<div class=newsTextDataWrapInner><p data-qa-component="item-headline">BEIJING (Dec 31): Chinese President Xi Jinping said China and Russia have always moved forward "hand in hand" on the right path, the official Chinese news agency<em> Xinhua</em> said on Tuesday, months after the two countries struck a&nbsp;"new era strategic partnership"&nbsp;on key issues.</p></div>

<div class=newsTextDataWrapInner><p>The two leaders agreed in May to deepen bilateral ties and cooperate on areas of mutual interest, such as Taiwan, Ukraine, and mutual rival the United States.</p></div>

<div class=newsTextDataWrapInner><p>Russia’s state-run <em>RIA </em>news agency also quoted Moscow’s ambassador to Beijing as saying last Friday that Xi will visit&nbsp;Russia&nbsp;in 2025.</p></div><div class=inPageAd id=div-gpt-ad-inpage></div>

<div class=newsTextDataWrapInner><p>In an exchange of New Year greetings with Russian President Vladimir Putin, Xi lauded the mutual trust and strategic coordination between both countries, and expressed his desire to maintain close ties with Putin.</p></div>

<div class=newsTextDataWrapInner><p>China-Russia cooperation in various fields will continue to lead to new development opportunities, Xi added.</p></div>

<div class=newsTextDataWrapInner><p>The Chinese president was received in the Kremlin as a "dear friend" in 2023, after he obtained an unprecedented third term in office.</p></div>

<div class=newsTextDataWrapInner><p><em>Uploaded by Liza Shireen Koshy</em></p></div>


BEIJING (Dec 31): Chinese President Xi Jinping said China and Russia have always moved forward "hand in hand" on the right path, the official Chinese news agency Xinhua said on Tuesday, months after the two countries struck a "new era strategic partnership" on key issues.

China, Russia always moving forward 'hand in hand', Xi tells Putin

SEOUL (Jan 3): South Korea's transport ministry has extended special inspections of all 101 of the Boeing 737-800 jets run by the country's airlines by a week, after the worst aviation disaster on the country's soil, a ministry official said on Friday.

South Korea extends Boeing 737-800 inspections following fatal crash

US electric vehicle maker Tesla said on Friday its sales rose 8.8% to a record high of more than 657,000 cars in 2024, a strong performance in a competitive market in a year when its annual global deliveries fell for the first time.

Tesla's China sales rise to record high in 2024, bucking global decline

KUALA LUMPUR (Jan 3): Hong Leong Investment Bank recommends stock picking strategy in the banking sector, especially undervalued counters, amid the sector’s lowest valuation in five years.

HLIB: Be selective on bank stocks amid sector’s lowest valuation in five years

In Malaysia, teachers are more than just educators; they are the foundation upon which the future of the nation is built. Over the years, their role has evolved from traditional instructors to multifaceted leaders, mentors and agents of change. Today, teachers are not just responsible for academic development; they are nurturing the leaders of tomorrow. Their influence extends beyond textbooks, guiding students not only in knowledge but in emotional intelligence, social responsibility and ethical leadership.

My Say: Shaping the Future: The transformative role of teachers in Malaysia’s education and leadership landscape

US President Joe Biden will make a decision as soon as Friday on whether to approve Nippon Steel Corp’s acquisition of US Steel Corp, CBS reported, citing people familiar with the process.

Biden to announce US Steel decision as early as Friday — report

SHANGHAI (Jan 3): Most base metals edged up within tight ranges on Friday, influenced by mixed macroeconomic data from China and the United States, but gains were limited by a stronger US dollar.

Strong dollar keeps metals' gains in check

Hong Leong Investment Bank (HLIB) raised Southern Cable Group Bhd's (KL:SCGBHD) earnings forecast after the group's third quarterly results came within expectations, alongside growing demand and capacity expansion.

HLIB raises Southern Cable's earnings forecast

China's central bank said it is likely to cut interest rates from the current level of 1.5% "at an appropriate time" in 2025, the Financial Times reported on Friday, citing comments the bank made to the newspaper.

PBOC likely to cut rates in 2025, FT reports, as part of broader policy shift

Malaysia’s property developers may see their valuations rise further even after 2024’s strong rally, with stocks in the high-risk-high-return sector continuing to perform, said RHB Investment Bank.

Property stocks may see rising valuations as investors watch for recurring income, says RHB IB

Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim stressed an urgent need to address critical issues, such as hardcore poverty and flood mitigation, including a revision of current project projections.

Anwar wants swift implementation of flood mitigation, poverty eradication initiatives 

<p>Going into 2025, the US president-elect Donald Trump’s penchant for unpredictability set the stage for a potentially unpredictable time ahead. Being a major export destination for many countries, the US’ international trade policy will have a bearing on global economic growth. &nbsp;</p>


Stocks that analysts recommend most for 2025 

<p>Order book size seems to be a key consideration when it comes to stock picks. A fund manager and heads of equity research contacted by <em>The Edge</em> are more inclined to favour companies which have secured sizeable order books that offer better earnings visibility, besides the growing demand for their products or services.</p>


Experts' stock picks for 2025

<p>Malaysia’s property developers may see their valuations rise further even after 2024’s strong rally, with stocks in the high-risk-high-return sector continuing to perform, said RHB Investment Bank.</p>


<p>Authorities entered impeached South Korean President Yoon Suk's compund on Friday to execute an unprecedented arrest warrant, evading a crowd of protesters outside, but were confronted with presidential security forces inside.</p>


South Korea authorities enter impeached President Yoon's compound in arrest attempt

<p>Asian stocks rose on Friday, aiming to shrug off a lacklustre start to 2025, while the dollar was perched at a two-year high against a basket of currencies as investors fret about US rates staying higher for longer.</p>


Asian stocks rise, dollar at two-year high as US rates, Trump in focus

<p>KUALA LUMPUR (Jan 3): Hong Leong Investment Bank recommends stock picking strategy in the banking sector, especially undervalued counters, amid the sector’s lowest valuation in five years.</p>


<p>&nbsp;The high-flying technology behemoths responsible for more than half of the S&amp;P 500 Index’s 23% leap last year will likely struggle to dominate the market in 2025 as earnings growth decelerates.</p>


Big tech stocks’ reign may falter in 2025, Morgan Stanley’s Shalett say

<p>The US banking system’s reserves, a key factor in the Federal Reserve’s decision to keep shrinking its balance sheet, tumbled below US$3 trillion (RM13.4 trillion) to the lowest since October 2020.</p>


Reserves at US Fed sink below US$3 tril to the lowest since 2020

<p>Singapore Post Ltd’s sudden dismissal of three senior executives, and their strong denials of the company’s allegations against them, calls for an independent inquiry, according to Singapore’s investor watchdog.</p>


Singapore watchdog urges probe into SingPost executive firings

<p>China's central bank said it is likely to cut interest rates from the current level of 1.5% "at an appropriate time" in 2025, the <i>Financial Times</i> reported on Friday, citing comments the bank made to the newspaper.</p>


<p>Hong Leong Investment Bank (HLIB) raised Southern Cable Group Bhd's (KL:SCGBHD) earnings forecast after the group's third quarterly results came within expectations, alongside growing demand and capacity expansion.</p>


<p>Officials on Thursday positively identified the person found dead inside the Cybertruck that exploded outside the Trump International Hotel in Las Vegas as a US Army soldier from Colorado, while the FBI said it was not yet clear if the blast was an act of terrorism.</p>


Police positively identify driver of exploded Tesla Cybertruck as US Army soldier

<p>Major US benchmarks extended a selloff for a fifth day, shaving more than a trillion dollars from share prices. A pair of deadly attacks compounded market angst, starting the first trading day of the year on a dour note.&nbsp;</p>


Wall Street rattled by rough start to New Year

<p>US tech giant Meta Platforms has elevated prominent Republican Joel Kaplan to be its chief global affairs officer, replacing Nick Clegg.</p>


Meta taps Republican Joel Kaplan to lead global policy team, replacing Nick Clegg

<p>China plans to tighten export restrictions on certain technology used to make battery components and the processing of two crucial metals amid rising trade tensions globally.&nbsp;</p>


China plans export curbs on battery parts, mineral technology

<p>The Biden administration is considering a rule that could limit or ban Chinese drones in the US, the latest in a series of measures aimed at addressing national-security concerns linked to the country’s largest geopolitical rival.</p>


US weighs rule to prohibit Chinese drones on security concerns

<p>US President Joe Biden will make a decision as soon as Friday on whether to approve Nippon Steel Corp’s acquisition of US Steel Corp, <i>CBS</i> reported, citing people familiar with the process.</p>


<p>China’s State Power Investment Corp will start the construction of its alumina processing plant in Guinea this year after producing bauxite in the West African country for the past three years.</p>


Chinese firm to build Guinea’s biggest alumina processing plant

<p>Taxes on minimum wage jobs will have effectively doubled in just a decade after the Labour government’s increased payroll levy comes into effect, according to research by a conservative think tank.</p>


UK taxes on minimum wage work nearly double in a decade 

<p>Airbus SE fell just short of meeting its annual delivery target for 2024 by handing over about 760 aircraft to customers following a last-month spurt that helped the company overcome a slow start to the year.</p>
