WHAT initially appeared to be an innocuous land deal has placed state development agency Penang Development Corp (PDC) and local conglomerate Sunway Bhd under intense scrutiny.

On Sept 27, Sunway announced that its 70%-owned unit Umech Land Sdn Bhd had inked a joint development agreemen...

Special Report: Batu Kawan deal raises questions that must be answered

The World Trade Organization slashed its forecast for merchandise trade this year as soaring US tariffs and broader uncertainty hammer international commerce.

WTO slashes outlook for global trade on Trump tariff disruptions

The Life Insurance Association of Malaysia (LIAM) is working closely with Bank Negara Malaysia (BNM) and the Ministry of Health (MOH) to develop an affordable basic insurance plan to ensure that existing policyholders, especially retirees and lower-income groups, continue to receive adequate coverage.

Life Insurance Association of Malaysia to collaborate with BNM, MOH for affordable basic insurance plan

Global tech stocks were battered on Wednesday on fresh evidence of how US President Donald Trump's shifting trade policy was complicating the outlook for semiconductor and computing giants, including AI chip leader Nvidia.

Global chipmakers feel the pinch of Trump's shifting trade policy

Abbott Laboratories will make new investments in US manufacturing, with the impact of tariffs on medical devices and diagnostics looming over the industry.

It expects to spend US$500 million (RM2.2 billion) on two facilities, located in Illinois and Texas, Abbott said in a statement on Wednesday.

Abbott to expand US manufacturing as tariffs loom

Affin Bank Bhd (KL:AFFIN), the second-smallest of Malaysia’s eight local banking groups, is holding firm to its key financial targets for 2025 despite heightened global trade uncertainties, at least for now, as it keeps a close watch on developments with an eye on revising these targets if conditions worsen.

Affin Bank sticks to key targets for now as it keeps eye on trade risks

The issue of reciprocal tariffs imposed by the US and their impact on the global economy was among the topics discussed during a phone conversation between Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim and his Japanese counterpart Shigeru Ishiba on Wednesday.

Anwar discusses US reciprocal tariff issue with Japan's Ishiba

Russian President Vladimir Putin and Qatar's Emir Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al-Thani will discuss efforts to find a possible peace deal to end the war in Ukraine when they meet in Moscow on Thursday, Russia and Qatar said.

Putin and Qatar's emir to discuss Ukraine, energy

US retail sales surged in March as households boosted purchases of motor vehicles ahead of tariffs, though concerns about the economic outlook are hurting discretionary spending.

US retail sales surge in March due to motor vehicle buying ahead of tariffs

Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim and Chinese President Xi Jinping on Wednesday witnessed the exchange of 31 memoranda of understanding (MOUs) and documents covering various sectors of cooperation between the two countries.

Anwar, Xi witness exchange of 31 MOUs and documents to advance Malaysia-China cooperation

A company manager lost RM2.65 million after falling victim to a non-existent investment scheme advertised on the social media platform Facebook.

Selangor police chief Datuk Hussein Omar Khan said the 54-year-old local man was lured by an advertisement on Facebook and clicked a link that redirected him to the WhatsApp messaging platform.

Company manager conned of over RM2 mil in investment scam

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.

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

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

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

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

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?

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

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 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

Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim and Chinese President Xi Jinping on Wednesday witnessed the exchange of 31 memoranda of understanding (MOUs) and documents covering various sectors of cooperation between the two countries.

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.

Chinese exporters on Rednote ask local consumers to buy goods meant for US

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

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

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

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'

Bank Kerjasama Rakyat Malaysia Bhd (Bank Rakyat) flagged that 2025 will be a challenging year for the group due to the turbulent global economic outlook and intensifying geopolitical tensions, particularly from the ongoing trade war among major economies.

Bank Rakyat flags challenging 2025, keeps 17% dividend for FY2024

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.&nbsp;

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

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 

His Majesty Sultan Ibrahim, King of Malaysia said the mistake of displaying the Jalur Gemilang without the crescent moon, as published on the front page of a local Chinese newspaper, could trigger public sensitivities and is unacceptable.

Liew Jia Teng & Sangeetha Amarthalingam