China on Wednesday began public consultation on new regulations designed to protect its domestic rare earth industry, a sector where Beijing has previously weaponised its dominance via export controls and other restrictions.

China proposes new rules to tighten control over rare earth sector

Jens-Frederik Nielsen, a 33-year-old former minister of industry and minerals, was sworn in as the youngest prime minister of Greenland on Friday to face the challenges posed by US President Donald Trump's ambitions to control the Arctic island.

Greenland's new prime minister takes office facing challenge from Trump

Apple Inc and Meta Platforms Inc are set to be hit by fines under the European Union’s (EU) Big Tech competition rulebook towards the end of next week, with the iPhone maker facing the added threat of recurring penalties under the bloc’s Digital Markets Act (DMA).

Apple, Meta face modest fines as EU seeks to avoid US spat

This year’s Hari Raya Aidilfitri festive season has seen smoother air travel, particularly for those returning to Sabah and Sarawak.

Transport Minister Anthony Loke said this was due to the absence of complaints from the public about difficulties in securing flight tickets to their hometowns.

Smoother air travel this Aidilfitri, no complaints over flight tickets — Loke

Traffic flow on several major expressways has been reported to continue to be moving slowly tonight due to a rise in the number of vehicles heading out of the city centre, as city dwellers return to their hometowns to celebrate Hari Raya Aidilfitri.

Slow traffic flow, vehicle numbers expected to increase on major expressways

Transport Minister Anthony Loke has assured that a thorough investigation will be carried out into the fatal crash that claimed five lives on the North-South Expressway near Kluang, Johor on Thursday.

Loke assures thorough probe into Kluang fatal crash

Prime Minister Keir Starmer came to power last year promising a growth boost but ended up presiding over a slump. Nine months on, however, the British economy may finally be turning the corner.

The UK economy is starting to emerge from stagnation

China's three big state-owned airlines posted their fifth straight year of losses this week, citing domestic market competition, low international and business travel demand, supply chain problems and currency depreciation as challenges.

China's top airlines post fifth year of losses in 2024 in the face of domestic competition 

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

MN Holdings, Genting, MMAG, LSH Capital, Able Global, Kerjaya Prospek Property, Yinson, GUH Holdings, DNeX and Sarawak Cable

Huawei Technologies Co executives would likely have known about — and signed off on — alleged bribes to European Union (EU) lawmakers in 2021, according to Belgian judicial authorities.

Huawei bosses likely knew of alleged EU bribes, say Belgians 

A weekly round-up of tanker and dry bulk market (March 28, 2025)

Baltic Exchange shipping updates: March 28, 2025

Hong Kong tycoon Li Ka-shing's CK Hutchison will not sign a deal next week to sell its two port operations near the Panama Canal to a BlackRock-led group, a source with direct knowledge of the matter said, amid growing pressure from Beijing.

CK Hutchison will not sign deal to sell strategic Panama ports next week — Reuters

The Magistrate's Court here have sentenced businessman Chung Chee Yang, 47, to six years and 10 months in prison, and a fine of RM22,000, after he was found guilty of hurting the religious feelings and criminally intimidating his two bodyguards by pointing a gun at them and admonishing them for fasting in 2021.&nbsp;

Businessman who assaulted bodyguards for fasting sentenced to six years and 10 months' jail

The government has released the guidelines for its latest solar programme, which allows energy companies to lease rooftop space from homeowners to install solar panels and sell the generated electricity to customers through third-party access to the distribution network.

Govt sets guidelines for rooftop solar leasing, landed households set to benefit

Bank Negara Malaysia (BNM) on Friday released the finalised policy document on complaints handling by financial services firms, including banks, insurers and payment system operators.

Banks, insurers required to promptly resolve customer complaints under new BNM policy

Lim Seong Hai Capital Bhd (KL:LSH), which has been slapped with a lawsuit by the former operator of Kuala Lumpur Tower, said that the claim against its subsidiaries is without merit and cannot be established.

LSH Capital says former KL Tower operator’s lawsuit ‘without merit’, followed procurement process

MMAG Holdings Bhd (KL:MMAG) on Friday announced that Datuk Farhash Wafa Salvador has emerged as its largest shareholder, after acquiring a 20% stake or 462 million shares earlier this week.

Farhash Wafa emerges as MMAG’s largest shareholder, named chairman

Dagang Nexchange Bhd (KL:DNEX) said it is seeking a court order to set aside an arbitration ruling against its units, DNeX Semiconductor Sdn Bhd and SilTerra Malaysia Sdn Bhd, in a dispute between the two firms and China-based Tethystronics Technologies Company Ltd (TTCL).

DNeX goes to court in bid to overturn arbitration ruling against its units

Residents in several areas in Penang on Friday also felt tremors due to a strong 7.7 magnitude earthquake that shook an area 16 kilometres northwest Sagaing, Myanmar.

Tremors felt in Penang after earthquake hits Myanmar

Able Global Bhd (KL:ABLEGLOB) said its executive chairman Ng Keng Hoe was charged with abetment of dishonest misappropriation on Tuesday.

Able Global chairman Ng Keng Hoe charged with abetment of dishonest misappropriation

The Malaysian Investment Development Authority (Mida) will introduce a new Investor Pass for foreign investors starting April 1, enabling them to stay in the country for six months, with the option for a further six-month extension. &nbsp;

Malaysia launches Investor Pass to attract foreign investment effective April 1

Below is a summary of how key Bursa Malaysia indices and the ringgit performed on Friday.

FBM KLCI down 1.44% to 1,513.65 on March 28, 2025 

Malaysia’s external balance will likely face increasing headwinds in the coming quarters due to slower export growth, the Australia &amp; New Zealand Banking Group (ANZ) warned on Friday.

The ringgit could come under pressure if the US imposes higher-than-expected tariffs on Malaysian exports at a time when foreigners have been recently selling Malaysian equities due to global growth concerns, the bank said in its Asia Economic Outlook report.

Malaysia's external balance faces headwinds, threatening ringgit — ANZ

Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim on Friday stressed that the proposed implementation of subsidy rationalisation for RON95 petrol will not affect the low-income group.

PM assures most will not be affected by RON95 subsidy rationalisation 

KUALA LUMPUR (March 28): Kenanga Research has adjusted its valuations for outsourced semiconductor assembly and test (OSAT) players, citing a softening global semiconductor cycle.

In a sector update released on Friday, Kenanga Research announced a reduction in the price-earnings ratio (...

Kenanga lowers valuations for chip packaging, testing firms as semiconductor cycle softens

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

Yinson Holdings Bhd’s (KL:YINSON) latest quarterly net profit halved to RM146 million from RM278 million a year earlier, mainly due to lower contribution from its engineering, procurement, construction, installation and commissioning (EPCIC) business. Earnings per share dropped to 3.8 sen from 8.4 sen.

Yinson's 4Q net profit halves on lower contribution from EPCIC business, higher finance costs

The powerful earthquake that hit Myanmar on Friday damaged buildings and public infrastructure and there are concerns for the state of large dams, the Red Cross said on Friday.

Six states and regions are most impacted — particularly in the northwest of the country, the Red Cross said.

Myanmar quake damaged buildings and infrastructure, causes concern over dams, Red Cross says

SumiSaujana Group Bhd's initial public offering (IPO) was oversubscribed 1.85 times by retail investors ahead of its listing on the ACE Market.

Chemicals firm SumiSaujana closes IPO applications with 1.85 times oversubscription

Wall Street's primary indices fell sharply on Friday, as data underscored underlying price pressures, stoking fears that the Trump administration's tariff manoeuvres could further exacerbate inflationary trends.

Wall St dives as fresh data ignites inflation concerns

MSM Malaysia Holdings Bhd (KL:MSM), a 51%-owned subsidiary of FGV Holdings Bhd (KL:FGV), announced on Friday the return of former chief financial officer (CFO) Ab Aziz Ismail, who will reassume the role effective April 1.

Ethan Wang & Lewis Jackson