Alphabet's Google launched two new AI models tailored for robotics applications on Wednesday based on its Gemini 2.0 model, as it looks to cater to the rapidly growing robotics industry.

Google introduces new AI models for rapidly growing robotics industry

President Vladimir Putin said on Thursday that Russia agreed with US proposals for a ceasefire in Ukraine, but that any truce would have to deal with the root causes of the conflict and that many crucial details needed to be sorted out.

Putin backs US ceasefire idea for Ukraine, but says many details need to be sorted out

Senate Democrats continued a standoff on Thursday with Republicans over Elon Musk’s DOGE cuts as the US government approached a Saturday shutdown.
 
Senate Democratic leader Chuck Schumer declared a day earlier his party would block a Republican spending bill to avert the impending shutdown and urged the GOP to accept a Democratic plan to provide funding through April 11 instead.

Democrats in standoff with GOP as US shutdown deadline nears

The third accused in the murder case of Kolej Vokasional Lahad Datu student Mohamad Nazmie Aizzat Mohd Narul Azwan, also known as Ijat, told the High Court here on Thursday that he did not personally see the victim stealing his money or that of the fourth accused.

Vocational college murder case: Third accused says did not see victim steal money

Anglo American plc is planning more job cuts at its corporate office, as it restructures its business by selling assets and spinning off its platinum unit.

The company has sent notices to employees who are likely to be affected, people with knowledge of the matter said, asking not to be identified as a public announcement hasn’t been made.

Anglo American plans fresh job cuts at corporate office under restructuring

The Ontario Municipal Employees Retirement System (Omers) hired Alexander Fraser, a former partner of a Temasek-backed fund, as the global head of its private equity arm.

Ontario fund hires Alexander Fraser as its global head of private equity

A brief recap of some corporate announcements that made news on Thursday.

UWC, Apollo Food, Hibiscus Petroleum, TMK Chemical, Avangaad, Kerjaya Prospek Group and PUC

US Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent said on Thursday he was not concerned about recent Wall Street volatility, telling CNBC in an interview that the Trump administration was focused on medium- and long-term gains for the market and Americans.

US Treasury chief says economic 'detox' does not have to be a recession

The US Food and Drug Administration’s (FDA) top lawyer resigned on Thursday, two days after her appointment was announced, the agency posted on the social media site X.

Top FDA lawyer resigns two days after appointment announced

PUC Bhd (KL:PUC) group managing director and chief executive officer Cheong Chia Chou has ceased to be a substantial shareholder in the loss-making digital payment solutions provider, after trimming his stake to 4.06%.

CEO Cheong Chia Chou further cuts stake in PUC, ceases to be substantial shareholder

AirAsia’s decision to pull out of Subang Airport isn’t just a shift in flight operations — it’s a warning signal for Malaysia’s broader aviation strategy.

Subang’s turbulence: Malaysia’s airport expansion faces market realities

In 2023, Malaysians unknowingly lost RM2.99 billion due to hidden foreign exchange (FX) fees, according to research commissioned by UK-based financial technology company, Wise.

Malaysians lost almost RM3b in 2023 due to hidden foreign exchange fees — Wise study

KUALA LUMPUR (March 13): Hextar World at Empire City has signed key tenants at its signing ceremony on Thursday in preparation for its 4Q2025 opening.

Key anchor tenants include the Malaysia National Ice Skating Stadium (MYNISS) by Koperasi Industri Sukan Atlet Malaysia Bhd, an Olympic-...

Hextar World at Empire City secures major tenants ahead of 4Q2025 launch

Gold’s burgeoning safe-haven allure may see it surge to a record high of US$3,500 (RM15,522) an ounce during the third quarter, according to Macquarie Group analysts.

Gold may rise as high as US$3,500 in 3Q, Macquarie says

THE Employees Provident Fund is set to declare its highest ever dividend payout on March 1 for 2024, with the dividend rate likely beating 2023’s 5.5% for conventional savings and 5.4% for shariah savings. Yet in the run-up to the stellar showing, EPF’s equity traders’ decision to sell close to 1...

Cover Story 2: EPF cites insider trading rules on MAHB share trades as critics decry missed profits

S P Setia Bhd (KL:SPSETIA) has completed Emporia, which was handed over on Feb 22, its first shop office development in Setia Alamsari, ahead of schedule, with 90% of units pre-leased before vacant possession.

S P Setia’s Emporia handed over ahead of schedule with 90% pre-leased; soft launch of bungalows and semidees in May

Construction company Wawasan Dengkil Holdings Bhd has attracted RM124.17 million worth of applications from retail investors — seven times more than the amount it plans to raise from its initial public offering.&nbsp;

Wawasan Dengkil’s ACE Market IPO attracts over RM124m in retail interest

Shares of Intel surged 10% in premarket activity, as Wall Street cheered the decision to name former board member Lip-Bu Tan as CEO, who left in August over differences about the chipmaker's direction, after several years of market underperformance.

Intel jumps 10%, as investors cheer appointment of new Malaysian-born CEO Tan

UWC Bhd (KL:UWC) said its net profit more than doubled to RM9.69 million for its second financial quarter ended Jan 31, 2025 (2QFY2025) from RM4.81 million a year ago, amid the semiconductor industry's strong recovery.

UWC's 2Q net profit more than doubles on semiconductor industry's strong recovery

Apollo Food Holdings Bhd’s (KL:APOLLO) net profit fell 65.5% to RM10.43 million in its third quarter ended Jan 31, 2025 (3QFY2025) from RM30.24 million a year ago, dragged by lower profit margins and the absence of RM21.9 million in disposal gains from investment properties.

Apollo Food 3Q net profit drops 66% on lower margin, absence of one-off gains

KUALA LUMPUR (March 13): The future growth&nbsp;outlook for Malaysia’s healthcare sector stays promising in 2025, with investors’&nbsp;continued appetite for good-quality healthcare assets remaining&nbsp;intact,&nbsp;said RHB Investment Bank Bhd.&nbsp;

Investor appetite for Malaysia’s healthcare sector remains intact in 2025 — RHB Investment

Taghill Holdings Bhd (KL:TAGHILL), formerly known as Siab Holdings Bhd, is taking legal action against a developer to recover an alleged outstanding payment of RM4.91 million.

Taghill Holdings sues developer to recover outstanding payment

US President Donald Trump on Thursday threatened to slap a 200% tariff on all wines and other alcoholic products coming out of Europe if the European Union does not scrap its planned tax on American whiskey.

Trump threatens 200% wine tariff if EU does not relent on whiskey

Former army doctor Dr R Kunaseegaran’s defence lawyer told a three-member Federal Court bench that Kunaseegaran could not have played any role in the murder of deputy public prosecutor Datuk Kevin Morais, as Kunaseegaran was not physically present in a meeting to discuss Morais’ abduction that led to his murder.

Kunaseegaran not physically present in meeting to discuss Kevin Morais’ murder, claims defence lawyer

The FBM KLCI staged a strong rebound on Thursday, snapping its five-day losing streak that had erased nearly 80 points from the index. The benchmark index surged by 25.20 points, or 1.7%, to close above the key 1,500 mark at 1,510.03 on Thursday, marking its largest gain since Aug 6.

FBM KLCI snaps five-day losing streak, back above 1,500 key level

A summary of how key Bursa Malaysia indices and the ringgit performed on Thursday.

FBM KLCI up 1.7% to 1,510.03 on March 13, 2025

KUALA LUMPUR (March 13): Parkson Credit Sdn Bhd has tapped among others, its principal adviser HSBC Amanah Malaysia Sdn Bhd, for a RM1 billion sukuk wakalah programme&nbsp;to raise RM333 milion for its expansion plans.

Motorcycle financier Parkson Credit raises RM333m in maiden sukuk issuance to drive expansion

KUALA LUMPUR (March 13): Austrian circuit board maker AT&amp;S has secured a US$250 million (RM1.1 billion) loan from the World Bank’s International Finance Corporation (IFC) to finance its substrate plant in Malaysia.

Austrian circuit board maker AT&S secures US$250m loan from World Bank’s investment arm for plant in Malaysia

A brief recap of some corporate announcements that made news on Thursday.

The main US stock indices slipped on Thursday as President Donald Trump's escalated tariff rhetoric against the European Union (EU) impacted investor sentiment, although cooling inflation provided some relief.

Wall St trips on Trump's latest tariff threat; inflation data offers respite

AirAsia’s decision to pull out of Subang Airport isn’t just a shift in flight operations — it’s a warning signal for Malaysia’s broader aviation strategy.

Akash Sriram & Kenrick Cai