<div class=newsTextDataWrapInner>SINGAPORE (Aug 21): US-based insurer MetLife today launched an experimental blockchain insurance product in Singapore that eliminates the claims process.</div>

<div class=newsTextDataWrapInner>Dubbed Vitana, the product insures expectant mothers against diabetes developed during pregnancy, for a one-time payout of up to S$2,500.</div>

<div class=newsTextDataWrapInner>Vitana will be rolled out to up to 300 Singapore-based expectant mothers aged between 16 and 45, who are within the first 23 weeks of pregnancy. They must not have a history of diabetes, or had gestational diabetes in a previous pregnancy. The premium... <a href="https://www.theedgesingapore.com/metlife-pilots-claims-free-diabetes-insurance-pregnant-women-singapore" target="_blank">(Click here to read the full story)</a></div><div class=inPageAd id=div-gpt-ad-inpage></div>

SINGAPORE (Aug 21): US-based insurer MetLife today launched an experimental blockchain insurance product in Singapore that eliminates the claims process.

Dubbed Vitana, the product insures expectant mothers against diabetes developed during pregnancy, for a one-time payout of up to S$2,...

MetLife pilots claims-free diabetes insurance for pregnant women in Singapore

Asian stocks were poised to climb Thursday after US equities snapped a two-day slide on benign inflation data that supported expectations for an interest rate cut this month.

Equity futures for Japan and Australia climbed, while those for Hong Kong were steady.

Asian stocks to rise as US inflation backs Fed cut

The US Supreme Court dismissed on Wednesday an appeal by artificial intelligence chipmaker Nvidia NVDA.O seeking to avoid a securities fraud lawsuit by shareholders who accused the company of misleading investors about how much of its sales depended on the volatile cryptocurrency market.

US Supreme Court dismisses Nvidia's bid to avoid securities fraud suit

Australia’s record-breaking stock rally is poised to extend as signs of more policy support emerge and investors look for markets largely shielded from geopolitical tensions.

The benchmark S&P/ASX 200 Index has climbed 10% so far this year to 8,354, hovering near a record last week.

Australian stocks momentum fueled by haven seekers, fiscal spend

Investors’ enthusiasm for US technology giants sent stocks higher Wednesday, snapping a two-day slide after a benign inflation report cemented expectations that the Federal Reserve will keep cutting interest rates. Treasuries ended the day lower.

The Nasdaq 100 climbed 1.9% to a record while the S&P 500 rose 0.8%, nearing a recent peak.

Wall Street sends big tech to fresh highs post-CPI

The reopening of the Danish embassy in Malaysia marks a pivotal milestone in the bilateral relations between the two nations, especially as Malaysia gears up to chair Asean in 2025, said Denmark’s Minister of Foreign Affairs, Lars Løkke Rasmussen.

Denmark reopens embassy in Malaysia, strengthening ties ahead of Asean chairmanship

Kelantan has fully recovered from the floods on Wednesday night, while in Terengganu, the number of evacuees continued to drop.

In Kelantan, Gua Musang Social Welfare officer Bun Tham Eh Gin said the last relief centre (PPS) at Sekolah Kebangsaan (SK) Limau Kasturi 1, which housed 41 people, was closed at 5pm, indicating that the state has fully recovered from the second wave of floods that struck on Monday.

Kelantan recovers fully from floods, Terengganu sees decline in victims

Donald Trump is slated to ring the New York Stock Exchange’s (NYSE) opening bell on Thursday, presenting a president-elect who has vowed to rejuvenate the US economy a celebratory photo opportunity at an iconic symbol of American capitalism.

Trump scheduled to ring NYSE’s opening bell on Thursday

Luxury real estate brokers Oren and Tal Alexander and their brother Alon were arrested and charged with sex-trafficking by federal prosecutors in New York on Wednesday.

According to the indictment, the three brothers worked together for “well over a decade” to “drug, sexually assault and rape dozens of victims”.

Star real estate brokers Alexanders charged with sex trafficking

Wall Street's main indices rose on Wednesday after an in-line inflation reading kept intact bets on the Federal Reserve cutting interest rates later this month.

A Labor Department report showed the consumer price index (CPI) rose 0.3% on a monthly basis in November, compared with the 0.3% increase forecast by economists polled by Reuters.

Wall St advances as inflation data cements December rate-cut hopes

President Vladimir Putin said on Wednesday that Russia would develop artificial intelligence with BRICS partners and other countries, in a bid to challenge the dominance of the United States in one of the most promising and crucial technologies of the 21st century.

Speaking at Russia's flagship AI conference, Putin said the new AI Alliance Network would include national associations and development institutions in the field of AI from BRICS countries and other interested states.

Russia teams up with BRICS to create AI alliance, Putin says

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

Axiata, Astro, Eco World International, Privasia Technology, MyEG, Petron Malaysia, AE Multi

After two months of maintenance shutdown, Petron Malaysia Refining &amp; Marketing Bhd (KL:PETRONM) announced on Wednesday that its Port Dickson refinery has resumed operations in full.

Petron Malaysia says Port Dickson refinery has resumed ops in full after two-month closure

The diagnosis-related group (DRG) pricing&nbsp;system to regulate private hospital bills is expected to be rolled out by the second quarter of 2025, Health Minister Datuk Seri Dr Dzulkefly Ahmad said on Wednesday, noting that the Private Healthcare Facilities &amp; Services Act 1998 must first be amended.

Dzulkefly: DRG pricing system rollout in 2Q2025 more likely as private healthcare law amendment needed

MyEG Services Bhd’s (KL:MYEG) Zetrix blockchain platform and Astron-Xinghuo BIF have partnered to offer Chinese nationals and business entities digital identification cards and business registration services for verification outside of China.

MyEG’s Zetrix platform to offer digital ID services to China nationals and business entities for overseas verification

Prawn farmer and processor Camaroe Bhd is seeking a listing on the ACE Market of Bursa Malaysia via an initial public offering (IPO) to raise fresh capital for capacity expansion and setting up a biotechnology department.

The proposed IPO includes a public issuance of 99 million new shares at a price to be determined later, according to the draft prospectus filed with the stock exchange on Wednesday.

Prawn farmer Camaroe files for ACE market IPO

Property developer Eco World International Bhd (KL:EWINT) has declared a final dividend of five sen per share for its FY2024 to be paid in January next year, as it managed to reduce its losses for the fourth quarter ended Oct 31 (4QFY2024) to a third of what it incurred in the previous year's corresponding quarter.

Eco World International cautious on new launches amid slower demand, declares five sen dividend as losses narrow

Solid Automotive Bhd (KL:SOLID) said it is acquiring 4.69 acres of freehold land in Klang from Top Glove Corp Bhd (KL:TOPGLOV) for RM15.92 million.

The automotive electrical parts group said its wholly-owned subsidiary, Part Center Sdn Bhd (PCSB), signed a letter of offer issued by Top Quality Glove Sdn Bhd, a wholly-owned unit of Top Glove, on Wednesday to purchase the agricultural land located at Kawasan Perindustrian Meru Timur.

Solid Automotive buys 4.7-acre land in Klang from Top Glove

China got a head start on a looming trade war with the US by showcasing a new range of tools it’s prepared to use if Donald Trump makes good on his threat to punish the world’s second-biggest economy with tariffs.

Xi readies bargaining chips for US trade war

The reopening of the Danish embassy in Malaysia marks a pivotal milestone in the bilateral relations between the two nations, especially as Malaysia gears up to chair Asean in 2025, said Denmark’s Minister of Foreign Affairs, Lars Løkke Rasmussen.

Donald Trump is slated to ring the New York Stock Exchange’s (NYSE) opening bell on Thursday, presenting a president-elect who has vowed to rejuvenate the US economy a celebratory photo opportunity at an iconic symbol of American capitalism.

Luxury real estate brokers Oren and Tal Alexander and their brother Alon were arrested and charged with sex-trafficking by federal prosecutors in New York on Wednesday.

According to the indictment, the three brothers worked together for “well over a decade” to “drug, sexually assault and rape dozens of victims”.

The move to increase the working hours of nurses in hospital wards by three hours under the new Public Service Remuneration System (SSPA) directive underwent multiple rounds of engagement, including with seven trade unions and nurses association, said Health Minister Datuk Seri Dr Dzulkefly Ahmad.

Health minister defends nurses' increased working hours

Electric car sales in Norway and Denmark outpaced fossil fuel models in November, driven by generous tax policies and incentives aimed at putting more zero-emission vehicles on the roads.

Sweden left behind amid EV rush in Scandinavian car sales

Opec cut oil demand growth forecasts for this year and next for a fifth straight month, making its deepest reduction to the 2024 outlook so far after agreeing to extend its supply curbs.

Opec makes deepest cut yet to 2024 world oil demand forecast

China’s top markets watchdog summoned PDD Holdings Inc executives to order the company to fix its refunds-first policy, taking aim at a practice that a growing number of merchants argue hurts their bottom line.

China watchdog orders Temu-owner PDD to fix refunds policy — Bloomberg

The Attorney General's Chambers (AGC) expressed concern and regret over the spread of false and misleading information circulating on social media, particularly via a fake Facebook account impersonating the AGC.

AGC expresses regret over spread of false information on fake Facebook account

Syria's new interim prime minister said he aims to bring back millions of Syrian refugees, protect all citizens and provide basic services, but rebuilding would be difficult because the country lacks foreign currency.

Syrian leader vows to rebuild but faces cash crunch

The Dewan Rakyat on Wednesday approved the Trustee (Amendment) Bill 2024 and the Trustees (Incorporation) (Amendment) Bill 2024, preparing Malaysia for two international evaluations by the Financial Action Task Force (FATF) and the Organisation for Economic Cooperation and Development (OECD) next year.

Dewan Rakyat passes two Trustee Bills to meet international standards

US consumer prices rose at a firm pace in November that was in line with expectations, solidifying expectations for the Federal Reserve to cut interest rates next week.

The so-called core consumer price index (CPI) — which excludes food and energy costs — increased 0.3% for a fourth straight month, Bureau of Labor Statistics figures showed on Wednesday.

US inflation in line with forecasts solidifies bets on Fed cut

The Cabinet Committee on Road Safety and Traffic Congestion Meeting Number 3 of 2024 held on Wednesday approved an allocation of RM463 million to improve public transport services.

Deputy Prime Minister Datuk Seri Ahmad Zahid Hamidi said this followed the allocation announced in the 2025 Budget as part of the country's preparation to assume its duties as Asean Chair in 2025 and for Visit Malaysia Year 2026.