<div class=newsTextDataWrapInner><p>SINGAPORE (April 18): Public transport operator SMRT Corporation is making a foray into the on-demand private car hire segment, where it will compete with ride-sharing platforms Uber and Grab.</p></div>

<div class=newsTextDataWrapInner><p>SMRT's subsidiary Strides Transportation will offer limousine services, chauffeured services and car rental services. Its Lexus ES Hybrid and Toyota Vellfire fleet will cater to corporate clients, while 300 new Toyota Altis sedans will be used for chauffeured and car rental services.</p></div>

<div class=newsTextDataWrapInner><p>Strides has signed a one-year partnership with Grab's ride-booking platform GrabCar to allow 200 Strides drivers take on bookings from the app and earn performance-related incentives starting this month.</p></div><div class=inPageAd id=div-gpt-ad-inpage></div>

<div id="bt_Homepage_imu1">At 10.48am, SMRT was up 0.7% at $1.52.</div>

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SINGAPORE (April 18): Public transport operator SMRT Corporation is making a foray into the on-demand private car hire segment, where it will compete with ride-sharing platforms Uber and Grab.

SMRT's subsidiary Strides Transportation will offer limousine services, chauffeured services a...

SMRT's Strides unit ventures into private car hire business

The price of a litre of RON95 petrol will remain unchanged at RM2.05, while the retail price of RON97 will increase by three sen from RM3.22 per litre to RM3.25 per litre from Thursday to Jan 1, 2025.

RON95, diesel prices unchanged, RON97 up three sen

China stocks closed roughly flat on Wednesday, as gains in energy shares offset losses in small-cap shares, while the Hong Kong market was closed for a public holiday.

China stocks close flat, energy gains offset small-cap losses

Japan's Nikkei share average reversed early losses to end higher on Wednesday, driven by gains in the auto sector although trade was dominated by retail investors, who bought back cheap stocks in muted trade with many global markets closed for the holidays.

Japan's Nikkei reverses course, ends higher as autos rise

Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim has assured that the Madani government will provide full cooperation if efforts to locate Malaysia Airlines flight MH370 yield results.

Anwar: Govt will fully cooperate if MH370 search yields results

Johor Bahru’s property market has been on an upward trend owing to spillover effects from positive initiatives and announcements over the past few quarters, says Olive Tree Property Consultants Sdn Bhd CEO Samuel Tan when presenting The Edge Malaysia | Olive Tree Property Consultants Joh...

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Taiwan has rejected Uber Technologies Inc’s plan to acquire Delivery Hero SE’s Foodpanda local business for US$950 million (RM4.26 billion), the official Central News Agency reported.

Taiwan blocks Uber purchase of Delivery Hero’s arm — report

Private equity firms KKR and Bain Capital each offered more than US$5 billion (RM22.44 billion) in first-round bids for the non-core assets of Japan's Seven & i Holdings, according to people familiar with the matter.

KKR and Bain each bid more than US$5b for Seven & i assets — Reuters

Seafood trade is expected to be on the agenda on Wednesday as Japan's foreign minister visits China, Japan's largest export market for aquatic products until Beijing banned them in protest against Tokyo releasing treated radioactive wastewater into the ocean.

China, Japan foreign ministers meet in Beijing, seafood trade on agenda

ON Dec 7, Notre-Dame de Paris, the iconic 12th-century medieval cathedral in the French capital, reopened its doors five years after a devastating fire destroyed its roof and spire. US president-elect Donald Trump, current First Lady Jill Biden, England’s Prince William, Ukraine President Volodym...

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RADIANT Globaltech Bhd (KL:RGTECH), an ACE Market-­listed technology firm, is in the midst of acquiring an 80% stake in Rymnet Solutions Sdn Bhd for RM52.5 million. This strategic acquisition is aimed at enhancing its existing IT solutions by integrating human resources (HR) management system mod...

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<p>Honda and Nissan expect big benefits from their potential merger to create the world's third-largest auto group but intense competition from China raises questions about whether they can make it work in time.</p>


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<p>The government has initiated an administrative (sunset) review of anti-dumping duties on imports of cold rolled coils of iron, or non-alloy steel, and of width more than 1,300mm, originating or exported from China, South Korea, Japan, and Vietnam.</p>


Govt initiates sunset review of anti-dumping duties for iron or non-alloy steel cold rolled coils

<p>China refrained from cutting the interest rate and drained the most cash since 2014 with a one-year policy tool, keeping its powder dry ahead of possible escalation in trade tensions with the US next year.</p>


China keeps key rate steady as it withdraws most cash since 2014

<p>The King and Queen of Malaysia, Sultan Ibrahim Sultan Iskandar and Raja Zarith Sofiah, have extended their Christmas greetings to all Malaysians who are celebrating.</p>


King, Queen extend Christmas greetings

<p>Apple has asked to participate in Google's upcoming US antitrust trial over online search, saying it cannot rely on Google to defend revenue-sharing agreements that send the iPhone maker billions of dollars each year for making Google the default search engine on its Safari browser.</p>


Apple seeks to defend Google's billion-dollar payments in search case

<p>Private equity firms KKR and Bain Capital each offered more than US$5 billion (RM22.44 billion) in first-round bids for the non-core assets of Japan's Seven &amp; i Holdings, according to people familiar with the matter.</p>


<p>China approved a value-added tax (VAT) law on Wednesday to take effect on Jan 1, 2026, the official <em>Xinhua </em>said, bringing into one document previous regulations that have included exempting items from the tax.</p>


China approves value-added tax law, taking effect in 2026

<p>ON Dec 7, Notre-Dame de Paris, the iconic 12th-century medieval cathedral in the French capital, reopened its doors five years after a devastating fire destroyed its roof and spire. US president-elect Donald Trump, current First Lady Jill Biden, England’s Prince William, Ukraine President Volodym...

<p>South Korea's suspended President Yoon Suk Yeol did not respond on Wednesday to a second summons by anti-corruption authorities who, along with prosecutors, are investigating his short-lived martial law decree issued early this month.</p>


South Korea's Yoon defies second agency summons over martial law

<p>Taiwan has rejected Uber Technologies Inc’s plan to acquire Delivery Hero SE’s Foodpanda local business for US$950 million (RM4.26 billion), the official <em>Central News Agency</em> reported.</p>


<p>Bangladesh authorities are investigating Singaporean billionaire Saiful Alam Masud for alleged financial crimes, including money laundering, the Straits Times reported on Wednesday. He denied wrongdoing.</p>


Bangladesh probes Singaporean tycoon Saiful Alam — report

<p>President Joe Biden signed 50 bills into law on Tuesday that include making the bald eagle the country's official bird and one that stops members of Congress from collecting their pensions if convicted of crimes.</p>


Biden signs 50 bills into law, makes bald eagle the country's official bird

<p>RADIANT Globaltech Bhd (KL:RGTECH), an ACE Market-­listed technology firm, is in the midst of acquiring an 80% stake in Rymnet Solutions Sdn Bhd for RM52.5 million. This strategic acquisition is aimed at enhancing its existing IT solutions by integrating human resources (HR) management system mod...

<p>A leading indicator of Japan's service-sector inflation rose to 3.0% in November, accelerating for a second straight month, data showed on Wednesday, backing up the central bank's view that rising wages are prodding more firms to pass on higher costs.</p>


Japan corporate service inflation rises, bolsters BOJ rate-hike odds

<p>Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim has assured that the Madani government will provide full cooperation if efforts to locate Malaysia Airlines flight MH370 yield results.</p>


<p>The new geopolitics after the first Cold War undermines peace, sustainability and human development. Hegemonic priorities continue to threaten humanity’s well-being and prospects for progress.</p>

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<p>Bank of Japan (BOJ) Governor Kazuo Ueda reiterated his view that the bank needs to carefully watch various risks without signalling the likelihood of an interest rate hike next month.</p>


BOJ’s Ueda avoids giving clear hint on chances of January hike

<p>Seafood trade is expected to be on the agenda on Wednesday as Japan's foreign minister visits China, Japan's largest export market for aquatic products until Beijing banned them in protest against Tokyo releasing treated radioactive wastewater into the ocean.</p>


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<p>Johor Bahru’s property market has been on an upward trend owing to spillover effects from positive initiatives and announcements over the past few quarters, says Olive Tree Property Consultants Sdn Bhd CEO Samuel Tan when presenting <em>The Edge Malaysia</em> | Olive Tree Property Consultants Joh...