<div class=newsTextDataWrapInner><p>MOSCOW (Jan 3): The number of babies born in South Korea, a country with one of the world's lowest fertility rates, increased for the first time in nine years in 2024, reported <em>Sputnik/RIA Novosti</em>.</p></div>

<div class=newsTextDataWrapInner><p><em>Yonhap</em> reported on Friday, citing government data, that a total of 242,334 babies were born last year, up 3.1% from 2023, marking the first annual rise after eight consecutive years of decline.</p></div>

<div class=newsTextDataWrapInner><p>The country's total population stood at 51,217,221 people, declining for five years in a row.</p></div><div class=inPageAd id=div-gpt-ad-inpage></div>

<div class=newsTextDataWrapInner><p>Lee Sang-lim, a researcher at the Korea Institute for Health and Social Affairs, said the upward trend in birth rates is likely to continue for the next two years, since the generations born after 1991, the so-called echo boomers, are reaching marriageable age.</p></div>

<div class=newsTextDataWrapInner><p><em>Uploaded by Tham Yek Lee</em></p></div>


The number of babies born in South Korea, a country with one of the world's lowest fertility rates, increased for the first time in nine years in 2024, reported Sputnik/RIA Novosti.

South Korea sees rise in births for first time in nine years

A landslide occurred at Jalan Besar Kampung Raja, Cameron Highlands early Monday morning, blocking the road in both directions.

Cameron Highlands district police chief Supt Azri Ramli said no casualties or property damage were reported in the 2am incident.

Landslide at Kampung Raja blocks access road to Cameron Highlands

PUTRAJAYA (Jan 6): The Ministry of Transport (MOT) will establish a special task force to comprehensively address heavy vehicle safety issues, said its minister Anthony Loke.

Loke: Special task force to be established to address heavy vehicle safety issues

Justin Trudeau is expected to announce his resignation as leader of Canada’s Liberal Party this week, the Globe and Mail reported, a move that would trigger a race to replace him as prime minister.

Canada’s Trudeau is likely to resign this week — report

Cafe chain operator Oriental Kopi Holdings Bhd set its initial public offering (IPO) price at 44 sen apiece in a share sale that would raise RM183.96 million ahead of its listing on the ACE Market.

ACE Market-bound Oriental Kopi to raise RM184 mil, sets IPO price at 44 sen

KUALA LUMPUR (Jan 6): Shares of NationGate Holdings Bhd (KL:NATGATE) hit fresh all-time high in early morning trade on Monday, after gaining 16 sen or 6.4% at RM2.60, becoming the fourth biggest gainer on Bursa Malaysia.

NationGate hits new record high on first mover advantage, deliveries of AI GPU servers

KUALA LUMPUR (Jan 6): U Mobile has signed an agreement with the Federal Land Development Authority (Felda), in which the telco will play a critical role in supporting the group in its digital transformation drive.

U Mobile, Felda ink agreement to support digital transformation

A crowd rallied outside the Palace of Justice on Monday to support former prime minister Datuk Seri Najib Razak in his renewed bid to serve the rest of his prison term under house arrest.

Supporters turn up to Najib solidarity rally

(Jan 6): China reaffirmed its support for the yuan, after allowing the currency to slip below a key support level in the last session.

PBOC maintains support for yuan with fix stronger than key level

Pahang exco member Datuk Nizar Najib has produced a letter from the Royal Pahang Household, purportedly verifying the existence of the Jan 29, 2024, addendum that allows former prime minister Datuk Seri Najib Razak to serve the remainder of his prison sentence under house arrest.

Nizar produces letter purportedly from Pahang comptroller, allegedly verifying addendum

SINGAPORE (Jan 6): Singapore-headquartered data-centre company Digital Edge said on Monday that it had raised over US$1.6 billion (RM7.21 billion) in new capital via a combination of equity and debt financing, to fund its next phase of growth.

Singaporean data-centre firm Digital Edge raises over US$1.6b

<p>A crowd rallied outside the Palace of Justice on Monday to support former prime minister Datuk Seri Najib Razak in his renewed bid to serve the rest of his prison term under house arrest.</p>


<p>Pahang exco member Datuk Nizar Najib has produced a letter from the Royal Pahang Household, purportedly verifying the existence of the Jan 29, 2024, addendum that allows former prime minister Datuk Seri Najib Razak to serve the remainder of his prison sentence under house arrest.</p>


<p>KUALA LUMPUR (Jan 6): Binastra Corporation Bhd (KL:BNASTRA) may be the preferred contractor for property projects worth RM10 billion in gross development value over the next three years, Mercury Securities said.</p>


Binastra may be preferred contractor for property projects worth RM10b, Mercury starts coverage on 'buy'

<p>Cafe chain operator Oriental Kopi Holdings Bhd set its initial public offering (IPO) price at 44 sen apiece in a share sale that would raise RM183.96 million ahead of its listing on the ACE Market.</p>


<p>KUALA LUMPUR (Jan 6): Shares of glove manufacturers rallied on Monday in active trade amid reports of new virus infections in China, though authorities have downplayed the infections as&nbsp;seasonal winter peak.</p>


Glove stocks rally amid reports of new virus infections in China, MIDF shrugs off potential demand spike

<p>Share markets got off to a patchy start in Asia on Monday ahead of a week brimming with economic news that should underline the relative outperformance of the US and support the dollar's ongoing bull run.</p>


Shares patchy in Asia, Canadian dollar up on Trudeau report

<p>(Jan 6): The Australian dollar slid the most in six years in 2024 but its decline looks far from over — there’s every prospect it will fall below 60 US cents (RM2.70)&nbsp;in coming months.</p>


Bears see Aussie dollar drop to 60 cents as Trump readies China tariffs

<p>(Jan 6): The task of providing elderly care for the growing number of Chinese baby boomers may be a headache for Beijing, but a Singaporean hospital operator sees it as an evergreen opportunity.</p>


Singapore hospital operator Perennial targets wealthy boomers in China

<p>KUALA LUMPUR (Jan 6): Shares of NationGate Holdings Bhd (KL:NATGATE) hit fresh all-time high in early morning trade on Monday, after gaining 16 sen or 6.4% at RM2.60, becoming the fourth biggest gainer on Bursa Malaysia.&nbsp;</p>


<p>Justin Trudeau is expected to announce his resignation as leader of Canada’s Liberal Party this week, the<em> Globe and Mail </em>reported, a move that would trigger a race to replace him as prime minister.</p>


<p>Local institutions supported Bursa Malaysia for the 11th consecutive week, with net purchases of RM304.0 million in domestic equities, according to MIDF Amanah Investment Bank Bhd. &nbsp;</p>


MIDF: Local institutions back Bursa Malaysia for 11th straight week

<p>SYDNEY (Jan 6): Insignia Financial shares shot to a three-year high on Monday, after it revealed a A$2.87 billion (US$1.78 billion, or RM8.01 billion) takeover bid from US-based investment manager CC Capital Partners, eclipsing a A$2.67 billion offer from Bain Capital.</p>


Australia's Insignia gets US$1.8b bid from CC Capital, topping Bain offer

<p>SINGAPORE (Jan 6): Singapore-headquartered data-centre company Digital Edge said on Monday that it had raised over US$1.6 billion (RM7.21 billion) in new capital via a combination of equity and debt financing, to fund its next phase of growth.</p>


<p>KUALA LUMPUR (Jan 6): U Mobile has signed an agreement with the Federal Land Development Authority (Felda), in which&nbsp;the telco will play a critical role in supporting the group in its digital transformation drive.&nbsp;</p>


<p>(Jan 6):&nbsp;Shares in Nippon Steel Corp&nbsp;slipped on Monday, the first day of trading since US President Joe Biden&nbsp;blocked&nbsp;the Japanese company’s planned US$14.1 billion (RM63.49 billion) takeover of United States Steel Corp.</p>


Nippon Steel dips after Biden blocks US Steel takeover

<p>(Jan 6): The yuan weakening past a level that China had been defending throughout December has returned the spotlight to its daily reference rate for the managed currency to gauge Beijing’s appetite to support it.</p>


Yuan traders look to PBOC fixing to gauge level of support

<p>(Jan 6):&nbsp;China reaffirmed its support for the yuan, after allowing the currency to slip below a key support level in the last session.</p>


<p>LONDON (Jan 5): Elon Musk said Nigel Farage should quit as leader of Britain's right-wing Reform UK party&nbsp;in an abrupt withdrawal of support by the US&nbsp;billionaire for the Brexit campaigner, who is trying to shake up the British political establishment again.</p>


Musk turns on UK's Farage and says he should quit as Reform party leader

<p>(Jan 6):&nbsp;Italy is in advanced talks with Elon Musk’s SpaceX for a deal to provide secure telecommunications for the nation’s government — the largest such project in Europe, people with knowledge of the matter said on Sunday (Jan 5).</p>


Italy plans US$1.6b SpaceX telecom security services deal

<p>BENGALURU (Jan 6): Hong Kong-based developer Logan Group&nbsp;said on Monday that it was offering a restructuring proposal for the majority of its about US$8.01 billion (RM36.08 billion) offshore debt, including conversion to mandatory convertible bonds for its offshore creditors.</p>
