KUALA LUMPUR (Dec 11): Malaysia Aviation Group (MAG) added 248 flight frequencies to its domestic and international travel network through to March 2024, to meet soaring travel demand during the festive season, it said in a statement on Monday.

Malaysia Aviation Group adds 248 flights through to March 2024 to meet soaring travel demand

The Civil Aviation Authority of Malaysia (CAAM) has granted type certification to Airbus’ next generation twin-engine H160 to fly in Malaysia skies in the coming months.

Airbus H160 gets nod from CAAM for Malaysian skies

A total of 35,994 or 72% of 50,096 eligible students of public universities have submitted their applications for the RM300 digital voucher under the FLYsiswa subsidy programme, according to Transport Minister Anthony Loke Siew Fook.

Over 35,000 students have applied for FLYsiswa subsidy, says Loke

(Dec 7): Singapore and China will put in place a 30-day mutual visa exemption agreement early next year, the Singapore foreign ministry said on Thursday, as the two countries agreed to further upgrade a trade pact between them.

"Both countries will work out the implementation details of the mutual 30-day visa exemption arrangement and implement it in early 2024," the Singapore foreign ministry said in a statement.

Singapore, China plan reciprocal 30-day visa-free entry

Airline profits are set to stabilise in 2024 as continued growth in post-pandemic travel is offset by the high cost of capital and capacity constraints, industry group IATA said on Wednesday.

Airlines see stable profits, record traveller numbers in 2024

KUANTAN (Dec 6):  The Pahang government, through the State Economic Planning Division, is in the process of acquiring the site for the Pulau Tioman Airport upgrading project, which involves extending the runway from 850 metres to 1.3 kilometres.

Pahang govt acquiring site for Pulau Tioman airport upgrading project

KUALA LUMPUR (Dec 5): Air cargo volumes for Asia-Pacific airlines increased by 7.6% in October 2023, compared to the same month in 2022, with carriers in the region benefitting from ongoing growth in international cargo tonne-kilometres (CTKs) on three major trade lanes.

IATA: Asia-Pacific airlines’ air cargo volumes up by 7.6% in October 2023

KUALA LUMPUR (Dec 5): AirAsia has confirmed that there are no AirAsia flight cancellations to or from Chennai, India so far, related to the floods that had forced the closure of the airport in the city.

No flight cancellation to Chennai, says AirAsia

AirAsia X Bhd (AAX) has signed an aircraft lease agreement with Asia Aviation Capital Ltd in a related party transaction for a one-year lease of an aircraft bearing the serial number MSN1596, with the total contract value — including lease rental and maintenance reserves — estimated at RM30.54 million.

AirAsia X inks RM30.5m aircraft lease agreement with Capital A unit 

KUALA LUMPUR (Dec 5): TA Securities has upgraded Malaysia Airports Holdings Bhd (MAHB) to “buy” at RM7.08 with an unchanged target price of RM7.85 based on unchanged discount rate of 12%.

In a note on Tuesday, the research house said the recent selling pressure appears overdone.

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TA Securities upgrades MAHB, says recent selling pressure overdone

PUTRAJAYA (Dec 4): Malaysia and Timor-Leste are looking forward to establishing direct flights connecting major destinations of both countries, to boost tourism and promote cultural exchange.

Malaysia, Timor-Leste to establish direct air links

TA Securities sees a positive outlook for Malaysia Airports Holdings Bhd (MAHB), against the backdrop of the pending signing of a new operation agreement (OA) and the announcement of the new passenger service charge (PSC) for 2024, and the impairment of receivables comprising mainly RM27.4 million from MyAirline suspension.

TA Securities upgrades MAHB to 'hold', raises target price amid strong recovery prospects

Malaysia Airports Holdings Bhd (MAHB) registered a net profit of RM94.76 million in the third quarter ended Sept 30, 2023 (3QFY2023) against a net loss of RM9.04 million in the previous year, on the back of an increase in revenue, other income, and improved share of profits from associates and joint ventures plus lower finance costs.

MAHB posts RM95 mil net profit in 3Q on lower finance costs, higher revenue

Richard Branson has long relished the image of the aviation pioneer, from traversing the Pacific in a hot-air balloon to making space travel available for paying customers.

Now the British billionaire is participating in the first flight of a commercial aircraft across the Atlantic powered entirely by sustainable aviation fuel (SAF), beating arch-rival British Airways to the punch.

Branson’s latest aviation dare reveals airlines’ green challenge

Malaysia is awaiting a decision from the Madrid Criminal Court in Spain on whether arbitrator Gonzalo Stampa committed crimes by compelling Kuala Lumpur to pay US$14.92 billion (about RM70 billion) in the Sulu dispute case, said Minister in the Prime Minister’s Department (Law and Institutional Reforms) Datuk Seri Azalina Othman.

Azalina: Malaysia awaiting Madrid court's verdict, hope to put an end to Sulu claims

Jentayu Sustainables Bhd has clarified that the funds that it is planning to raise from its latest private placement to be spent on pre-development expenses for the 170MW hydro project Oriole is part of "tried and tested industry norms" that are benchmarked against similar hydropower plant developments in Sabah.

Jentayu says pre-development spending on Project Oriole is part of industry norms

Dry weather risks damaging Brazilian crops of the cheapest coffee bean variety, threatening to make instant coffee less affordable.

Instant coffee prices risk rising with dryness hurting Brazilian crops

Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim has called on all relevant parties to emphasise the need for the country's investment landscape and ecosystem to be more creative and investor-friendly.

Anwar wants Malaysia's investment landscape, ecosystem to be more creative and investor friendly

Microsoft Corp is teaming up with labour unions to create “an open dialogue” on how artificial intelligence (AI) will impact workers.

Microsoft, labour unions form ‘historic’ alliance on AI

Taiwan's military sent forces to watch a Chinese naval formation, led by the aircraft carrier Shandong, sailing through the Taiwan Strait on Monday, Taiwan's defence ministry said, as Beijing keeps up pressure ahead of elections next month.

Taiwan again reports Chinese carrier group in Taiwan Strait as election looms

Hamas said it was striking back against Israeli forces across Gaza on Monday and Palestinians and international relief agencies said public order was disintegrating as hunger spread, fuelling fears of a mass exodus to Egypt.

Gazans say hunger is causing social breakdown, fuelling fears of exodus into Egypt

The UN's climate body on Monday published its latest draft text of the deal it hopes to reach at the COP28 summit in Dubai, which includes a range of actions countries could take to reduce emissions.

New COP28 draft text does not mention phase out of fossil fuels

Moody's Investors Service on Monday affirmed the long-term foreign currency deposit ratings of HSBC Bank Malaysia Bhd (HSBC Malaysia) at A2 and Standard Chartered Bank Malaysia Bhd (StanChart Malaysia) at Baa1.

Moody's affirms all ratings of HSBC Malaysia, StanChart Malaysia with stable outlook

The Communications and Digital Ministry (KKD) will carry on blocking social media platforms with content that can influence, affect and compromise public morals.

KKD will continue to block social media platforms that compromise public morals — Fahmi

Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim is expected to announce a Cabinet reshuffle on Tuesday, which will likely include the appointment of a finance minister II, according to sources with knowledge of the matter.

PM set to announce Cabinet reshuffle tomorrow, EPF CEO tipped to be finance minister II — sources

Supermax Corp Bhd said shareholders without any management role or without position in the company’s board of directors have no authority to make any official statement on its behalf.

Supermax says shareholders without board posts can't speak for company as family strain resurfaces over jet buy

KUALA LUMPUR (Dec 11): Shares in YTL Power International Bhd continued their upward momentum on Monday toward their highest since the company’s listing in 1997, after it announced its partnership with US-tech giant Nvidia Corp to build an artificial intelligence (AI) data centre in Johor.

YTL Power, YTL Corp hit fresh record highs on AI hub tie-up with Nvidia

Huawei Technologies Co’s Mate 60 Pro smartphone shows “significant progress” in China’s domestic design and engineering of radio-frequency chips, according to the latest findings from research firm TechInsights.

Huawei phone shows China replacing US suppliers of 5G tech

Abang Abdillah Izzarim Abang Abdul Rahman Zohari has stepped down as executive chairman of Sarawak Consolidated Industries Bhd (SCIB), just six months after he was appointed to the position.

Abang Jo’s son Abang Abdillah resigns as SCIB executive chairman; Zaini Jass named new non-executive chairman

KUALA LUMPUR (Dec 11): Independent advisor Malacca Securities said the takeover offer price of RM1.55 for Boustead Plantation Bhd (BPlant) by Lembaga Tabung Angkatan Tentera (LTAT) is “not fair” but “reasonable” and recommended that shareholders accept the offer.

Malacca Securities deems BPlant’s takeover price unfair but recommends shareholders accept it

theedgemalaysia.com highlighted three stocks with positive momentum and two stocks with negative momentum at Bursa Malaysia's afternoon close on Monday.

YTL Corp, KUB Malaysia, RCE Capital, Engtex, YTL Power

The contract value of local companies' involvement in the East Coast Rail Link (ECRL) project has reached RM12.99 billion, surpassing the set target of RM10.8 billion, according to Transport Minister&nbsp;Anthony Loke Siew Fook.

ECRL: Local company contract value reaches RM12.99b, surpasses RM10.8b target, says Loke

KUALA LUMPUR (Dec 11): The move towards&nbsp;de-dollarisation could have positive impacts on the Malaysian economy, said&nbsp;Socio-Economic Research Centre executive director Lee Heng Guie.&nbsp;

De-dollarisation could have positive impacts on Malaysian economy — expert

Yang di-Pertuan Agong&nbsp;Al-Sultan Abdullah Ri’ayatuddin Al-Mustafa Billah Shah officiated the installation of the first&nbsp;track of the East Coast Rail Link (ECRL) project here on Monday.

King officiates installation of first ECRL track

DRB-Hicom Bhd has entered into an agreement to form a joint-venture (JV) company with China’s auto giant Zhejiang Geely Holding Group Co Ltd for the overall operation and management of the development and construction of the Automotive Hi-Tech Valley (AHTV) project in Tanjung Malim, Perak.

DRB-Hicom, Geely form JV to develop Automotive Hi-Tech Valley project

KUALA LUMPUR (Dec 11): Jentayu Sustainables Bhd’s second generator of its 40MW (megawatt)&nbsp;Telekosang run-of-river hydropower plant in Tenom, Sabah, has achieved its initial operation date on Dec 9, with the feed-in-tariff commencement date (FiTCD) targeted in the next 30 days.

Jentayu sees Telekosang Hydro 2 feed-in-tariff in one month, to rope in partner for 170MW Project Oriole

Here’s a quick look at some of the stories that made headlines today.

EVENING 5: Five things you need to know today

Bursa Malaysia snapped five consecutive days of losses last week to end higher on Monday on late buying amid the mixed regional market performance, said an analyst.&nbsp;

Late buying lifts Bursa to end at intraday high

Sentral Real Estate Investment Trust (Sentral REIT) said on Monday that it has completed the acquisition of Menara CelcomDigi in Petaling Jaya from Malaysian Resources Corp Bhd (MRCB) for RM450 million.

Sentral REIT completes RM450 mil acquisition of Menara CelcomDigi from MRCB

Hong Leong Industries Bhd (HLI) has sold its investment holding firm HLI Trading Ltd (HLIT) to Guoline International Ltd (GIL) for US$7.78 million (RM36.22 million) in a related-party cash transaction.

Hong Leong Industries sells investment holding unit to major shareholders’ firm

Penang has reportedly&nbsp;proven its allure to both new and existing investors, with an investment inflow of RM34.6 billion in the manufacturing sector in the third quarter of 2023 (3Q2023), a 421% year-on-year (y-o-y)&nbsp;increase.

Penang saw RM34.6b manufacturing-sector investment inflow in 3Q, says Chow

Malaysia-headquartered property company United Overseas Australia (UOA) said on Monday its Vietnamese unit had inked a joint-venture (JV) agreement with CapitaLand (Vietnam) Holdings for a US$247.1 million (RM1.16 billion) property project.

UOA, CapitaLand ink JV for US$247m property project in Vietnam

Malaysia’s government can’t rule out whether a local charity funnelled millions of dollars to Hamas, according to officials familiar with the matter, as it probes the group for allegedly supporting a conservative Islamist organisation in the Southeast Asian nation.

Malaysia can’t rule out if millions in donations went to Hamas

Bitcoin delivered another bout of its notorious volatility in a sharp tumble towards US$40,000 (RM187,260) amid a broader crypto sell-off.

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