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New Straits Times
2 days ago
- Business
- New Straits Times
Tariff, policy risks set to weigh on market in 2H25
KUALA LUMPUR: Market sentiment is expected to remain fragile heading into the second half of the year, as investors brace for a combination of external tariff risks and domestic policy shifts that could weigh on earnings and consumption. In its strategy note, CIMB Securities flagged several looming challenges that may limit upside for equities, despite supportive valuations and ample market liquidity. Chief among them is the scheduled end of the US 90-day tariff reprieve on July 9, which could see the reinstatement of elevated reciprocal tariffs between the world's two largest economies. "This adds another layer of trade friction to an already cautious global backdrop," the firm said. On the local front, investors are anticipating potential adjustments to the RON95 fuel subsidy, a move that could raise transport and logistics costs for businesses, while straining household budgets. CIMB Securities also cited the possible implementation of a higher sales and service tax and an expected increase in electricity tariffs in the second half of 2025. "Together, these measures could contribute to inflationary pressures and squeeze corporate margins," it said. "These headwinds may erode near-term earnings visibility and investor risk appetite, even as Bursa Malaysia trades at an undemanding 12.7 times forward price-to-earnings and offers a 4.2 per cent dividend yield." While acknowledging that policy reforms are necessary for long-term fiscal consolidation and subsidy rationalisation, it said the timing and communication of such measures would be critical to avoid unsettling investors. Still, the firm noted that downside risks may be partially cushioned by strong domestic liquidity and a strengthening ringgit. Additional support could come from long-term structural initiatives such as the National Energy Transition Roadmap, the Johor-Singapore Special Economic Zone, and the New Industrial Master Plan 2030.
The Hindu
2 days ago
- Health
- The Hindu
KAHWA accuses Kerala government of being vengeful towards ASHAs
The Kerala ASHA Health Workers' Association (KAHWA) has accused the Kerala government of being vengeful towards ASHAs, close on the heels of a statement made by the Chief Minister that the government was not prepared to enter into any compromise with the ASHAs in the matter of an enhanced pay package. At a press conference here on Monday, KAHWA leaders accused the government of slashing ASHAs' honorarium of ₹7,000 by bringing in new caveats regarding incentives. They alleged that the majority of ASHAs had received only ₹3,500 in April as honorarium in place of the usual ₹7,000. They said that one of the primary demands raised by ASHAs had been that the 10 conditions linked to the full payment of the honorarium be dropped. The Health Minister, during discussions, had agreed to non-conditional payment of honorarium. However, the subsequent government order released by the government regarding the same had been ambiguous and the ASHAs had claimed that rather than drop the conditions fully, the government had tagged the same to the incentives received by ASHAs. The government had denied this allegation. KAHWA leaders said that as per the 'new' conditions, ASHAs, whose fixed incentive is ₹1,000 and whose performance incentive is less than ₹500, will henceforth receive only ₹3,500 as honorarium. Thus, many ASHAs across districts had received only ₹3,500 as the honorarium for April, they said. They demanded that the new condition, which cuts the honorarium of ASHAs, be withdrawn immediately. The KAHWA also alleged that the government, despite promises, continued to maintain an erratic schedule of payment of honorarium and incentives. By slashing the honorarium and not making payments properly, the government was trying to impose a financial squeeze on ASHAs. Indefinite strike The indefinite strike launched by ASHAs under the banner of KAHWA entered the 113th day on Monday. The KAHWA claimed that the strike was being prolonged because of the government's undemocratic, anti-labour and anti-woman stance towards ASHAs' fair demand for a better pay. Meanwhile, KAHWA members have been carrying on their Statewide tour of all districts, to generate public support towards their cause. They have toured nine districts in the past 29 days and the public outpouring of support has been immense, KAHWA leaders said. ASHAs will take out a mega rally in Thiruvananthapuram on June 18, at the conclusion of their Statewide tour.
Edmonton Journal
28-05-2025
- Sport
- Edmonton Journal
Edmonton Oilers push Dallas to the brink of elimination with 4-1 win in Game Four; Cult of Hockey Player Grades
Edmonton Oilers fans watch the team's NHL playoff game against the Dallas Stars from the Ice District in downtown Edmonton, Wednesday May 21, 2025. Photo by David Bloom Photo by David Bloom / Postmedia 'We want the cup, we want the cup…' That loud refrain thundered through a wild Rogers Place on Tuesday night as the Edmonton Oilers earned a 4-1 win in Game Four, and a 3-1 stranglehold over Dallas in the Western Conference Finals. Dallas pulled their goalie at 2:30 of the third, but the home team drilled in two to salt it away. The Oilers won Special teams (2/3 on the PP, 1/4 on the PK), goaltending (Skinner stopped 28 of 29), and a defensive blanket in the third, where one Dallas only managed one shot through eleven minutes of third, and just four overall. This advertisement has not loaded yet, but your article continues below. THIS CONTENT IS RESERVED FOR SUBSCRIBERS ONLY Subscribe now to read the latest news in your city and across Canada. Exclusive articles by David Staples, Keith Gerein and others, Oilers news from Cult of Hockey, Ask EJ Anything features, the Noon News Roundup and Under the Dome newsletters. Unlimited online access to Edmonton Journal and 15 news sites with one account. Edmonton Journal ePaper, an electronic replica of the print edition to view on any device, share and comment on. Daily puzzles, including the New York Times Crossword. Support local journalism. SUBSCRIBE TO UNLOCK MORE ARTICLES Subscribe now to read the latest news in your city and across Canada. Exclusive articles by David Staples, Keith Gerein and others, Oilers news from Cult of Hockey, Ask EJ Anything features, the Noon News Roundup and Under the Dome newsletters. Unlimited online access to Edmonton Journal and 15 news sites with one account. Edmonton Journal ePaper, an electronic replica of the print edition to view on any device, share and comment on. Daily puzzles, including the New York Times Crossword. Support local journalism. REGISTER / SIGN IN TO UNLOCK MORE ARTICLES Create an account or sign in to continue with your reading experience. Access articles from across Canada with one account. Share your thoughts and join the conversation in the comments. Enjoy additional articles per month. Get email updates from your favourite authors. THIS ARTICLE IS FREE TO READ REGISTER TO UNLOCK. Create an account or sign in to continue with your reading experience. Access articles from across Canada with one account Share your thoughts and join the conversation in the comments Enjoy additional articles per month Get email updates from your favourite authors Here's the tale of the tape… Edmonton Oilers Player Grades STUART SKINNER. 9. Strong start as Dallas was hunting out of the gate. Early pad save on Steele. Got another pad a on a Duchene opportunity after the puck had glanced off the spot. Big stop on Granlund a couple shifts later. Blocked a Matt Duchene deflection the shift after the 1-0 goal. Managed to squeeze his pads on a Ceci chance late in the first. Last second shoulder on Rantanen at the end of the first, saving seventeen in the opening frame. Stopped a couple on the second PK of the second frame but a third found it's way through traffic for the 1-1. Stuffed Rantanen with five left in the first. Eventually stopped twenty eight of twenty nine. What a roll he is on. The game's second star. CONNOR McDAVID. 8. First shift feed to Hyman for a chance. Then a couple dangerous shifts late in the first, setting up one for Bouchard then dashing to the net for one of his own. Two excellent PK shifts early in the second. Secondary assist on the 2-1 PP goal. A great, physical play on Granlund down deep on another penalty kill turn. A slick feed to Perry for a dangerous chance in the third= period. Sublime feed to Kane for a Grade 'A' late-ish in the third. Created two excellent chances early in the late third period PP. Assist on the second empty netter. Led the forwards in 5v54 CF (20-12, 63%). McDavid played over 3:00 on the penalty kill and was both dogged and effective. Get the latest headlines, breaking news and columns. By signing up you consent to receive the above newsletter from Postmedia Network Inc. Please try again This advertisement has not loaded yet, but your article continues below. RYAN NUGENT-HOPKINS. 9. He remains just red hot. A perfect give-and-go with Leon Draisaitl on the 1-0 goal. Timely second period backcheck. Just a tremendous skill play, in tight, to drag Cody Ceci and then feed Perry on the doorstep for the 2-1 PP goal. Dangerous shot to begin the third. Tenacious forecheck sequence in the Dallas end in the third. Four shots. He been playing his best hockey in two years and could not possibly have picked a better time. Named the game's First Star. ZACH HYMAN. 5. A point-blank chance early off a McDavid feed. Smart flip to clear the zone on an early PK. Went to the room part-way through the first while seemingly favouring his right arm/ after mid-ice contact with Marchment and would not return. Played just 3:11. BRETT KULAK. 7. Tremendous play to break up a long, dangerous looking Stars cycle in the first and clear the zone without taking an icing. Allowed just a single High Danger Scoring Chance against 5v5. This pairing was excellent…again! This advertisement has not loaded yet, but your article continues below. EVAN BOUCHARD. 8. A good chance from a McDavid pass late in the first. Then, broke up a developing 2-on-1 and turned it up ice to McDavid for an excellent chance. Good puck management at the point on the 2-1. Did all but score on a dominating shift in the Dallas zone late in the second. Wound his way brilliantly up the ice to hand Podkolzin a chance at the start of the third. Led the club in 5v5 CF (19-9, 68%). LEON DRAISAITL. 7. A strong zone entry around a Perry pick, then finished off a perfect give-and-go with Nugent-Hopkins with a hard one-timer that beat Oettinger low glove just inside the near post for the 1-0 icebreaker. Excellent backcheck in the second frame. Started the play on the 2-1. Blew past Lundell for a shot short side late in the second. Had a two-on-one with Henrique early in the third but his pass across got tipped away. A great defensive play deep in his own zone results in a late-game Oilers Power Play. High danger shot on the third period PP. Won a gut-check draw with the Dallas net empty in the third, deep in his own end…and earned the secondary assist in the process. Fifty percent on faceoffs. Three shots on net. This advertisement has not loaded yet, but your article continues below. VASILY PODKOLZIN. 6. Somehow picked out of a crowd and tagged with a roughing penalty late in the first. A chance off a Bouchard rush in the third. Won a hard battle along the wall to earn a clear in the third. A team high eight hits. COREY PERRY. 7. Earned the secondary assist on the 1-0 including a veteran pick at the attacking blueline. Whistled for his next pick attempt in the second, though, and Dallas made him pay on the PP with the 1-1. But helped himself in the redemption department with a deflection home on the 2-1 goal. Good chance off a McDavid pass in the third. Just missed an open-goal deflection on the last PP. Named the game's third star. JAKE WALMAN. 6. A hard shot after a good Arvidsson feed and while Oettinger juggled it, he kept it out. Went full out to intercept a two-on-one late in the second. Secondary assist on the empty netter. This advertisement has not loaded yet, but your article continues below. JOHN KLINGBERG. 5. Drew a first period PP with a hard play behind his own net. This pairing sawed it off defensively, 5v5. ADAM HENRIQUE. 6. An excellent Game Four. First period PK clear. Another early in the second. Drew a PP part way through the second. Scored the second empty netter to make it 4-1. Five shots, three hits. Struggled in the circle. +2. EVANDER KANE. 4. Went to the room early near the end of the second with an apparent neck issue. Robbed by Oettinger in the fading stages of the third. Smart decision to not touch a puck that surely would have resulted in a Too-Many-Men call late in the third. Five hits. KASPERI KAPANEN. 6. Played a heavy game, seven hits. Scored the empty netter to make it 34-1. DARNELL NURSE. 5. An important defensive play to allow a clear in the first period PK. Chased the game a bit, but mostly bent and did not break. This advertisement has not loaded yet, but your article continues below. TROY STECHER. 5. Calm, cool rebound clear from the slot part way through the second. Battled hard. MATTIAS JANMARK. 4. Good PK zone clear in the second. Whistled for a trip in the second but it was killed off. TRENT FREDERIC. 5. Picked up more ice time in the absence of Hyman. Solid defensive decisions. Six hits. Not much with the puck. VIKTOR ARVIDSSON. 6. Noticeable, in an effective way. Arvidsson hustled back for a strong backcheck and then turned the puck back up the ice for a Walman shot. Hustled back hard again to win a puck race at the buzzer in the second. Hard blast early in the third. The series now sits at… Now on Bluesky @ Also, find me on Threads @kleavins, Twitter @KurtLeavins, Instagram at LeavinsOnHockey, and Mastodon at KurtLeavins@ . This article is not AI generated. Recently, at The Cult… STAPLES: Oilers-Dallas Game Grades Game 3 LEAVINS: Oilers-Dallas Game Grades Game 2 STAPLES: Oilers-Dallas Game Grades Game 1 In memory of Bruce McCurdy, 1955-2025. Don't miss the news you need to know — add and to your bookmarks and sign up for our newsletters here . Politics Edmonton Oilers Local News Politics Cult of Hockey
West Australian
25-05-2025
- Business
- West Australian
Time to deliver on housing promises
The spotlight will be on the first budget of the newly re-elected Cook Government when it is handed down in late June. For many Western Australians, housing continues to be one of the most pressing issues which will receive funding initiatives in this budget. The squeeze of rising living costs, declining affordability and ongoing housing supply shortages are still being felt in many households across the state. To that end, UDIA WA welcomed WA Labor's housing commitments during the election campaign, many of which closely aligned with our own advocacy. Now, as we approach the first budget of the new term, we are expecting these promises to be backed with the funding needed to implement them. While the budget is likely to focus on those already-announced initiatives, there is also an opportunity to look at further initiatives to addressing the state's housing challenges. With smart, targeted investment, the State Government can partner with the private sector to deliver even more homes faster. Among the key commitments we expect to see funded is the $20.6 million to expand stamp duty exemptions for off-the-plan and under-construction homes by $100,000, including townhouses, villas and apartments. The State Government also promised $110.7 million to lift the First Home Owner Rate of duty threshold to $500,000, with discounts available for homes priced up to $700,000 in Perth and $750,000 in regional areas. We also anticipate $75 million for a Build to Rent Kickstart Fund and a $210 million boost to the Keystart shared equity scheme for up to 1000 new apartments and townhomes purchased off-the-plan or under construction, which will help deliver up to 1000 new homes for Western Australians. The $400 million Housing Enabling Infrastructure Fund is another significant initiative we fully support. Infrastructure investment is essential to unlocking housing supply and bringing new developments to life. But we can't stop there. UDIA WA is urging further funding to support the delivery of new homes and to help keep housing within reach for more people. This includes ensuring service agencies have the capital budgets they need to avoid delays to residential land development. We'd also like to see further funding allocated to build on the initial $400 million Housing Enabling Infrastructure Fund to catalyse residential development in key growth areas, as well as an extension and expansion of the existing Infrastructure Development Fund to boost the viability of apartment projects. UDIA WA has also recommended reforms to improve government efficiency and coordination in planning and approvals. Overall, this budget is an opportunity for the Cook Government to follow through and make a real difference to the future of housing in WA.
Dublin Live
20-05-2025
- Business
- Dublin Live
Ryanair plans to hike ticket prices after slump in earnings
Our community members are treated to special offers, promotions and adverts from us and our partners. You can check out at any time. More info Ryanair has warned passengers that its planning to hike ticket prices this year after it reported a 16% slump in annual earnings. In a setback for holidaymakers, Ryanair said that travellers should brace for steeper ticket prices, with rises anticipated to reach "mid-high teen percent" in comparison to last year during its first quarter. The news come a year after the Irish carrier attempted to boost passenger numbers and reserve a slump in fortunes by cutting fare prices. In July 2024, Ryanair said its average ticket dropped from €49.07 to €41.93 year on year. Additionally, the airline aims to makeup for some of the previous year's 7% fare reduction throughout the summer peak. Michael O'Leary, Ryanair's chief executive, said: "While we cautiously expect to recover most but not all of last year's 7% fare decline, which should lead to reasonable net profit growth in 2025-26, it is far too early to provide any meaningful guidance." Pre-tax profits at Ryanair fell to €1.78 billion (£1.5 billion) for the year ending March 31, down from the previous year's €2.13 billion (£1.79 billion), after bosses cut ticket prices by an average of 7% to boost traffic. Post-tax profits also took a hit, dropping by the same percentage to €1.61 billion (£1.35 billion). Despite lower fares spurring a 9% increase in passengers to 200.2 million over the year, future growth prospects are subdued, with only 3% expected in 2025-26 due to delays in Boeing aircraft deliveries. Mr O'Leary warned that the final results for 2025-26 are still highly vulnerable to unpredictable events such as tariff wars, economic turmoil, conflict escalation in Ukraine and the Middle East, or mishandling and under-staffing in European air traffic control. The group admitted that it had to resort to slashing fares last year in an attempt to increase passenger numbers, amid a squeeze on consumer spending, the timing of Easter, and a significant decline in bookings via online travel agencies. In addition, Ryanair has repeatedly reduced its passenger forecasts due to ongoing issues with Boeing aircraft. Airlines have been rocked by troubles at Boeing, which suffered a prolonged strike towards the end of last year, while the aerospace giant was forced to slow down production of its 737 Max aircraft following a door panel blowout on a commercial flight in January of the previous year. Adding to these challenges are concerns over tariffs, with Ryanair recently cautioning that aircraft deliveries may be postponed if tariffs imposed by US President Donald Trump make them more costly. One big change to service at Ryanair that was due to kick in earlier this year was a move to 100% paperless boarding passes. That was moved from March to November 2025. If the changes happen by the new date, Ryanair passengers will no longer download and print a physical paper boarding pass but will instead use the digital boarding pass generated in their "myRyanair" app during check-in. Today almost 80% of Ryanair's 200m passengers already use this digital boarding pass, the airline has said. Ryanair says it expects to eliminate almost all airport check-in fees from November 2025, as all passengers will have checked-in online/in-app to generate their digital boarding pass. It is unclear what will happen to passengers who arrive at the airport having forgotten to check-in. Join our Dublin Live breaking news service on WhatsApp. Click this link to receive your daily dose of Dublin Live content. We also treat our community members to special offers, promotions, and adverts from us and our partners. If you don't like our community, you can check out any time you like. If you're curious, you can read our Privacy Notice. For all the latest news from Dublin and surrounding areas visit our homepage.
