QuickCheck: Did a cop 'rip' a car door open to make an arrest?
In a fine example of this, a viral video has surfaced showing a policeman in Telipok, Sabah, seemingly ripping a car door apart to apprehend two criminals. He said the suspects attempted to flee but the car skidded off the road and both men were arrested. In the video, a police vehicle can be seen pursuing the suspects in a black car. Two policemen get out of their car and run toward the suspects' vehicle. He repeatedly pulls at the door, bending the window frame pillar and folding the door almost in half.
Source:The Star
December 20, 2025 04:12 UTC
Robotics pioneer says the field has lost its way
But those robots will be long gone and mostly conveniently forgotten.”His blog post kicked off a furore in the small world of robotics. The humanoid arms raceThe physical appearance of a robot, Brooks likes to say, makes a promise about what it can do. Still, even by the turn of the century, humanoid robots were unready for commercialisation. It developed two robots, Baxter and Sawyer, designed to do industrial work but safe enough for humans to work alongside. Humans don’t have a language for gathering, storing and communicating data about touch, the way we do for language and imagery.
Source:The Star
December 20, 2025 04:05 UTC
Matrade appoints Abu Bakar Yusof as CEO
KUALA LUMPUR (Dec 20): The Malaysia External Trade Development Corporation (Matrade) has appointed Abu Bakar Yusof as its chief executive officer effective Saturday. “I pledge to ensure that Matrade continues to be the driving force behind trade and export growth. Abu Bakar succeeds Datuk Seri Mohd Mustafa Abdul Aziz, who is retiring after 35 years in service, of which 32 years were with Matrade. Abu Bakar has over 30 years of experience in international trade and export promotion. This gave him vast experience and expertise in developing Malaysian exporters’ capacity as well as formulating export promotion strategies.
Source:The Edge Markets
December 20, 2025 03:51 UTC
US consumer sentiment ticks up while budget concerns linger
(Dec 20): US consumer sentiment rose in December by less than expected, remaining depressed amid lingering affordability concerns. The high cost of living and angst about the job market are keeping consumer sentiment near record lows. Payroll growth remained sluggish in November and the jobless rate rose to a four-year high of 4.6%. To help guard against a deterioration in the job market, Federal Reserve officials earlier this month lowered interest rates for a third straight meeting. However, policymakers are divided about the rate outlook for next year as they look to balance support for the job market with concerns about inflation.
Source:The Edge Markets
December 19, 2025 16:17 UTC
Union Pacific, Norfolk say merger will take nearly two million truckloads off US roads
(Dec 19): Union Pacific Corp’s takeover of Norfolk Southern Corp will create a stronger competitor to long-haul trucking and take about two million truckloads off US roads each year, the companies said as they pursue regulatory approval for the combination. Creating a continuous, coast-to-coast railroad will also reduce the need to transfer cargo between the companies by truck at interchanges. Union Pacific and Norfolk Southern are pitching the US$72 billion (RM294.09 billion) cash-and-stock transaction that would significantly consolidate the US freight rail industry as a means to spawn a stronger competitor to trucking. The companies argue shifting cargo to rail from trucks will reduce pollution and the burden on taxpayer-funded roads. Long-haul trucking “dominates” the market, the companies said, citing US government data showing the rail industry saw a nearly 10% decline in market share between 2014 and 2023.
Source:The Edge Markets
December 19, 2025 15:27 UTC
Baltic Exchange shipping updates: Dec 19, 2025
A weekly round-up of tanker and dry bulk market (Dec 19, 2025)This report is produced by the Baltic Exchange. In the Atlantic, rates dropped with gusto from the US Gulf, an ultramax fixing in the mid-twenties for a trans-Atlantic run. The TC14 38kt US Gulf/UK-Continent voyage is currently at WS167.5 with the Baltic round trip TCE for the run at US$23,400/day. On the BLPG1 Ras Tanura–Chiba route, rates edged higher by US$1.50 to US$80.08 per tonne. Disclaimer:While reasonable care has been taken by the Baltic Exchange Information Services Limited (BEISL) and The Baltic Exchange (Asia) Pte.
Source:The Edge Markets
December 19, 2025 14:57 UTC
IRB completes RM17 bil tax refund process
CYBERJAYA (Dec 19): The Inland Revenue Board (IRB) has processed RM17 billion in tax refunds covering 3.53 million cases between Jan 1 and Dec 18, 2025. In a statement Friday, the IRB said the refunds included an additional RM2 billion allocation recently announced by Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim. “RM2 billion has been processed and credited between Dec 9 and Dec 18, 2025, covering 7,819 cases. On Dec 7, 2025, Anwar said the government had increased the tax refund allocation from RM2 billion to RM4 billion to accelerate outstanding payments to taxpayers. The IRB confirmed it will continue to ensure refunds are disbursed systematically and progressively, prioritising the largest amounts and outstanding refunds involving SMEs.
Source:The Edge Markets
December 19, 2025 14:01 UTC
Pacific & Orient secures US$67m loan for Florida property project
KUALA LUMPUR (Dec 19): Financial services and IT company Pacific & Orient Bhd (KL:P&O) said its US-based subsidiary has secured a US$67 million (RM273.16 million) construction loan to finance the group’s property development project in Miami, Florida. The loan exceeds P&O’s market capitalisation of RM170.29 million, based on its last closing price of 57.5 sen. According to bourse filings, the property is owned by Pacific & Orient Properties LLC (POPLLC), a Delaware-incorporated subsidiary of Pacific & Orient. POPLLC also granted a mortgage lien over the property and pledged 100% of its membership interest to the financier. Pacific & Orient said the loan will not affect its issued and paid-up capital or the shareholdings of substantial shareholders.
Source:The Edge Markets
December 19, 2025 13:41 UTC
Australia to bolster partnership with Malaysia in promoting regional stability and prosperity
KUALA LUMPUR (Dec 19): Australia looks forward to working closely with Malaysia in 2026 to foster stability and promote shared regional prosperity, said Australian High Commissioner to Malaysia, Danielle Heinecke. She emphasised that as close friends and partners, Australia and Malaysia share a vision for a stable, prosperous and sustainable region. Malaysia hosts one of Australia’s largest overseas alumni communities and remains one of Australia’s most significant partners in Southeast Asia. Heinecke also reflected on how the relationship continues to deepen across key sectors such as education, defence, trade and investment, climate, technology and innovation, and people-to-people links. Australia and Malaysia also co-chaired the Asean Maritime Cybersecurity Conference with the Defence Ministry.
Source:The Edge Markets
December 19, 2025 13:11 UTC
SumiSaujana to expand into Indonesia with wet gas sulphuric acid facility
JAKARTA (Dec 19): SumiSaujana Group Bhd (KL:SUMI) plans to expand its footprint into Indonesia after wholly owned subsidiary SumiSaujana TCM Chemicals Sdn Bhd (SSTCM) entered into a memorandum of understanding (MOU) to jointly explore the development of a wet gas sulphuric acid (WSA) facility at PT Kilang Pertamina Internasional’s (KPI) refinery units in Indonesia. The proposed facility will convert acid gas produced during refinery operations into commercial-grade sulphuric acid, while recovering heat to be reused, helping reduce emissions and comply with environmental regulations. “Indonesia is a net importer of sulphuric acid. “So this refinery plant is expected to produce sulphuric acid from WSA which will help reduce the country’s reliance on imported sulphuric acid,” he said. Besides, SumiSaujana executive director and chief operating officer Ramli Mohamad said the collaboration represents the first Malaysian-led green technology initiative in the country.
Source:The Edge Markets
December 19, 2025 12:51 UTC
Knife-wielding attacker kills three in Taipei, dies during police chase
TAIPEI (Dec 19): Three people were killed and five injured when a knife-wielding attacker went on a rampage in central Taipei on Friday, before then dying during a police chase after falling from a building, the premier said. The man had let off smoke bombs at Taipei's main train station, and then ran to a nearby subway station in a busy shopping district, attacking people on the way, Premier Cho Jung-tai said. The deceased suspected attacker had a prior criminal record and outstanding warrants and his house has been searched, Cho told reporters. "We will investigate his background and associated relationships to understand his motives and determine if there are other connected factors," he added, identifying the man only by his last name, Chang. "It appears he deliberately threw smoke bombs and wielded a long knife to carry out indiscriminate attacks on the public."
Source:The Edge Markets
December 19, 2025 12:11 UTC
Trump says he is not ruling out war with Venezuela, NBC News reports
BENGALURU (Dec 19): US President Donald Trump said he was leaving the possibility of war with Venezuela on the table, according to an interview with NBC News published on Friday. "I don't rule it out, no," he told NBC News in a phone interview. Trump also said there would be additional seizures of oil tankers near Venezuelan waters, according to the interview. "If they're foolish enough to be sailing along, they'll be sailing along back into one of our harbours," he told NBC News. In his NBC interview, Trump declined to say whether removing Maduro was his ultimate goal, telling NBC News: "He knows exactly what I want."
Source:The Edge Markets
December 19, 2025 11:51 UTC
Opinion: Asia’s cultural calendar is a strategic asset, not a marketing moment
Yet many organisations continue to treat these periods as short-term marketing moments — windows for discounts, noise, and tactical activation. In Asia, festivals don’t just increase demand. For leaders thinking about growth, retention, and lifetime value, that makes them strategic assets — not marketing spikes. Across Southeast Asia, South Asia and the Middle East, Ramadan reshapes daily rhythm, spending intent and expectations of brands. That is why Asia’s cultural calendar is not a marketing moment.
Source:The Edge Markets
December 19, 2025 11:26 UTC
Grab to acquire Chinese firm Infermove to expand in AI robotics
(Dec 19): Grab Holdings Ltd has acquired Chinese tech company Infermove to expand in artificial intelligence-enabled (AI) robotics for food delivery. Grab sees Infermove’s solutions will complement its first- and last-mile delivery capabilities, the Singapore-based company said in a statement on Friday in response to a query from Bloomberg News. Before the acquisition, Infermove had raised US$300,000 (RM1.23 million) in its angel funding round from investors including MiraclePlus. It also signed an agreement with a subsidiary of Tieda Technology in 2024, which valued the startup at US$33 million. A spokesperson for Infermove confirmed details including the transaction.
Source:The Edge Markets
December 19, 2025 11:26 UTC
Perdana Petroleum bags two vessel charter contracts from Dialog Group
KUALA LUMPUR (Dec 19): Offshore marine support services provider Perdana Petroleum Bhd (KL:PERDANA) said on Friday that it has secured two contracts from Dialog Group Bhd (KL:DIALOG) for the charter of two anchor handling tug supply (AHTS) vessels. Perdana Petroleum said the estimated charter period for the contracts is 153 days, commencing tentatively on April 1, 2026, or upon the handover of the vessels from the first charterer, SK Earthon Co Ltd, under a joint tender arrangement. It added that the contracts are expected to run until Aug 30, 2026, unless terminated earlier in accordance with the contractual terms. The contracts were entered into between Perdana Nautika Sdn Bhd, a wholly-owned subsidiary of Perdana Petroleum, and Dialog Resources Sdn Bhd, a wholly-owned subsidiary of Dialog Group. Under the agreements, Perdana Nautika will provide the AHTS vessels complete with crew and equipment to deliver continuous 24-hour offshore support services.
Source:The Edge Markets
December 19, 2025 11:16 UTC