China's Tencent could invest in Paramount takeover of Warner Bros — Bloomberg
(March 9): Tencent Holdings Ltd intends to invest several hundred million dollars in Paramount Skydance Corp’s acquisition of Warner Bros Discovery Inc, according to people familiar with the situation. The Chinese company would be acting as a passive financial investor, the people said, asking not to be identified because the matter is private. Paramount’s offer for Warner Bros in December included a US$1 billion (RM3.97 billion) equity commitment from Tencent, according to a filing at the time, but that was withdrawn after Warner Bros raised concerns that the Chinese company’s presence could lead to national security challenges with US regulators. After Paramount raised and amended its offer, Warner Bros agreed to sell to the David Ellison-led company in a deal worth US$110 billion. Paramount’s acquisition of Warner Bros is funded by US$47 billion in equity backed by the Ellison family and RedBird Capital Partners.
Source:The Edge Markets
March 09, 2026 04:42 UTC
SPM results to be out on March 31
PETALING JAYA: The Sijil Pelajaran Malaysia (SPM) 2025 candidates can obtain their results from their schools from 10am on Tuesday (March 31). In a statement, the Education Ministry said private candidates can contact the respective state education departments where they registered to sit for the examination. “Both school and private candidates may also check their results via myresultspm.moe.gov.my to obtain their result slip. “Or through SMS by typing SPM (space) MyKad number (space) index number, and sending it to 15888 starting from 10am on March 31 to 6pm on April 6, 2026,” the ministry said on Monday (March 9). A total of 413,299 candidates sat for SPM 2025 at 3,350 exam centres nationwide.
Source:The Star
March 09, 2026 04:29 UTC
PM urges firm action against subsidised cooking oil abuse
PUTRAJAYA (March 9): Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim has called on authorities to strictly enforce regulations and take firm action against individuals attempting to smuggle or misuse subsidised packet cooking oil. He said the move is in line with the ban on the sale and purchase of subsidised cooking oil in 1kg packets by non-citizens, which came into force on March 1. “Beginning March 1, we enforced the ban on the sale and purchase of subsidised cooking oil in 1kg packets to non-citizens. Present were Minister Datuk Armizan Mohd Ali and Chief Secretary to the Government Tan Sri Shamsul Azri Abu Bakar. On Jan 29, Armizan said the ban on the sale of subsidised packet cooking oil to non-citizens was introduced under the Supply Control Regulations pursuant to Section 6 of the Supply Control Act 1961.
Source:The Edge Markets
March 09, 2026 03:31 UTC
STR Phase 2 payouts begin March 10, 5.2 million Malaysians to benefit
PUTRAJAYA: The Finance Ministry announces that payouts under Phase 2 of the Sumbangan Tunai Rahmah (STR) cash aid programme will begin on March 10 and be credited in stages to 5.2 million recipients. He said the number of recipients under Phase 2 has increased to 5.2 million compared with five million in Phase 1. The Finance Minister said the allocation includes 200,000 newly approved recipients, who will begin receiving payments from March 30. He said, overall, Phase 2 of the STR assistance will benefit 3.8 million households and 1.4 million senior citizens without spouses, with payments ranging from RM100 to RM600, depending on eligibility categories. For 2026, the total allocation for STR and SARA stands at RM15bil, the highest in the history of the Federal Government.
Source:The Star
March 09, 2026 03:29 UTC
Japan’s stagflation risk mounts with US$100 oil and sagging yen
(March 9): The surge in oil prices combined with a sagging yen raises the risk that Japan will slide into stagflation, prompting the government to ramp up fiscal spending while complicating the central bank’s mission to normalise its policy settings. In the current predicament, the surge in oil costs comes on top of weakness in the yen, with both revving up price pressures. “A spike in oil on top of a weak yen would weigh heavily on Japan’s economy. The risk of stagflation is rising without a doubt.”Kodama stressed that it all depends on how long oil prices stay elevated. Japan’s reliance on oil from the Middle East has hovered around 90%, hitting 95.1% in January, according to Japan’s Trade Ministry.
Source:The Edge Markets
March 09, 2026 02:46 UTC
M’sian nurses staying put for now
Saudi-based healthcare workers to remain, citing duty and trust in securityPETALING JAYA: For Malaysian nurses in Saudi Arabia, duty often comes first. The sense of duty is making me want to stay on,” said a Malaysian nurse based in Riyadh, who only wanted to be known as Devi. She admitted that it had crossed her mind to sign up with the Malaysian embassy in Riyadh for the evacuation exercise. Prior to the conflict, there were an estimated 1,782 Malaysian nurses in Saudi Arabia. “In this regard, the government has also decided to facilitate the return of Malaysians from Saudi Arabia on a voluntary basis,” it said.
Source:The Star
March 09, 2026 02:35 UTC
Muhyiddin arrives in court for Jana Wibawa graft trial
KUALA LUMPUR: Former prime minister Tan Sri Muhyiddin Yassin has arrived at the court complex here for the first day of his trial on graft charges, involving RM232.5mil in alleged bribes and RM200mil in proceeds from illegal activities linked to the Jana Wibawa project. He was greeted by Bersatu secretary-general Datuk Seri Azmin Ali, who then walked with him to the lobby. The first day trial is expected to begin with an opening statement by the prosecution, led by deputy public prosecutor Datuk Wan Shaharuddin Wan Ladin. Meanwhile, the defence team is led by Datuk Hisyam Teh Poh Teik. Also on the defence team are lawyers Datuk K. Kumaraendran and Datuk Amer Hamzah Arshad.
Source:The Star
March 09, 2026 02:29 UTC
A new life from the ashes
Mohd Radzi Mohd Rashid, 44, said his family living in two houses there are learning to live with the trauma while trying to rebuild their lives and move forward. That morning, his mother, Yatimah Mohd Nor, 70, had asked him to buy roti canai for breakfast, he recounted. In the chaos that followed, Mohd Radzi said he could only hold his mother tightly as they sought refuge inside the bathroom. Mohd Radzi said he suffered second-degree burns in the incident. Next door, his sister Rohaidah Mohd Rashid, 43, said the tragedy has left a scar on the family.
Source:The Star
March 09, 2026 02:21 UTC
Muslim man bridges cultures
Sound expert aids Chingay while observing RamadanJOHOR BARU: Amid the Chingay Festival celebrations, sound technician Elias Othman labours under the sun, serving as a quiet bridge between cultures in the city centre. “Living in Johor Baru, I’ve known about Chingay and watched it from the sidelines on and off over the past five years. “This is my first time being directly involved in the festival,” said Elias. Ramadan is a month that encourages good deeds, and being good to neighbours and friends is part of that,” he said. Johor investment, trade, consumer affairs and human resources committee chairman Lee Ting Han said holding the Chingay parade during Ramadan would not diminish the spirit of the celebrations.
Source:The Star
March 09, 2026 02:19 UTC
Fancy being a ‘culture architect’?
HR insiders: Unique job titles aren’t just eccentric names but a sign of market shiftsPETALING JAYA: Job titles these days have become increasingly unique, even playful and may raise eyebrows. Job titles, for instance, have evolved so much that Malaysians are hired for work such as “planet healer”, “low-carbon inspiration engineer” or “culture architect”. Take, for example, a post last year on LinkedIn when someone observed the ways job titles on the networking platform have “morphed”. “Changing job titles plays an important role in reflecting the professionalism of a position and the organisation. She stressed that job titles should also align with employees’ capabilities.
Source:The Star
March 09, 2026 02:09 UTC
Dollar rises on haven bid, oil as Iran War rips across markets
(March 9): The dollar strengthened against every major currency Monday (March 9) as a deepening war in the Middle East pushed oil prices above US$100 (RM394.62) a barrel and boosted demand for havens. Meanwhile, Iran named a new leader and its armed forces suggested they had the capacity for sustained high-intensity war. “The dollar has been seen as the ultimate safe haven due to its liquidity while also being buoyed by the rise in oil prices,” said Matthew Ryan, head of market strategy at financial services firm Ebury. The dollar has been one of the few traditional havens that have offered investors refuge as conflict in the Gulf region roiled markets. “With the war likely to escalate further before it de-escalates, the dollar clearly has further upside.”
Source:The Edge Markets
March 09, 2026 00:36 UTC
Gambhir lauds India's 'courage' after T20 World Cup triumph
(L-R) India's captain Suryakumar Yadav, Mohammed Siraj, Ishan Kishan and Tilak Varma celebrate with the trophy during a victory lap after winning the 2026 ICC Men's T20 Cricket World Cup final match against New Zealand at the Narendra Modi Stadium in Ahmedabad'. - AFP PICAHMEDABAD: India coach Gautam Gambhir on Sunday praised his team's "bravery and courage" in racking up big totals to win a record third T20 World Cup title. Gambhir, who replaced Rahul Dravid as coach after the T20 World Cup triumph in 2024, was underfire coming into the tournament after home defeats in other formats. India were beaten 2-0 by South Africa in a Test series last year and New Zealand won an ODI series 2-1. India won the ODI Champions Trophy and the T20 Asia Cup last year under two-time World Cup winner Gambhir.
Source:New Strait Times
March 09, 2026 00:24 UTC
Iran-Led rout tempts dip buyers’ bets on Asia chip stock rebound
(March 9) : A war‑driven meltdown in Asian shares is spurring global investors’ interest in adding exposure to major chip firms, reflecting confidence that the artificial intelligence boom can withstand the Middle East conflict. “We see this volatility as an opportunity to add into the correction,” said Pruksa Iamthongthong, head of Asia Pacific equities at Aberdeen Investments. Meanwhile, Fidelity International is looking to add exposure to Taiwan, a market dominated by chipmakers including Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Co., according to Ian Samson, a portfolio manager at the firm. “We’re not telling clients to chase every AI dip,” said Stephen Dover, chief market strategist and head of Franklin Templeton Institute. “We’re using this correction to upgrade into higher‑quality Asia AI and semiconductor leaders with visible cash flows, stronger balance sheets, and clearer roles in the global AI stack.”
Source:The Edge Markets
March 08, 2026 23:31 UTC
Volunteer fireman drowns after falling off boat
IPOH: A 24-year-old man is feared drowned after falling off a boat into a lake at Bandar Baru Lahat Mines here. Perak Fire and Rescue Department assistant director of operations Sabarodzi Nor Ahmad said the victim, a volunteer fireman, was conducting a training exercise and testing the boat prior to the incident on Sunday (March 8) at about 7.30pm. "The victim and driver of the boat both fell into the water. "The boat driver was rescued while a search for the victim is still ongoing," he said in a statement. "The victim is believed to have fallen some 150m away from the side of the lake," he added.
Source:The Star
March 08, 2026 22:34 UTC
Oil tops US$100 as war rages, US stock futures drop
(March 9) : Oil rose over US$100 a barrel and US stock futures fell as escalating hostilities in the Middle East and widening stress on oil shipping and infrastructure had global investors braced for more turbulence when trading resumes Sunday. Brent crude oil rose to more than US$102 a barrel after notching its biggest-ever weekly gain on Friday. Overnight Sunday, Iran pressed attacks on Mideast neighbors, while Israel struck fuel depots in Tehran and threatened the Islamic Republic’s power grid. The attacks will continue “until they surrender or, more likely, completely collapse!” he said in a social media post. “The worst is yet to come in the stock market reaction,” said Michael O’Rourke, chief market strategist at JonesTrading.
Source:The Edge Markets
March 08, 2026 22:30 UTC