The holding company of Canada's Weston family has agreed to buy British health and beauty retailer Boots from private equity firm Sycamore Partners and the Pessina family for US$8.9 billion (RM36.4 billion), including debt, it said on Wednesday.

Canada's Weston family buys UK pharmacy chain Boots for US$8.9 bil

The International Energy Agency's (IEA) member countries stand ready to release additional oil from their strategic reserves if necessary and will prioritise diesel due to tight supplies of the fuel, the head of the IEA said on Wednesday.

IEA says member countries ready to release more oil reserves if necessary

The government is reviewing a formal agreement with Dapat Vista Sdn Bhd, the company that operates the eJamin system for online payment of court bail, before submitting it to the Cabinet soon.

eJamin: Govt reviewing formal agreement with Dapat Vista before presenting it to Cabinet

Defence Minister Datuk Seri Mohamed Khaled Nordin is disputing the auditor general’s projection that the first of the long-delayed littoral combat ship (LCS1) would only achieve full operational readiness by December 2035.

Defence Minister disputes AG's 2035 readiness projection for long-delayed combat ships

Here is a brief recap of some business news and corporate announcements that made the headlines on Wednesday.

Yinson, Northern Solar, Aemulus, Datasonic, CIMB, AMMB, PJBumi, MMM Group

The Ministry of Finance (MOF) is finalising a proposal to enact the Statutory Bodies and Controlled Entities (Financial Governance) Act to strengthen the governance of government-owned companies.

MOF finalising proposed law to strengthen governance of govt-owned companies

Malaysia still faces RM20.1 billion in outstanding obligations related to 1Malaysia Development Bhd (1MDB) if no additional funds are recovered, according to the Ministry of Finance (MOF).

Govt still has to bear RM20.1b 1MDB burden if no further funds recovered — MOF

The additional tax claim against Tenaga Nasional Bhd (KL:TENAGA) will not result in the cost being passed on to consumers through electricity tariff hikes, said the Ministry of Finance (MOF).

TNB's additional tax claim not passed on to consumers via tariffs, says MOF

The Sarawak State Legislative Assembly is expected to be dissolved in November or two weeks after the state's budget for 2027 is passed.

Sarawak state assembly could be dissolved in November, says Abdul Karim

British 30-year bond yields rose to a 28-year high on Wednesday as a global bond sell-off pushed equivalent US borrowing costs to their highest since 2002, adding to pressure on finance minister John Healey before his first budget in three weeks' time.

UK 30-year gilt yields hit 28-year high in global sell-off

CIMB Group Holdings Bhd (KL:CIMB), Malaysia’s second-largest lender by assets, fell to its lowest in three months as banking stocks fell amid persistent concerns over rising bond yields.

Malaysian banking stocks fall as JPMorgan downgrades CIMB, AMMB

Worsening air pollution driven by wildfires in Indonesia prompted Malaysia to temporarily shut schools in one of its most populated states, just as a major Formula One race in neighbouring Singapore approaches.

Wildfire haze shuts Malaysia schools and looms over Singapore F1

The former Negeri Sembilan Undangs' court case linked to the ongoing power tussle in the state will now be battled out solely in the Seremban High Court.

Undangs withdraw case in KL, legal bid in Seremban remains

Billionaire Ray Dalio warned that artificial intelligence (AI) is a “classic bubble” that is nearing a bursting point thanks to rising interest rates and the need to turn wealth into cash.

Ray Dalio says we’re nearing point where AI bubble may burst

Two corporate figures, who are brothers holding the titles of Datuk Seri and Datuk Wira respectively and who were previously remanded for five days to assist investigations into&nbsp;abuse of power and irregularities involving an investment of about RM10 million, have been released on Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission (MACC) bail.

RM10m investment probe: Datuk Seri, Datuk Wira brothers out on MACC bail

The first witness for the Federal Land Development Authority conceded in High Court on Wednesday that competing bidders for the agency's prime land along Jalan Semarak were not owned by Synergy Promenade Sdn Bhd shareholder and director Abdul Rahman Soltan, after initially suggesting otherwise.

Felda fraud suit: Witness admits rival bidders for Jalan Semarak land not owned by Synergy Promenade director

KUALA LUMPUR (Oct 7): FTSE Bursa Malaysia KLCI extended its downward trend on Wednesday, falling to an 11-month low as persistent foreign selling and cautious sentiment amid elevated oil prices continued to weigh on the local market.

FBM KLCI slides to nearly a year low as foreign selling, high oil prices weigh on sentiment

The appeal records in former prime minister Datuk Seri Najib Razak's 1Malaysia Development Bhd-Tanore (1MDB-Tanore) criminal case are still not ready.

1MDB-Tanore: Appeal records not ready

PEN SJ Electronics Sdn Bhd has pledged to invest over US$70 million (RM286.1 million) to establish an advanced packaging materials and thermal management solutions facility in Penang, which is expected to create more than 1,000 jobs.

China firm to invest over US$70m in Penang, create more than 1,000 jobs — CM

KUALA LUMPUR (Oct 7): The High Court on Wednesday has asked Kuala Lumpur City Hall (DBKL) to reconsider whether it wants to continue pursuing its stay application of having to pay RM1.3 million in damages to a retired senior police officer and his wife, over their home being badly damaged after DBKL had allowed the construction of a condominium nearby.

KL City Hall told to reconsider continuing with stay order application over having to pay RM1.3 mil damages

The KLIA aerotrain will undergo a scheduled software upgrade to strengthen its operational robustness and long-term performance following the completion of 20,000 continuous operational hours.

KLIA to shut down aerotrain for software upgrade

KUALA LUMPUR (Oct 7): The 10 Negeri Sembilan executive councilors have filed an originating summons (OS) at the Seremban High Court to challenge the revocation of their appointments, which took effect on Sept 20.

All deposed Negeri Sembilan excos file suit challenging their expulsion

Pasir Gudang member of parliament Hassan Abdul Karim urges the government to reject any bailout request from airlines as taxpayers should not bear the cost of rescuing a private company.

Govt should not bail out troubled airlines, says Pasir Gudang MP

ACCESS to Arm’s Compute Subsystem (CSS) would lower the technological barrier for Oppstar Bhd (KL:OPPSTAR) to develop an advanced chip.

But an Arm token is not an instant earnings booster, Oppstar’s senior executives acknowledge in an interview with The Edge.

Its chief operati...

Arm CSS gives Oppstar a head start, not a shortcut to earnings

The 16th Melaka election will be held on Nov 14, the Election Commission (EC) announced after a special meeting on Wednesday.

Melaka polls on Nov 14

KUALA LUMPUR (Oct 7): Tax collection in Malaysia rose to RM129.6 billion in the first half of 2026 from RM119.1 billion a year earlier, supported by higher corporate income tax and sales and service tax (SST) receipts, the Dewan Rakyat heard on Wednesday.

Higher corporate tax, SST receipts lift first-half collection to RM129.6 bil, Dewan Rakyat told

TUN Dr Hasmah Mohd Ali, one of Malaya’s earliest Malay women doctors and a pioneering public health physician who would spend decades at the centre of Malaysian public life, died on Sept 28 at the age of 100.

Malaysians knew her as Siti Hasmah, though she said in a 2024 podcast intervie...

TRIBUTE | Tun Dr Hasmah — a trailblazer in women’s healthcare and community welfare

Police have arrested seven people, including several foreigners, in connection with&nbsp;the theft of 2.5kg of jewellery worth over RM1.7 million from a shopping mall in Genting Highlands, Bentong, in August.

Seven arrested over RM1.7 mil jewellery heist in Genting Highlands

Malaysia’s palm oil production for this year is meeting projections and could even surpass 2025’s record level despite risks from the Super El Niño, Plantation and Commodities Minister Datuk Seri Dr Noraini Ahmad said.

Malaysia’s 2026 palm oil output could surpass last year's, says commodities minister

SEPANG (Oct 7): Myanmar President Min Aung Hlaing arrived in Malaysia on Wednesday for a two-day official visit, with the repatriation of Myanmar nationals in Malaysia among key issues to be discussed with Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim.