GENEVA (Feb 19): The World Trade Organization (WTO) said on Wednesday that discussions on trade tensions were "constructive", after China accused the US of imposing "tariff shocks" that could upend the global trading system.

WTO holds 'constructive' talks after China condemns Trump's 'tariff shocks'

OCK Group Bhd’s (KL:OCK) shareholders have approved a proposed RM91 million investment in a 116 megawatt (MW) large-scale solar photovoltaic (LSSPV) power plant in Malaysia through Solarpack Suria Sungai Petani Sdn Bhd (3SP).

OCK shareholders approve RM91 mil investment in large-scale solar plant 

Telecommunications network services provider OCK Group Bhd (KL:OCK) is expanding its renewable energy portfolio with a proposed RM350 million investment in a large-scale solar photovoltaic (LSSPV) power plant in Malaysia through Solarpack Suria Sungai Petani Sdn Bhd (3SP).

OCK Group ventures into large-scale solar with RM350 mil investment  

A total of 300 Malaysian digital leaders are expected to be trained by 2026 under the Digital Leadership Excellence (DLE) programme — a collaborative initiative between Huawei Technologies (Malaysia) Sdn Bhd and the Malaysian Communications and Multimedia Commission (MCMC).

MCMC, Huawei to groom 300 Malaysian digital leaders by 2026 

The High Court here on Wednesday allowed former Kedah menteri besar Datuk Seri Mukhriz Mahathir's application to stay an additional assessment notice issued by the Inland Revenue Board (IRB) pending the decision of his judicial review application to quash the notice.

Court allows Mukhriz's application to stay additional assessment notice involving over RM5m

Sapura Industrial Bhd (KL:SAPIND) has launched its new corporate identity with a new logo, as it seeks to step away from being associated with the Sapura Group of companies.

‘No connection’ between Sapura Industrial and Sapura Group, says MD 

PwC has shut down operations in more than a dozen countries that are deemed too small, risky or unprofitable, as the Big Four accounting firm aims to prevent repeats of scandals that have affected it, the Financial Times (FT) reported on Wednesday.

PwC exits more than a dozen countries to avoid scandals, FT reports

China wants to see a number of steps from President Donald Trump’s administration before it will agree to trade talks, including showing more respect by reining in disparaging remarks by members of his cabinet, according to a person familiar with the Chinese government’s thinking.

China open to talks if Trump shows respect, names point person 

Automotive component manufacturer Sapura Industrial Bhd (SIB) (KL:SAPIND) is aiming to expand its electric vehicle (EV) battery servicing business by five times in the coming years.

Sapura Industrial targets fivefold growth in EV battery servicing biz

Pakistan will offer to buy more cotton and soybean from the US, according to people with knowledge of the matter, as it looks to halve its bilateral trade surplus and escape tariffs imposed by President Donald Trump.

Pakistan looks to appease Trump with cotton, soy purchase offer

India’s federal investigative agency has filed charges of money laundering against senior leaders of the main opposition party Indian National Congress, ramping up the government’s crackdown on political rivals.

Indian agency charges Gandhi family with money laundering

President Donald Trump’s administration has barred Nvidia Corp from selling its H20 chip in China, an escalation of Washington’s tech battle with Beijing that will cost the company billions of dollars and hamstring a product line it explicitly designed to comply with previous US curbs.

Nvidia warns Trump curbs on China chips to cost US$5.5 bil

Malaysia Aviation Group (MAG) is offering up to 30% off on airfares for economy and business class on all Malaysian Airlines routes, domestic and international, in conjunction with Matta Fair 2025.

MAG offers up to 30% off for Malaysian Airlines tickets at Matta Fair

China wants to see a number of steps from President Donald Trump’s administration before it will agree to trade talks, including showing more respect by reining in disparaging remarks by members of his cabinet, according to a person familiar with the Chinese government’s thinking.

Chinese President Xi Jinping was given a state welcome at Istana Negara on Wednesday in conjunction with a three-day state visit starting on Tuesday at the invitation of the King, Sultan Ibrahim Sultan Iskandar.

Chinese President Xi accorded state welcome at Istana Negara

Malaysian exports to the US were meant to be hit with a 24% tariff, effective April 9. Certain goods, such as semiconductors, were to be exempted. This was part of US President Donald Trump’s sweeping trade policy targeting countries that the US has large trade deficits with.

How much does Malaysia trade with the US?

Malaysian banks, in spite of their domestic focus, will not emerge completely unscathed from the escalating international trade tensions, TA Securities flagged on Wednesday.

Malaysian banks, despite local focus, will suffer from trade tensions fallout — TA Securities

The government will implement the diagnostic-related group (DRG) payment system only for new basic health insurance and takaful products, instead of changing the entire private healthcare payment model, according to Hong Leong Investment Bank (HLIB) Research.

Govt to apply diagnostics-related group payment system to basic insurance only, private healthcare model unaffected — HLIB Research

Four weeks before Melbourne entered lockdown in March 2020, a group of councillors gathered in the city’s Town Hall to back a proposal for the tallest structure that Australia had ever seen, one that would see a spiralling green garden wrapped around a 365-metre skyscraper.

Malaysian developers, backed by Maybank, stumble in plan to build Australia’s tallest tower

US&nbsp;President Donald Trump's new&nbsp;tariffs&nbsp;could&nbsp;cost&nbsp;US semiconductor&nbsp;equipment&nbsp;makers&nbsp;more&nbsp;than US$1&nbsp;billion (RM4.42 billion) a year, according to industry calculations discussed with officials and lawmakers&nbsp;in Washington last week, two sources familiar with the matter said.

US tariffs may cost chip equipment makers more than US$1 bil, industry estimates

The King,&nbsp;Sultan Ibrahim Sultan Iskandar, has expressed his belief that Malaysia and China will continue to strengthen cooperation between the two countries, despite various geopolitical gaps around the world.

King confident Malaysia, China will continue to empower cooperation

Gold prices rose surpassed the US$3,300 (RM14,580) for the first time on Wednesday, as investors sought safe-haven assets after US President Donald Trump ordered a probe into potential new tariffs on US critical mineral imports.

Gold crosses US$3,300 as trade tensions fuel record rally 

Sapura Energy Bhd (KL:SAPNRG) has secured multiple contracts worth nearly RM100 million combined in Malaysia and Thailand to provide offshore support vessels.

Sapura Energy bags multiple contracts worth nearly RM100 mil

The 1Malaysia Development Bhd-Tanore (1MDB-Tanore) trial, which has been on the 'tail-end' for months, seems to be protracted even longer with more contestations to subpoena possible witnesses.

1MDB-Tanore: Now, IGP contests defence’s subpoena

Asian and European shares fell on Wednesday along with US stock futures as AI darling Nvidia took a hit from US restrictions on chip sales to China amid the intensifying global trade war, while gold climbed to a record and the dollar slid.

Shares skid as Nvidia hurt by US chip-sale curbs, gold hits record

China's first-quarter economic growth outstripped expectations, underpinned by solid consumption and industrial output, but analysts fear momentum could shift sharply lower as US tariffs pose the biggest risk to the Asian powerhouse in decades.

China 1Q GDP growth tops expectations, but US tariff shock looms large

President Donald Trump launched a probe into the need for tariffs on critical minerals, the latest action in an expanding trade war that has targeted key sectors of the global economy.

Trump launches critical minerals probe to weigh new tariffs

Shares of Aurelius Technologies Bhd (KL:ATECH) extended gains sharply, outperforming peers and the broader market on Wednesday, after announcing a bonus share issue.

Aurelius Tech's stock rises more than 4% after bonus share issue plan

The High Court here has given time for the lawyers of Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad to “consider his approach” in contempt of court proceedings that Deputy Prime Minister Datuk Seri Dr Ahmad Zahid Hamidi has brought against him.&nbsp;

Zahid’s attempt to commit Mahathir for contempt postponed after court gives time for Dr M to 'consider his approach'

Representative Marjorie Taylor Greene sold US Treasuries and bought stakes in Amazon.com Inc, Blackstone Inc&nbsp;and Tesla Inc&nbsp;the day before President Donald Trump put a 90-day pause on retaliatory tariffs and prompted a market rally.

Trump ally Marjorie Taylor Greene sold Treasuries, bought Tesla, Amazon, Blackstone before rally

Chinese sellers of items from lunch boxes to appliances have taken to social media platform Rednote to generate sympathy purchases, telling domestic consumers they are offloading stock at bargain prices amid US tariffs.

Emma Farge & Olivia Le Poidevin