<div class=newsTextDataWrapInner><p>KUALA LUMPUR (Feb 13):&nbsp;McDonald’s witnessed a dent in its business, and felt the “most pronounced impact” from countries including Malaysia and Indonesia, and as well as other Muslim countries in the Middle East.</p></div>

<div class=newsTextDataWrapInner><p>In a report last week, American newspaper and digital media company <em>The Hill </em>said that in&nbsp;McDonald’s fourth-quarter and full-year 2023 report released on Monday, the Chicago-based burger chain said sales in its licensed markets business — including most of its Middle East locations — increased by only 0.7% in the last quarter.</p></div>

<div class=newsTextDataWrapInner><p>The company said the low number was a reflection of “the impact of the war” between Israel and the Palestinian militant group Hamas in the Middle East.</p></div><div class=inPageAd id=div-gpt-ad-inpage></div>

<div class=newsTextDataWrapInner><p>This was less than the company’s overall sales growth of 3.4% and that of its US&nbsp;and other international businesses, which each increased by more than 4%.</p></div>

<div class=newsTextDataWrapInner><p>The fast-food company came under scrutiny after McDonald’s Israel gave away thousands of free meals to Israeli forces and citizens following Hamas’ surprise assault on southern Israel.</p></div>

<div class=newsTextDataWrapInner><p>The move prompted calls to boycott the company in protest of Israel’s bombardment of Gaza, which has killed more than 27,400 people since October last year, according to the enclave’s Health Ministry.</p></div>


McDonald’s witnessed a dent in its business, and felt the “most pronounced impact” from countries including Malaysia and Indonesia, and as well as other Muslim countries in the Middle East.

McDonald’s felt 'pronounced impact' in M'sia from boycott of Israel — report

AmanahRaya Investment Management Sdn Bhd announced that it has temporarily suspended dealings in three funds under its management with immediate effect, citing liquidity constraints.

AmanahRaya Investment Management suspends redemptions in three funds on liquidity constraints

Apple Inc introduced a new device called the HomeView, a US$299 (RM1,221) display that serves as the centrepiece of its push to challenge Amazon.com Inc and Alphabet Inc’s Google in the smart home market.

Apple unveils US$299 HomeView Hub as part of new smart home push

Eleven sailors were missing at sea on Tuesday from a ship sunk by a drone attack off the coast of Bulgaria, possibly the second deadly sinking of a cargo vessel in the area in a week, prompting Bulgaria to summon Russia's ambassador.

Eleven sailors missing after drone sinks ship off Bulgaria

German Chancellor Friedrich Merz and Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy regard an “energy truce” announced by Donald Trump covering Russian oil refineries as too narrow and want Moscow to accept a broader ceasefire in the power sector, according to people familiar with the matter.

Germany and Ukraine want Putin to join full energy-sector truce — Bloomberg

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

Sime Darby, Kelington Group, Critical Holdings, Censof Holdings, Liamson Fleet, Pantech Global, Mentiga Corp, Binasat Communications & CTOS Digital 

The founder of a well-known wellness centre chain has been charged with misappropriating RM60,000 from the company for personal use, according to a charge sheet sighted by theedgemarkets.com.

Chuah Seong Keat, or better known as Leon Chuah, was charged at the Magistrate’s Court in Petaling Jaya on Thursday (Jan 5) for allegedly committing the offence in January 2018.

Founder of wellness chain charged with misappropriating RM60,000 for personal use

India's "cockroach" youth movement leaders were detained on Tuesday after they jumped barricades to enter a historic Delhi site popular for protests, demanding that the chief election commissioner resign over a revision of voter lists.

Indian police detain 'cockroach' movement leaders demanding election chief stand down

The government is still seeking to recover funds from National Feedlot Corporation Sdn Bhd (NFC), three years after the High Court ordered the company to make payment over an outstanding loan.

Finance Ministry: Govt still pursuing RM33.74m from National Feedlot Corporation three years after court ruling  

Wall Street's main indices were muted in choppy trading on Tuesday as chip stocks came under selling pressure again while investors parsed a mixed bag of quarterly results, including those from big US banks.

Wall Street subdued in choppy trade after big bank earnings, chips slide

Long-term Treasuries advanced as oil prices snapped a three-day rally, aiding the US inflation outlook ahead of Wednesday’s release of September consumer prices data.

Long-term Treasuries hold gains as oil snaps three-day rally

<p>Genting Bhd (KL:GENTING) CEO Datuk Seri Tan Kong Han bought 400,000 shares in the group on Monday, when its stock fell to a near two-decade low.</p>


Genting CEO buys shares as stock nears two-decade low

<p>Seputeh MP Teresa Kok has urged the government to suspend registration and any earthworks for the Bandar Madani Bukit Jalil housing project pending the completion of planning studies.</p>


Seputeh MP urges halt to Bandar Madani Bukit Jalil registration pending planning reviews

<p>Sime Darby Bhd’s (KL:SIME) wholly owned subsidiary, Sime Darby Holdings Bhd (SDHB), has been slapped with a RM150.18 million tax bill from the Inland Revenue Board (IRB) for the 2017 to 2023 assessment years.</p>


Sime Darby hit with RM150.2 mil tax bill, plans to appeal

<p>AmanahRaya Investment Management Sdn Bhd announced that it has temporarily suspended dealings in three funds under its management with immediate effect, citing liquidity constraints.</p>


<p>A member of the Terengganu royal family has filed a civil suit against two banking institutions, alleging negligence that led to the loss of RM1.99 million from his savings accounts.</p>


Terengganu royal family member sues two banks over RM1.99 mil loss

<p>The Royal Malaysian Police (PDRM) have opened an investigation paper regarding allegations of a failure to remit government revenue collections amounting to RM230.9 million, involving electronic service provider companies My EG Sdn Bhd (MyEG) and Zetrix AI Bhd (KL:ZETRIX).</p>


Police say six witnesses questioned in probe into MyEG, Zetrix AI

<p>The Malaysian Bar has defended its support for e-Jamin in May 2024, saying it was unaware that the bail payment system operated without a formal contract between the government and its operator, Dapat Vista (M) Sdn Bhd.</p>


Malaysian Bar says it was unaware e-Jamin had no contract when it defended the system in 2024

<p>CTOS Digital Bhd (KL:CTOS), whose shares fell to a record low on Tuesday, expects its recent cybersecurity breach to reduce its financial year ending Dec 31, 2026 (FY2026) profit after tax and minority interests (Patami) by RM12 million and revenue by RM16 million.</p>


CTOS estimates RM12m FY2026 profit hit from cyber breach as stock falls to record low

<p>HIS TIZA Pahang Sdn Bhd, a company linked to the Pahang crown prince, has entered into a share sale agreement&nbsp;with state government-owned Amanah Saham Pahang Bhd (ASPA) to acquire a 30% stake in Mentiga Corp Bhd (KL: MENTIGA) for RM21 million cash.</p>


Pahang crown prince-linked firm to buy 30% stake in planter Mentiga for RM21m 

<p>Intercontinental Exchange Inc, owner of the New York Stock Exchange, is planning to offer contracts for betting on future cattle and hog prices, competing with long-time incumbent CME Group Inc as it moves its systems to the cloud.</p>


NYSE owner plans futures for livestock in a bid to challenge CME Group

<p>Alibaba Group Holding Ltd on Tuesday unveiled the new generation of its smart glasses, deepening its foray into consumer electronics as an extension of its artificial intelligence (AI) strategy.</p>


Alibaba unveils US$450 smart glasses in expanding push into gadgets

<p>Plastic packaging maker Ekonusa Bhd has refiled the draft prospectus for its initial public offering for an ACE Market listing, replacing Affin Hwang Investment Bank Bhd with Mercury Securities Sdn Bhd as its principal adviser and sponsor.</p>


Ekonusa refiles draft IPO prospectus with Mercury Securities as new sponsor and principal adviser, replacing Affin Hwang IB

<p>Land 33 Bhd (KL:LAND33) is acquiring a 1.05-acre parcel with a two-storey bungalow in Penang for RM32.3 million in cash for future property development.</p>


Land 33 buying one-acre George Town land for RM32 mil for future development

<p>Here is a brief recap of some business news and corporate announcements that made the headlines on Tuesday.</p>


<p>Malaysian banks could see deposits inflows of between RM5.7 billion and RM10.1 billion because of&nbsp;the&nbsp;minimum wage hike and payroll tax deduction for non-MSMEs announced in Budget 2027.&nbsp;</p>


Malaysian banks could see RM10b deposit spike due to Budget 2027 wage measures — Nomura

<p>The Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission (MACC) has established an internal committee to review and approve applications for asset-freezing orders to strengthen oversight and accountability.</p>


MACC sets up committee to review asset-freezing orders — Kulasegaran

<p>ICT solutions provider RedPlanet Bhd (KL:RPLANET), which is set to transfer its listing to ACE Market from the LEAP Market on Oct 22, reported that its share allocation to the Malaysian public under its initial public offering (IPO) has been oversubscribed by 85.28 times.</p>


ACE Market-bound RedPlanet’s IPO shares oversubscribed by 85.28 times

<p>Investment in the space economy is on track to exceed US$100 billion (RM408.7 billion) for the first time ever in a given year in 2026, fuelled by SpaceX’s blockbuster initial public offering, defence spending and space infrastructure.</p>


Space investment to top US$100 bil in 2026 after SpaceX IPO

<p>Critical Holdings Bhd (KL:CHB) said an additional RM74.1 million has been added to the value of the contract it secured from an undisclosed US-based multinational corporation to build a cleanroom facility at Kulim Hi-Tech Park in Kedah.</p>


Critical Holdings' Kulim Hi-Tech Park cleanroom job value increased by nearly 49% to RM227m

<p>Jati Tinggi Group Bhd (KL:JTGROUP) said that there has been no material change to its operations or projects, after its share price plunged by almost a third in intraday trade before recovering at market close.</p>
