<div class=newsTextDataWrapInner>SINGAPORE (Jan 9): Nursing operator Econ Healthcare (Asia) has loaded up on shares of Crosstec Group Holdings, spending a total of some S$4 million to buy 11.8 million shares of the Hong Kong-listed interior design firm that focuses on the luxury market.</div>

<div class=newsTextDataWrapInner>Econ Healthcare first paid S$1.99 million for 6.8 million Crosstec shares on Dec 30 last year, or 29.26 (Singaporean) cents each. It paid another S$2 million for<a href="https://www.theedgesingapore.com/news/company-news/econ-healthcare-spends-4-million-buy-shares-hong-kong-listed-interior-design-firm" target="_blank">...(click on link for full story on theedgesingapore.com)</a></div>
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SINGAPORE (Jan 9): Nursing operator Econ Healthcare (Asia) has loaded up on shares of Crosstec Group Holdings, spending a total of some S$4 million to buy 11.8 million shares of the Hong Kong-listed interior design firm that focuses on the luxury market.

Econ Healthcare spends S$4 mil to buy shares of Hong Kong listed interior design firm Crosstec

The retail prices for RON97 and RON95 petrol will remain unchanged at RM3.19 and RM2.05 per litre respectively, from Dec 5 to 11.

Fuel prices unchanged till Dec 11

Cash-rich Apollo Food Holdings Bhd’s (KL:APOLLO) net profit grew 6.7% year-on-year for the second quarter, supported by higher domestic and export sales.

Apollo Food declares 30 sen dividend; net profit up 6.7% in 2QFY2025 

General Motors GM told shareholders on Wednesday that it would record two non-cash charges totalling more than US$5 billion (RM22.2 billion) on its joint venture in China, one related to the restructuring of the operation and another reflecting its reduced value.

GM to take more than US$5b in charges on China operations

One of the partners at Zaid Ibrahim, Suflan TH Liew and Partners (ZIST) has related how difficult it was for the firm to work with Messrs Shafee & Co when dealing with Datuk Seri Najib Razak’s final appeal in the SRC International Sdn Bhd case at the Federal Court two years ago, including problems with obtaining the full documentation needed to prepare for Najib's appeal.

Lawyer relates how difficult it was to get documents from Shafee & Co to mount Najib's final appeal  

Another advocacy group, representing a coalition of media organisations, journalists and civil society advocates, has stated its opposition against the government's proposed amendments to media-related laws, claiming that the changes pose a serious threat to press freedom, freedom of expression and democratic governance in Malaysia.

Govt's proposed amendments a threat to press freedom in Malaysia — media coalition

TMC Life Sciences Bhd (KL:TMCLIFE) said its suspended CEO, Wan Nadiah Wan Mohd Abdullah Yaakob, has been found guilty of misconduct following a domestic inquiry.

“Pursuant to the said domestic inquiry and upon deliberation by the independent domestic inquiry panel, Puan Nadiah has been found guilty of all five charges of misconduct levelled against her,” TMC told Bursa Malaysia on Wednesday.

TMC Life Sciences CEO Wan Nadiah found guilty of misconduct after domestic inquiry

Volkswagen's CEO and labour boss clashed during a staff meeting on Wednesday, with management pushing for major cuts while workers warned of more strikes as long as plant closures remain part of wage negotiations at the embattled German automaker.

VW CEO clashes with workers as conflict over closures, pay deepens

Northvolt has held talks with a big industrial company on selling the business that makes electric battery packs for heavy industry, as a lack of funds forces it to try to divest one of its few profitable operations by the year-end, an internal memo shows.

Northvolt seeks to sell electric industrial battery business by year-end

The unemployed are having a harder time finding jobs in the US, a trend that’s casting a shadow over other statistics showing a resilient labor market with few outward signs of trouble.

It’s taking longer to find a new job in the US

Asia-Pacific (Apac) organisations are expecting artificial intelligence (AI) to deliver longer-term benefits for their business in areas such as innovation or revenue generation, according to a recent study commissioned by IBM entitled “APAC AI Outlook 2025”.

IBM forecasts AI transition from experimentation to revenue generation in 2025

A Singaporean couple wanted in connection with a corruption case in Singapore, and who had been on the run for 19 years, were arrested by the Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission (MACC) on Tuesday.

MACC arrests Singaporean couple who spent 19 years on the run

Shares of Pentamaster Corporation Bhd (KL:PENTA) shot up as much as 22.6% to RM4.23 — a three-month&nbsp;high — after its 63.9%-owned subsidiary Pentamaster International Ltd voluntarily suspended trading of its shares on the Hong Kong Stock Exchange.&nbsp;

Pentamaster shares jump 23% on trading halt of HK unit

Intel has started evaluating a handful of outsiders, including former board member Lip-Bu Tan, for the role of its chief executive officer, after the struggling American chipmaking icon&nbsp;ousted company veteran Pat Gelsinger, according to people familiar with the matter.

Intel evaluating outsiders for CEO role, including M'sia-born ex-board member Lip-Bu Tan — Reuters

KUALA LUMPUR (Dec 4): Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim announced that the signing of the Johor-Singapore Special Economic Zone (JS-SEZ) agreement on Dec 9 this year, has been postponed to likely January 2025.

PM: Signing of Johor SEZ agreement with Singapore likely postponed to January next year

KUALA LUMPUR (Dec 4): Tan Sri Halim Saad has been cleared by the Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission (MACC) in a probe concerning a RM2.3 billion transaction involving a&nbsp;listed company in the 1990s, according to a statement&nbsp;released by the tycoon to the media on Wednesday.

Halim Saad says he is cleared in MACC probe on RM2.3b transaction from over two decades ago

The construction sector in Malaysia is set to achieve its strongest year since 2016, driven by a surge in project roll-outs from both the public and private sectors, analysts from RHB said.

Construction sector on track for best year since 2016 — RHB

Teleport, the logistics arm of Capital A Bhd (KL:CAPITALA), is expected to close its financial year ending Dec 31, 2024 (FY2024) with a record-high annual revenue of more than RM1 billion, according to its chief executive officer&nbsp;Pete Chareonwongsak.&nbsp;

Capital A’s Teleport set for record FY2024 revenue as daily parcels volume soars

The Employees Provident Fund (EPF) has emerged as a substantial shareholder in Mega First Corporation Bhd (KL:MFCB), after raising its direct stake in the utility conglomerate company to 5.99%, comprising 56.54 million shares.

EPF now owns 5.99% stake in Mega First

Shares of JF Technology Bhd (KL:JFTECH) rose as much as 12 sen or 22.64% from their four-year lows, on news that the company will begin US sales from January 2025 by leveraging the distribution network of US-based Ironwood Electronics.

JF Tech shares break out from four-year lows on US sales prospects

Former prime minister Datuk Seri Najib Razak has denied ever telling then second finance minister Datuk Seri Ahmad Husni Hanadzlah to “not interfere” in matters of 1Malaysia Development Bhd (1MDB), refuting Husni’s claims that he had advised Najib against a US$1 billion joint venture (JV) with PetroSaudi International (PSI).

1MDB-Tanore: Najib expresses disappointment in former second finance minister Husni's testimony against him

Jailed former prime minister Datuk Seri Najib Razak denied on Wednesday he had any personal interests in the PetroSaudi International Ltd (PSI) joint venture (JV), maintaining that what was done in 2009 was for national interests.

Najib: I don’t have personal interests in PSI deals, quizzed Bakke and board over opening of JV account before approval

Analysts are looking past VS Industry Bhd’s (KL:VS) weak first-quarter results, amid expectations of new sales orders, on top of the RM1.2 billion worth of orders at hand currently.

Analysts look past VS Industry’s 1Q miss on optimism towards new orders

KUALA LUMPUR (Dec 4): The recent Swiss court decision against PetroSaudi International Ltd (PSI) executives over the 1Malaysia Development Bhd (1MDB) scandal clearly shows that former prime minister Datuk Seri Najib Razak was not implicated in the misappropriation of funds, the court heard on Wednesday.

1MDB-Tanore: Najib cites Swiss judgement against PSI execs, says he is not implicated in fund misappropriation

Mitsubishi Corp&nbsp;said it had suffered a loss of more than US$90 million (RM400.77 million) in China, after uncovering suspected fraud by one of its copper traders.

Mitsubishi Corp loses US$90m in suspected copper fraud in China

KUALA LUMPUR (Dec 4): Garment manufacturer Magni-Tech Industries Bhd’s (KL:MAGNI) shares jumped in early trade on Thursday, after its second quarterly results came largely within analysts’ expectations.

Magni-Tech shares jump in early trade on special dividends after 2Q came within expectations

Former prime minister Datuk Seri Najib Razak said that Datuk Shahrol Azral Ibrahim Halmi should be facing criminal charges like he is, instead of being the star prosecution witness in the 1Malaysia Development Bhd-Tanore (1MDB-Tanore) trial, as Shahrol, as the then chief executive officer of 1MDB, was the one who took steps to transfer US$700 million in 1MDB funds to a sham entity.

Najib: Shahrol too should be in the dock for 1MDB-Tanore

Perusahaan Otomobil Kedua Sdn Bhd (Perodua) aims&nbsp;to produce 500 units per month of an electric vehicle (EV) called eMO-II starting next year.

Perodua set to produce 500 units of eMO-II monthly, aims for cheapest EV

Former prime minister Datuk Seri Najib Razak has once again alluded to the fabrication of his signature in 1Malaysia Development Bhd (1MDB)-related documents implicating him in the multibillion-dollar scandal.

1MDB-Tanore: Najib denies signature in documents, says there's no BOA meeting with Shahrol

Cryptocurrency speculators kept Bitcoin in sight of the landmark US$100,000 (RM444,292) level in anticipation of further steps to support the sector by US President-elect Donald Trump.

Bitcoin churns near US$97,000 as crypto awaits Trump’s next step

A slew of automotive companies across Europe have announced plant closures and big layoffs recently as they struggle with weak demand, high costs, competition from China and a slower-than-expected transition to electric vehicles.