Beijing’s ban on exporting any dual-use items to Japan for military use — as well as a separate threat to step up rare-earths curbs — strike at well-known vulnerabilities in Japan’s supply chains. Any tit-for-tat response from Tokyo would risk compounding economic woes, especially for Japanese carmakers that require Chinese-source inputs to produce electric vehicles. The Lynas Rare Earths processing plant in Kalgoorlie, Australia. After the 2010 embargo, Japan moved to diversify its sources of rare earths. Raising concerns about China’s export controls there would be an easy sell, since other members share similar concerns about critical minerals and industrial security.

SAO PAULO, Jan ‌6 (Reuters) - Neymar has agreed to extend his contract ‌with Santos until the end of 2026, the ‌Brazilian club said on Tuesday, as he maintains hopes of a World Cup call-up despite recent injuries. "Santos is my place, I'm at home," ⁠Neymar said in a video published on ‌the Brazilian club's social media. The former Barcelona and Paris St Germain star, Brazil's all-time top scorer with 79 goals, has not featured for the five-time World Cup winners since 2023. Brazil will face ‌Scotland, Morocco and Haiti in Group C of the World Cup, running from June 11 to July 19 in Canada, ​Mexico and the United States. (Reporting by Gabriel Araujo in Sao Paulo; additional reporting by Andre Romani; Editing by Sonali Paul)

MUMBAI (Jan 7): TPG Capital is in talks to buy a stake of up to 20% in Indian securities firm IIFL Capital Services, according to two sources familiar with the deal. US buyout group TPG, TPG Capital's parent, declined to comment, while IIFL Capital Services did not respond to a request for comment. Earlier on Wednesday, local newspaper the Economic Times reported that TPG was closing in on a deal to acquire 30% to 40% of IIFL Capital Services. The deal size was estimated to be in the range of 36.36 billion rupees to 48.48 billion rupees (US$404.3 million to US$539.1 million). IIFL Capital Services shares rose as much as 5.3% to 411.30 rupees in early trading before paring gains to trade 1.4% higher in the afternoon session.

(Jan 7): Revolut Ltd is in talks to acquire Turkish digital bank FUPS to start offerings its services in the country, according to people familiar with the matter. A spokesperson for Revolut said the company doesn’t comment on “market rumours or speculation.” FUPS declined to comment. The platform garnered a US$75 billion (RM304.32 billion) valuation in November, cementing its status as one of Europe’s most valuable startups. FUPS, a little known Turkish bank offering fintech services, received a licence in 2022 with a founding capital of 1.5 billion liras, which amounted to just over US$81 million at the time. As of September, the company had 60 employees, according to most recent data available from the Turkish Banks Association.

(Jan 7): Baidu Inc’s artificial intelligence (AI) chip unit has hired banks for an initial public offering (IPO) in Hong Kong that may raise as much as US$2 billion (RM8.11 billion), according to people familiar with the matter. China Securities International is also working on the potential offering, they said. China Securities, CICC and Huatai also didn’t respond, and Citic declined to comment. Kunlunxin, which makes chips that power servers in data centres, confidentially filed for the IPO last week, Baidu said on Jan 2. AI-related companies are going public in Hong Kong to tap investor demand for a sector deemed strategic by Beijing as it pushes for technological self-reliance.

It was the strongest period for mega deals, by number, since LSEG records began in 1980. Calling 2025 an "exceptional M&A year," Goldman's global co-head of M&A Stephan Feldgoise told clients "it was an extraordinary M&A market," with activity driven by a "ubiquity of capital," according to the investment bank's 2026 M&A outlook. Goldman ranked number one in two key areas: M&A fee revenue and overall value of the deals it worked on, gaining market share in both areas. In terms of volume of deals, Goldman, JPMorgan and Morgan Stanley held the first, second and third spots, respectively, followed by Bank of America and Citi. Whether they stay at their current rankings could depend on who wins the Warner Bros bid.

The MSCI China has gained about 3.6%, outperforming the S&P 500. Mainland Chinese investors’ southbound buying of Hong Kong-listed shares is projected to reach US$200 billion (RM810.5 billion) on a net basis, setting another record, the strategists said. Goldman Sachs has long been bullish on China, often defying market pessimism during the multi-year slump. A year ago, its strategists projected a roughly 20% gain for Chinese stocks in 2025. In 2025, the MSCI China rose 28%, while CSI 300 climbed 18%.

KOTA BARU: The decline in the number of arrests involving Malaysians in the border town of Sungai Golok throughout last December reflects the effectiveness of preventive measures resulting from tightened border controls by the Thai and Malaysian authorities. Sungai Golok Police Chief Colonel Thun Sirikhunt said only seven Malaysians were detained in several enforcement operations during the period, involving cases of entering Thailand without valid travel documents as well as drug-related offences. He said one of them was arrested for a drug offence while the other six were detained for illegal entry into Thailand, indicating that syndicate movements are increasingly being curtailed before criminal activities can be carried out. "Methamphetamine or Yaba pills remain the main prohibited substance being smuggled, therefore enforcement operations will continue to be intensified,” he told Bernama. He said continuous integrated operations are being conducted involving the police, military, Sungai Golok District Office and the Mayor’s Office, in addition to close cooperation with the Malaysian authorities to curb cross-border crime.

In Tokyo, Toyo Engineering Corp, which makes technology to recover rare earths from the seabed, jumped 20%. Australian miner Lynas Rare Earths Ltd was also up as much as 16%, the most since July, with metal producer Australian Strategic Materials Ltd climbing almost 10%. Rare earths are essential for making magnets and the elements are used in electric vehicles, robots and some defence-related technology. China’s latest export controls extend beyond rare earths to cover more than 800 items from chemicals to sensors. “It looks like Japan-China tensions are set to continue and I see that suppressing Japanese stocks’ upside for a while.”

KUALA LUMPUR (Jan 7): IJM Land has opened registration for Phase 4 of Ridge View @ Puchong and will officially launch the phase on Jan 17, according to a statement on Wednesday. Phase 4 of Ridge View @ Puchong is part of the larger 25-acre gated and guarded development. Phase 1 has received a take-up rate of 90%, while Phase 2 and 3 have achieved take-up rates of about 80%. “As Ridge View continues to unfold, we see a growing appreciation for homes that offer clarity, elevation and thoughtful planning. Phase 4 reflects this progression and strengthens Ridge View’s position as one of Puchong’s most distinguished residential enclaves,” Chai added.

PUTRAJAYA (Jan 7): The Mobile Labour Court will begin operations in Peninsular Malaysia this August to improve access to justice for workers and employers, particularly in rural and remote areas. He said the approach allows hearings to be conducted closer to the public, reducing travel costs and logistical challenges associated with attending Labour Court proceedings, especially for rural workers. People will no longer need to go to court; the court will come to them,” he said after a working tour of the Peninsular Malaysia Department of Labour (JTKSM) here on Wednesday. Ramanan said the Labour Court will also be strengthened through digitalisation, with six additional offices to be equipped with digital recording systems this year at a cost of RM1.8 million. Meanwhile, Ramanan said three key labour agencies, JTKSM, the Trade Union Affairs Department and the Industrial Relations Department, will be merged to improve service delivery efficiency and the enforcement of labour laws.

KANGAR (Jan 7): The approval process for investments in Perlis will be restructured to shorten the waiting period, which previously took between two and three months. Perlis Menteri Besar Abu Bakar Hamzah said the state government wants a decision to be made more quickly, either in granting approval or informing investors of their ineligibility. Meanwhile, he said a more progressive, professional, and solution-oriented change in attitude and approach is needed across the entire state government machinery to boost Perlis' economic growth. The development of Perlis requires an efficient, fast, and integrated working machinery. The discipline of civil servants needs to be strengthened, including stopping the practice of going out for drinks outside office premises during working hours," he also said.

SEOUL (Jan 7): South Korean President Lee Jae Myung said on Wednesday that much progress had been made in restoring trust with Beijing, and that he had asked Chinese President Xi Jinping to play a role in mediating Seoul's efforts to engage North Korea. Lee, who held talks with Xi this week, said the Chinese leader had noted that patience was needed when they discussed nuclear-armed North Korea. Lee was speaking to South Korean media in Shanghai with his remarks relayed live on television. "President Xi acknowledged our efforts so far and said patience is needed," Lee said. Lee said South Korea considered its ties with Japan as important as its relations with China.

The global energy debate continues to recycle a powerful illusion: that natural resource abundance automatically translates into national prosperity. The global energy debate continues to recycle a powerful illusion: that natural resource abundance automatically translates into national prosperity. Wealth is created only when resources are governed competently, developed by skilled institutions, protected by political stability, and embedded within a national strategy that transcends local pride, short-term politics, and episodic ambition. It required political stability, policy continuity across administrations, and — critically — a genuine team effort across the federation. - Wealth without political stability attracts external leverage.

A separate set of regulations, also published by the State Administration for Market Regulation and Cyberspace Administration of China, also bars online influencers from making false claims. Alibaba’s shares slid as much as 4.2% in Hong Kong, leading losses in peers such as AI video platform Kuaishou, JD and Meituan. Beijing has since 2025 heightened scrutiny of the country’s vast retail arena, particularly after Alibaba, JD and Meituan began spending billions of dollars on subsidies and incentives to try and dominate meal delivery. Some of the new regulations are designed to specifically target misbehaviours of platforms, the online tech companies that connect buyers with sellers. The new rules also require them to protect consumers and user data, and violations can lead to warnings and fines.