<div class=newsTextDataWrapInner>KUALA LUMPUR (Dec 11): Prime Minister Datuk Seri Ismail Sabri Yaakob&nbsp;congratulated Sultan of Selangor&nbsp;Sultan Sharafuddin Idris Shah on his 76th birthday on Saturday (Dec 11).</div>

<div class=newsTextDataWrapInner>“Heartiest congratulations in conjunction with the 76th birthday of His Royal Highness Sultan Sharafuddin Idris Shah Alhaj ibni Almarhum Sultan Salahuddin Abdul Aziz Shah Alhaj.</div>

<div class=newsTextDataWrapInner>“Wishing Duli Yang Maha Mulia Tuanku be blessed with longevity and receive blessings from Allah SWT,” Ismail Sabri said in a posting uploaded on his official Facebook page on Saturday.</div><div class=inPageAd id=div-gpt-ad-inpage></div>

<div class=newsTextDataWrapInner>In conjunction with the Sultan of Selangor’s birthday, 87 individuals received awards and medals.</div>

Prime Minister Datuk Seri Ismail Sabri Yaakob congratulated Sultan of Selangor Sultan Sharafuddin Idris Shah on his 76th birthday on Saturday (Dec 11).

PM congratulates Sultan of Selangor on his 76th birthday

Here is a brief recap of some business news and corporate announcements that made the headlines on Friday.

Petra Energy, Cuscapi, MyEG, Icon Offshore, Velocity Capital, Swift Energy

Mortgage approvals in the UK dropped to the lowest level since August, in a sign that higher borrowing costs may be starting to weigh on home-buyers’ ambitions.

Banks and building societies gave the green light to 65,720 mortgages in November, down from a revised 68,129 the previous month, according to Bank of England (BOE) data published on Friday.

UK mortgage approvals in surprise drop after Labour budget

The Royal Malaysian Police is urging the public not to participate in any rallies, ahead of one planned next Monday to show support for jailed former prime minister Datuk Seri Najib Razak, following a statement issued by the National Palace.

Police chief urges public to stay away from rallies after palace statement on pardon issue

The enforcement of the Application Service Provider Class (ASP(C)) licensing for social media platforms which requires them to register with the Malaysian Communications and Multimedia Commission (MCMC) is seen as a significant step by the government to protect users, says Kota Melaka MP Khoo Poay Tiong.

Social media licensing to boost user protection, regulation — Khoo

The Malaysian Maritime Enforcement Agency (MMEA) is intensifying patrols to intercept two boats carrying Myanmar illegal immigrants reported to be heading towards Langkawi.

MMEA intensifies patrols to intercept Myanmar immigrant boats heading towards Langkawi

US President Joe Biden officially blocked Nippon Steel's proposed US$14.9-billion (RM67.06-billion) purchase of US Steel on Friday, dealing a probably fatal blow to the contentious merger plan after a year of review.

Biden blocks sale of US Steel to Japan's Nippon Steel

Labels on alcohol products like beer and wine should carry warnings of their links to cancer, the US Surgeon General said, citing an increased risk of developing tumours in the breast and other parts of the body.

US Surgeon General calls for cancer warnings on alcohol labels

The police are tracking four men, believed to be locals, for the abduction and robbery of two tourists from China in Pekan Gohtong Jaya, Bentong, on Monday.

Police hunt four suspects in China tourists robbery case 

EVENING 5: Glove sector in for strong demand recovery

NEWS: PTT Synergy breaks ground on logistics hub

KUALA LUMPUR (Jan 2): HLIB Research, an equity research arm of Hong Leong Investment Bank, is not that upbeat about banking stocks, although the sector’s valuation is reaching its lowest point in five years.

HLIB: Be selective on bank stocks although valuation is nearing five-year low

Malaysia’s property developers may see their valuations rise further even after 2024’s strong rally, with stocks in the high-risk-high-return sector continuing to perform, said RHB Investment Bank.

Property stocks may see rising valuations as investors watch for recurring income, says RHB IB

Thailand’s Prime Minister Paetongtarn Shinawatra has declared assets worth US$400 million (RM1.8 billion), including two properties in London, investments in several companies and a collection of luxury watches and handbags.

London properties, luxury bags in Thai PM’s US$400m assets

Southern Cable Group Bhd (KL:SCGBHD) may win a contract to supply cables to the national electric utility, set to be announced within the next two months, Hong Leong Investment Bank (HLIB) flagged.

Southern Cable shares at record high; HLIB says company may win supply contract from Tenaga soon

The Malaysian glove sector is expected to experience a strong demand recovery this year, driven by inventory rebuilding, increased demand from the US due to higher tariffs on Chinese glove makers, and rising average selling prices, according to Kenanga Research, which has maintained its "overweight" stance on the sector.

Malaysia's glove sector poised for strong demand recovery in 2025 — Kenanga Research

Any prisoner seeking clemency or a reduction in one’s sentence must submit an application to the Pardons Board for consideration, the National Palace said on Friday.

Istana Negara: Prisoners seeking clemency or sentence reduction must apply to Pardons Board

Asia Internet Holdings Sdn Bhd has ceased to be a substantial shareholder in Cuscapi Bhd (KL:CUSCAPI) after paring 5.29% stake in the point-of-sale systems provider.

Asia Internet is a private vehicle of Wong Thean Soon, the managing director MyEG Services Bhd (KL:MYEG). Also known as TS Wong, he still personally holds 21.96% in Cuscapi, making him the biggest shareholder of Cuscapi.

Asia Internet, private vehicle of MyEG’s TS Wong, ceases to be substantial shareholder of Cuscapi

The family of slain Mongolian Altantuya Shaariibuu has asked the government to take action against “high ranking government officials” who were responsible for her death in 2006.

Family of slain Mongolian asks govt to quit stalling and take action

US President-elect Donald Trump called to "open up" the North Sea and get rid of windmills in a post on his social media platform Truth Social on Friday.

Trump calls to 'open up' North Sea, get rid of windmills

（吉隆坡3日讯）进入2025年，美国当选总统Donald Trump难以捉摸的行事风格，为未来一段时期埋下了不确定性。作为许多国家的主要出口目的地，美国的国际贸易政策将会影响全球经济增长。

2025年分析员推荐的心水股

KUALA LUMPUR (Jan 3): Malaysia’s manufacturing sector is expected to stabilise in 2025, despite another month of contraction in factory activity data, economists said.

Malaysia’s manufacturing sector may stabilise in 2025, economists say

Millions of government workers across China were given surprise wage increases this week, people affected by the move said, as Beijing looks to boost spending to support the slowing economy.

China gives govt workers first big pay bump in a decade to boost economy

KUALA LUMPUR (Jan 3): Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim said that Pakatan Harapan (PH) is not involved in the solidarity rally for Datuk Seri Najib&nbsp;Razak, scheduled for Monday (Jan 6).

Anwar: PH not involved in solidarity rally for Najib

Permodalan Nasional Bhd's unit, Yayasan Pelaburan Bumiputra (YPB), has now taken over the 5.02% substantial stake that Yayasan Ekuiti Nasional (YEN) held in offshore support vessel firm Icon Offshore Bhd (KL:ICON) via Ekuiti Nasional Bhd (Ekuinas).

PNB's unit Yayasan Pelaburan Bumiputra now owns Ekuinas' substantial stake in Icon Offshore

KUALA LUMPUR (Jan 3): Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim has asked the relevant parties to understand and accept the King of Malaysia’s statement regarding applications for pardon or reduction of sentence for prisoners.

Anwar: Read and accept King’s decree on prisoner pardon

US electric vehicle maker Tesla said on Friday its China sales rose 8.8% to a record high of more than 657,000 cars in 2024, a strong performance in a competitive market in a year when its annual global deliveries fell for the first time.

Tesla's China sales rise to record high in 2024, bucking global decline

SINGAPORE: The manager of Keppel DC REIT has announced it is divesting the Basis Bay Data Centre in Cyberjaya, Selangor Darul Ehsan, Malaysia, for RM55.6 million (S$16.9 million).

Keppel DC REIT divests Basis Bay Data Centre in Cyberjaya at 2.6% above valuation

BUKIT MERTAJAM (Jan 3): The study and design work for the Juru-Sungai Dua Elevated Highway project has commenced, with completion expected within a year.

Chow: Study, design work for Juru-Sungai Dua Elevated Highway underway

Petra Energy Bhd (KL:PENERGY) has secured four contracts to provide pan-Malaysia offshore services to the national oil-and-gas company Petronas and its production sharing contractors.

Petra Energy gets four pan-Malaysia services contracts

The Royal Malaysian Police is urging the public not to participate in any rallies, ahead of one planned next Monday to show support for jailed former prime minister Datuk Seri Najib Razak, following a statement issued by the National Palace.