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Japan

PM Takaichi says Japan 'always open' to dialogue with China amid spat

TOKYO: Japanese Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi (pic) said on Wednesday (Dec 17) she is "always open" to dialogue with China despite a diplomatic row between Tokyo and Beijing over comments she made about Taiwan.

Nation

Anwar rules out possibility of general election in 2026, says 'long way to go'

PUTRAJAYA: Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim has ruled out any possibility of holding snap general elections next year, saying that his priority now is to implement reforms and to address the rising cost of living faced by the people.

Nation

Eight arrested in Selangor parang attack

PETALING JAYA: Police have arrested eight suspects in connection with a parang attack that left a local man seriously injured at Amara Residensi, Batu Caves.

Sabah & Sarawak

KK High Court rules against SFI receiver in land dispute with state

KOTA KINABALU: The High Court here has struck out an application for judicial review by Grant Thorton, the official receiver for defunct Sabah Forest Industries (SFI) against the Chief Minister and state government move to acquire 15 parcels of land held by SFI.

World

Supporters of Tunisia’s Saied rally amid deepening political divisions

TUNIS, Dec 17 (Reuters) - Tunisian President Kais Saied's supporters rallied in the capital on Wednesday calling the opposition "traitors", following mounting street protests in recent weeks that have highlighted widening political divisions.

China

Man in China fired for taking frequent long toilet breaks, with one lasting four hours

BEIJING: A man in China has been fired for taking frequent toilet breaks lasting more than an hour each time at work.

Commodities

Silver climbs to US$65 for first time; gold rises as US unemployment rate rises

SILVER surged past $65 an ounce to record highs on Wednesday, while gold advanced after softer-than-expected U.S. jobs data signalled a cooling labour market, fuelling bets on more interest rate cuts next year. Spot silver jumped 3.3% to $65.91 an ounce after touching an all-time high of $66.52 earlier in the session, extending a rally driven by tight supply, strong industrial demand and rising speculative interest.

Corporate News

Jati Tinggi-Idiqa JV to undertake RM117.17mil TNB job

KUALA LUMPUR: Jati Tinggi Group Bhd's wholly-owned subsidiary Jati Tinggi Holding Sdn Bhd in an unincorporated joint venture with Idiqa Holding Sdn Bhd has accepted a RM117.17mil contract from Tenaga Nasional Bhd to establish a 275kV bulk supply connection to a data centre in Johor.

Sabah & Sarawak

Appointment of new Cabinet members is PM's prerogative, says S'wak Premier

KUCHING: The appointment of new ministers and deputy ministers in the Federal Cabinet is the Prime Minister's prerogative, says Tan Sri Abang Johari Openg.

Nation

Drugs worth RM478.5mil mark highest seizure value for Customs in 2025

KUALA LUMPUR: The Royal Malaysian Customs Department recorded drugs as the seizure with the highest value, totalling RM478.5mil, for the enforcement period from Jan 1 to Nov 30, said its director-general, Datuk Anis Rizana Mohd Zainudin.

Squash

Harith wins his second squash gold by lifting doubles title with Wa Sern

BANGKOK: Squash player Harith Danial Jefri made it a perfect SEA Games debut by winning his second gold in Thailand.

True Or Not

QuickCheck: Did an illegal passport-stamping operation disguise itself as a cake-selling business?

SOMETIMES, we just want a slice of cake after a nice meal for dessert. As we scroll through food delivery apps, some shops have good reviews, others have bad ones. And some shops are just downright suspicious.

India

Delhi restricts vehicles, office attendance in bid to curb pollution

NEW DELHI: Authorities in India's capital Delhi rolled out strict measures on Wednesday (Dec 17) in an attempt to curb pollution, including a ban on vehicles not compliant with latest emission control norms and regulating attendance in private and government offices.

Corporate News

Muhibbah Engineering unit sells offshore supply vessel for RM74mil

KUALA LUMPUR: Muhibbah Engineering (M) Bhd (MEB) said its wholly-owned subsidiary Muhibbah O&G Sdn Bhd has entered into a protocol of delivery and acceptance contract with a service company in Southeast Asia for the sale of an offshore supply vessel built by MEB for about US$18mil (RM74mil).

World

Brazil Senator Flavio Bolsonaro woos business leaders ahead of presidential run

BRASILIA/SAO PAULO, Dec 17 (Reuters) - Brazilian Senator Flavio Bolsonaro, the son of jailed former President Jair Bolsonaro, is meeting this week with business and finance leaders to address skepticism over his economic policies as he prepares to run for president next year, people familiar with his plans said.

South Korea

South Korea-Japan tunnel proposals re-emerge in Unification Church scandal

SEOUL: A decades-old proposal to build an undersea tunnel linking South Korea and Japan has re-emerged at the centre of a widening political scandal involving the Unification Church and alleged illicit funding of senior politicians.

Nation

State to bear cost of equipment for S'wak Cancer Centre at Putrajaya's request, says Premier

KUCHING: Sarawak will bear the cost of providing medical equipment for the Sarawak Cancer Centre at Putrajaya's request, says Tan Sri Abang Johari Openg.

Archery

Silver for Quik after shoot-off heartbreak, Ariana finishes second twice

BANGKOK: National archer Quik Chern Xin fought until the end, but had to settle with a silver after one shoot-off hreatbreak in the men's individual recurve event.

Nation

SPM candidate among flood victims relocated to temporary evacuation centre in Mersing

MERSING: Continuous heavy rain since midnight has inundated this district, forcing hundreds of residents to leave their homes and seek shelter at temporary evacuation centres.

Other Sports

A priceless silver after 58 years

BANGKOK: It was not gold, but it was priceless. After all, it was Malaysia's first appearance in the table tennis mixed doubles final in 58 years