In today’s edition of Evening 5 — Ewein announces the demise of its founder and executive chairman Datuk Ewe Swee Kheng. Meanwhile, AirAsia Group says Danajamin Nasional has approved an 80% guaranteed loan of up to RM500 million.</div><div class=inPageAd id=div-gpt-ad-inpage>

EVENING 5: Ewein’s Datuk Ewe Swee Kheng passes away

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).

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

Moldova faces a security crisis after its breakaway enclave of Transdniestria was cut off from supplies of Russian gas, Prime Minister Dorin Recean said on Friday.

Flows of Russian gas via Ukraine to central and eastern Europe were halted on New Year's Day after a transit agreement between the warring countries expired, and Kyiv rejected doing further business with Moscow.

Moldovan PM warns of security crisis after cut-off of Russian gas

German airports were hit by a nationwide IT outage affecting police systems at border control on Friday, causing disruption and longer immigration queues for passengers from outside the European Union's Schengen travel zone.

Long queues at border control as German airports hit by IT outage

The agencies that control mortgage giants Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac set out a roadmap for releasing the pair from government supervision, sending the entities’ common stock to the highest levels since 2019.

Fannie, Freddie hit a five-year high on plan for ‘eventual release’

A US factory measure improved for a second month in December as orders and production picked up, suggesting the cloud over manufacturing may be starting to lift.

US manufacturing measure edged higher at end of last year

The US Treasury Department sanctioned Chinese cybersecurity firm Integrity Technology Group for its alleged role in a state-sponsored botnet attack known as Flax Typhoon.

US sanctions Chinese cyber firm linked to botnet attack

China’s central bank reiterated its pledge to lower interest rates and the reserve requirement ratio for banks “at an appropriate time” to promote growth, with the economy continuing to face challenges both domestically and globally.

PBOC reiterates China rates, reserve ratio to be cut ‘at appropriate time’

Umno has cancelled its planned rally in solidarity with incarcerated former prime minister Datuk Seri Najib Razak on Jan 6, following a royal decree and an advisory from the Royal Malaysian Police (PDRM).

Umno cancels pro-Najib rally on Jan 6 following royal decree, police warning

Poland launched its presidency of the Council of the European Union (EU) on Friday mired in a diplomatic row with Hungary that underscored a deepening sense of political disunity across Europe just as it confronts a raft of major global challenges.

Spats, divisions mar start of Poland's EU presidency

Qatar Airways said revenue at its private-jet subsidiary rose 26% last year, pointing to continued robust demand for its most exclusive product as more affluent families and business groups choose the flexibility of the smaller aircraft.

Qatar Airways sees private-jet sales jump as more families book

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

Umno has cancelled its planned rally in solidarity with incarcerated former prime minister Datuk Seri Najib Razak on Jan 6, following a royal decree and an advisory from the Royal Malaysian Police (PDRM).

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).

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

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

Industrial services firm Swift Energy Technology Bhd (KL:SET), which is slated to be listed on the ACE Market next Wednesday, made a net profit of RM5.18 million for the fourth quarter ended Sept 30, 2024 (4QFY2024), on the back of RM29.3 million in revenue.

ACE Market-bound Swift Energy posts 4Q net profit of RM5.18 mil

Velocity Capital Partner Bhd (KL:VELOCITY) has made its new largest shareholder Datuk Fam Chee Way its non-independent and non-executive director, effective Friday.

On the same day, executive director Tan Yip Jiun resigned from his post "to pursue other interests", according to the hauling and money lending firm's bourse filings on Friday.

Velocity Capital's new largest shareholder Fam Chee Way joins its board as ED Tan Yip Jiun resigns

Thai authorities have begun seizing the assets of a hospital tycoon who fled the country after allegedly luring more than 12 billion baht (US$350 million or RM1.57 billion) into fake medical projects from hundreds of investors.

Thailand moves to seize tycoon’s assets in US$350m scam

MUMBAI (Jan 3): India's palm oil imports in December 2024 plunged to their lowest in nine months, as a rally in prices to a 2-1/2-year high&nbsp;prompted refiners to increase purchases of substitute soyoil that was available at a discount, five dealers said.

India's December palm oil imports hit nine-month low as buyers prefer soyoil, dealers say

Malaysia recorded a trade value of RM2.62 trillion from January to November 2024, an 8.7% year-on-year (y-o-y) increase, said Minister of Investment, Trade and Industry Tengku Datuk Seri Zafrul Abdul Aziz.

Zafrul: Malaysia records RM2.62 tril in trade value for Jan-Nov 2024

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 

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 Malaysian Bar has filed an appeal against the High Court's decision to dismiss its bid to challenge the Pardons Board's decision to reduce Datuk Seri Najib Razak's prison sentence and fine in the SRC International Sdn Bhd case.

Malaysian Bar appeals against dismissal of its bid to challenge Najib’s pardon

A logistics worker was fined RM10,000 by the Sessions Court on Friday after pleading guilty to creating and posting offensive remarks about the royalty on Instagram four years ago.

Judge Siti Aminah Ghazali sentenced Tan Yong Hua, 42, to settle the fine or serve six months in prison in default.

Logistics worker fined RM10,000 for Instagram post insulting royalty

South Africa is poised for Chinese investment in its US$27 billion (RM121.51 billion) automotive industry after the president signed a tax break for the production of so-called new-energy vehicles into law.

EV tax break may lure China to US$27b South Africa industry

SEOUL (Jan 3): South Korea's Hyundai Motor Co and affiliate Kia Corp aim to grow their combined global sales by 2% to 7.39 million vehicles in 2025, after reporting a dip in 2024 sales and missing their targets.

Hyundai Motor, Kia Motor see uptick in 2025 sales after missing 2024 targets

(Jan 3): A blockbuster year for initial public offerings (IPOs) in India catapulted seven entrepreneurs into the dollar billionaires league, many of them early movers in the country’s booming renewable energy sector.

Seven billionaires created by India’s IPO boom in 2024

Qatar Airways said revenue at its private-jet subsidiary rose 26% last year, pointing to continued robust demand for its most exclusive product as more affluent families and business groups choose the flexibility of the smaller aircraft.

Stellantis NV and Volkswagen AG shares declined as some of their plug-in cars lost access to US tax credits under tougher rules that took effect this week.

VW’s ID.4 electric crossover lost its full US$7,500 (RM33,573) tax credit, according to the latest listing by the Department of Energy and Environmental Protection Agency.

Stellantis, Volkswagen drop after losing US electric-car subsidy

The Federal Territories Islamic Religious Department (Jawi) will reassess the standard operating procedures (SOPs) concerning security at mosques, following an incident where a mentally ill man trespassed and disturbed the congregation at the At-Taqwa Mosque in Taman Tun Dr Ismail (TTDI) on New Year’s Day.