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AseanPlus News

In Bali, young girls dance in a traditional Hindu festival threatened by changing times

Ketut Nita Wahyuni lifts her folded hands prayerfully to her forehead as a priest leads the temple gathering. The 11-year-old is preparing to perform the Rejang Dewa, a sacred Balinese dance.

Football

Soccer-Spain draw Netherlands in Nations League quarter-finals, Germany play Italy

(Reuters) -Reigning Nations League champions Spain will play the Netherlands in the quarter-finals while former tournament winners France take on Croatia after the draw for the knockout stage was held in Nyon on Friday.

World

Romania and Bulgaria may become full Schengen members in January, Hungary says

BUDAPEST (Reuters) - Romania and Bulgaria may become full members of Europe's borderless Schengen travel zone in January 2025, Hungary said on Friday, adding a final decision would be made at next month's meeting of EU interior ministers.

AseanPlus News

Thai PM Paetongtarn gets big reprieve as court rejects case against Thaksin; main stock index advances

Thailand’s Constitutional Court dismissed a complaint against former premier Thaksin Shinawatra and his family-backed ruling party, a major reprieve for his daughter’s less than three-month old government. The nation’s main stock index advanced.

Nation

PLUS highway lane width reduction does not involve Chinese New Year, Aidilfitiri for 2025, 2026

KULAI: The lane width reduction from Sedenak to Kulai on the North-South Expressway (PLUS) to allow the construction of an additional lane is expected not to involve the Chinese New Year and Hari Raya Aidilfitri celebrations for 2025 and 2026.

Sabah & Sarawak

Sarikei police probe entry status of seven Indonesians who died in crash

SARIKEI: Police are trying to determine whether the entry status of the seven Indonesians who died in a road accident at KM 448 Jalan Betong-Sarikei-Meradong in Sarikei yesterday evening was legal or otherwise.

China

China is expanding visa-free entry to more countries in bid to boost economy

China announced on Friday that it would expand visa-free entry to citizens of nine more countries as it seeks to boost tourism and business travel to help revive a sluggish economy.

Football

Soccer-Premier League managers relish Guardiola extension

MANCHESTER, England (Reuters) - Premier League managers have welcomed Pep Guardiola's decision to sign a two-year contract extension with Manchester City, saying the Spanish coach's presence can only continue to make the league better.

Athletics

Athletics-New mixed 4x100m relay added to 2026 World Athletics Ultimate Championship

(Reuters) - The inaugural 2026 World Athletics Ultimate Championship in Budapest will feature the new mixed 4x100 metres relay where athletes will compete in national kits while representing both themselves and their national teams, the sport's governing body said on Friday as it announced the list of disciplines.

Corporate News

Solarvest secures RM142mil solar EPCC contract in Kedah

KUALA LUMPUR: Solarvest Holdings Bhd’s wholly-owned subsidiary, Atlantic Blue Sdn Bhd, has secured a RM142mil contract from SM01 Sdn Bhd for a design, engineering, procurement, construction, and commissioning (EPCC) contract.

AseanPlus News

Emerging Markets - Taiwan, South Korea lead gains among Asian equities, FX stays subdued

Equity benchmarks in Taiwan and South Korea climbed more than 1% on Friday, boosted by optimism around Nvidia's robust earnings, while the US dollar's sustained strength weighed on key emerging market currencies in Asia.

Technology

EU regulators scrap probe into Apple's e-book rules after complaint was withdrawn

BRUSSELS (Reuters) - EU antitrust regulators on Friday closed a four-year long investigation into Apple's rules for competing e-book and audiobook apps developers after the complainant withdrew its complaint against the iPhone maker.

Football

Soccer-Vlahovic out of Juventus clash with Milan, says Motta

(Reuters) - Juventus striker Dusan Vlahovic will miss his side's trip to face AC Milan in Serie A this weekend, and manager Thiago Motta said on Friday that he is also a doubt for their upcoming Champions League game at Aston Villa.

Corporate News

Allianz Malaysia posts 7.4% lower earnings of RM183.17mil in 3Q

KUALA LUMPUR: Allianz Malaysia Bhd recorded a net profit of RM183.18 million in the third quarter (3Q) ended Sept 30, 2024, down 7.4 per cent from the RM197.86 million achieved in the same period last year.

World

Fast-forming alien planet has astronomers intrigued

WASHINGTON (Reuters) - Astronomers have spotted orbiting around a young star a newborn planet that took only 3 million years to form - quite swift in cosmic terms - in a discovery that challenges the current understanding of the speed of planetary formation.

World

Explainer-How quickly can Trump's Musk-led efficiency panel slash US regulations?

(Reuters) - Elon Musk and Vivek Ramaswamy, who were tapped by Republican President-elect Donald Trump to lead a new Department of Government Efficiency, have revealed plans to wipe out scores of federal regulations crafted by what they say is an anti-democratic, unaccountable bureaucracy.

Corporate News

Tex Cycle eyes M&A, ESG market expansion

KUALA LUMPUR: Tex Cycle Technology (M) Bhd has a greater appetite for, and is open to undertaking, mergers and acquisitions (M&As) for the greater good of all stakeholders.

Football

Soccer-Liverpool without injured Alexander-Arnold, Alisson against Saints

LIVERPOOL, England (Reuters) - Premier League leaders Liverpool will be without Trent Alexander-Arnold on Sunday when they travel to Southampton, manager Arne Slot said, adding that goalkeeper Alisson had returned to training but was not ready to play.

World

NATO's Rutte visiting U.S. President-elect Trump, De Telegraaf reports

AMSTERDAM (Reuters) - NATO chief Mark Rutte is visiting U.S. President-elect Donald Trump at his residence in Florida, Dutch newspaper De Telegraaf reported on Friday, citing sources.

Forex

Ringgit retreats after three days of gains

KUALA LUMPUR: The ringgit closed lower on Friday, snapping three consecutive days of gains amid profit-taking activities.