<div class=newsTextDataWrapInner>SINGAPORE (Feb 9): Renovation platform Livspace has raised US$180 million (S$241.87 million) in a Series F round led by NYSE-listed investment firm KKR.&nbsp;</div>

<div class=newsTextDataWrapInner>The round also included investors Ingka Group Investments (part of the Netherlands’ Ingka Group, the largest Ikea franchisee), Jungle Ventures, Venturi Partners, and Peugeot Investments, among others.&nbsp;</div>

<div class=newsTextDataWrapInner>Livspace currently serves Singapore and Malaysia, as well as<a href="https://www.theedgesingapore.com/news/company-news/backed-edbi-and-major-ikea-franchisee-renovation-platform-livspace-turns-unicorn" target="_blank">...(click on link for full story on theedgesingapore.com)</a></div><div class=inPageAd id=div-gpt-ad-inpage></div>

SINGAPORE (Feb 9): Renovation platform Livspace has raised US$180 million (S$241.87 million) in a Series F round led by NYSE-listed investment firm KKR. 

The round also included investors Ingka Group Investments (part of the Netherlands’ Ingka Group, the largest Ikea franchisee), Jungle Ventures, Venturi Partners, and Peugeot Investments, among others.

Backed by EDBI and major Ikea franchisee, renovation platform Livspace turns unicorn with US$180 mil round led by KKR

Digital Minister Gobind Singh Deo has called for the creation of a centralised online platform to streamline efforts from various agencies and strengthen Malaysia's cyber data security and personal data protection framework.

Gobind calls for centralised online mechanism to strengthen cybersecurity

Telegram chief executive officer Pavel Durov defended the encrypted messaging app in his first public comments since being arrested in Paris last month, while acknowledging “growing pains” from a rapid expansion to 950 million users and promising to tackle criminal abuse.

Rapid growth made it easier for criminals to abuse Telegram — CEO

KUALA LUMPUR (Sept 6): Permodalan Negeri Selangor Bhd (PNSB) and Gagasan Nadi Cergas (KL:NADIBHD) has announced the commencement of construction for its Rumah Idaman Amani in Shah Alam. The project has a gross development value (GDV) of RM286 million.

PNSB, Gagasan Nadi Cergas break ground for Rumah Idaman Amani at City of Elmina, Shah Alam

An old friend of Carissa’s recently visited Malaysia for the first time. When asked about his biggest impression of Malaysia, without any hesitation he responded: “The disappearing sidewalks.” In fairness, he did find many other parts of Malaysia fascinating — he was deeply appreciative of the di...

My Say: ‘Indie’ public goods for modern-day Malaysia

German authorities are rejecting 215,000 carbon credits worth approximately €18 million (US$20 million or RM86.62 million) on the basis of “irregularities” found following an investigation launched earlier this year.

German authorities reject 215,000 carbon credits in deepening scandal

IJM Land Bhd officially launched Phase 2 of Ridge View @ Puchong on Friday. This phase was soft-launched on June 29 and has been 70% taken up since then.

Phase 2 of Ridge View is part of the larger Ridge View landed hilltop residential development in Puchong, which will be developed in six phases.

IJM Land’s Phase 2 of Ridge View @ Puchong has 70% take-up

Asian shares struggled for direction while the yen jumped on Friday, as investors remained on tenterhooks ahead of US jobs data that could decide the size and speed of coming rate cuts in the world's largest economy.

Markets on tenterhooks ahead of key US jobs data; yen jumps

PUTRAJAYA (Sept 6): The Securities Commission  Malaysia (SC) cautioned the public on Thursday on a new investment scam which uses fake information memorandums (IM) to procure investment from the public, falsely claiming that it has been lodged with or endorsed by the SC.

SC cautions public on investment scams using fake info memorandums

Half or RM2.5 billion of Malaysia's annual advertising expenditure (adex) of RM4.5 billion is directly channelled to social media platforms, said Communications Minister Fahmi Fadzil on Friday.

This, he said, affected media organisations.

Half of Malaysia’s ads expenditure goes to social media — Fahmi

Malaysia's foreign reserves, which touched its highest level in 16 months at US$115.9 billion on Aug 15, continued to rise to US$116.8 billion by Aug 30, according to the latest figures from the central bank.

The current reserves position is the highest since April 2023.

BNM's international reserves rise to US$116.8 bil as at Aug 30

Datuk Captain Izham Ismail, the group managing director of Malaysia Aviation Group (MAG), has apologised to Malaysia Airlines customers who are affected by the group’s network reduction exercise.&nbsp;

Captain Izham apologises for network cuts, says move to ensure 'Malaysia Airlines is a safe airline'

KUALA LUMPUR (Sept 6): Malaysia Airlines has unveiled flights to Paris in March next year, marking the national carrier’s return to the French city after more than nine years.

Malaysia Airlines to offer direct flights to Paris after nine years

China is combining two of its largest state-backed brokerages to create a new behemoth as it seeks to consolidate the US$1.70 trillion (RM7.37 trillion) sector and build stronger investment banks to compete with overseas financial firms.

China creates its largest brokerage to take on Wall Street

Stocks whipsawed ahead of US jobs data that will be key in determining the size of a Federal Reserve (Fed) rate cut in September.

In a session of several twists and turns, the S&amp;P 500 finished lower. That’s despite a rally in a handful of big techs. Treasury yields fell slightly, with traders still pricing in over 100 basis points in Fed easing this year — which implies a potential super-sized reduction. Given Jerome Powell’s recent emphasis on the labour market, many on Wall Street say Friday’s US payrolls will dictate whether the Fed cuts by 25 or 50 basis points this month.

Wall Street down as jobs leave ‘little room for error’

Warren Buffett extended his sales of Bank of America Corp shares into September, reaping a total of US$6.97 billion (RM30.23 billion) since the spree of disposals started in mid-July.

Buffett’s haul from Bank of America stock sales nears US$7b

KUALA LUMPUR (Sept 4): Malaysia Airlines now expects to receive its first Airbus A330neo in October this year, instead of this month, said Malaysia Aviation Group’s (MAG) group managing director Datuk Captain Izham Ismail.

Malaysia Airlines to get first A330neo in October, one month late

A revised public display of the third phase of the Mass Rapid Transit (MRT3) indicates the government’s commitment and another step forward for the project, CIMB Securities said.

Revised public display of MRT3 seen as another step forward, indicating govt commitment to project

KUALA LUMPUR (Sept 6): Gamuda Bhd (KL:GAMUDA) said on Friday that its joint venture (JV) to build the Ulu Padas hydroelectric project has been approved by the Sabah energy regulator.

Gamuda’s Ulu Padas hydroelectric project approved by Sabah energy regulator

Malaysia&nbsp;hopes for the influx of Russian companies into the country and an increase in the tourist flow between the two nations, Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim said in an interview with RIA Novosti and RT, reported Sputnik.

Anwar hopes for influx of Russian companies, increase in tourist flow

Asian shares struggled for direction&nbsp;while the yen jumped on Friday, as investors remained on tenterhooks ahead of US&nbsp;jobs data that could decide the size and speed of coming rate cuts in the world's largest economy.

US Republican presidential candidate Donald Trump pledged to cut the corporate tax rate, slash regulations and audit the federal government, embracing an idea proposed by billionaire backer Elon Musk, as he pitched his agenda to Wall Street and corporate leaders in New York.

Trump vows 15% corporate tax, taps Musk for federal audit

The prosecution and defence are still ironing out the details of Datin Seri Rosmah Mansor's third letter of representation to drop all 17 money-laundering and tax evasion charges.

Details of Rosmah's third letter of representation in money-laundering case yet to be finalised, court told

Hartalega Holdings Bhd (KL:HARTA) said it is seeing demand recovery amid restocking activities while full capacity at Chinese factories have pushed some of the orders to Malaysia.

Demand for gloves at times is strong, but it may slow down occasionally, Hartalega chief executive officer Kuan Mun Leong told reporters following the annual general meeting of Malaysia's second-largest glovemaker. However, demand would likely normalise by 2026 after the “bumpy” years, he said.

Hartalega sees glove demand normalising by 2026, shrugs off Chinese competition

China’s stock market is facing darker prospects after a weak earnings season dashed hopes for any imminent recovery in flagging consumption that has weighed on the world’s No&nbsp;2 economy.

China’s earnings setback sows fresh doubts about stock rebound

Intel Corp&nbsp;is considering options for its stake in its struggling automated driving systems provider Mobileye Global Inc&nbsp;as part of a major strategy overhaul, people with knowledge of the matter said.

Intel exploring Mobileye stake selldown, Bloomberg reports

Malaysia’s traditional media companies will likely trudge against sustained headwinds on consumer sentiment and advertising spending despite recent improvements, Kenanga Investment Bank warned.

Traditional media companies expected to keep struggling amid sustained headwinds

Billionaire John Paulson said the Federal Reserve (Fed) has waited too long to cut interest rates and expects the central bank to lower them in the months ahead.

Billionaire Paulson sees Fed cutting rates to as low as 2.5% by end of 2025

TOKYO/SYDNEY/HONG KONG (Sept 6): Japanese retail giant&nbsp;Seven&nbsp;&amp; i Holdings said on Friday that it had turned down Canada's Alimentation Couche-Tard's US$38.5 billion (RM166.82 billion) cash bid, rejecting an offer that would be the largest-ever foreign buyout of a Japanese company.

Japan's Seven & i rejects Couche-Tard's US$38.5b takeover offer

Negotiations on the establishment of an Asian monetary fund are underway, and it should not be considered as an alternative, but a complement to the existing international financial institutions, Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar&nbsp;Ibrahim said in an interview with RIA Novosti and RT.

Talks underway to set up Asian monetary fund — Anwar

China handed a nine-year prison term to a Taiwanese political activist convicted of “separatism”, a rare sentence that prompted Taiwan to warn its people about the dangers of travelling across the strait.