Rapid urbanisation is resulting in a growing number of slum dwellers, inadequate and overburdened infrastructure and services, and worsening air pollution. The Covid-19 pandemic will hit hardest the more than one billion slum dwellers worldwide, who suffer from a lack of adequate housing, no runn...

MySay: How the pandemic affects the design of our built environment

Nintendo Co said it is seeing overwhelming demand for its upcoming game console Switch 2 in Japan, in a sign the gadget could be on track for the biggest hardware launch in the video game industry’s history.

Nintendo says demand for Switch 2 console in Japan overwhelming

After four years, the XPRIZE has winnowed down a list of 1,300 companies to choose the winners of its US$100 million (RM439.10 million) competition for startups that remove carbon from the atmosphere.

Elon Musk-backed XPRIZE awards US$100m for carbon removal

Sarawak Consolidated Industries Bhd (KL:SCIB) on Wednesday clarified that its subsidiary’s RM19.72 million recovery claim against Awana JV Suria Saga Sdn Bhd has not been withdrawn, but has instead been consolidated into a main suit to streamline litigation proceedings.

SCIB clarifies suit against developer Awana JV over scrapped Perak project still on

While many investors have been scared away from tech giants at the centre of this year’s equity rout, the companies are likely to continue ploughing money into buybacks that will offer at least one source of continuing support for the stocks.

Tech giants to plow US$500b cash hoard into more buybacks

Thailand may need at least 500 billion baht (US$15 billion) for economic stimulus measures to address the impact of US tariffs, its finance minister said on Wednesday.

Thailand may need US$15 billion of stimulus to cope with US tariffs, minister says

Airbus SE plans to source some metal to manufacture its aircraft from Saudi Arabia as part of a widebody aircraft deal with the kingdom’s flag carrier.

Airbus to source titanium from Saudi Arabia as part of jet deal

AME Real Estate Investment Trust (KL:AMEREIT) on Wednesday reported a marginal increase in net property income (NPI) for its fourth financial quarter, thanks to contributions from two newly-acquired industrial properties which were, however, offset by higher operating expenses.

AME REIT posts slight rise in 4Q property income, to pay 1.83 sen per unit

IGB REIT and IGB Commercial REIT reported higher earnings in the first quarter ended March 31, 2025, but warned investors of challenges ahead.

IGB REITs report higher Q1 earnings but warn of challenges ahead

Malaysian stocks rose on Wednesday with the benchmark index retaking a key psychological level as potential US tariff relief injected hope of easing trade tensions into Asian markets.

Malaysian stocks climb, KLCI retakes key level amid hope for easing trade tensions

Axis Real Estate Investment Trust (Axis REIT) net income rose 16.2% to RM49.13 million in its first quarter ended March (1QFY2025) from RM42.27 million in 1QFY2024, as new acquisitions, tenancies and rental rates boosted its property income.

Axis REIT 1Q income jumps on new acquisitions, tenancies and rental rates

Sapura Holdings Sdn Bhd's founder Tan Sri Shamsuddin Abdul Kadir took the stand on Wednesday as the company's winding-up case continued, following a breakdown in settlement talks between his sons, feuding brothers Tan Sri Shahril Shamsuddin and Datuk Shahriman Shamsuddin.

Sapura Holdings founder Shamsuddin takes the stand as sons' settlement talks fail

KUALA LUMPUR (April 23): Johor Investment, Trade, Consumer Affairs and Human Resources Committee chairman Lee Ting Han announced that Forest City’s Special Financial Zone (SFZ) has welcomed its first family offices, CMY Capital Family Office and Yow Kee Family Office, and attracted interest from 30&nbsp;other companies to set up operations in Johor Bahru.

Forest City SFZ welcomes first two family offices, sees interest from 30 other companies

US President Donald Trump said he plans to be “very nice” to China in any trade talks, and that tariffs will drop if the two countries can reach a deal, a sign he may be backing down from his tough stance on Beijing amid market volatility.

Trump floats 'substantial' China tariff cuts in trade deal

A longtime board member of City Developments Ltd, the property giant controlled by Singapore’s wealthiest family, lashed out at several other directors on Wednesday over a recent feud that rocked the developer and the billionaire Kwek clan.

Singapore Kwek clan’s CDL investor meeting turns acrimonious

Several areas in Selangor were affected by flash floods following heavy rainfall since early Wednesday morning.

Selangor Fire and Rescue Department assistant director of operations&nbsp;Ahmad Mukhlis Mukhtar&nbsp;said the affected areas were&nbsp;Sungai Buloh, Petaling Jaya&nbsp;and Subang Jaya.

Flash floods hit several areas in Selangor, no evacuations reported

Malaysia’s headline inflation decelerated to its slowest in four years as price gains at restaurants and of other non-food items&nbsp;eased.

Malaysia's consumer inflation slowest in four years as non-food price gain eases

Malaysia lost billions in potential income — between 4.00% and 9.49% of its gross domestic product (GDP) in 2025 — by excluding non-citizen children born in the country from formal education, according to a joint policy paper by the Social Wellbeing Research Centre (SWRC) and Unicef Malaysia.

Malaysia lost billions by not educating non-citizens — study

European stocks rebounded on Wednesday, as investors drew some relief from US President Donald Trump saying he had no plans to fire the head of the Federal Reserve, and hinting at lower tariffs for China.

Stocks, dollar gain after Trump backtracks on remarks over Fed

The Kedah government has been alerted to an&nbsp;encroachment along a section of Petronas’&nbsp;gas pipeline route in the Pendang district, believed to have been taking place for several years.

Encroachment detected on Petronas gas pipeline route in Kedah — exco

The imposition of US duties on solar panels from Southeast Asia&nbsp;will have far-reaching implications for&nbsp;the manufacturing base across the region, according to the Federation of Malaysian Manufacturers (FMM).

US solar duties threaten Malaysia's role in global clean energy supply chain, says FMM

Investment, Trade and Industry Minister Tengku Datuk Seri Zafrul Abdul Aziz and his team have arrived in the US to urge US officials to review tariffs on Malaysian imports.

Zafrul lands in US, to meet with US Trade Rep Jamieson Greer over tariffs

The International Monetary Fund (IMF) has downgraded its real gross domestic product (GDP) growth forecast for Malaysia to 4.1% this year, from its January estimate of 4.7%, in line with a broader reduction in regional projections.

IMF cuts real GDP growth forecast for Malaysia to 4.1% in 2025

US Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent told a closed-door investor summit on Tuesday that the tariff stand-off with China cannot be sustained by both sides, and that the world’s two largest economies will have to find ways to de-escalate.

US Treasury Secretary Bessent expects tariff stand-off with China to de-escalate

Ferrotec Holdings Corporation, a Japanese advanced materials and component company, will be investing RM1 billion for the construction of its second manufacturing facility in Kulim, Kedah.

Japan's Ferrotec to invest RM1 bil in second plant in Kedah

KUALA LUMPUR (April 23): Bumi Armada Bhd (KL:ARMADA) is expected to report strong earnings in first quarter of 2025 (1QFY2025), but foresees a drop in the following quarters as its floating, production, storage, and offloading (FPSO) Kraken vessel sees a steep cut in its daily charter rates.

Bumi Armada to post strong 1Q earnings, later quarters impacted by FPSO Kraken rate cut — Maybank IB

KUALA LUMPUR (April 23): Bank Rakyat has launched the eGold Account-I, a shariah-compliant digital gold investment accessible via its internet banking platform.

Bank Rakyat launches Islamic gold investment platform eGold Account-i

(April 23): Intel Corp is poised to announce plans this week to cut more than 20% of its staff, aiming to eliminate bureaucracy at the struggling chipmaker, according to a person with knowledge of the matter.

Intel to announce plans this week to cut more than 20% of staff — Bloomberg

KUALA LUMPUR (April 23): Malaysia’s exports are likely to be impacted by the imposition of any direct tariffs, global growth slowdown or possible recession, but the longer-term outlook remains bright, as there is room for the country to benefit from supply chain diversification, said Franklin Templeton.

Direct tariffs may likely impact Malaysia’s exports; outlook bright on supply-chain diversification — Franklin Templeton

Former Goldman Sachs Group Inc banker Roger Ng Chong Hwa can testify as a defence witness in the ongoing 1Malaysia Development Bhd (1MDB)-Tanore criminal trial of former prime minister Datuk Seri Najib Razak.

Ex-Goldman banker Roger Ng can testify as Najib's defence witness, court rules

KUALA LUMPUR (April 23): Malaysia’s 30-stock benchmark FBM KLCI constituents will achieve modest earnings growth of 2% in 2025, even under a stressed scenario involving escalating tariff risks, according to Kenanga Research’s latest market strategy report.

Azmizam Abdul Rashid