Morale among Italian businesses and consumers slumped in March, data showed on Friday, casting a shadow over already weak growth prospects for the eurozone's third largest economy.

Italy business and consumer morale slumps in March as outlook worsens

After three decades of wage stagnation, workers in Italy have plenty to protest about, yet strikes over pay are rare and seldom last more than a day, prompting growing questions about the role of the country's trade unions.

Big but toothless — Italy's unions blamed for wage stagnation

An Italian prosecutor has opened a manslaughter investigation into the deaths of British tech magnate Mike Lynch and six other people who were killed when a luxury yacht sank in stormy weather off Sicily this week.

Italian prosecutor opens manslaughter probe in Lynch yacht sinking

Chinese President Xi Jinping is seeking to paint China as a steady partner to investors roiled by a global trade war. A spat over a shipping lane coveted by US President Donald Trump is testing that push.

Xi's showdown with Li Ka-shing threatens China’s pro-business push

The Trump family is set to launch a bitcoin mining-focused venture with Hut 8 Corp, the latest expansion of the US president’s ties to the cryptocurrency sector.

Trump family to launch US bitcoin mining venture with Hut 8

Renault SA and Nissan Motor Co agreed to further loosen their long-term alliance, paving the way for more share sales as the Japanese automaker remains under pressure to shore up its finances.

Renault, Nissan back more share sales in alliance loosening

The UK is expecting to be impacted by US tariffs this week, even as intensive talks continue to secure an exemption for British goods, Prime Minister Keir Starmer’s office said.

UK expects to be hit by US tariffs this week as talks continue

Chinese President Xi Jinping is reportedly planning a three-country tour in April, which will include a three-day visit to Malaysia, the South China Morning Post (SCMP) reported.

China's Xi to visit Malaysia in April, SCMP reports

French far-right leader Marine Le Pen was convicted of embezzlement on Monday, and handed an immediate five-year ban from public office, a sentence that will bar her from running in the 2027 presidential race unless she successfully appeals beforehand.

France's Le Pen barred from running for office for five years after graft conviction

The report on the fatal incident involving a visually impaired man who was run over by a train after falling onto the Titiwangsa Light Rail Transit (LRT) tracks on Feb 22 has been submitted to the Ministry of Transport (MOT) and the Land Public Transport Agency.

Report on fatal Titiwangsa LRT accident submitted to MOT, says Prasarana

Main Market-listed energy solutions provider T7 Global Bhd (KL:T7GLOBAL) announces that Tan Sri Tan Kean Soon has tendered his resignation as the executive deputy chairman from the group with immediate effect, citing personal reasons.

Tan Kean Soon steps down as T7 Global executive deputy chairman, board says no operational impact

People were pulled alive out of rubble in Myanmar and signs of life were detected in the ruins of a skyscraper in Bangkok on Monday as efforts intensified to find survivors three days after a massive earthquake that killed around 2,000.

Myanmar rescues, sign of life in Bangkok rubble raise hopes after deadly quake

Thailand’s economic outlook is worsening after the deadly Myanmar earthquake last Friday, adding to pressure for another interest rate cut next month to support the sluggish economy, according to analysts.

Thai outlook dims after quake, raising chance of rate cut

Main Market-listed energy solutions provider T7 Global Bhd (KL:T7GLOBAL) announces that Tan Sri Tan Kean Soon has tendered his resignation as the executive deputy chairman from the group with immediate effect, citing personal reasons.

A company auditor lost RM1.29 million after falling victim to a non-existent investment scheme offered via WhatsApp, said Pahang police chief&nbsp;Datuk Seri Yahaya Othman.

Company auditor loses RM1.29m to investment scam

Huawei Technologies Co&nbsp;posted its first quarterly net loss in years after the company spent aggressively on research in areas from electric vehicles (EVs) to chips while the business as a whole slowed.

Huawei posts surprise loss after aggressive tech research

Perak has emerged as Malaysia’s number one producer of sweet corn for two years, with a production of 17,716 metric tons in 2023, Perak Agriculture Department director Norsiyenti Othman said.

Perak emerges as Malaysia's No 1 sweet corn producer

Chinese President Xi Jinping is reportedly planning a three-country tour in April, which will include a three-day visit to Malaysia, the&nbsp;South China Morning Post (SCMP)&nbsp;reported.

An anti-corruption watchdog had flagged irregularities in the construction of a Bangkok skyscraper that collapsed in an earthquake last week and killed at least 11 people, the head of the monitoring group told Reuters.

Thai watchdog had flagged concerns over building that collapsed in earthquake, Reuters told

The report on the fatal incident involving a visually impaired man who was run over by a train after falling onto the Titiwangsa Light Rail Transit (LRT) tracks on Feb&nbsp;22 has been submitted to the Ministry of Transport (MOT) and the Land Public Transport Agency.

Elon Musk acknowledged that his job as the head of US President Donald Trump’s effort to cut the size of government is “costing me a lot” when it comes to his other big job&nbsp;as the chief executive officer of Tesla Inc.

Musk admits DOGE role is costing him as Tesla shares slump

BURSA Malaysia Securities Bhd will be bustling this week, with delegations from three companies making their debut, starting with Wawasan Dengkil Holdings Bhd on Tuesday (March 25), followed by Chemlite Innovation Bhd the following day and HI Mobility Bhd on Friday (March 28).

Wawasan D...

IPO Watch: A busy week for Bursa with three IPOs lined up

GLOBAL financial markets have not been in a good shape since the start of the year. And for more than five months now, foreigners have been net sellers of equities on Asian emerging markets. Last week, a sudden sharp fall in Indonesian stocks raised the alarm about the faltering economic outlook ...

Weak regional sentiment to linger amid Indonesian and Thai market rout, say analysts

EXCHANGE-traded funds (ETFs) have garnered widespread popularity in developed markets like the US and Europe, thanks to their cost-effectiveness, liquidity and diversification benefits.

In Malaysia, ETFs are still a relatively underutilised investment option. The first ETF listed on Bur...

Why ETFs are unpopular in Malaysia

COMPETITION for the contract to develop and operate the Johor Bahru (JB) elevated autonomous rapid transit (e-ART) is set to heighten as another consortium is said to be throwing its hat into the ring.

SMH Rail Sdn Bhd, a producer of train locomotives in Malaysia, is believed to have pa...

Bidding for Johor Bahru’s e-ART intensifies with SMH Rail poised to join the fray

French far-right&nbsp;leader Marine&nbsp;Le&nbsp;Pen&nbsp;was convicted of embezzlement on Monday, and handed an immediate five-year ban from public office, a sentence that will bar her from running in the 2027 presidential race unless she successfully appeals beforehand.

The Trump family is set to launch a bitcoin mining-focused venture with Hut 8 Corp, the latest expansion of the US president’s ties to the cryptocurrency sector.

HOLIDAY Villa Hotels &amp; Resorts Sdn Bhd recently purchased Crown Regency Serviced Suites Kuala Lumpur, sources say. The Edge has been given to understand that Holiday Villa acquired 82% of the strata units within the 31-storey building for an undisclosed amount from a sole vendor who has not b...

Holiday Villa buys Crown Regency serviced suites, say sources

People were pulled alive out of rubble in&nbsp;Myanmar&nbsp;and signs of life were detected in the ruins of a skyscraper in Bangkok on Monday as efforts intensified to find survivors three&nbsp;days after a&nbsp;massive earthquake&nbsp;that killed around 2,000.

Thailand’s economic outlook is worsening after the deadly Myanmar earthquake last Friday, adding to pressure for another interest rate cut next month to support the sluggish economy, according to analysts.

Renault SA and Nissan Motor Co&nbsp;agreed to further loosen their long-term alliance, paving the way for more share sales as the Japanese automaker remains under pressure to shore up its finances.

THE ringgit’s outperformance among Asian currencies last year may be harder to repeat this year, with some currency traders weighing the possibility of Bank Negara Malaysia trimming interest rates to bolster growth dragged lower by US-led retaliatory tariffs. That is despite a consensus still fir...

The State of the Nation: Ringgit watchers weigh odds of Fed rate and OPR cuts in 2025 

Local authorities (PBTs) and petty traders must play their respective roles with full trust and responsibility for the sake of harmony and mutual interests, said Minister of Housing and Local Government Nga Kor Ming.

Gavin Jones