<div class=newsTextDataWrapInner><p>KUALA LUMPUR (Dec 12): A total of 22,772,882 individuals or 97.3% of the adult population in the country have completed their Covid-19 vaccination as of Saturday (Dec 11).</p></div>

<div class=newsTextDataWrapInner><p>Based on the Health Ministry’s COVIDNOW portal, 98.7% of the adult population, or 23,094,811 individuals have received at least one dose of the vaccine.</p></div>

<div class=newsTextDataWrapInner><p>Meanwhile, 89.7% of the adolescent population, or 2,824,847 individuals aged between 12 and 17 have received at least one dose of the vaccine, while 86.5% or 2,723,137 individuals in the group have completed the vaccination.</p></div><div class=inPageAd id=div-gpt-ad-inpage></div>

<div class=newsTextDataWrapInner><p>A total of 70,382 doses of the vaccine were dispensed on Saturday, with 1,407 as first dose, 2,353 as second dose and 66,622 as booster dose.</p></div>

<div class=newsTextDataWrapInner><p>This brings to a total of 54,820,915 doses of the vaccine, including 3,597,902 booster doses&nbsp;having been administered under the National Covid-19 Immunisation Programme (PICK).</p></div>


KUALA LUMPUR (Dec 12): A total of 22,772,882 individuals or 97.3% of the adult population in the country have completed their Covid-19 vaccination as of Saturday (Dec 11).

Based on the Health Ministry’s COVIDNOW portal, 98.7% of the adult population, or 23,094,811 individuals have received at least one dose of the vaccine.

Covid-19: 97.3% of adults in Malaysia fully vaccinated as of Dec 11

Pahang Islamic Affairs, Rural Development, and Orang Asli Affairs Committee chairman Datuk Seri Syed Ibrahim Syed Ahmad has confirmed that a video alleging the allocation of durian plantation land in Pahang to retired soldiers is fake.

Video alleging durian land allocation is actually Skim Tanah Rakyat land rights handover, says Pahang MP's rep

The launch of a new direct route from Chennai to Penang, via IndiGo, commencing on Saturday, marks a significant milestone in enhancing connectivity, generating economic opportunities, and solidifying Penang’s position as a regional air travel hub.

Direct route from Chennai elevates Penang as key regional air travel hub, says exco

The world’s biggest stablecoin issuer, Tether Holdings Ltd, is on track to close the year with more than US$10 billion (RM45.07 billion) in net profits, chief executive officer Paolo Ardoino said in an interview.

World’s largest stablecoin issuer Tether sees US$10b in net profits for 2024

BNP Paribas SA finalised the €5.1 billion (US$5.3 billion or RM24.0 billion) purchase of Axa SA’s asset management unit, in the biggest acquisition under chief executive officer Jean-Laurent Bonnafe.

BNP Paribas signs €5.1b deal to buy Axa’s asset manager

At least five people were killed in a car-ramming attack at a German Christmas market in the city of Magdeburg that also left more than 200 injured, officials said, and a Saudi man was arrested on suspicion of driving a car into the crowd.

Death toll in German Christmas market car-ramming rises to five, more than 200 injured

UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer’s pursuit of closer ties with China has raised private questions from Donald Trump’s incoming administration, European diplomats and even some senior British officials.

UK's Starmer is deepening China ties while allies turn away

The US Congress passed spending legislation early on Saturday in a down-to-the wire burst of activity that will avert a destabilising government shutdown ahead of the busy holiday travel season.

US Senate passes govt funding bill, averts shutdown

Honda and Nissan are considering producing vehicles in one another's factories as part of their plan to deepen ties and potentially merge, Japan's Kyodo news agency said on Saturday.

Honda and Nissan mulling mutual production of vehicles, Kyodo reports

The Cabinet draft paper on the separation of powers between the attorney general (AG) and the public prosecutor (PP) is expected to be ready by the middle of next year, said Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim.

Draft paper on separation of AG powers expected to be ready by mid-2025 — PM

The government will continue its Special Appreciation for Pensioners (PKKP) initiative, aimed at supporting affected pensioners and derivative pension recipients, to ensure the welfare of this group is well taken care of.

Govt to continue special appreciation for pensioners — PM

<p>Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim has assured that an amicable solution will be taken to address the ongoing dispute between&nbsp;Petroliam Nasional Bhd (Petronas) and Sarawak's state-owned oil and gas (O&amp;G) company Petroleum Sarawak Bhd (Petros) over the distribution of natural gas in Sarawak.</p>


PM: Amicable solution in the works for Petronas-Petros dispute over natural gas distribution

<p>The Malaysia Competition Commission (MyCC) has warned that it will take a firm stance against associations that openly announce price hikes, minimum pricing or new trading conditions, particularly through the media.</p>


MyCC warns stern action against cartel activities by associations

<p>The US&nbsp;Congress passed spending legislation early on Saturday in a down-to-the wire burst of activity that will avert a destabilising government shutdown ahead of the busy holiday travel season.</p>


<p>Singapore’s main stock index is on track to have its best annual performance since 2017, but any celebrations over the Straits Times Index’s 15% gain so far this year are likely to be overshadowed by doubts about what lies ahead.&nbsp;</p>


Singapore stocks’ best year since 2017 masks downbeat outlook

<p>Alphabet Inc’s Google called a US Justice Department (DOJ) plan to force it to sell its web browser “extreme” and at odds with the law, urging a Federal Court judge to take caution lest he stifle innovation and future investment.</p>


Google blasts Chrome sale as ‘extreme’ remedy at odds with law

<p>At least five people were killed in a car-ramming attack at a German Christmas market in the city of Magdeburg that also left more than 200 injured, officials said, and a Saudi man was arrested on suspicion of driving a car into the crowd.</p>


<p>At first glance,&nbsp;Sony Group Corp’s US$1.2 billion (RM5.4&nbsp;billion) acquisition of the anime streaming site Crunchyroll in 2021 looks like a success. Subscribers to the US$8-a-month service have tripled to 15 million since then, and the number of new shows has doubled to more than 50 every quarter.</p>


Sony's Crunchyroll finds its early lead in anime under attack

<p>Volkswagen AG (VW) reached an agreement with labour leaders to cut capacity at its namesake brand while avoiding factory closures, capping three months of tense negotiations and preventing further union walkouts.</p>


VW, union agree to cut capacity and keep German plants open

<p>The government will continue its Special Appreciation for Pensioners (PKKP) initiative, aimed at supporting affected pensioners and derivative pension recipients, to ensure the welfare of this group is well taken care of.</p>


<p>The launch of a new direct route from Chennai to Penang, via IndiGo, commencing on Saturday, marks a significant milestone in enhancing connectivity, generating economic opportunities, and solidifying Penang’s position as a regional air travel hub.</p>


<p>Honda and&nbsp;Nissan are considering producing vehicles in one another's factories as part of their plan to&nbsp;deepen ties&nbsp;and potentially merge, Japan's <em>Kyodo </em>news agency said on Saturday.</p>


<p>Thunderstorms, heavy rain and strong winds are expected in&nbsp;Perak, Kelantan, Terengganu, Pahang, Selangor and&nbsp;Johor until 4pm on Saturday.</p>


Thunderstorms in six states until 4pm on Saturday — MetMalaysia

<p>Qualcomm Inc prevailed at trial against Arm Holdings plc’s claim that it breached a licence for chip technology that the world’s largest maker of mobile-phone processors acquired when it bought a startup in 2021.&nbsp;</p>


Qualcomm defeats Arm’s claim over chip design licence breach

<p>The election of Donald Trump will usher in a wave of private-company purchases that had previously been slowed by red tape, investor Cathie Wood said in an interview, in which she also reiterated her ultra-bullish view on bitcoin.</p>


Cathie Wood predicts wave of startup M&A after Trump election, ultra-bullish on bitcoin

<p>UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer’s pursuit of closer ties with China has raised private questions from Donald Trump’s incoming administration, European diplomats and even some senior British officials.</p>


<p>With Donald Trump set to return to the White House in January, Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim has expressed confidence in Malaysia’s ability to safeguard its foreign policy and economic priorities amid&nbsp;evolving global dynamics.</p>


Malaysia to adapt to Trump era, says Anwar

<p>Hong Leong Investment Bank (HLIB) expects inflation to rise in 2025, driven by domestic policy reforms such as RON95 fuel subsidy rationalisation and an expanded sales and service&nbsp;tax (SST) scope. &nbsp;</p>


HLIB sees higher inflation in 2025 on RON95 subsidy rationalisation, expanded SST scope

<p>Nippon&nbsp;Steel alleges the White House had "impermissible undue influence" over a national security review of its US$14.9 billion (RM67.2&nbsp;billion) bid for US&nbsp;Steel and threatened legal action if the deal is blocked.</p>


Nippon Steel alleges undue White House influence on doomed US Steel deal review, letter says

<p>OpenAI is preparing to launch a new artificial intelligence (AI) model that it said is capable of more advanced human-like reasoning than its current offerings, ratcheting up the competition with rivals such as Alphabet Inc’s Google.</p>


OpenAI unveils more advanced reasoning model in race with Google

<p>The Johor government has completed seven housing projects, categorised as ‘sick’ and abandoned, this year, representing an estimated property value of about RM700 million.</p>
