Pirelli in talks with Sinochem to reduce its stake to 10% — Bloomberg
If implemented, it would reduce Sinochem’s holding from roughly 34% and reclassify the Chinese group as a passive investor, significantly curbing its influence. The Italian government, which considers Pirelli a strategic asset, would welcome such an outcome, the people said. It is facilitating the talks and has been seeking a solution to the prolonged standoff between the company and Sinochem, the people added. Italy has already intervened to curb Sinochem’s governance powers under its so-called golden power regime. Two months later, at the company’s annual general meeting, Sinochem failed to block approval of the company’s annual financial statements.
Source:The Edge Markets
January 07, 2026 14:40 UTC
Extreme weather possible outside typical monsoon areas, MetMalaysia cautions
He said among the main factors influencing the occurrence of extreme weather were wind direction and speed, as well as wind convergence in a particular area. "The alert level indicates a potential risk of extreme weather that still requires serious attention from the public. "Although the monsoon is expected to end in March, the presence of monsoon surges that bring heavy rainfall can occur at any time and requires continuous monitoring," he said. Ambun also said MetMalaysia conducted 24-hour weather monitoring and would issue early warnings as soon as signs of monsoon surges were detected. He advised the public to always obtain the latest weather information from official MetMalaysia sources and to comply with authorities' instructions, including evacuation orders, to reduce safety risks during extreme weather events.
Source:The Star
January 07, 2026 14:35 UTC
Feb 25 case management for legal challenge over Perlis assembly vacancies
KANGAR (Jan 7): The High Court has fixed Feb 25 for a case management hearing on the originating summons filed by three former members of the Perlis state legislative assembly, challenging Assembly Speaker, Rus'sele Eizan, and the Legislative Assembly over the declaration that their seats are vacant. Former assemblymen Mohd Ridzuan Hashim, Fakhrul Anwar Ismail, and Saad Seman were represented by lawyer Mohd Jamil Yaacob. The Speaker and the Legislative Assembly were represented by Perlis state legal adviser Yang Zaimey Yang Ghazali and assistant state legal adviser Che Rohana Ismail. The claimants filed the summons on Jan 2, naming Rus'sele and the Perlis state legislative assembly as the first and second defendants. The case stems from an announcement on Dec 25 by Speaker Rus'sele, who declared the three seats vacant after the PAS membership of the assemblymen was terminated under Clause (1)(a)(ii), Article 50A of the Perlis State Constitution.
Source:The Edge Markets
January 07, 2026 14:34 UTC
Paramount to acquire 2.62-acre freehold land in Putrajaya for RM40 mil, plans RM323 mil project
KUALA LUMPUR (Jan 7): Paramount Corporation Bhd (KL:PARAMON) said it is acquiring a 2.62-acre parcel of freehold land in Putrajaya for RM40 million and plans to develop a residential project with an estimated gross development value (GDV) of RM323 million on the site. The land also has direct access to major road networks, including the Putrajaya–Cyberjaya Expressway and Lingkaran Putrajaya. Paramount plans to develop a high-rise residential project on the site, with a launch expected about a year after completion of the sale and purchase. The project will add to Paramount’s current GDV of RM5.04 billion and is expected to contribute positively to future earnings. Paramount said the land comes with secured development orders, allowing for a swift transition from acquisition to project execution.
Source:The Edge Markets
January 07, 2026 14:14 UTC
American companies added 41,000 jobs in December, says ADP
(Jan 7): Hiring at US companies rose in December at a moderate pace, pointing to sluggish momentum heading into 2026. Private-sector payrolls increased by 41,000, according to ADP Research data released on Wednesday, after declining in the prior month. The ADP report, published in collaboration with the Stanford Digital Economy Lab, showed wage growth accelerated for workers who changed jobs, after registering the smallest annual gain since 2021 in the prior month. ADP bases its findings on payrolls covering more than 26 million US private-sector employees. In addition to the monthly reports, ADP also releases separate data on a weekly basis.
Source:The Edge Markets
January 07, 2026 13:50 UTC
Doctors ruling out hip surgery for Dr M due to his age, says Mukhriz
PETALING JAYA: Doctors are advising against an operation on Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad to treat his fractured hip because he is over 100 years old, says his son Datuk Seri Mukhriz Mahathir. In a video posted on social media on Wednesday (Jan 7), he said the former prime minister fell and fractured his hip when during his morning exercise on the balcony. "Due to his age of 100 years, an operation is not a wise option. "I thank everyone, including strangers, who texted their well wishes to the family," said Mukhriz. Over the years, Dr Mahathir has had at least two major heart surgeries, including a quadruple bypass in 2007.
Source:The Star
January 07, 2026 13:25 UTC
MACC arrests five, including ex-army chief and his two wives
PETALING JAYA: Former Army chief Tan Sri Muhammad Hafizuddeain Jantan and his two wives have been arrested by the Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission (MACC). They were arrested on Wednesday (Jan 7) night at the MACC headquarters in Putrajaya after providing statements over an ongoing probe involving military contract tenders. The former Army chief and his two wives will be remanded on Thursday (Jan 8) at the Putrajaya court. When contacted, MACC chief commissioner Tan Sri Azam Baki confirmed the arrests. On Tuesday (Jan 6), the MACC secured five-day remand orders until Jan 10 for 17 company directors suspected of operating a cartel to fix tenders for Army procurements.
Source:The Star
January 07, 2026 13:18 UTC
Xi is testing Japan’s ties with Trump by escalating trade battle
Hours later, China opened an anti-dumping probe into a key chipmaking material, taking aim at another pillar of Japanese industry. Taken together, the moves show China President Xi Jinping’s pressure campaign against Japan Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi over her comments on Taiwan is just getting started. “Traditionally, Japan’s diplomacy has followed a clear pattern: first you lock in the relationship with the US and then face China. Japan is keeping the US in the loop as ties with the world’s number two economy continue to fray. Just days ago, Takaichi said she had an “extremely meaningful” call with Trump and would visit the US later this year.
Source:The Edge Markets
January 07, 2026 13:08 UTC
Friendship on hold as juniors take on seniors in all-Malaysian mixed match
KUALA LUMPUR: It was third time lucky for national mixed doubles pair Hoo Pang Ron-Cheng Su Yin as they finally got the better of Denmark’s Mathias Christiansen-Alexandra Boje at the Malaysian Open yesterday. The victory was made sweeter as it marked Pang Ron–Su Yin’s first win at the Malaysian Open, after they exited in the opening round last year. “It’s our first win at the Malaysian Open, and I’m very happy and satisfied to have finally beaten the Danish pair,” said Su Yin. Su Yin said staying composed was key to their comeback, while crediting Pang Ron and the coaches for keeping her focused. Pang Ron–Su Yin will face an all-Malaysian challenge next, with reigning world champions Chen Tang Jie-Toh Ee Wei awaiting them in the second round after the latter defeated Indonesia’s Jafar Hidayatullah-Felisha Pasaribu 21-12, 21-17 yesterday.
Source:The Star
January 07, 2026 13:07 UTC
Lack of clear carbon tax, limited incentives hinder CCUS adoption in Malaysia, say industry players
KUALA LUMPUR (Jan 7): Industry players on Wednesday said a lack of a clear carbon tax mechanism and limited fiscal incentives pose challenges to a wider adoption of carbon capture, utilisation and storage (CCUS) in Malaysia. Malaysia’s carbon tax is pending the tabling of the long-awaited Climate Change Bill. Singapore introduced its carbon tax at S$5/tCO2e before raising it to S$25/tCO2e in 2024. “Carbon price competitiveness is still uncertain ... and that affects the overall picture [business case],” Voon added. Other gaps in CCUS execution being discussed during the forum also include the uncertainty over incentives, and carbon accounting, as well as long-term monitoring and verification requirements.
Source:The Edge Markets
January 07, 2026 12:58 UTC
Married and motivated: Sindhu is not slowing down yet
KUALA LUMPUR: Being married has not changed Indian women’s singles star P. V. Sindhu’s approach to her badminton career. "Being married doesn’t change much for me in terms of my career. "He doesn’t play sports. She notably captured the world title in 2019 and won silver in the 2016 Rio de Janeiro Olympics. Sindhu also twice claimed silver in the world meet in 2017 and 2018 and won bronze in 2013 and 2014.
Source:The Star
January 07, 2026 12:55 UTC
120 caught littering in first two days of the year
KUALA LANGAT: A total of 120 litterbugs, including 34 foreigners, were caught under Ops Cegah on Jan 1 and 2 for littering in public areas, says Housing and Local Government Minister Nga Kor Ming. Community service orders under the Solid Waste and Public Cleansing Management Act 2007 (Act 672) come into force on Jan 1, 2026 as part of stricter enforcement against minor littering. Nga said SWCorp had already collected about four tonnes of rubbish in Bukit Bintang, Kuala Lumpur before Christmas. Nga highlighted the ministry’s push for digital services, including PBTPay, ePBT 2.0 and 3.0, PBTCare, eJKT, and the expansion of PBTPay to Sabah. PBTPay, the official one-stop payment portal for local authorities, saw annual collections soar to RM538mil in 2025, reflecting strong public confidence in digital payments.
Source:The Star
January 07, 2026 12:49 UTC
Anwar receives courtesy call from secretary of Turkish Defence Industries
ANKARA: Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim received a courtesy call from the secretary of Turkish Defence Industries, Prof Dr Haluk Gorgun, on the second day of his official visit to the republic. The meeting on Wednesday (Jan 7) provided a platform for constructive discussions to further strengthen defence cooperation between Malaysia and Turkiye, particularly in capability development, technology transfer, as well as training and human capital development, as key pillars of a sustainable national defence industry. Also present were Foreign Minister Datuk Seri Mohamad Hasan, Investment, Trade and Industry Minister Datuk Seri Johari Abdul Ghani, and Malaysian ambassador to Turkiye Sazali Mustafa Kamal. The Turkish delegation comprised Defence Minister Yasar Guler, Turkish Aerospace Industries (TAI) chief executive officer cum Turkiye-Malaysia Business Council chairman Dr Mehmet Demiroglu; ASELSAN general manager Ahmet Akyol; and Defence Technologies Engineering and Trade Inc (STM) general manager, Ozgur Guleruz. Earlier, Anwar was accorded the honour of laying a wreath at Anıtkabir here, the mausoleum of Mustafa Kemal Ataturk, the founder of the Republic of Turkiye.
Source:The Star
January 07, 2026 12:48 UTC
CGS International sees KLCI rising above 1,800 by end-2026 on stronger corporate earnings
KUALA LUMPUR (Jan 7): The Malaysian stock market's main benchmark could rise above 1,800 points by end-2026, supported by stronger corporate earnings growth amid resilient domestic demand and improving policy certainty, said CGS International Securities Malaysia chief executive officer Khairi Shahrin Arief Baki. Khairi added that a stronger ringgit would help reduce operating and capital expenditure costs for some sectors, such as utilities and telecommunications. CGS International expects KLCI corporate earnings to expand by 8.5% this year, compared with an estimated 3.5% growth in 2025, he told The Edge at the sidelines of the research firm’s annual Malaysia Corporate Day event. Khairi noted that recent policy reforms, including subsidy rationalisation, have improved Malaysia’s fiscal position and provided greater policy certainty, which in turn supports business and consumer confidence. He added that easing trade tensions and greater policy certainty have increased the willingness of both businesses and consumers to invest and spend, which should be supportive of corporate earnings and broader market conditions.
Source:The Edge Markets
January 07, 2026 12:48 UTC
US mortgage rates fall to 6.25%, lowest since September 2024
(Jan 7): US mortgage rates fell last week to the lowest level since September 2024, a hopeful sign for the sluggish housing market to start the new year. The contract rate on a 30-year mortgage dropped seven basis points to 6.25% in the week ended Jan 2, which included New Year’s Day, according to Mortgage Bankers Association data released Wednesday. The rate on a 30-year jumbo mortgage, which is used to finance purchases of more expensive homes, fell to 6.32%, the lowest since April 2023. The figures are encouraging for a housing market that’s been hamstrung by affordability constraints in recent years. The data cover more than 75% of all retail residential mortgage applications in the US.
Source:The Edge Markets
January 07, 2026 12:48 UTC