<div class=newsTextDataWrapInner>SINGAPORE (May 18):&nbsp;The Shangri-La Dialogue will still happen in early June, said the Singapore's Ministry of Defence (MINDEF) in a statement yesterday.</div>

<div class=newsTextDataWrapInner>The ministry made the announcement after the International Institute for Strategic Studies (IISS) informed the Singapore government that it “remains committed” to organising the event in Singapore.</div>

<div class=newsTextDataWrapInner>The Shangri-La Dialogue is slated to take place from&nbsp;June 4 to 6 <a href="https://www.theedgesingapore.com/news/singapore-economy/shangri-la-dialogue-still-go-june" target="_blank">... (click on link for full story on theedgesingapore.com).</a></div><div class=inPageAd id=div-gpt-ad-inpage></div>

The Shangri-La Dialogue will still happen in early June, said the Singapore's Ministry of Defence (MINDEF) in a statement yesterday.

Shangri-La Dialogue to still go on in June

flydubai and Batik Air Malaysia have announced on Friday an interline agreement that will offer flydubai passengers access to more than 40 destinations across Batik Air’s network via Kuala Lumpur International Airport (KUL).

flydubai, Batik Air ink strategic interline agreement

The Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission (MACC) is currently looking into identifying assets, ownership and financial sources obtained by the founders of e-commerce platform FashionValet Sdn Bhd.

Probe to focus on identifying assets procured by FashionValet, says MACC

Sarawak Cable Bhd (KL:SCABLE) said trading in its shares will be suspended from Nov 18, ahead of the court hearing of an application to place the company under judicial management (JM).

Trading in Sarawak Cable to be suspended from Nov 18

Main Market-bound bottle water producer Life Water Bhd (KL:LWSABAH) booked a net profit of RM7.49 million on revenue of RM42.59 million for its first quarter ended Sept 30, 2024 (1Q2025).

Main Market-bound Life Water posts RM7.5 mil profit in 1Q2025

The Malaysian Takaful Association (MTA) said it will seek to expand its membership base by revising its constitution to allow digital insurers and takaful operators (DITOs) licence holders to join the association.

Takaful association to welcome more digital insurers as members ahead of licensing process

Oil and gas services provider Steel Hawk Bhd (KL:HAWK) has secured a subcontract from Petra Energy Bhd (KL:PENERGY) to provide offshore living quarters maintenance and repair services for EPOMS offshore facilities in Sarawak.

The three-year subcontract, awarded on a call-out basis, has no fixed contract value, according to Steel Hawk's filing with Bursa Malaysia on Friday. The contract includes an option to extend for two additional years, on a one-year plus one-year basis, it noted.

Steel Hawk bags offshore living quarters maintenance job from Petra Energy

The European Union (EU) and China said they made some progress after a week of technical talks in Beijing aimed at scaling back or reversing tariffs that the bloc applied to electric vehicles (EVs) made in China.

EU and China say progress in talkss to avoid EV tariffs

President Tayyip Erdogan sought to reset Turkey's strained ties with the United States by inviting President-elect Donald Trump to visit, and said Trump spoke very positively about Turkey during a phone call.

Trump's election victory this week was generally met with cheer in Nato-member Turkey, with markets rallying and some officials cautiously optimistic about prospects for new US economic policies.

Eyeing reset in ties, Erdogan invites Trump to visit Turkey

99 Speed Mart Retail Holdings Bhd’s (KL:99SMART) net profit dipped 3.5% to RM107.16 million in the third quarter ended Sept 30, 2024 (3QFY2024) from RM111.06 million a year ago, dragged by higher administrative and other operating spending. This included one-off special staff bonuses and initial public offering (IPO) listing expenses totalling RM23.2 million.

Excluding the one-off expenses, 99 Speed Mart said in a statement its normalised net profit increased 13.2% to RM126 million in 3QFY2024 from RM111.27 million in 3QFY2023.

99 Speed Mart posts RM107.16m 3Q profit, down 3.5% on-year due to one-off expenses

The Malaysian Oil, Gas and Energy Services Council (MOGSC) has commended the recent awarding of landmark contracts for integrated well continuity services (ICWS) and maintenance, construction, and modification (MCM) services to oil and gas services equipment (OGSE) players.

Industry group hails award of landmark contracts by Petronas to O&G services equipment firms

KUALA LUMPUR (Nov 8): Former prime minister Tan Sri Muhyiddin Yassin has to pay a total of RM1.35 million in damages for defaming ex-finance minister Lim Guan Eng with his statements concerning tax breaks for Tan Sri Syed Mokhtar Al-Bukhary’s charity foundation Yayasan Albukhary.

Court orders Muhyiddin to pay RM1.35m in damages to Guan Eng over defamatory comments on Yayasan Albukhary’s tax breaks

Maxis Bhd’s (KL:MAXIS) continuous efforts to recruit subscribers with lower prices are paying off.&nbsp;

The telecommunications company announced that its net profit grew by 28% for the three months ended Sept 30, 2024 (3QFY2024), helped by a larger subscriber base, coupled with a drop in staff costs after earlier lay-offs.

Maxis 3Q net profit rises 28% with more subscribers, lower staff costs

Pentamaster Corp Bhd (KL:PENTA) led the fall among semiconductor-related counters on Bursa Malaysia on Friday, after the company announced that its quarterly net profit tumbled to a six-year low.&nbsp;&nbsp;

Gloomy earnings outlook puts semiconductor-related stocks under selling pressure

Donald Trump's recent US election&nbsp;win will affect Malaysian exporters, but is largely neutral for domestic growth, the ringgit, and the equity market, said CGS International.

Trump presidency largely neutral for Malaysia, while market consolidation offers buying opportunities — CGS

Former deputy international trade and industry minister Professor Dr Ong Kian Ming wondered if are there plans for Digital Nasional Bhd to transition fully to a 100% mobile network operator-owned entity, so that it can compete fairly with U Mobile once the second 5G network is rolled out to a high enough area of coverage.

Questions on the second 5G network

Russian President Vladimir Putin congratulated Donald Trump on his victory in the US presidential election, and said he is ready to hold discussions with the new American leader.

Putin says Trump’s proposals on Ukraine deserve attention

Hong Leong Investment Bank (HLIB) proposed that revisiting the Shenton House acquisition could present a prime opportunity for IOI Properties Group Bhd (KL:IOIPG), given the favourable market conditions.

Revisiting acquisition of Shenton House 'best available option' for IOI Properties — HLIB

KUALA LUMPUR (Nov 8): Shares of Pentamaster Corp Bhd (KL:PENTA) fell on Friday, after the automated test equipment company reported that its net profit nearly halved in the latest quarter.

Pentamaster shares fall after profit nearly halved in latest quarter

Analysts are&nbsp;positive about Axiata Group Bhd's (KL:AXIATA) focus on emerging markets&nbsp;while reaping benefits from the CelcomDigi merger over a longer term.

Analysts positive on Axiata's emerging-market focus, CelcomDigi merger benefits

United Overseas Bank Ltd (UOB)&nbsp;led Singapore bank stocks to record highs on Friday after delivering a hefty profit beat, led by wealth and trading gains.

UOB rose more than 9% as it reported third-quarter profit that climbed to S$1.64 billion (US$1.24 billion or RM5.44 billion). The bank also signalled the potential for more returns to investors through a share-buyback programme. Oversea-Chinese Banking Corp’s (OCBC) stock rose almost 2%.

Singapore bank shares surge to records on wealth, trading gains

Communications Minister Fahmi Fadzil said on Friday it is too early to reveal the specific conditions that will be imposed on U Mobile Sdn Bhd to lead the second 5G network.

Fahmi says still premature to reveal conditions set for U Mobile on second 5G network

China announced a 10 trillion yuan (US$1.4 trillion or RM6.12 trillion) programme to refinance local government debt, as Beijing rolls out more measures to support a slowing economy facing new risks from the re-election of Donald Trump as the US president.

China unveils US$1.4 tril debt swap to help local govts

SUNGKAI (Nov 8): FGV Holdings Bhd (KL:FGV), one of the world’s largest producer of crude palm oil (CPO), said it is actively working with its clients to facilitate the export of crude-palm-kernel-oil (CPKO) products that comply with the European Union Deforestation Regulation (EUDR) into Europe.

FGV working closely with clients to facilitate export of crude-palm-kernel-oil products

CYBERJAYA (Nov 8): Malaysia is set to experience 20% to 40% more rainfall during the upcoming Northeast Monsoon season, compared to a year earlier, according to the Meteorology Department.

Malaysia braces for up to 40% more rainfall this monsoon season, officials say

WASHINGTON&nbsp;(Nov 7):&nbsp;Donald&nbsp;Trump's&nbsp;Republicans were projected to pick up another US Senate seat on Thursday, and appeared to be retaining their narrow hold on the House of Representatives, putting them&nbsp;on track to control both chambers of Congress&nbsp;next year.

Republicans widen Senate majority, on track to win House

Malaysian benchmark palm oil futures are expected to trade above and around RM5,000 per tonne until June 2025, supported by tight supply and bullish demand, leading industry analyst Dorab Mistry said on Friday.

Malaysia palm oil futures seen around and above RM5,000 per tonne until mid-2025, analyst Mistry says

KUALA LUMPUR (Nov 8): As the year-end 11.11 sale is approaching, e-commerce giant Lazada Malaysia introduced AI Lazzie, an artificial intelligence (AI) shopping assistant to help users navigate, discover and shop on the platform.

Lazada launches new AI assistant on its app

At about the same time my article “Hidden danger in consuming ‘dark calories’” was published on theedgemalaysia.com (July 17, 2024), the Seed Oil Free Alliance unveiled its “Seed Oil Free Certified” food label. In my article, I recommended avoiding seed oils from sunflower, corn, soybean and cott...

My Say: Seed Oil Free Certification in the US a boost for palm oil?

Genting Singapore Ltd’s shares fell to a two-year low, after analysts downgraded the stock following lacklustre third-quarter results from the firm.

The shares dropped as much as 7.7% to hit the lowest since October 2022, before paring some losses. The company reported a net income of S$79.4 million (US$60 million or RM263.4 million) for the three months ended September, missing estimates by a wide margin.

Genting Singapore shares fall to two-year low on earnings miss

Malaysia’s industrial output rose slower than expected in September, as manufacturing activity and electricity generation growth eased, while mining production contracted, official data on Friday showed.