☕️ Six-year-old found strangled in Johor, own father is suspect

1. MARKET SUMMARY 📈

2. NUMBERS AT A GLANCE 🔢

The world record for the highest bid for a Women’s Super League player has been broken again, with Arsenal making a bid of over GBP1 mil (RM5.7 mil) for 20-year-old Canadian Olivia Smith. The deal, which was accepted by Arsenal’s rival Liverpool, is subject to a medical examination and personal terms being agreed. Liverpool, which is currently without a manager, views the transfer as a major opportunity to strengthen their squad by reinvesting the transfer fee. Smith scored 7 times in 20 appearances in her debut season.

Meanwhile, Manchester City Football Club have extended their kit partnership with Puma for at least another decade. The contract is understood to be worth at least GBP1 bil (RM5.7 bil), making it the largest deal in the Premier League. The initial contract between the two parties was for GBP65 mil (RM368.9 mil) a year in 2019, with this extension pushing the contract to GBP100 mil (RM567.5 mil) a year. Of note is that, out of the top 10 clubs in this year’s most valuable brand rankings, Manchester City has the highest percentage of fans who have claimed to have bought merchandise at 70%, level with Real Madrid.

Locally, Harimau Malaya have climbed to their highest FIFA ranking in nearly 20 years. The team moved up six spots to World No. 125, which they last achieved in Feb 2016. This move in the ranks comes after Malaysia thrashed Vietnam 4-0 in the 2027 Asian Cup third-round qualifiers and a solid 1-1 draw against Cape Verde before that. This means that, within Asia, Malaysia is ranked 23rd, with Japan leading the continent as World 17th, followed by Iran (World 20th), South Korea (World 23rd), and Australia (World 24th). In ASEAN, Malaysia now takes 4th place, behind Thailand (World 102nd), Vietnam (World 113th), and Indonesia (surged five places to reach World 118th).

3. IN MALAYSIA 🇲🇾

Malaysian Crime

More offenders could skip jail under new compulsory work law
The Dewan Rakyat passed the Offenders Compulsory Attendance (Amendment) Bill 2025, widening eligibility for Compulsory Attendance Orders (CAOs) to include offenders sentenced from the current three, now up to 10 years in prison. CAOs offer a non-custodial alternative where offenders carry out community-based work, such as cleaning places of worship, attending courses, or offering services that's skill-based. While most MPs supported the bill, some voiced concern it could become a loophole for the influential to dodge prison reiterating that serious crimes like corruption, violence, and sexual offences be excluded. Deputy Home Minister Shamsul Anuar asserted the changes are not linked to any proposed “house arrest” law but are part of broader efforts to ease prison overcrowding. As of Jul 22, Malaysia had 83.8k inmates despite a capacity of 76.3k, with just 5.8k in community rehab, a gap the government aims to close.

Ivana Smit case reopened after 8 years, mother wins RM1.1mil in court
After an eight-year legal battle, the High Court has ordered police to reopen the investigation into the 2017 death of Dutch model Ivana Smit, while awarding RM1.1mil in damages to her mother, Christina Verstappen, over serious failures in how the case was handled. Smit was found naked on a sixth-floor balcony after falling from the 20th floor of a Kuala Lumpur apartment, where she had spent the night with American couple Alexander Johnson and Laura Almazkyzy, who were later charged with drug use. Although a 2019 inquest ruled the death a misadventure, that verdict was later overturned and reclassified as a possible murder by person or persons unknown. In the latest judgment, Justice Roz Mawar Rozain issued a mandamus compelling the police to resume the stalled investigation and removed ASP Faizal Abdullah from the task force, citing conflict of interest and arbitrary handling of the case, including prematurely labelling it a suicide. The court also found the police, IGP, Home Minister and government liable to varying degrees, and directed that updates be submitted to the Attorney-General’s Chambers every three months moving forward. Timeline of the legal battle here.

Six-year-old found strangled in Johor, own father is suspect
Six-year-old M. Tishant, whose body was found buried near a railway track in Rompin, was killed by strangulation with a cable tie, a post-mortem confirmed. The child had been reported missing in Johor five days earlier, and his father who filed the report was arrested on the same day. Police revealed that the 36-year-old suspect was undergoing a divorce and had not been cooperative. He is being investigated under Section 302 of the Penal Code for murder, as well as for child neglect and lodging a false report.

Biz
Father of pendrives returns to Malaysia to launch high-paying AI firm
More than two decades after leaving Malaysia to build one of the world’s biggest tech success stories, Datuk Pua Khein-Seng is back building something big again, this time on home soil to launch Malaysia AI Storage (MaiStorage), hoping to build the country’s future in microchip design and AI-driven data storage. Backed by RM100mil in investment and RM1 bil worth of tech transfer from his Taiwan-based firm Phison Electronics, the new venture offers RM6,000 starting salaries to fresh grads and five-figure pay for experienced engineers. Pua, who once struggled to grow this vision in Malaysia due to red tape, is now working closely with Nurul Izzah Anwar and Selangor’s digital economy agency to turn Selangor into Malaysia’s own Silicon Valley. With plans to list MaiStorage on Bursa Malaysia by 2028, Pua’s return marks a full-circle moment driven by a long-standing promise to help Malaysia rise in the digital economy.

Paramount buys Texas Chicken stake in RM126mil deal
Property developer Paramount Corp Bhd has plans to acquire a 28% stake in Envictus International Holdings Ltd, the company behind Texas Chicken and San Francisco Coffee in Malaysia for SGD38.33mil (RM126.32mil). The deal, to be executed through its unit Venice Concepts, will acquire the stake from JAG Capital Holdings Sdn Bhd, which is 96% owned by Plantation and Commodities Minister Johari Abdul Ghani. JAG Capital currently holds 26.9% of Envictus. Envictus, which recently returned to the black with RM50.55mil in FY2024 profit, also operates Pok Brothers and the SuJohan dairy brand. The purchase follows Paramount’s RM170.61mil stake in EWI Capital last year, underlining the group’s broader ambition to future-proof its business and secure new revenue streams beyond property.

Shorts

1. Malaysia’s badminton stars climb world rankings 
   Pearly Tan and M. Thinaah have climbed to a career-best world No. 2 in women’s doubles, Malaysia’s highest ranking in the event since 2009 after a strong semi-final run at the China Open. Their rise, confirmed in the Badminton World Federation’s latest update, puts them in line for the No. 2 seeding at the upcoming World Championships in Paris (Aug 25–31), setting the stage for a potential historic podium finish. Meanwhile, Go Pei Kee and Teoh Mei Xing broke into the top 20 for the first time, and in mixed doubles, Chen Tang Jie-Toh Ee Wei reclaimed the No. 3 spot.
   Meanwhile, entertain yourself below with this jaw-dropping finishing move by Lee Chong Wei to win the match.

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2. Malaysia’s household debt soars but assets still offer a cushion

   Despite Malaysia’s household debt hitting RM1.65 tril or 84.3% of GDP by quarter year, the picture isn’t all grim. In fact, households still hold financial assets more than twice (2.1x to be exact) the size of their debt, Deputy Finance Minister Lim Hui Ying told Parliament noted that assets outweigh liabilities by a healthy margin, offering households a financial cushion. On the broader fiscal front, Lim said the government is taking a harder look at spending, cutting back where necessary, reducing subsidies, and tightening oversight on statutory bodies. Future projects will be kept within the limits of the Malaysia Plans, with a clear preference for initiatives that pay for themselves under the Pikas 2030 framework.

4. AROUND THE WORLD 🌎

Warring World

More than 60,000 Palestinians killed to date, famine continues to unfold
Yesterday, the Gaza Health Ministry announced that the number of Palestinians killed in the relentless Israel war on Gaza has surpassed 60,000 - that’s 60,034 people to be exact - with 145,870 people wounded and now struggling in a disastrous man-made famine. The Integrated Food Security Phase Classification (IPC) has announced that the worst-case scenario of famine is unfolding in Gaza, with data from Gaza already confirming two of three thresholds have been met (view IPC scale here). Famine is formally classified as a situation where at least 20% of people face extreme food shortages, one in three children are acutely malnourished and two people out of every 10,000 die daily from starvation-related causes. Between Apr and mid-Jul, more than 20,000 children were admitted for treatment for acute malnutrition, 3,000 of them severely malnourished. IPC reports that the population needs an estimated 62,000 metric tonnes of food staples each month. Israeli data shows no food entered Gaza in Mar or Apr, 19,900 tonnes entered in May and 37,800 tonnes entered in June.

Dutch to ban Israeli ministers
In Europe, the Dutch government has said that it will impose a travel ban on Israeli government ministers Itamar Ben-Gvir and Bezalel Smotrich for repeatedly inciting violence against Palestinians and calling for an “ethnic cleansing” of the Gaza strip. The Dutch will also summon Israel’s ambassador to the Netherlands to denounce the “unbearable and indefensible” situation in Gaza. One more hopeful news for humanity from the EU, after similar moves by France, Britain, Canada, Australia, New Zealand and Norway in the past few weeks.

Thailand still “unsettled”
Despite shaking hands to a ceasefire on Monday, Thailand and Cambodia have not really “cooled” down, with Thailand accusing Cambodia of “deliberately” violating the ceasefire after mere hours. Cambodia denied the accusation, saying that there had been "no armed clashes" between the two sides since the ceasefire began. Nevertheless, local commanders proceeded to meet earlier yesterday, with both sides agreeing to stop shooting and halt the movement of troops on the frontline. They will also allow each other to collect their dead. In the ceasefire agreement brokered by Malaysia, both sides should also accept some kind of independent monitoring to prevent further clashes. Following the ceasefire, Trump was quick to ride on the opportunity to congratulate himself for making the Thai-Cambodia ceasefire happen. Apparently, Trump threatened Thailand to halt tariff negotiations if they continue fighting with Cambodia.

Google earthquake warning failed Turkiye
Google now admits that its Android Earthquake Alerts (AEA) warning system has failed to accurately alert people during Turkiye's deadly quake of 2023. The system works on Android devices, which make up more than 70% of the phones in Turkiye. 10 mil people within 98 miles of the epicentre could have been sent Google's highest level “Take Action” alert, giving up to 35 seconds of warning to find safety, but it did not happen. Instead, only 469 "Take Action" warnings were sent out for the first 7.8 magnitude quake. The Take Action alert was especially important in Turkiye due to the catastrophic shaking and because the first earthquake struck early in the morning when people were asleep. More than 55,000 people died and more than 100,000 people injured from the double earthquakes. Google researchers said that it could be due to limitations to the detection algorithms, and that it is not supposed to replace the national system. However, experts are worried that countries are placing too much faith in tech that has not been fully tested, such as the case of this system. Note that Google previously said the system had "performed well" after an investigation in 2023.

In China
First Apple store to close in China
Apple has announced that they are closing one of its stores in Dalian City, China, specifically the one in Parkland Mall next month. The closure is said to be due to the changing landscapes at the shopping complex. This marks the first time Apple has made such a move in the China market where it is striving to revive declining sales - Apple’s sales in the country fell 2.3% to USD16 bil (RM67.75 bil) in the second quarter ended on Mar 29. The iPhone maker has 56 stores in the Greater China region, making up over 10% of its footprint of more than 530 outlets globally. Nevertheless, Apple is also opening a new store at Uniwalk Qianhai in Shenzhen on Aug 16, and it is also planning additional locations in Beijing and Shanghai in 2026.

Take more money, make more baby
The Chinese government is offering CNY3,600 (USD500 or RM2,117.25) a year for every child under 3 years old, with hopes that it will boost birth rates in the country. The money is also meant to help around 20 mil families with the cost of raising children. Apparently, China is among the world's most expensive places to have children, according to a study by China-based YuWa Population Research Institute, with an average cost of USD75,700 (RM320.3k) to raise a child to the age of 17. China is currently facing population decline, and its 1.4 bil people are also ageing fast, adding to its demographic concerns.

Voyeurism running rampant on Telegram in China
The Chinese media has reported that photos of women secretly taken and filmed in locations such as public toilets have been shared in a Telegram chat group named “MaskPark tree hole forum”, with more than 100,000 users in China and overseas. The chatroom users also sold everyday objects, such as incense holders, fitted with pinhole cameras to secretly film women. China has strict obscenity laws and regularly scrubs content deemed pornographic from its heavily-controlled domestic internet, but with Telegram it might be difficult for the Chinese police to punish offenders because of Telegram’s encryption and hosting overseas. It’s high time that countries impose stronger regulations on gender-based abuse on online platforms.

5. FOR YOUR EYES 📺

1. Vantablack - the blackest of blacks, a super-black coating that absorbs 99.965% of light created by Surrey NanoSystems. Read here on how it’s made.

2. The 1986 Lake Nyos disaster - when 1,700 people and animals were silently killed by carbon dioxide. Read more here.

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3. Another incident in 1986 - Ohio’s balloon disaster. When releasing 1,000,000 mil balloons became a real bad idea.