Pentagon asked to probe SpaceX for potential Chinese ownership
(Feb 5): Democratic US senators on Thursday urged the Pentagon to conduct an immediate review of SpaceX amid allegations that Chinese investors have secretly acquired stakes in the closely held rocket maker, citing potential national security risks, according to a letter seen by Reuters. Senators Elizabeth Warren and Andy Kim wrote to Defence Secretary Pete Hegseth, expressing concern that Chinese investment in SpaceX could present "a national security threat, potentially jeopardising key military, intelligence and civilian infrastructure." Founded by Elon Musk, the world's richest man, SpaceX plays a central role in US national security infrastructure, launching military and intelligence satellites and operating its Starlink communications network, which is used by the Pentagon and to support Ukraine's defense. The senators warned that any Chinese ownership could trigger US rules governing foreign ownership, control or influence, known as Foci, given the potential exposure of sensitive information or technologies. The letter asks the Department of Defence to disclose the extent of any Chinese ownership, assess whether SpaceX is subject to Foci mitigation requirements, and determine whether foreign investments should be reviewed by the Committee on Foreign Investment in the United States.
Source:The Edge Markets
February 05, 2026 12:48 UTC
Moody's cuts Indonesia outlook to negative on governance concerns
Moody's maintained its Baa2 rating but said the shift to a negative outlook from stable reflected risks to policy effectiveness and signs of weakening governance. Indonesia's central bank governor Perry Warjiyo said the ratings outlook cut did not mean the country's economic fundamentals were weakening, adding its economic growth remains solid. Indonesia's Finance Ministry said it "appreciates" Moody's sustained rating, and that the government was undertaking "economic transformation" to revitalise growth. "The government continues to ensure that all potential risks are properly managed," the ministry said in a statement after the Moody's outlook change. A negative outlook means Moody's next move could potentially be a downgrade in ratings.
Source:The Edge Markets
February 05, 2026 12:43 UTC
Bank of England votes narrowly to hold rates but signals reduction ahead
Sterling dropped by about half a cent against the US dollar as investors priced in an earlier rate cut by the BOE. "All going well, there should be scope for some further reduction in Bank Rate this year," he said. Bailey stressed he did not have any specific date in mind for the next rate cut. The BOE forecast inflation would slide to around its 2% target in April, helped largely by finance minister Rachel Reeves' budget in November. "On the basis of the current evidence, Bank Rate is likely to be reduced further," it said.
Source:The Edge Markets
February 05, 2026 12:38 UTC
4-day road ban on heavy vehicles before and after CNY
According to the RTD, wheeled heavy machinery and mobile cranes are exempted when carrying out emergency works. The vehicles involved in the category are heavy haulage lorries and tipper lorries with a laden weight exceeding 7,500kg, low-loader lorries, pole trailers, flatbed trailers, log lorries, wheeled heavy machinery (except wheeled heavy machinery, tow trucks and tractors used for emergency and rescue operations); as well as tractors. Vehicles under category two include container lorries transporting goods, except container lorries transporting goods from ports or airports to industrial areas within the same state and vice versa. According to the RTD, wheeled heavy machinery and mobile cranes are exempted when carrying out emergency works. "Any goods vehicles or types of goods not stated in the attachment or schedule are allowed to use the roads during the ban period.
Source:New Strait Times
February 05, 2026 12:15 UTC
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Education key equaliser in Malaysia’s development agenda — Anwar
KUALA LUMPUR (Feb 5): Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim has reaffirmed that education remains the most powerful equaliser in Malaysia’s development agenda, with the government allocating more than RM84 billion under Budget 2026 to strengthen education and training reforms. “Education today must equip Malaysians not only with knowledge, but with adaptability, resilience, and the confidence to navigate change,” he said at the Malaysia Economic Forum 2026 at Kuala Lumpur Convention Centre on Thursday. Present were Deputy Prime Minister Datuk Seri Fadillah Yusof, Sarawak Premier Tan Sri Abang Johari Tun Openg and Economy Minister Akmal Nasrullah Mohd Nasir. Anwar, who is also the finance minister, said the reforms are designed to support workers as careers evolve and skills require continuous renewal. The prime minister also stressed the importance of broad-based growth, saying regional development, support for small and medium enterprises, and higher-value tourism services are essential for long-term economic resilience.
Source:The Edge Markets
February 05, 2026 11:58 UTC
Traders pile into tech hedges as rout in software stocks deepens
Software stocks plunged again on Tuesday, with the Goldman Sachs software basket clocking its seventh straight drop to bring its loss for the year to 19%. The rout bled into broader measures of the tech sector, dragging the Nasdaq 100 down 1.4% so far in 2026. “Could the entire software sector trade down to that level? The old dichotomy of hardware versus software is breaking down. “It’s not even hardware versus software anymore, it’s within hardware memory versus others, semi-cap equipment versus chip makers.”For now, investors haven’t seemed to be so discerning.
Source:The Edge Markets
February 05, 2026 11:58 UTC
Trump administration to make it easier to fire senior federal workers — report
(Feb 5): The Trump administration is moving to make it easier to potentially dismiss career officials in senior government roles, a step that could affect about 50,000 federal workers, the Wall Street Journal reported on Thursday, citing people familiar with the matter. Workers in the category would be exempted from long-standing civil service protections that make federal workers difficult to fire, the WSJ said. The White House and the US Office of Personnel Management did not immediately respond to Reuters' requests for comment. US President Donald Trump's administration took aggressive steps to shrink the overall federal workforce last year. Office of Personnel Management officials said the rule is aimed in part at "disciplining" federal workers who stand in the way of Trump’s policies, WSJ reported.
Source:The Edge Markets
February 05, 2026 11:33 UTC
Search for missing fisherman suspended after body found in Singapore waters
MRSC Johor Baru launched the operation after receiving a report that the missing fisherman. - NSTP FILE PIC, for illustration purposes onlyKOTA TINGGI: The search and rescue operation for a local fisherman reported missing following a boat collision on Feb 1 has been temporarily suspended as of today. He said the operation, coordinated by the Maritime Rescue Sub-Centre (MRSC) Johor Baru has been suspended until the body can be formally identified by the victim's next of kin. Earlier, MRSC Johor Baru launched the operation after receiving a report that the missing fisherman, identified as 51-year-old Mustaffa Hussain, was involved in a boat collision incident in the waters off Pengerang. "The operation will resume if the identification process confirms that the body is not that of the reported missing fisherman," he said.
Source:New Strait Times
February 05, 2026 11:27 UTC
SARA For All RM100 aid to be credited from Feb 9
The SARA For All programme, which provides a one-off RM100 aid credited through MyKad to all Malaysians aged 18 and above, will be disbursed starting Monday (Feb 9). - Bernama picKUALA LUMPUR: The SARA For All programme, which provides a one-off RM100 aid credited through MyKad to all Malaysians aged 18 and above, will be disbursed starting Monday (Feb 9). Finance Minister II Datuk Seri Amir Hamzah Azizan said eligibility checks can be made from today via the sara.gov.my portal. The programme is a part of the Sumbangan Asas Rahmah (SARA) initiative under Sumbangan Tunai Rahmah (STR), which aims to help the people face the rising cost of living through targeted cashless aid. He said that as of Tuesday (Feb 3), the total number of SARA merchant partners increased to 10,700 outlets nationwide, compared with only 700 in 2024, adding that of the total, 3,000 are small traders.
Source:New Strait Times
February 05, 2026 11:18 UTC
Soniia named KLBA’s first sports director
PETALING JAYA: Former national women’s singles player Soniia Cheah (pic) has been appointed the Kuala Lumpur Badminton Association’s (KLBA) sports director. It was a fresh move by the KLBA, with the position being created for the first time within the association. Jahaberdeen explained that Soniia was brought in for the role as he wanted to give space and opportunities to young former players to inject fresh ideas into KLBA. “As KLBA president, I place great emphasis on people development. 1 singles player and reached a career-high world ranking of No.
Source:The Star
February 05, 2026 11:05 UTC
#SHOWBIZ: Actor Chen Xi posts birthday tribute to father amidst court case
Chen Xi (right) took to social media to mark the double birthdays of his father and grandfather (INSTAGRAM/CHEN XI)SINGAPORE: Actor and artist Chen Xi took to social media on Feb 4 to mark the double birthdays of his father, former actor Edmund Chen, and his grandfather. "Today and yesterday were my grandad's and my dad's birthdays – yes, consecutive days," Chen Xi, 34, wrote on Instagram. Referring to his father's recent legal troubles, Chen Xi wrote: "It's been quite a period recently, but through everything, both of you've remained the pillars of our family. In the comments section, Edmund Chen wrote "Happy birthday, dad", while his wife, 64-year-old local actress Xiang Yun, left three heart emojis. Chen Xi married his Japanese girlfriend, who is known only as Mami, in July 2025.
Source:New Strait Times
February 05, 2026 11:04 UTC
Doctor trades hospitals for padi fields, earns RM30k a season
A doctor with more than 20 years of experience in the medical field left his professional career to return to his hometown and become a padi farmer in Sawah Sempadan, Tanjong Karang. He returned to the padi fields to take over his family's land after his father fell ill and had long been interested in agriculture, he added. "The hard work paid off, earning me a gross income of about RM30,000 each season," he said according to Kosmo. He cited agro-tourism projects like building chalets near padi fields as a way to generate additional income. He added that there are 71 young farmers under the age of 40 in the Integrated Agricultural Development Area of West Selangor.
Source:New Strait Times
February 05, 2026 10:28 UTC
Malaysia’s rare earths exports not limited to US, minister clarifies
KUALA LUMPUR (Feb 5): Malaysia’s exports of rare earth elements (REE) are not limited to the United States (US) despite the existence of the Malaysia-US Reciprocal Trade Agreement (RTA), said Natural Resources and Environmental Sustainability Minister Datuk Seri Arthur Joseph Kurup. Arthur said the agreement did not stipulate any exclusive commitment, supply obligation or market preference that would bind Malaysia to export REE to any particular country. “At the federal government level, we set forward-looking policies relating to the REE industry. Meanwhile, commenting on the National Groundwater Resources Mapping and Assessment Project, Arthur said the project was being actively implemented in several states such as Kedah, Melaka, Sabah and Kelantan. “Subsequently, the mapping project in other states will be implemented in stages, subject to approval of allocations under the Rolling Plan of the 13th Malaysia Plan,” he said.
Source:The Edge Markets
February 05, 2026 10:13 UTC
Islamic banking sector set for steady expansion
In its latest Malaysian Islamic Banks Monitor: 2026, Fitch noted that Islamic banking assets grew at a faster pace than conventional banking, reinforcing the sector’s rising importance within Malaysia’s financial system. Islamic banking assets expanded by 7% to US$312bil by end-2025, outpacing the 4% growth recorded by conventional banking assets. The expansion lifted Islamic financing to approximately 44% of total system loans and financing, up from 43% in 2024. The household segment remains the main driver of Islamic financing growth, with about 64% of Islamic financing extended to households, compared with 57% for conventional banks. Six major Islamic banks that are subsidiaries of local banking groups, together with Bank Islam Malaysia Bhd , account for roughly 76% to 77% of total Islamic banking assets and financing.
Source:The Star
February 05, 2026 10:05 UTC
[UPDATED] Task force set up to fast-track gazettement of KL green spaces
- NSTP/MOHD FADLI HAMZAHKUALA LUMPUR: The Federal Territories Department has established a special task force to fast-track the gazettement of open and green spaces in the capital, as part of wider efforts to strengthen protection for urban greenery. Minister in the Prime Minister's Department (Federal Territories) Hannah Yeoh said the task force would identify technical gaps, resolve administrative bottlenecks and enhance coordination among agencies. "We are setting up a task force to tackle the gazette process to ensure we move fast. "Green spaces like these, once lost, are gone forever. Examples of gazetted sites include Taman Rimba Kerinchi and Bukit Dinding, which are now listed on the public map.
Source:New Strait Times
February 05, 2026 10:00 UTC