Day: June 25, 2026

KTMB Offers Promo Fares For Southern Shuttle Starting Sunday

KUALA LUMPUR, June 25 -- Starting this Sunday, Keretapi Tanah Melayu Berhad (KTMB) will offer promotional fares for the Southern Shuttle service covering the Kempas Baru-Pasir Gudang and Kulai-JB Sentral routes. KTMB Group chief executive officer Datuk Azlan Shah Al Bakri said the promotion is an effort to encourage more people to choose rail transport as a more comfortable, faster, and cost-effective daily transportation mode. "The provision of this promotional fare is part of KTMB's commitment to supporting the government's aspiration to encourage the shift of users from private transportation to public transportation through the Road to Rail initiative. "For example, passengers on the Kulai-JB Sentral route will enjoy a fare as low as RM5.10 compared to the original rate of RM10.20, while passengers on the Kempas Baru-Pasir Gudang route only need to pay RM3.50 compared to the original fare of RM7," he said in a statement today. Azlan Shah said that the implementation of the promotional fare is also part of the government's ongoing efforts to ensure that the benefits of rail public transportation can be enjoyed by more people, especially daily commuters who travel between residential areas, city centres, and workplaces in the Johor Bahru, Kulai, and Pasir Gudang corridor. The Southern Shuttle service launched on June 16 is a government initiative to enhance connectivity and mobility for the people of Johor through two main routes, namely Kulai-JB Sentral-Kulai and Kempas Baru-Pasir Gudang-Kempas Baru. The government also introduced the MADANI Southern Shuttle Commuter card, with 3,000 cards worth RM50 distributed for free, allowing passengers to access the Southern Shuttle service without limits. Azlan Shah said KTMB will continue to be committed to strengthening the national rail service by providing quality, safe, and competitive services in line with the aspiration to enhance the use of public transportation and support the national sustainable mobility agenda. Further information regarding the travel schedule, fares, and ticket purchases can be found via the KITS Style app, the official KTMB website, or the company's official social media channels. -- BERNAMA 

KUALA LUMPUR, June 25 — Starting this Sunday, Keretapi Tanah Melayu Berhad (KTMB) will offer promotional fares for the Southern Shuttle service covering the Kempas Baru-Pasir Gudang and Kulai-JB Sentral routes. KTMB Group chief executive officer Datuk Azlan Shah Al Bakri said the promotion is an effort to encourage more people to choose rail transport […]

Tokyo Skytree To Host Chiikawa Collaboration Event From July

KUALA LUMPUR, June 25  -- Tobu Tower Skytree Co Ltd, operator of Tokyo Skytree, has announced its second collaboration event with the popular character "Chiikawa", marking the first such collaboration in three years. The event, titled "Chiikawa Starry SKYTREE and the Secret Island", will run from July 10 to Oct 31 in celebration of the character's film, "Chiikawa the Movie: The Secret of the Mermaid Island", which is set for release in July. During the event, visitors can enjoy special decorations featuring original visuals along the 450-metre-high Tembo Galleria, as well as event-exclusive merchandise, themed cafe menu items and photo shoot services. A special screening will also be held at Skytree Round Theater on the 350-metre-high Tembo Deck, where the windows will be transformed into a giant screen. The exterior of the tower will also feature special illuminations inspired by Chiikawa characters. According to the operator in a statement, guests wishing to purchase items from the event-exclusive menu at Skytree Cafe on Tembo Deck Floor 340 must obtain an "Observation Deck Admission Ticket with Meal Voucher". Details on ticket purchases, meal vouchers and event-exclusive merchandise are available on the event's dedicated website. The Tokyo Skytree is the world's tallest free-standing broadcasting tower and features two observation decks, the Tembo Deck and Tembo Galleria. The tower is illuminated nightly with three signature lighting themes, alongside special illuminations for seasonal and commemorative events. -- BERNAMA 

KUALA LUMPUR, June 25  — Tobu Tower Skytree Co Ltd, operator of Tokyo Skytree, has announced its second collaboration event with the popular character “Chiikawa”, marking the first such collaboration in three years. The event, titled “Chiikawa Starry SKYTREE and the Secret Island”, will run from July 10 to Oct 31 in celebration of the […]

Johor Polls: MACC To Open Five Operations Rooms

JOHOR BAHRU, June 25 -- The Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission (MACC) will open five operations rooms across Johor to enable members of the public to submit information and complaints related to corruption and abuse of power during the state election. MACC said that the operations rooms will operate 24 hours a day, starting from nomination day on June 27 until polling day on July 11. It said that the five operations rooms will be located at the MACC Johor office in Tampoi, as well as MACC branch offices in Batu Pahat, Kluang, Segamat, and Mersing. “Members of the public may also channel complaints regarding corruption and abuse of power through the operations room's official email address: aduan.prnjohor2026@sprm.gov.my,” MACC said in a statement today. It also assured that every piece of information received will be investigated professionally and transparently, in accordance with the provisions of applicable laws. The commission further reminded all candidates and contesting political parties not to engage in any acts that violate the law, including provisions under the MACC Act 2009 and the Election Offences Act 1954 (Amendment 2012). The Election Commission (EC) has set July 11 as the polling day for the Johor polls, with nomination day on June 27 and early voting on July 7. -- BERNAMA

JOHOR BAHRU, June 25 — The Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission (MACC) will open five operations rooms across Johor to enable members of the public to submit information and complaints related to corruption and abuse of power during the state election. MACC said that the operations rooms will operate 24 hours a day, starting from nomination day […]

KPKT Allocates RM216.44 Mln To Boost Development, Public Well-being In Johor

JOHOR BAHRU, June 25 -- The Ministry of Housing and Local Government (KPKT) has allocated RM216.44 million to Johor to boost housing development, public amenities, and community welfare. The minister, Nga Kor Ming, said the funds were allocated under the ministry’s development programme as part of the first rolling plan of the 13th Malaysia Plan. He said the funding covers several strategic initiatives, including affordable housing projects, the maintenance of stratified homes, public amenities, community safety, solid waste management, and urban and rural development. "This RM216.44 million allocation proves the MADANI Government's continuous commitment to ensuring the people of Johor enjoy access to quality housing, comfortable public amenities, and a more sustainable, prosperous living environment. "To give an example, this flat (Flat Taman Ungku Tun Aminah) is 41 years old and is the largest in Johor, with over 80 blocks. Today, through our community outreach programme, we are beginning renovation works on the first 10 blocks,” he said at the media conference for KPKT’s Sentuhan Kasih Programme 4.0, at Flat Taman Ungku Tun Aminah, Skudai, today. Nga said the majority of the funds would be used to advance the public housing agenda through various initiatives, including Rumah Malaysia, the People's Housing Project (PPR), the People's Residency Programme (PRR), and the MADANI Inclusive Housing Development (PIM). Additionally, the funds will be used to upgrade public infrastructure, including markets, MADANI stalls, drainage systems, public toilets, recreational parks, fire stations, and residential areas. To reinforce the sustainable development agenda, he said allocations were also channelled toward solid waste management projects, the safe closure of landfills, and the implementation of public landscaping projects. "The ministry is also continuing the Urban Housing Refurbishment Programme, the Non-Muslim Houses of Worship Maintenance Initiative, and New Village Development Projects, which aim to improve the welfare of those in need and strengthen community unity," he said. Nga said the ministry would continue to strengthen its strategic cooperation with the Johor state government and local authorities to ensure all projects are executed efficiently, transparently, and with high impact. -- BERNAMA 

JOHOR BAHRU, June 25 — The Ministry of Housing and Local Government (KPKT) has allocated RM216.44 million to Johor to boost housing development, public amenities, and community welfare. The minister, Nga Kor Ming, said the funds were allocated under the ministry’s development programme as part of the first rolling plan of the 13th Malaysia Plan. […]

Manhattan Associates Unveils Manhattan Marketplace™, a Shared Engine for Supply Chain and Commerce AI Innovation

SYDNEY, June 25  --  Manhattan Associates Inc. (Nasdaq: MANH), the global leader in native AI-empowered supply chain commerce solutions, today announced a major addition to ActivePlatform™: Manhattan Marketplace, a shared ecosystem where customers and partners discover and deploy intelligent agents, extensions, and accelerators for Manhattan's Active solutions. All agents and extensions published to the Marketplace run natively on ActivePlatform, inheriting the same deterministic spine and operational guardrails as our core software. By leveraging Agent Foundry™, our partners can build intelligent solutions that connect directly into our ecosystem, ensuring seamless interoperability and agentic innovation without the need for complex, resource-heavy integration projects. This creates a unified, open space where customers can discover partner-built extensions that target specific industries, workflows, and regions. "Innovation is no longer a solo effort; it is about bringing the collective brilliance of our entire community into one shared, secure environment," said Sanjeev Siotia, executive vice president and chief technology officer at Manhattan Associates. "Manhattan Marketplace is the engine for that collaboration - enabling our partners and customers to build on the same foundation and benefit from each other's best ideas. It is designed to help our ecosystem accelerate speed-to-value while tapping into a broader, shared community of innovation." "We're excited about the flexibility and innovation potential that Manhattan's AI Agents, Agent Foundry, and Marketplace ecosystem bring to the market. As customers continue looking for faster ways to enhance and extend their operational environments, we see significant opportunity to leverage the Marketplace to deliver practical, customer-specific solutions that accelerate execution and create measurable business value," said Sandeep Patel, Co-Founder, Veridian. Manhattan's platform has always been rooted in absolute openness, and the Marketplace extends this principle into the AI era. This unified ecosystem ensures that Manhattan, its partners, and its customers all build agents on common, deterministic ground. Partners are already developing for the Marketplace, and customers will gain access to it in upcoming quarters, with additional content and capabilities added over time. ABOUT MANHATTAN ASSOCIATES Manhattan Associates is a global technology leader, providing supply chain and omnichannel commerce solutions with unmatched AI capabilities. We design, build and offer best-in-class, AI-powered, cloud-based solutions that drive resilience and efficiency for businesses. We enable enterprises to uniquely unify front-end sales with back-end supply chain execution. Our commitment to innovation, cloud-native platform and API-first architecture create simpler experiences and faster paths to value for our customers. We empower them to preempt and react to emerging trends and global disruptions with technical expertise and operational confidence, transforming challenges into competitive advantage. For more information, please visit www.manh.com. -- PRNewswire -- Source: Manhattan Associates Inc. 

SYDNEY, June 25  —  Manhattan Associates Inc. (Nasdaq: MANH), the global leader in native AI-empowered supply chain commerce solutions, today announced a major addition to ActivePlatform™: Manhattan Marketplace, a shared ecosystem where customers and partners discover and deploy intelligent agents, extensions, and accelerators for Manhattan’s Active solutions. All agents and extensions published to the Marketplace run natively on ActivePlatform, […]

Xinhua Silk Road: “AI+mulberry silk” paves new road to prosperity in S China’s Guangxi

BEIJING, June 25, 2026  -- Detecting an abnormally high indoor temperature, the AI-enabled online platform installed on the cellphone of Wei Qingyi, head of a silkworm-raising cooperative in south China, suggested automatic ventilation for his smart cocooneries.  Instead of traditional bamboo strip-woven silkworm trays and shelves, automatic feeding lines, sensors and high-definition cameras are a common sight in cocooneries in Yizhou District of Hechi City in Guangxi Zhuang Autonomous Region. In the face of an increasing lack in labor but imperative need for industry upgrade, the district leveraged AI to turn the past labor-intensive local silkworm industry into a smart agricultural sector. For instance, Yizhou recreated the entire procedure of local silkworm raising via "AI+the Internet of Things", allowing data to become new agricultural resource and cellphones the new farm tools. With a big data-based cloud computing platform, the large silkworm production area in China further enhanced smart silkworm raising through automatic temperature and humidity monitoring and feeding as well. Via a smart monitoring and alerting network, local short-term and mid-term forecast accuracy rates for significant silkworm diseases usually exceed 90 percent and 80 percent respectively. In local cocooneries, a set of full-process digitized operations enabled by smart clustering, cocoon baking, feeding and disinfection equipment helps the district elevate rate of quality cocoons to 95 percent. As the "Jianyitong" comprehensive service platform that integrates big data, AI and blockchain technologies offers one-stop services including silkworm cocoon trading, settlement, price trend, related production materials supply and lending, local silkworm farmers are no longer worried about underpriced sales. Local silk businesses thus boast stabler channels for quality raw materials purchase, enabling them to build a closed industry chain loop. Thanks to their supreme quality, local raw silks have become the designated raw materials for western luxury brands including Louis Vuitton, Hermes and Chanel, and clothes made of local silk fabrics are regularly exhibited at large international events. Apart from "smartness" and extended silkworm raising industrial chains, an integrated industrial ecology encompassing production, processing, sci-tech, cultural tourism, and ecology has taken shape in Yizhou. Using AI to optimize production and other procedures, local derivative industries such as natural medicines and silk culture tourism largely enlivened local economy, with the output value of mulberry twig alkaloids tablet surpassing 130 million yuan in 2025. Original link: https://en.imsilkroad.com/p/351087.html -- PRNewswire  -- Source: Xinhua Silk Road 

BEIJING, June 25, 2026  — Detecting an abnormally high indoor temperature, the AI-enabled online platform installed on the cellphone of Wei Qingyi, head of a silkworm-raising cooperative in south China, suggested automatic ventilation for his smart cocooneries. Instead of traditional bamboo strip-woven silkworm trays and shelves, automatic feeding lines, sensors and high-definition cameras are a common […]

Chasing Football Summer: Trip.com Data Reveals Socceroos Fans Sparking Massive North American Travel Surge

SYDNEY, June 25 -- The excitement of the world's biggest football tournament has officially gripped Australia's sporting community. With host cities buzzing with record-breaking crowds and intense competition on the pitch, the energy surrounding the tournament is also driving a major surge in international travel.  Recent booking data from October 2025 to May 2026 by Trip.com, a leading global travel service provider, highlights that the total global order volume to host cities during the Group Stage (11 to 27 June) increased by almost 70% year-on-year, heavily outpacing the growth during the Knockout Rounds (4 to 19 July). The front-loaded momentum among Socceroos fans is even more pronounced. Total order volume from Australia to host cities during the Group Stage has skyrocketed by 98.5% year-on-year, compared with growth of just over 5% during the Knockout Rounds. The data suggests travel demand is being driven primarily by Aussie fans wanting to experience the opening stages of the tournament and support their national teams in person, rather than by traditional mid-year holiday travel patterns. Fans Planning Ahead for Football Pilgrimage The sheer scale of these long-haul trips is heavily reflected in booking lead times. For Australian travellers, securing a front-row seat required serious forward planning; those heading to the Group Stage booked flights 124 days in advance on average, while those planning for the Knockout Rounds booked even earlier, averaging a 143-day lead time. This intense wave of advance planning is creating standout growth stories across host destinations. In Mexico, some host cities have recorded hotel demand increases of more than 4,000% year-on-year during the opening weeks of the tournament before moderating in July.         Los Angeles and Vancouver Lead Aussie Arrivals To establish their tournament bases, Australian travellers are overwhelmingly choosing major North American gateway cities with strong trans-Pacific flight connectivity and convenient access to multiple host destinations. Trip.com flight booking data ranks Los Angeles as the most popular arrival city for Australian fans, followed by Vancouver, New York, San Francisco and Toronto. Los Angeles and Vancouver maintain their top positions throughout both the Group Stage and Knockout Rounds, serving as attractive starting points for fans navigating the tournament across the three host countries. Aussie Travellers Embrace Multi-City Travel A clear global trend defining this tournament is the rise of "fixture-following" behaviour, with supporters mapping out their journeys around the specific regions where their teams play. Once on the ground, this behaviour translates into a unique appetite for multi-city travel among Australian fans.        During the Group Stage, 14% of Australian users booked multi-city itineraries, one of the highest globally. Unlike many other international markets, where multi-city travel declines during the Knockout Rounds, Australian travellers maintained this behaviour, with the share rising slightly to 14.9%. Popular combinations include Los Angeles and New York, Los Angeles and San Francisco, and cross-border itineraries linking Los Angeles and Vancouver. This trend highlights a distinct long-haul travel mindset: Australian fans are not just attending matches—they are turning the tournament into a broader North American travel experience. About Trip.com Trip.com is an international one-stop travel service provider, available in 27 languages across 48 countries and regions in 44 local currencies. Offering an extensive hotel and flight network of more than 1.7 million hotels and flights from over 680 airlines, along with over 350,000 in-destination activities, Trip.com covers 3,500 airports in 220 countries and regions. Trip.com's world-class 24/7 multilingual customer service helps to 'create the best travel experience' for its millions of customers worldwide. To book your next trip, visit Trip.com. SYDNEY, June 25 -- The excitement of the world's biggest football tournament has officially gripped Australia's sporting community. With host cities buzzing with record-breaking crowds and intense competition on the pitch, the energy surrounding the tournament is also driving a major surge in international travel.  Recent booking data from October 2025 to May 2026 by Trip.com, a leading global travel service provider, highlights that the total global order volume to host cities during the Group Stage (11 to 27 June) increased by almost 70% year-on-year, heavily outpacing the growth during the Knockout Rounds (4 to 19 July). The front-loaded momentum among Socceroos fans is even more pronounced. Total order volume from Australia to host cities during the Group Stage has skyrocketed by 98.5% year-on-year, compared with growth of just over 5% during the Knockout Rounds. The data suggests travel demand is being driven primarily by Aussie fans wanting to experience the opening stages of the tournament and support their national teams in person, rather than by traditional mid-year holiday travel patterns. Fans Planning Ahead for Football Pilgrimage The sheer scale of these long-haul trips is heavily reflected in booking lead times. For Australian travellers, securing a front-row seat required serious forward planning; those heading to the Group Stage booked flights 124 days in advance on average, while those planning for the Knockout Rounds booked even earlier, averaging a 143-day lead time. This intense wave of advance planning is creating standout growth stories across host destinations. In Mexico, some host cities have recorded hotel demand increases of more than 4,000% year-on-year during the opening weeks of the tournament before moderating in July.         Los Angeles and Vancouver Lead Aussie Arrivals To establish their tournament bases, Australian travellers are overwhelmingly choosing major North American gateway cities with strong trans-Pacific flight connectivity and convenient access to multiple host destinations. Trip.com flight booking data ranks Los Angeles as the most popular arrival city for Australian fans, followed by Vancouver, New York, San Francisco and Toronto. Los Angeles and Vancouver maintain their top positions throughout both the Group Stage and Knockout Rounds, serving as attractive starting points for fans navigating the tournament across the three host countries. Aussie Travellers Embrace Multi-City Travel A clear global trend defining this tournament is the rise of "fixture-following" behaviour, with supporters mapping out their journeys around the specific regions where their teams play. Once on the ground, this behaviour translates into a unique appetite for multi-city travel among Australian fans.        During the Group Stage, 14% of Australian users booked multi-city itineraries, one of the highest globally. Unlike many other international markets, where multi-city travel declines during the Knockout Rounds, Australian travellers maintained this behaviour, with the share rising slightly to 14.9%. Popular combinations include Los Angeles and New York, Los Angeles and San Francisco, and cross-border itineraries linking Los Angeles and Vancouver. This trend highlights a distinct long-haul travel mindset: Australian fans are not just attending matches—they are turning the tournament into a broader North American travel experience. About Trip.com Trip.com is an international one-stop travel service provider, available in 27 languages across 48 countries and regions in 44 local currencies. Offering an extensive hotel and flight network of more than 1.7 million hotels and flights from over 680 airlines, along with over 350,000 in-destination activities, Trip.com covers 3,500 airports in 220 countries and regions. Trip.com's world-class 24/7 multilingual customer service helps to 'create the best travel experience' for its millions of customers worldwide. To book your next trip, visit Trip.com. -- PRNewswire -- Source: Trip.com  -- PRNewswire -- Source: Trip.com 

SYDNEY, June 25 — The excitement of the world’s biggest football tournament has officially gripped Australia’s sporting community. With host cities buzzing with record-breaking crowds and intense competition on the pitch, the energy surrounding the tournament is also driving a major surge in international travel. Recent booking data from October 2025 to May 2026 by Trip.com, a […]

Johor Polls: 15 Bersama Candidates To Declare Assets Via Statutory Declaration

JOHOR BAHRU, June 25 -- All 15 Parti Bersama Malaysia (Bersama) candidates in the upcoming Johor state election will declare their assets, income, and expenditures via Statutory Declarations (SDs). Bersama, in a statement today, said the candidates would also sign four statutory undertakings and a conditional letter of resignation, including an agreement to a RM2 million penalty bond if they breach the anti-party-hopping pledge. "Details of the assets, debts, income, and expenditure of each candidate will be uploaded to the Bersama website for public access starting at 10 pm tomorrow," the statement read. In addition to the candidates' asset declarations, the party will submit its expenditure statement and campaign funding sources for the Johor polls after the campaigning period ends. Meanwhile, Bersama said the candidate announcement ceremony will be held at 8 pm tomorrow at the Paragon Market Place car park here. The Election Commission (EC) has fixed July 11 as the polling day for the Johor state election, with nominations on June 27 and early voting on July 7. -- BERNAMA

JOHOR BAHRU, June 25 — All 15 Parti Bersama Malaysia (Bersama) candidates in the upcoming Johor state election will declare their assets, income, and expenditures via Statutory Declarations (SDs). Bersama, in a statement today, said the candidates would also sign four statutory undertakings and a conditional letter of resignation, including an agreement to a RM2 […]

Puad Quit UMNO After Son Not Named As Rengit Candidate – Asyraf Wajdi

JOHOR BAHRU, June 25 (Bernama) -- UMNO Supreme Council member Datuk Dr Mohd Puad Zarkashi's decision to leave the party stemmed from dissatisfaction over his son not being considered as a candidate for the Rengit state seat, according to UMNO secretary-general Datuk Dr Asyraf Wajdi Dusuki. Revealing the matter in a Facebook post, Asyraf Wajdi also described Mohd Puad's allegation that the Johor palace controlled Johor UMNO and had ordered the dissolution of the State Legislative Assembly (DUN) as slander. He claimed Mohd Puad had previously threatened to criticise the party and quit UMNO if the party leadership did not accede to his request. “He wrote to me at length, threatening to quit the party and attack UMNO if the party leadership did not consider his son as a candidate for the Rengit seat. “It is true that his son is young and has considerable potential to be groomed as a future leader. However, the party must take many factors into account when selecting candidates for an election,” he said. Asyraf Wajdi further claimed that Mohd Puad had made a similar threat during the presidency of Datuk Seri Najib Tun Razak, warning that he would leave UMNO if he were not renominated as the Member of Parliament for Batu Pahat. Asyraf Wajdi stressed that UMNO is not a hereditary political party that prioritises family members or relatives for leadership positions. “The party's struggle is far greater than personal interests, family demands or individual disappointment. UMNO has contributed significantly by providing opportunities, positions and a platform for many leaders to serve and build their reputation. “It is therefore inappropriate for the party to be threatened and attacked simply because personal wishes were not fulfilled,” he said. Asyraf Wajdi said UMNO must remain steadfast as a party championing race, religion and the nation, and should not bow to pressure from any individual. Earlier today, Mohd Puad announced on Facebook that he was resigning from UMNO with immediate effect, saying the decision was made voluntarily and would allow him to express his views more freely. Following the dissolution of the State Legislative Assembly on June 1, the Election Commission has set June 27 as nomination day for the Johor state election, while polling will be held on July 11. -- BERNAMA

JOHOR BAHRU, June 25 — UMNO Supreme Council member Datuk Dr Mohd Puad Zarkashi’s decision to leave the party stemmed from dissatisfaction over his son not being considered as a candidate for the Rengit state seat, according to UMNO secretary-general Datuk Dr Asyraf Wajdi Dusuki. Revealing the matter in a Facebook post, Asyraf Wajdi also […]