KHAIRY Jamaluddin was health minister for barely 15 months (Aug 30, 2021–Nov 24, 2022), yet with the Health White Paper (HWP) tabled in Parliament on June 13, 2022, he has probably made his mark as the first health minister to have made headway — through a call for bipartisan support — with the long-standing agenda for healthcare reform.

The Health White Paper: Is an employment-taxed health financing scheme the right solution?

At their recent summit in San Francisco, US President Joe Biden and China’s President Xi Jinping made progress in a few key areas. Notably, they agreed to resume direct military-to-military communications — which China had suspended last year following a visit by then-Speaker of the House of Repr...

Asia In The World Economy: China’s self-inflicted economic wounds

A media statement by Dr Ong Kian Ming, a former deputy international trade and industry minister, on Dec 1, 2023.

Public interest must not be sacrificed in DNB shareholder agreement, says Ong Kian Ming

IN the volatile crossroads of climate change and conflict, humanity grapples with an unprecedented crisis, demanding urgent action and resolute solidarity.

Calling for global solidarity for climate and peace at COP28: Support for climate actions and humanitarianism in conflict zones

Well, that’s one way to spice up an international break! The 10-point deduction the English Premier League (EPL) imposed on Everton has been the talk of football even though no club games were being played.

But the headlines were less about what it might mean for Liverpool’s neighbours ...

Business Of Sports: Everton sanction could be bad news for City and Chelsea

How many times have we bought a cup of coffee much larger than what we need simply because it was only slightly more expensive? Or looked at our long “to-do” lists and decide that the next course of action would be to take a quick nap?

These are just some of the many behavioural biases ...

My Say: Behavioural interventions: Nudging Malaysia towards retirement adequacy

The survival of natural rubber as a smallholder crop is in doubt due to the depressed rubber prices seen over the last couple of years. Rubber smallholders, due to poor incomes from the sale of rubber, are finding it very difficult to survive economically. They have no control whatsoever over rub...

My Say: Cultivating rubber smallholders for the good of the planet

I am hopeful that the upcoming COP 28 climate summit will give nature the role it deserves in our fight against climate change.

The COP 28 Presidency’s Action Agenda is ambitious and to the point, with a focus on fast-tracking the energy transition by slashing emissions before 2030. Imp...

Climate And Environmental Governance: Let’s put nature at the heart of our climate plans

What is it exactly that Malaysians have been fighting about since the country gained independence as the Federation of Malaya on Aug 31, 1957?

The segmented nature of the population cannot be denied. We see that undeniably in how no political party has ever ruled the country on its own ...

Picking On The Present: Country building is citizen building

As Prime Minister Datuk Seri ­Anwar Ibrahim celebrates his first year in office, it is a good time to take stock of the country’s prospects. Looking over the past year, what strikes us is how Malaysia has emerged from a period of extraordinary difficulties relatively intact and with reasonable ho...

My Say: Malaysia might just surprise on the upside

WITH the latest salvo emanated from a convicted felon — Sirul Azhar Umar — in his latest interview in Al-Jazeera’s “101 East” programme, it seems that Malaysia will be tormented by the spectre of Altantuya for good.

Sirul’s latest ‘bombshell’ against Najib — would Najib be ready to sue Sirul?

Spotted on a highway recently was a battered old Proton Satria GTI from the mid-1990s, the colour now a faded dirty olive drab, from what was once probably a proud British racing green.

Coffee Break: Everything has gone topsy-turvy …

As the war of mind games raged over the internet and social media on who is right or wrong in the ongoing one-sided war between Israel and what is left of a Palestinian state in Gaza and the occupied West Bank, many have only now realised that this conflict is already 75 years old.

As a...

My Say: A ‘forced’ solution by the US, the UK and France on Israel is needed for peace to come to Palestine

A fortnight ago, in my article “Sovereign immunity in Malaysia — what it is and the way forward”, I laid out the fundamentals of state immunity, its correlation to the Sulu Fraud, and how it informs our way forward as an independent nation. The doctrine of sovereign immunity, as I had alluded to ...

My Say: Sovereign immunity in Malaysia — an overview of our State Immunity Bill

The Malaysian Communications and Multimedia Commission (MCMC) will provide a framework within a month to enable all social media platform providers to register with the agency and facilitate the regulating such platforms in the country.

Fahmi: MCMC working on framework to facilitate registration, regulation of social media platforms

Here is a brief recap of some corporate announcements that made the news on Friday involving Citaglobal Bhd, CelcomDigi Bhd, Maxis Bhd, Telekom Malaysia Bhd, YTL Power International Bhd, Axiata Group Bhd, Pansar Bhd, Apex Healthcare Bhd, Crest Builder Holdings Bhd and Sarawak Consolidated Industries Bhd.

Citaglobal, CelcomDigi, Maxis, TM, YTL Power, Axiata, Pansar, Apex Healthcare, Crest Builder, SCIB

The S&P 500 and Nasdaq fell on Friday as investors were on edge ahead of Federal Reserve chair Jerome Powell's comments that some fear may have a hawkish tilt towards monetary policy.

S&P, Nasdaq slip as caution prevails ahead of Powell comments

US-listed shares of Alibaba Group Holding declined on Friday following a Morgan Stanley downgrade on concerns over slower turnaround in its key businesses, hours after PDD raced past its rival to become the most valuable Chinese e-commerce firm.

Alibaba dips on Morgan Stanley downgrade as PDD grabs spot of most valuable Chinese e-commerce firm

Pavilion Real Estate Investment Trust (Pavilion REIT) has terminated two memoranda of understanding (MOUs) it inked for the purchase of renewable energy (RE) from a solar power plant in Pasir Mas, Kelantan, under the Corporate Green Power Programme (CGPP) to power its malls.

Pavilion REIT cancels MOUs to power Pavilion KL, Intermark and Pavilion Bukit Jalil with renewable energy

Shares of crypto miners and bitcoin-tracking companies climbed in premarket trading on Friday as the world's largest cryptocurrency extended a recent rally to touch a near 19-month high on improving risk appetite.

Bitcoin, up 2% at US$38,410, has been gaining since October on optimism that a potential approval of a spot exchange-traded fund is likely to unleash more capital investments in the digital asset sector.

Crypto stocks set to start December on a high note as bitcoin hits near 19-month high

In today’s edition of Evening 5 — Five telcos have finally inked deals with DNB, and will collectively own a 70% stake in the state-owned entity, while Putrajaya will retain 30% plus a golden share. Meanwhile, PM Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim says Digital ID concerns such as personal data leaks and chip implants are unfounded.

EVENING 5: Telcos finally ink DNB deal

A weekly round-up of tanker and dry bulk market (Dec 1, 2023)

Baltic Exchange shipping updates: Dec 1, 2023

Mining firm OM Holdings Ltd, which is dual-listed on Bursa Malaysia and the Australian Stock Exchange, has issued 27.63 million shares, representing a 3.75% stake, in the company to JFE Shoji Corp for A$13.04 million (about RM40.34 million) or A$0.472 sen per share.

Japan-based JFE Shoji takes up 3.75% stake in OM Holdings

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

EVENING 5: Five things you need to know today

Most read this week - Stay up to date with the biggest news and latest trending topics by checking out the top 10 articles of the week.

Most read this week

A client of Malaysia’s biggest bank recently discovered that her bank balance had mysteriously increased to more than US$86 million (RM404 million).

Woman discovers over RM404m mistakenly deposited in Maybank account

Petroliam Nasional Bhd (Petronas) and its petroleum arrangement contractors have recorded 19 exploration discoveries and two exploration-appraisal successes, contributing over one billion barrels of oil equivalent (bboe) of new resources for Malaysia in 2023.

Petronas finds over 1 bil barrels of oil equivalent exploration discoveries in 2023

Digital Nasional Bhd (DNB) is to be 70%-owned by five local mobile network operators (MNOs), while the remaining 30% will be retained by Putrajaya, accompanied by a golden share, according to Communications and Digital Minister Fahmi Fadzil.

Five telcos to collectively own 70% stake in DNB; Putrajaya to retain 30% plus golden share

Bursa Malaysia Securities Bhd has reprimanded Sarawak Consolidated Industries Bhd (SCIB) and two of its former directors, Datuk Mohd Abdul Karim Abdullah and Rosland Othman, for failing to submit the group’s 2021 annual report within the approved timeline.

Bursa reprimands SCIB, fines Abdul Karim and one other RM27,000 each for late submission of annual report

(Dec 1): President Vladimir Putin has ordered the transfer of all the rights to managing St&nbsp;Petersburg’s Pulkovo airport from foreign shareholders that include Germany’s Fraport AG and the Qatari wealth fund by shifting their stakes into a new Russian entity.

Under a decree publish...

Putin seizes rights to St Petersburg Airport from foreign investors

Citaglobal Bhd, in which the Yang di-Pertuan Agong Sultan Abdullah Sultan Ahmad Shah is a substantial shareholder, has together with its consortium partner TIZA Global Sdn Bhd, executed a 40:60 joint development agreement with clean energy player Abu Dhabi Future Energy Company PJSC (Masdar) for a two-gigawatt (2GW) solar farm project in Pahang for US$2 billion (RM9.75 billion).

Under the deal, Citaglobal and TIZA will hold a 40% equity interest in the project, with the remaining 60% held by Masdar. The parties will put in funding for the project's development's cost — which will be determined later — in proportion to their stake in the project.

Citaglobal executes deal with Abu Dhabi energy firm to develop US$2 bil solar farm in Pahang

The ringgit is expected to recover along with other emerging-market currencies once central banks in developed economies are done raising interest rates, according to Bank Negara Malaysia governor Datuk Abdul Rasheed Ghaffour.

BNM chief sees ringgit reprieve as rates peak

After seven turbulent years in Nepal, Axiata Group Bhd is selling its stake in Ncell Axiata Bhd by disposing of its shares in Reynolds Holdings Ltd, which holds an 80% stake in Ncell Axiata, and exiting the country.

Axiata sells Ncell stake and exits Nepal, cites unfair taxation and unfavourable foreign investor protection

Pavilion Real Estate Investment Trust (Pavilion REIT) has terminated two memoranda of understanding (MOUs) it inked for the purchase of renewable energy (RE) from a solar power plant in Pasir Mas, Kelantan, under the Corporate Green Power Programme (CGPP) to power its malls.

Property developer Avaland Bhd (formerly known as MCT Bhd) has redesignated its non-independent non-executive director Apollo Bello Tanco as the group’s executive director (ED) and chief executive officer effective Jan 1, 2024.

Property developer Avaland redesignates Apollo as group ED and CEO, effective Jan 1

Bitcoin soared to its highest price so far this year, as investors took on more risk ahead of comments from Federal Reserve chair Jerome Powell which could give guidance on whether the US is closer to lowering interest rates.

Bitcoin rally pushes largest token to 18-month high

PUTRAJAYA (Dec 1): Minister of Communication and Digital&nbsp;Fahmi Fadzil assured the public on Friday that personal data protection and cyber security&nbsp;will always be under control&nbsp;in the&nbsp;implementation of the National Digital Identity, or Digital ID programme.

Digital ID: Public assured of data protection and cyber security — Fahmi

Bursa Malaysia ended the week marginally higher due to late buying, particularly in telecommunications and banking stocks, a dealer said.

Bursa ends marginally higher

Global stocks edged up on Friday, having closed out their best month in three years the day before, as investor confidence that interest rates will fall next year has lured cash into equities, cryptocurrencies and gold at the expense of the dollar.

Shares rally as investor confidence in Fed cuts grows

Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim on Friday hinted at a Cabinet reshuffle this month.

Anwar hints at Cabinet reshuffle this month

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

Senior lawyer Datuk Hisyam Teh Poh Teik will be the lead counsel for former Tronoh assemblyman Paul Yong Choo Kiong’s appeal against his conviction, 13 years’ jail and two strokes of the cane for raping his maid in 2019.

Hisyam Teh to lead defence in ex-Tronoh assemblyman Paul Yong's rape appeal

KUALA LUMPUR (Dec 1): Pengurusan Aset Air Bhd (PAAB) has appointed Zulkiflee Omar as its new chief executive officer (CEO),&nbsp;effective Friday.

Pengurusan Aset Air appoints Zulkiflee Omar as new CEO

Israel's warplanes pounded Gaza on Friday after talks to extend a week-old truce with Hamas broke down, sending wounded and dead Palestinians into hospitals and others onto the streets to seek safety.

Eastern areas of Khan Younis in southern Gaza came under intensive bombardment as the deadline lapsed shortly after dawn, with columns of smoke rising into the sky, Reuters journalists in the city said. Residents took to the road with belongings heaped up in carts, fleeing for shelter further west.

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