI PETALING JAYA: Malaysians are increasingly turning to hybrid cars, with registrations surging nearly 30,000 units in the first seven months of the year. According to figures from data.gov.my, a total of 29,769 hybrid cars were registered between January and July, up by 78.9% from 16,643 during the same period last year. The growth outpaced the overall car market, which grew 3.6% from 472,492 registrations to 489,340. Fully electric vehicle (EV) registrations also surged 94.1% year-on-year to 38,675 from 19,935 during January to July last year. As a result, hybrids accounted for 6.1% of all car registrations this year, up from 3.5% share last year. The increase also accelerated as the year progressed. Hybrid registrations rose 47.7% year-on-year in March, 117.8% in April, 89.4% in May, 172.8% in June and 127% in July. In July alone, 5,622 hybrid cars were registered, more than double the 2,476 hybrid registrations re...

By SHYAFIQ DZULKIFLI PETALING JAYA: Releasing an unwanted exotic pet into a river, lake or natural area may seem like an easy solution, but it could create a new environmental threat by allowing invasive species to spread. The Malaysia Biodiversity Information System (MyBIS) unit under the Natural Resources and Environmental Sustainability Ministry (NRES) said members of the public should never release unwanted exotic pets or non-native species into the environment.  MyBIS said some released species may survive, reproduce and spread beyond their original locations, potentially competing with native wildlife for food and habitat, and disrupting local ecosystems. Instead, owners who are no longer able to care for exotic pets should seek guidance from the relevant authorities or responsible agencies on proper surrender or disposal options. For terrestrial wildlife and exotic animals, members of the public can contact the Department of Wildlife and National Parks Peninsular Malaysia (P...

  By SHYAFIQ DZULKIFLI PETALING JAYA: At least 12 invasive alien species identified by Malaysia Biodiversity Information System (MyBIS) are believed to have entered the country through human activities, including the ornamental pet trade, aquarium hobby and recreational fishing, say experts. However, experts said the actual number could be higher as invasive fish may also enter through activities such as aquaculture, fisheries and intentional releases. Universiti Putra Malaysia (UPM) fish ecology and diseases expert Prof Dr Mohammad Noor Amal Azmai said invasive fish species were able to establish themselves because of their biological characteristics, which gave them an advantage over native species. He said carnivorous species such as Asian redtail catfish, Amazon redtail catfish, peacock bass, and African catfish could threaten native fish populations by preying on them. “These species can occupy the top of the food chain in areas where they are rel...

  By SHYAFIQ DZULKIFLI PETALING JAYA: A fish bought to clean an aquarium or a turtle kept as a childhood pet may seem harmless, but some species introduced through the pet or hobby trade have ended up threatening Malaysia’s natural ecosystems. The Natural Resources and Environmental Sustainability Ministry (NRES), through its Malaysia Biodiversity Information System (MyBIS) unit, said the pet and hobby trade is among the most common pathways for invasive alien species (IAS) to enter the country. MyBIS said species are often imported because they are popular among enthusiasts and easily available through physical pet shops or online platforms. However, some may escape captivity, be released into the wild or establish populations beyond their intended environments, creating ecological problems. “Such activities can sometimes lead to unintended consequences when the introduced species become established in the environment and spread beyond their intended...

By SHYAFIQ DZULKIFLI PETALING JAYA: The Star readers correctly predicted that Spain would win the FIFA World Cup 2026, with nearly six in 10 backing La Roja to lift football's biggest prize in a reader poll conducted ahead of the final. The poll, launched on July 17 after the semi-finals, asked readers to choose between Spain and defending champion Argentina. Of the 1,867 votes cast, Spain emerged as the clear favourite with 1,082 votes, or 58%, while Argentina received 785 votes (42%). The poll drew responses from readers in Malaysia, Singapore, the United States, and Australia. Spain went on to justify readers’ confidence by defeating Argentina 1-0 in the final to claim their second FIFA World Cup title. La Roja's triumph capped a remarkable knockout run in which they eliminated Portugal in the Round of 16, Belgium in the quarter-finals and France in the semi-finals before overcoming Argentina on football's biggest stage. Arg...

Summary: Vote now: Who will make the World Cup final?   By SHYAFIQ DZULKIFLI (STARPLUS LOGO) PETALING JAYA: The Star readers correctly picked three of the four World Cup semi-finalists, backing Argentina, France and Spain in a reader poll. The Star ran the poll on July 4, before the Round of 16 began, asking fans which teams they expected to advance to the semi-finals. The poll garnered 2,612 votes from readers in Malaysia, Singapore, the United States, Australia and New Zealand. Argentina topped the poll with 554 votes, followed by France (548), Spain (407) and Brazil (295).   Three of those four picks made it through: Argentina, France and Spain all booked their semi-final spots. Brazil was the only top-four pick to fall short, exiting in the Round of 16. England, which reached the semi-finals, was the fifth-most popular pick in the poll, receiving 258 votes.   Argentina beat Switzerland 3-1 in the quarter-finals, with the other three semi-finalists also winning thei...

Sub-head: Argentina tops reader poll, fancied Brazil falls By SHYAFIQ DZULKIFLI (STARPLUS logo/WORLD CUP logo/QR Code/Bar chart graphic) PETALING JAYA: The Star readers correctly picked three of the four World Cup semi-finalists, backing Argentina, France and Spain in a reader poll. The Star ran the poll on July 4, before the Round of 16 began, asking fans which teams they expected to advance to the semi-finals. The poll garnered 2,612 votes from readers in Malaysia, Singapore, the United States, Australia and New Zealand. Argentina topped the poll with 554 votes, followed by France (548), Spain (407) and Brazil (295). Three of those four picks made it through: Argentina, France and Spain all booked their semi-final spots. Brazil was the only top-four pick to fall short, exiting in the Round of 16. England, which reached the semi-finals, was the fifth-most popular pick in the poll, receiving 258 votes. Argentina beat Switzerland 3-1 in the quarter-finals, with the other three semi-...

By SHYAFIQ DZULKIFLI PETALING JAYA:  World Cup fans correctly picked three of the four semi-finalists, with Argentina, France and Spain reaching the last four of the 2026 tournament. Before the Round of 16 began, The Star conducted a poll on July 4 asking fans which teams they believed would reach the semi-finals. The poll attracted a total of 2,293 respondents, comprising Malaysians as well as World Cup fans in countries such as Singapore, the United States, Australia and New Zealand. Argentina emerged as the top pick, with 481 respondents backing the team to reach the last four, followed by France (476), Spain (345) and Brazil (287). The fans’ predictions proved largely accurate, with the top three choices — Argentina, France and Spain — securing their semi-final spots. Brazil, however, was the only team among the survey’s top four picks that failed to progress, ending its campaign in Round of 16. Norway, meanwhile, produced the biggest surprise by defying expectations to reac...

By SHYAFIQ DZULKIFLI  PETALING JAYA: The World Cup 2026 Round of 32 concluded on July 4, with Colombia edging Ghana 1-0 to complete the Round of 16 line-up. Among the biggest casualties were the Netherlands, Germany and Croatia, all of whom bowed out before reaching the Round of 16. The knockout stage resumes on July 5, with Canada taking on Morocco in the opening Round of 16 match. Several heavyweight clashes also await, including Portugal against Spain, as the race for the title intensifies. With the Round of 16 about to begin, which four teams do you think will make it through to the semi-finals? Cast your vote in our poll below. Which four teams do you think will reach the World Cup semi-finals? (Select up to four)  

         

By SHYAFIQ DZULKIFLI PETALING JAYA : Although some World Cup group-stage matches will be aired live in Malaysia in the morning, local football fans will still have to stay up after midnight to catch most of their favourite teams in action. Sixteen out of 26 – or about 62% – of the highly anticipated group matches featuring the major European and South American teams will kick off between midnight and 5am Malaysian time.  England, France and Germany, for example, are scheduled to play all three of their group-stage fixtures in that late-night window (see graphic). Portugal, Spain and the Netherlands will each see two of their three group matches also fall into those early-hours kick-off times. Despite the inconvenient timing, many fans say they are still willing to adjust their routines to keep up with the tournament. Germany fan Fadhli Harun, 34, said he is prepared to sacrifice sleep when necessary, particularly for decisive fixtures. “If it is a must...

By SHYAFIQ DZULKIFLI PETALING JAYA: Although some World Cup group-stage matches will be aired live in Malaysia in the morning, local football fans will still have to stay up after midnight to catch most of their favourite teams in action. Sixteen out of 26 – or about 62% – of the highly anticipated group matches featuring the major European and South American teams will kick off between midnight and 5am Malaysia time.  England, France and Germany, for example, are scheduled to play all three of their group-stage fixtures in that late-night window. Portugal, Spain and the Netherlands will each see two of their three group matches also fall into those early-hours kick-off times. Despite the inconvenient timing, many fans say they are still willing to adjust their routines to keep up with the tournament. Germany fan Fadhli Harun, 34, said he is prepared to sacrifice sleep when necessary, particularly for decisive fixtures. “If it is a must-win or tie-breaker match, I will sacrifice sl...

By SHYAFIQ DZULKIFLI   PETALING JAYA: The hotter it gets, the harder it rains. In urban areas such as the Klang Valley, experts say this is increasingly the reality.  They say rising temperatures, combined with rapid development and climate change, are intensifying thunderstorms, increasing the risk of flash floods in cities.  One reason for the rising heat is the Urban Heat Island (UHI) effect. This occurs when cities replace green areas with pavement, buildings, and other surfaces that absorb and retain warmth.  This leads to significantly higher temperatures in cities compared to surrounding areas. The hotter air rises to form clouds, leading to heavy downpours that can cause floods.  “In urban areas, concrete buildings, asphalt and other man-made structures absorb heat faster than surrounding areas, creating pressure differences that lead to low-level convergence.  “Hotter conditions in the city make the air mor...

By SHYAFIQ DZULKIFLI PETALING JAYA: Rising urban temperatures in the Klang Valley are contributing to heavier downpours and flash floods, with experts pointing to the Urban Heat Island (UHI) effect as one of the factors intensifying storms. Experts say the interaction between urban heat, rapid development and climate change is intensifying thunderstorms over densely built-up areas, including the Klang Valley. Climatologist Professor Emeritus Fredolin Tangang from Universiti Kebangsaan Malaysia said the UHI effect plays a contributing role but is not the sole factor behind the increasing frequency of heavy downpours in urban areas. “The answer is yes, but UHI is not the only factor,” he said, explaining that thunderstorms are more common during inter-monsoon periods in April to May and September to October, when weaker winds create favourable conditions for thunderstorms to develop. He said heat and moisture are key ingredients for thunderstorm formation and...

By SHYAFIQ DZULKIFLI PETALING JAYA: Some 2,069 tonnes of illegal e-waste worth RM151.6mil were seized in raids on illegal processing and recycling plants nationwide over the past year. A check and compilation of The Star reports from April 2025 to April 2026 found 37 reports related to the illegal e-waste trade, ranging from raids on unlicensed factories and seizures at ports to statements from enforcement agencies and ministries. Of the total reports, four involved raids and seizures at illegal e-waste processing or recycling plants, while seven were related to seizures of illegal e-waste shipments at ports. The raids on illegal processing facilities were conducted in several locations, including Ipoh, Bukit Tambun, Seremban and Gopeng. Among the largest seizures was an operation in Ipoh, Perak, in June last year, where authorities seized 1,500 bags of e-waste worth RM111mil, with each bag weighed between 850kg and 1,000kg. In March this ...

By DIVYA THERESA RAVI and SHYAFIQ DZULKIFLI PETALING JAYA: Malaysian coffee roasters may soon feel the pinch as rising prices in major coffee-producing countries like Brazil, Colombia, and Indonesia push up the cost of imported beans. Some seasoned coffee operators come forth to say coffee bean prices have risen, but are still managing despite the climate crisis.  Previously, The Star reported climate change in the top coffee-growing countries has caused stress to the plants, making them more susceptible to disease, reducing yields and leading to poorer beans.  With that, this could reduce the supply and quality of coffee and contribute to price increases worldwide. For specialty roaster Mohamed Helmi Ahmad Darki, who runs a cafe in Cheras, the impact is clear. “Last year, normal processed beans cost around RM35 per kilo, special processing around RM40,” said the 37-year-old.  “This year, normal coffee increased to RM45 to RM50, an...

By SHYAFIQ DZULKIFLI PETALING JAYA: While electric cars continue to gain popularity in Malaysia, e-motorcycles struggle to keep up. Figures from the Department of Statistics Malaysia (DOSM) reveal a stark contrast: while electric vehicles (EVs) accounted for 5.15% of the 870,327 cars registered last year, electric models made up just 1.53% of the 704,714 new motorcycles on the road. From 2015 to 2025, electric car adoption expanded at an average annual rate of 95%, rising from 55 units to 44,813. The adoption of e-motorcycles, however, grew at a slower pace of 45% annually, increasing from 262 units in 2015 to 10,781 units in 2025. The gap has continued into this year, with electric cars recording 14,591 registrations as of March 31 compared to just 2,764 e-motorcycles. The Star, in a 2024 report on the lukewarm response to e-motorcycles, quoted customers and industry experts citing limited range - typically around 100km - and low top speeds ...

  By SHYAFIQ DZULKIFLI PETALING JAYA: While electric cars continue to gain popularity in Malaysia, e-motorcycles struggle to keep up. Figures from the Department of Statistics Malaysia (DOSM) reveal a stark contrast: while electric vehicles (EVs) accounted for 5.15% of the 870,327 cars registered last year, electric models made up just 1.53% of the 704,714 new motorcycles on the road. From 2015 to 2025, electric car adoption expanded at an average annual rate of 95%, rising from 55 units to 44,813. The adoption of e-motorcycles, however, grew at a slower pace of 45% annually, increasing from 262 units in 2015 to 10,781 units in 2025. The gap has continued into this year, with electric cars recording 14,591 registrations as of March 31 compared to just 2,764 e-motorcycles. The Star, in a 2024 report on the lukewarm response to e-motorcycles, quoted customers and industry experts citing limited range - typically around 100km - and low top speeds as some ...