W.N.M

PUERTO MADRYN (Argentina): Spain's former world rally champion Carlos Sainz overcame poor visibility to take the overall lead in a congested Dakar Rally on Sunday after winning the second stage, a 237km special from Santa Rosa to Puerto Madryn.

KUALA LUMPUR: The New Straits Times Press (M) Bhd has set up the Fund for Gaza to raise money to help Palestinians who are under unrelenting attack by Israel.

A 65-year-old jewellery shop owner cheated death when a robber’s pistol jammed during a robbery at Komtar.

Datuk Seri Abdullah Ahmad Badawi has called on civil servants to ensure the country’s economy remains resilient in the difficult times ahead.

Datuk Wan Ahmad Farid Wan Salleh will be reappointed as a deputy minister should he win the Kuala Terengganu parliamentary by-election on Jan 17.

An enhanced blueprint to aid schools will be unveiled by the Government in the next two months.

The people of Terengganu, including minority ethnic groups, have benefited from the state’s resources, says MCA president Datuk Seri Ong Tee Keat.

All parties will be given equal treatment in every aspect on nomination day today, right up to the number of supporters who are allowed to accompany the candidates.

Six PKR members including Terengganu Youth head Fariz Musa were arrested but later released on police bail pending further probe into allegations of criminal intimidation.

Confusion reigned at the library in the Works Ministry on the second day after toll agreements in the country were declassified.

MCA Youth will set up a unit to look into all the declassified toll agreements.

All future toll concession agreements signed between the Government and highway operators will be made public.

Malaysia will push for a special UN General Assembly session to discuss Israel’s brutal attacks against Palestine, said Datuk Seri Abdullah Ahmad Badawi.

Various groups continued to protest against the invasion of Gaza by Israel.

The world community should boycott the US currency and American-made products to pressure the United States to stop supporting Israel’s attacks on Palestine, said Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad.

A member of an international syndicate that steals luggage was caught red-handed after he snatched a bag at the KL International Airport.

Selangor has allocated RM6mil this year for non-Muslim places of worship.

The requirement for MCA ministers and deputy ministers to submit their work plans to the party’s presidential council has received the thumbs-up from several state MCA grassroots leaders.

A group of local artists are not only preserving the art of writing traditional couplets in Chinese calligraphy but are using it to raise funds for the needy this Chinese New Year.

Unauthorised bank withdrawals are mostly caused by SMS scams which inform victims they have won cash prizes, says Bank Negara Malaysia.