Intel Corp. named Lip-Bu Tan as its next chief executive officer, entrusting a former board member and semiconductor veteran with one of the toughest jobs in the chip industry. 

Tan, 65, will assume the role on March 18, the company said in a statement Wednesday. He will rejoin the board as well after stepping down in August 2024.

Intel names chip industry veteran Lip-Bu Tan as its next CEO

Asian equities were primed for early gains Thursday after cooler-than-forecast US inflation helped Wall Street rebound from two days of heavy losses.

Equity index futures for Japan and Australia rose, helped along by a 0.5% gain for the S&P 500 on Wednesday and a 1.1% advance for the tech-heavy Nasdaq 100.

Asian stocks to rise after soft US inflation print

More than 1,600 financial firms and their subsidiaries tapped the Federal Reserve’s emergency lending program created to support the industry during the regional banking turmoil two years ago.

Beal Bank USA and First Republic Bank took out the biggest loans through the Bank Term Funding Program, which was established in March 2023 to bolster liquidity within the financial system after the collapse of Silicon Valley Bank.

Over 1,600 financial firms tapped Fed’s emergency lending tool

Cooler-than-forecast February inflation pushed stocks higher after two days of heavy losses. A kneejerk rally in bonds quickly reversed and yields rose across the curve amid concerns over an escalating trade war.

Stocks rise after CPI surprise as trade risks loom

Some staff at USAID were ordered to destroy classified documents and personnel records, according to a memo from a top official, a move that prompted fresh legal challenges but that an administration official later described as routine.

USAID official orders staff to destroy classified documents

Former Philippine leader Rodrigo Duterte, who was arrested on murder charges linked to his war on drugs, arrived in the Netherlands on Wednesday ahead of his expected handover to the International Criminal Court (ICC), a source told Reuters.

Philippine's Duterte arrives to face murder charges at ICC for drug war killings

Portugal is heading to its third early election in just over three years after parliament toppled Prime Minister Luis Montenegro’s centre-right minority government in a confidence vote on Tuesday night.

Portugal heads towards early election after government collapses

Staff at the Federal Reserve cooperated with the Treasury Department to give Elon Musk’s Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE) access to federal payment systems, according to a new court filing.

Fed staff met Treasury’s DOGE team in January, court filing shows

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

Capital A, MN Holdings, Critical Holdings, MCE, Perdana Petroleum, IJM, Pecca, Scientex, Bermaz Auto, KNM

Umno president Datuk Seri Dr Ahmad Zahid Hamidi has confirmed that party Supreme Council member Tengku Datuk Seri Zafrul Tengku Abdul Aziz expressed his intention to leave the party last week.

Tengku Zafrul still an Umno member — Ahmad Zahid

Capital A Bhd (KL:CAPITALA) is selling off a majority stake in its 99.56%-owned financial technology arm, Big Pay Pte Ltd, to an undisclosed "very big" regional bank, according to its chief executive officer Tan Sri Tony Fernandes.

Capital A to sell majority stake in Big Pay to undisclosed regional bank, says CEO Fernandes

The boardroom-family saga at City Developments Ltd (CDL) has seemingly come to an end, with executive chairman Kwek Leng Beng discontinuing legal actions launched against a faction of board directors led by his son, group CEO Sherman Kwek.

CDL directors put stop to legal action, executive chairman Kwek Leng Beng and son Sherman Kwek to retain posts

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

Permodalan Nasional Bhd (PNB) clarified that the RM1.1 billion injection into Sapura Energy Bhd (Kl:SAPNRG) by the government is an investment and not a bailout, emphasising that the monies are solely allocated for local vendor payments and are crucial for the survival of local service provider within oil and gas (O&amp;G) industry.

PNB: MOF's RM1.1 bil investment in Sapura Energy not bailout, follows global practices to protect strategic industry

The government has approved 21 data centre projects under the Digital Ecosystem Acceleration Scheme with a total investment of RM113.8 billion since 2021.

The Ministry of Investment, Trade and Industry (Miti) stated that the investments are expected to create 1,244 new job opportunities.

Govt has approved 21 data centre projects worth RM113.8 bil since 2021 — Miti

Canada will impose C$29.8 billion (RM91.18 billion) in retaliatory tariffs on the US effective Thursday morning in response to US President Donald Trump's steel and aluminium tariffs, Canada's Finance Minister Dominic LeBlanc said.

Canada to slap US with C$29.8 bil in retaliatory tariffs from Thursday

Capital A Bhd (KL:CAPITALA) is reigniting its plans to list its brand management arm, Abc International, in the US, with its valuation reportedly doubling from the initial US$1.15 billion (RM5.09 billion), according to chief executive officer Tan Sri Tony Fernandes.

Capital A revisits US listing plans for brand management arm

Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim on Wednesday issued a stern warning to all parties against attempting to sow division in the country.

He said strict action will be taken against anyone who incites hatred, whether through racial, religious or socio-economic discrimination.

Anwar warns against attempts to divide nation

The benchmark S&amp;P 500 and the Nasdaq rose on Wednesday following data that showed slowing US inflation, although concerns about the economic fallout of President Donald Trump's trade policies persisted.

S&P 500, Nasdaq gain on cooling inflation; tariffs stoke slowdown fears

Malaysia’s industrial production is expected to maintain its positive growth this year, said economists, who however cautioned that escalating global trade tensions could weigh on external demand.

Economists maintain positive industrial production growth projection for 2025 despite slower expansion in January

Intel Corp. named Lip-Bu Tan as its next chief executive officer, entrusting a former board member and semiconductor veteran with one of the toughest jobs in the chip industry.&nbsp;

Tan, 65, will assume the role on March 18, the company said in a statement Wednesday. He will rejoin the board as well after stepping down in August 2024.

Umno president Datuk Seri Dr Ahmad Zahid Hamidi has confirmed that party Supreme Council member Tengku Datuk Seri Zafrul Tengku Abdul Aziz expressed his intention to leave the party last week.

Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim has proposed that 70% of students in fully residential schools opt for the science, technology, engineering and mathematics (STEM) stream starting next year to strengthen expertise in these critical fields.

Anwar pushes for 70% STEM enrolment in residential schools

Saudi sovereign wealth fund-backed Scopely Inc has agreed to buy Niantic Inc’s gaming business, including the mobile hit Pokemon Go, for US$3.5 billion (RM15.5 billion).

‘Pokemon Go’ owner sells games to Saudi group for US$3.5b

The Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission (MACC) will analyse processes within the National Registration Department (NRD) following the arrest of 16 individuals suspected of being involved in bribery related to birth registration.

MACC to review NRD procedures after 16 arrests in birth registration fraud

The Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission (MACC) has remanded 12 individuals in connection with corruption involving late birth registration of non-citizens to citizens and birth registration using false supporting documents.

12 remanded in MACC raid over false birth registration network

Former Philippine leader Rodrigo Duterte, who was arrested on murder charges linked to his war on drugs, arrived in the Netherlands on Wednesday ahead of his expected handover to the International Criminal Court (ICC), a source told Reuters.

Asian equities were primed for early gains Thursday after cooler-than-forecast US inflation helped Wall Street rebound from two days of heavy losses.

Equity index futures for Japan and Australia rose, helped along by a 0.5% gain for the S&amp;P 500 on Wednesday and a 1.1% advance for the tech-heavy Nasdaq 100.

US consumer prices increased moderately in February as higher shelter costs were partially offset by cheaper airline fares, giving the Federal Reserve (Fed) room to keep interest rates unchanged next week while monitoring the economic impact of a trade war.

US consumer inflation cools in February before import tariffs hit

Thai police are pursuing 17 individuals suspected of being involved in a bomb and shooting attack at the Sungai Golok District Office last Saturday.

Elffie Chew & Yantoultra Ngui