Amid an escalating trade dispute between Japan and Korea, many people are asking why the two Asian powerhouses are fighting. CNBC's Grace Shao explains the reasons behind the feud and how it affects you.</div><div class=inPageAd id=div-gpt-ad-inpage>

Why are Japan and Korea in a trade war?

Malaysia and France have agreed to boost cooperation in the fields of defence, economy and energy, in addition to trade, investment, tourism and also artificial intelligence (AI), Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim said.

Malaysia, France to boost cooperation in AI, defence — PM 

US President Donald Trump said there was no need for President Volodymyr Zelenskiy to take part in talks on ending the conflict with Russia, keeping up his attacks on the Ukrainian leader.

Trump says no need to include Zelenskiy in Ukraine peace talks

Cocoa dropped in New York, heading for a weekly decline, amid concerns about weaker demand in the wake of record prices.

Futures slipped as much as 10% to hit the lowest since early December.

Cocoa drops as demand worries overshadow tight supplies

Coinbase said on Friday the US securities regulator planned to withdraw its lawsuit against the crypto exchange, ending a contentious years-long legal battle once considered existential for the trading platform and the broader sector.

Coinbase says SEC to drop lawsuit against it

US business activity expanded in February at the slowest pace since September 2023, dragged down by the service sector.

US business activity moderates as the service sector cools

Sales of existing US homes fell last month for the first time since September, as the combination of high mortgage rates and prices sets a grim backdrop heading into the crucial spring selling season.

US existing-home sales drop back again with mortgage rates at 7%

Wall Street's main indices moved lower on Friday, as investors assessed latest economic data including a weak consumer sentiment reading, while the blue-chip Dow suffered its steepest loss on a drag by UnitedHealth.

Wall St set for weekly declines as investors parse more data; UnitedHealth drops

Mastercard Inc won a London court’s approval for the £200 million (RM1.12illion) agreed to pay to end a high profile class action over the fees it charges, which was initially estimated to be worth more than £10 billion.

Mastercard wins UK court nod for £200 mil deal to end £10 bil class action claim

The US Justice Department (DOJ) has been investigating UnitedHealth Group Inc’s Medicare billing practices, a person familiar with the matter said. The company’s stock fell sharply.

UnitedHealth falls on DOJ probe into Medicare billing — Bloomberg

US consumer sentiment fell in late February as long-term inflation expectations surged on concerns President Donald Trump’s tariffs will translate into higher prices.

US consumer sentiment drops as long-run inflation views rise

KUALA LUMPUR (Feb 21): MISC Bhd (KL:MISC) sank into the red for the first time in more than two years, hurt by a surge in provisions for writedown in assets and lower revenue at all business segments.

MISC sinks into red for the first time in more than two years as provisions hurt

ACE Market-listed café operator&nbsp;Oriental Kopi Holdings Bhd (KL:KOPI) reported RM13.09 million in net profit for the first quarter ended Dec 31, 2024 (1QFY2025).

Oriental Kopi kicks off FY2025 with 1Q net profit of RM13m

Petronas Chemicals Group Bhd (KL:PCHEM) has swung back to the black in the fourth quarter thanks to foreign exchange (forex) gain, reversing its first-ever quarterly loss in the immediate preceding quarter.

Petronas Chemicals posts 4Q profit on forex gain, declares three sen dividend

KUALA LUMPUR (Feb 21): AMMB Holdings Bhd (KL:AMBANK) has a lot of room to dish out more dividends, thanks to lower loan loss allowances and better total income growth, analysts said.

AmBank has plenty of room to dish out more dividends — analysts

Malaysia’s international reserves had risen by US$1.3 billion as at Feb 14 from two weeks earlier, according to Bank Negara Malaysia (BNM).

Malaysia’s international reserves hit US$117.7b at mid-February

Sports Toto Bhd’s (KL:SPTOTO) net profit for the second quarter ended Dec 31, 2024 (2QFY2025) rose more than double to RM49.67 million, compared to its first quarter results of RM24.22 million, driven by the performance of STM Lottery Sdn Bhd and HR Owen plc.

Sports Toto 2Q net profit more than doubles

Australia expressed concern to China on Friday over the short notice given by the Chinese navy that it would hold a live-fire exercise in international waters between Australia and New Zealand, forcing airlines to divert flights, Defence Minister Richard Marles said.

Airlines warned as Chinese navy holds live-fire exercises off Australia

Petronas Gas Bhd (KL:PETGAS) said on Friday its net profit slipped in the final quarter of 2024, as expenses rose from maintenance of its pipeline and regasification terminals while gas cost rose.

Petronas Gas' 4Q net profit slips 5.6% as expenses, gas cost rise

A group of pensioners is opposing the Public Services Department (PSD) and the federal government’s application to stay a High Court decision that has ordered the government to pay all pensioners arrears owed to them from a pension increase allowed by High Court based on their final salaries according to the PSD’s 2016 circular, effective from January 2022.

Pensioners oppose government’s application for stay of pension payments pending appeal

The anti-graft officer investigating then-prime minister Datuk Seri Najib Razak could not identify the purported giver of the controversial US$681 million alleged donation, even when they were in the same room.

1MDB-Tanore: MACC investigating officer claims unsure of purported donor's identity

Mudajaya Group Bhd (KL:MUDAJYA) said it has filed a winding-up petition against THB Power Sdn Bhd over RM60.63 million in outstanding payment for construction work.&nbsp;

Mudajaya files petition to wind up power producer THB Power over RM60.6m debt

The 1Malaysia Development Bhd-Tanore (1MDB-Tanore) trial's proceedings once again focused on the strength of the Malaysian authorities' investigation during their trip to Saudi Arabia in 2015.

1MDB-Tanore: MACC officer agrees with prosecution, Saudi trip merely to formalise pre-crafted narrative

Chinese artificial intelligence (AI) sensation DeepSeek plans to release key codes and data to the public starting next week, an unusual step to share more of its core technology than rivals such as OpenAI have done.

China's DeepSeek promises to share even more AI code in rare step

Parkson Holdings Bhd (KL:PARKSON) fell deeper into the red in the fourth quarter ended Dec 31, 2024 (4QFY2024), as its financials were dragged by a heftier impairment loss compared with in the corresponding quarter in 2023.

Parkson's 4Q net loss doubles on larger impairment loss

The director of a construction company&nbsp;claims to have lost a massive&nbsp;RM26.6 million after falling victim to a cryptocurrency investment scheme offered through the UVKXE app.

Construction company director with 'Datuk' title says scammed of RM26.6m in 'UVKXE' crypto investment scheme

Here is a brief recap of some corporate announcements that made news on Friday.

Petronas Chemicals, Petronas Gas, MISC, Malakoff, Sports Toto, Parkson, Paramount, Eco World International, Mi Technovation, CSC Steel and CN Asia

Malakoff Corp Bhd (KL:MALAKOF) returned to the black for the fourth quarter mainly due to the absence of any share of loss from the group’s investment in an independent water and power producer (IWPP) in Bahrain.

Malakoff returns to black in 4Q on absence of Bahrain associate’s share of loss

KUALA LUMPUR (Feb 21): The Transport Ministry (MOT) views the sale of shares in Malaysia Airports Holdings Bhd or MAHB (KL:AIRPORT) as not affecting security, based on the commitment and cooperation between the Civil Aviation Authority of Malaysia (CAAM), MAHB, and the Royal Malaysian Police (PDRM) to ensure that security aspects are at the highest level.

MAHB share sale will not affect national security — Transport Ministry

Paramount Corp Bhd (KL:PARAMON), which has set a property sales target of RM1.5 billion for 2025, on Friday posted a 91.9% jump in net profit for the fourth quarter ended Dec 31, 2024 (4QFY2024).

Paramount's 4Q net profit surges 92%, boosted by investment in Eco World International

Indian refiners have cancelled orders for 100,000 tonnes of crude palm oil (CPO) scheduled for delivery between March and June, because of a surge in benchmark Malaysian prices and negative refining margins in India, four trade sources said.