Once pegged as a possible downtown landmark, Plaza Rakyat has now become an abandoned eyesore. But are plans afoot to change its fate?</div><div class=inPageAd id=div-gpt-ad-inpage>

BEHIND THE STORY: What will be the fate of Plaza Rakyat?

Chief Minister Chow Kon Yeow has denied recent claims in local media reports that the state government plans to increase hotel accommodation fees by up to 50% this year.

Penang has no plans to raise hotel fees, says CM

In a last-minute move by the Biden-Harris administration, a new Interim Final Rule on Artificial Intelligence Diffusion was announced on Monday (Jan 13), imposing stricter export controls on US-developed AI chips.

Is Malaysia’s chip sector prepared for the storm?

Malaysians abroad should not underestimate the technological advancement, expertise and talent available back home, said Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim.

Don’t underestimate technological advancement and talent back home, says Anwar

Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim’s visit to the UK has successfully attracted RM11 billion in potential investments across various sectors, including renewable energy and the digital economy.

PM's UK visit attracts potential investments worth RM11b

With US President-elect Donald Trump due to be sworn in on Monday, Jan 20, Malaysia believes it can navigate any political or economic uncertainties arising from his second term in the White House.

Malaysia confident of navigating possible challenges from Trump's presidency, says Anwar

MSCI's global equities index rose on Friday, while US Treasury yields turned higher with the dollar, as upbeat economic data and earnings appeared to help investors shrug off any jitters ahead of the US presidential inauguration.

Global shares rise with dollar, US bond yields turn higher

The European Union (EU) is debating whether to drop a sensitive trade investigation against China over alleged coercive activity targeting Lithuania, a prospect that’s frustrated officials in Washington, where the incoming Trump team sees it as capitulation to Beijing.

President-elect Donald Trump has vowed to take a tough line on China and the possible EU move would reinforce for his team how the bloc will approach dealing with Beijing, according to people familiar with the matter.

EU mulls dropping China trade case, frustrating Trump team

The US Treasury department on Friday sanctioned Singaporean Yin Kechen and cybersecurity company Sichuan Juxinhe Network Technology Co, accusing both of being involved in a series of hacks against American telecom companies.

US Treasury Dept sanctions Chinese company over Salt Typhoon hack

German Chancellor Olaf Scholz pushed back against accusations that he is casting Ukraine aside in an attempt to drum up support for his trailing Social Democrats ahead of a snap election next month.

Speaking to reporters in Berlin, Scholz said he was ready to send an additional €3 billion (RM13.89 billion) to Ukraine so long as the funds were generated through net new borrowing and not budget cuts.

Scholz denies putting his own political survival over support for Ukraine

Wall Street's main indexes rose on Friday, with the S&P 500 and the Dow on track to log their biggest weekly gains since November, as investors anticipate a wave of policy changes under the incoming Trump administration.

Wall Street set for weekly advances in countdown to Trump presidency

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

CIMB, Berjaya Corp, Mitrajaya, HeiTech Padu, Datasonic, Petronas Gas, Dialog, Hong Leong Bank, JF Tech, Cosmos, MYMBN, Homeritz 

Upholstery furniture manufacturer Homeritz Corp Bhd (KL:HOMERIZ) said on Friday that the fire at one of its production facilities in Muar, Johor, has been confirmed to result in an estimated loss of RM3 million, and will be recognised in the company’s financial results for the quarter ending Feb 28, 2025 (2QFY2025).

Homeritz hit by RM3 mil loss in Muar facility fire, no insurance coverage

The European Union (EU) is debating whether to drop a sensitive trade investigation against China over alleged coercive activity targeting Lithuania, a prospect that’s frustrated officials in Washington, where the incoming Trump team sees it as capitulation to Beijing.

President-elect Donald Trump has vowed to take a tough line on China and the possible EU move would reinforce for his team how the bloc will approach dealing with Beijing, according to people familiar with the matter.

Wall Street's main indexes rose on Friday, with the S&amp;P 500 and the Dow on track to log their biggest weekly gains since November, as investors anticipate a wave of policy changes under the incoming Trump administration.

The International Monetary Fund on Friday raised its forecast for global growth in 2025 by one-tenth of a percentage point, with stronger-than-expected growth in the US offsetting downward revisions in Germany, France and other major economies.

IMF lifts US outlook, warns countries against protectionism, subsidies

US President-elect Donald Trump and Chinese President Xi Jinping discussed trade, TikTok and fentanyl on Friday in a pre-inauguration conversation that could set the tone for relations between the world’s two largest economies and main geopolitical rivals.

“I just spoke to Chairman Xi Jinping of China,” Trump posted on social media. “The call was a very good one for both China and the USA.”

Trump and China’s Xi discuss trade, TikTok ahead of inauguration

TikTok fans in the US are racing to secure alternatives and safeguard their digital empires ahead of a looming shutdown on Sunday, evoking the chaos of India's 2020 ban that erased the app from the lives of 200 million users overnight.

While the US ban has been debated for months, India acted swiftly in June 2020 to block TikTok and nearly 60 other Chinese apps over national security concerns, stripping many creators of their main source of income and shattering a digital community.

US TikTok ban could echo India chaos as users seek options

MSCI's&nbsp;global&nbsp;equities index rose on Friday, while US&nbsp;Treasury yields turned higher with the dollar, as upbeat economic data and earnings appeared to help investors shrug off any jitters ahead of the US&nbsp;presidential inauguration.

The US Treasury department on Friday sanctioned Singaporean Yin Kechen and cybersecurity company Sichuan Juxinhe Network Technology Co, accusing both of being involved in a series of hacks against American telecom companies.

Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim’s visit to the UK has successfully attracted&nbsp;RM11 billion in potential investments across various sectors, including renewable energy and the digital economy.

Housing starts in the US climbed in December to the fastest pace since early 2024, reflecting a surge in multifamily projects and a more modest advance in one-family homes.

New residential construction increased nearly 16% to an annualised rate of 1.5 million, rebounding after a three-month slump, according to government data released on Friday.

US housing starts top all forecasts on multifamily construction

In a last-minute move by the Biden-Harris administration, a new Interim Final Rule on Artificial Intelligence Diffusion was announced on Monday (Jan 13), imposing stricter export controls on US-developed AI chips.

The European Union (EU) and Mexico agreed to a revamped free-trade agreement, just as both are under pressure from president-elect Donald Trump, who has threatened them with a new round of tariffs.

The agreement aims to boost both trade and economic security by de-risking supply chains, securing a sustainable supply of critical raw materials and tackling climate change, according to a European Commission statement on Friday.

EU, Mexico seal trade deal as Trump threatens tariffs

German Chancellor Olaf Scholz pushed back against accusations that he is casting Ukraine aside in an attempt to drum up support for his trailing Social Democrats ahead of a snap election next month.

Speaking to reporters in Berlin, Scholz said he was ready to send an additional €3 billion (RM13.89 billion) to Ukraine so long as the funds were generated through net new borrowing and not budget cuts.&nbsp;

With US President-elect Donald Trump due to be sworn in on Monday, Jan&nbsp;20, Malaysia believes it can navigate any&nbsp;political or economic&nbsp;uncertainties arising from his second term in the White House.

US industrial production rose in December by more than forecast, helped by a pickup in factory output that indicates manufacturing is stabilising after two years of weakness.

US industrial production tops forecasts after Boeing strike ends

Malaysians abroad should not underestimate the technological advancement, expertise and talent available back home, said Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim.