<div class=newsTextDataWrapInner><p><span style="font-style: italics;">This article first appeared in The Edge Financial Daily on August 3, 2017 - August 9, 2017</span></p></div><div class=newsTextDataWrapInner><p>KUALA LUMPUR: Thong Guan Industries Bhd, a plastic packaging company, yesterday announced its entry into the restaurant business through the launch of its maiden Marche Movenpick outlet at Pavilion Kuala Lumpur.</p></div>

<div class=newsTextDataWrapInner><p>Thong Guan is the new master franchisee for the Swiss restaurant chain in Malaysia.</p></div><div class=inPageAd id=div-gpt-ad-inpage></div>

<div class=newsTextDataWrapInner><p>“We are very excited to embark on this new business venture that is expected to contribute positively to the group’s financials in future years. We will also consider the possibility of opening other interesting concept stores that Marche Movenpick has to offer,” said Thong Guan executive director Alvin Ang in a statement yesterday.</p></div>

<div class=newsTextDataWrapInner><p>“Our food and beverage division has always been a steady contributor to the group; we expect this new venture to further increase the division’s profitability,” he added.</p></div>


KUALA LUMPUR: Thong Guan Industries Bhd, a plastic packaging company, yesterday announced its entry into the restaurant business through the launch of its maiden Marche Movenpick outlet at Pavilion Kuala Lumpur.

Thong Guan is the new master franchisee for the Swiss restaurant chain in M...

Thong Guan forays into restaurant business

MOSCOW (Jan 5): Russian airports in the cities of Kazan, Nizhnekamsk, Izhevsk and Perm, which temporarily halted flights on Sunday morning to ensure the safety of civilian aircraft, have resumed normal operations, the aviation watchdog Rosaviatsia said.

Four Russian airports reopen after suspending flights, aviation watchdog says

SEOUL (Jan 5): The chief of security for South Korean President Yoon Suk Yeol said on Sunday that he could not cooperate with efforts to arrest the impeached leader, in remarks that could push the political crisis towards another high-stakes confrontation.

South Korea's presidential security chief defies Yoon's arrest bid as deadline looms

CAIRO/GAZA (Jan 5): Israeli military strikes in the Gaza Strip have killed at least 70 people over the last day, Palestinian medics said on Saturday, as mediators launched a new ceasefire push to end the 15-month-old war.

Israeli strikes kill dozens in Gaza Strip as new ceasefire talks begin

WEST PALM BEACH, Florida/MILAN (Jan 4): Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni flew to Florida to meet with President-elect Donald Trump on Saturday, as the key European leader sought to buttress ties with Trump before his inauguration on Jan 20.

Italian Prime Minister Meloni meets with Trump at his Florida resort

(Jan 5): Congestion pricing has finally arrived in New York City, though its long-term future still remains uncertain.

NYC congestion pricing takes effect after years of delays

KUALA LUMPUR (Jan 5): The Palestinian ambassador to Malaysia, Walid Abu Ali, expressed deep regret over the recent commotion at Wisma Transit Kuala Lumpur (WTKL), stressing that such actions do not align with Palestinian culture or ethics.

Palestinian embassy working with authorities to resolve Wisma Transit incident, says envoy

TOKYO (Jan 5): The global chip market is projected to grow 11.2% to a record US$697.18 billion (RM3.13 trillion) in 2025, boosted by robust demand for semiconductors for use in artificial intelligence (AI)-powered smartphones and data centres, according to an industry organisation forecast.

Global chip demand expected to grow 11.2% to record US$697b in 2025 — World Semiconductor Trade Statistics

(Jan 5): Merck & Co, Inc’s Covid-19 antivirals are getting a new lease of life in post-pandemic China, as cat owners seize on them as antidotes to a life-threatening disease caused by a coronavirus that infects their feline companions.

Chinese cat owners feed Covid pills to pets to beat virus

(Jan 4): Swiss bank UBS is working with an independent ombudsman to shed light on Nazi-linked accounts, it said on Saturday, after the Wall Street Journal newspaper reported that some accounts at collapsed bank Credit Suisse, which UBS bought in 2023, had not been disclosed in earlier investigations.

UBS investigates undisclosed Nazi-linked accounts at Credit Suisse

The United Kingdom’s Labour government has given serious thought to the public investment needed to get the economy back on track after 14 years of austerity, neglect of social infrastructure, and capital flight triggered by Brexit and uncertain economic conditions. It understands that the situation demands a new strategy to tackle big problems like child poverty, health inequities, a weak industrial base, and struggling public infrastructure.

The Visible Hand: Good Growth Requires Getting Public-Private Partnerships Right 

<p>KUALA LUMPUR (Jan 5): Malaysian cafe owners who import coffee beans and sell speciality coffees are now faced with the challenge of rethinking their pricing strategies, as coffee bean prices hit record highs.&nbsp;</p>


Malaysian cafe owners to rethink pricing strategies as coffee bean prices reach record highs

<p>TOKYO (Jan 5): The global chip market is projected to grow 11.2% to a record US$697.18 billion (RM3.13 trillion) in 2025, boosted by robust demand for semiconductors for use in artificial intelligence (AI)-powered smartphones and data centres, according to an industry organisation forecast.</p>


<p>KUALA LUMPUR (Jan 5): The Palestinian ambassador to Malaysia, Walid Abu Ali, expressed deep regret over the recent commotion at Wisma Transit Kuala Lumpur (WTKL), stressing that such actions do not align with Palestinian culture or ethics.</p>


<p>PUTRAJAYA (Jan 5): Singapore Prime Minister Lawrence Wong will undertake an official visit to Malaysia from Monday to Tuesday (Jan 6 to 7), in conjunction with the 11th Malaysia-Singapore Leaders’ Retreat on Tuesday.</p>


Singapore PM Lawrence Wong to visit Malaysia for leaders’ retreat

<p>(Jan 4): Two Federal Reserve policymakers on Saturday said they feel the US central bank's job on taming inflation is not yet done, but also signalled they do not want to risk damaging the labour market as they try to finish that job.</p>


Fed's Kugler, Daly say job not done on inflation

<p>(Jan 5): Merck &amp; Co, Inc’s Covid-19 antivirals are getting a new lease of life in post-pandemic China, as cat owners seize on them as antidotes to a life-threatening disease caused by a coronavirus that infects their feline companions.</p>


<p>(Jan 5):&nbsp;Congestion pricing has finally arrived in New York City, though its long-term future still remains uncertain.</p>


<p>VIENNA (Jan 4): Talks between Austria's two main centrist parties on forming a coalition government without the far-right Freedom Party (FPO) collapsed on Saturday, prompting conservative Chancellor Karl Nehammer to announce he would step down.</p>


Austrian chancellor quits as coalition talks collapse

<p>(Jan 4): Swiss bank UBS is working with an independent ombudsman to shed light on Nazi-linked accounts, it said on Saturday, after the <em>Wall Street Journal </em>newspaper reported that some accounts at collapsed bank Credit Suisse, which UBS bought in 2023, had not been disclosed in earlier investigations.</p>


<p>MUMBAI (Jan 4): India's HDFC Bank saw quarter-on-quarter deposit growth outpace loan growth in the three months to Dec 31, 2024, the country's biggest private lender said on Saturday.</p>


Indian private lender HDFC Bank says 3Q deposit growth outpaces loan growth

<p>WEST PALM BEACH, Florida/MILAN (Jan 4): Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni flew to Florida to meet with President-elect Donald Trump on Saturday, as the key European leader sought to buttress ties with Trump before his inauguration on Jan&nbsp;20.</p>


<p>SEOUL (Jan 5): The chief of security for South Korean President Yoon Suk Yeol said on Sunday that he could not cooperate with efforts to arrest the impeached leader, in remarks that could push the political crisis towards another high-stakes confrontation.</p>


<p>The United Kingdom’s Labour government has given serious thought to the public investment needed to get the economy back on track after 14 years of austerity, neglect of social infrastructure, and capital flight triggered by Brexit and uncertain economic conditions. It understands that the situation demands a new strategy to tackle big problems like child poverty, health inequities, a weak industrial base, and struggling public infrastructure.</p>


<p>CAIRO/GAZA (Jan 5): Israeli military strikes in the Gaza Strip have killed at least 70 people over the last day, Palestinian medics said on Saturday, as mediators launched a new ceasefire push to end the 15-month-old war.</p>
