The group, through its subsidiary Associate Partners Laboratories Sdn Bhd (APLSB) — which provides medical laboratory testing and analytical services, as well as biotechnology research and experimental development — has signed a memorandum of understanding (MoU) with PAPA.

Nexgram to provide Covid-19 screening, quarantine management services for foreign workers 

There needs to be better engagement between the creative economy and those who fund it if the arts in Malaysia are to grow in an effective and meaningful way, says Izan Satrina Mohd Sallehuddin, the founder of the Cultural Economy Development Agency (Cendana).

Facilitating conversations between the arts and business

Failure is part and parcel of the entrepreneurial game, but not many entrepreneurs are able to bounce back after they have experienced their first defeat, a case of “once bitten, twice shy”.

Jimmy Lee, co-founder and CEO of Foodie Box Group and an angel investor, is not one of those peo...

Entrepreneurship: The price of integrity, the value of kindness

Here’s a funny farming fable: An officer from the income tax department pays a visit to an old farmer in a rural community. “Show me the list of all your employees and how much you pay them,” he demands.

“There are four employees,” the farmer says. “One is a plant picker and cleaner; he...

Econ 4.0: Why focus on farming?

Vaults. These expansive metal chambers are arguably the most recognisable trope of any self-respecting crime caper. And yet, for all the intrigue their imagery stirs, big screen bank vaults do not exactly inspire a sense of security as they seem to be constantly broken into with unerring ease.

Family Businesses: Safekeeping keepsakes

The future of agriculture will not only involve farmers but technology players as well. This will be essential especially in urban areas, where space is scarce but demand for fresh food is high.

To accelerate this revolution, Sunway Innovation Labs (iLabs) is launching Sunway FutureX Fa...

Agritech: Creating an innovative ecosystem for urban farming

In March, Aemulus Holdings Bhd was at its lowest ebb. The company, which specialises in semiconductor testing equipment, had a problem collecting payments from its customers in China and it was running out of money.

“Back in November 2019, the first thing I told my chief financial offic...

Cover Story: Coming out of the dark

The Musang King durian had its genome sequenced for the first time in 2017. The findings, which also identified the genes responsible for the fruit’s pungent odour, were published in a leading international journal and covered by news portals globally.

The research was done out of Singa...

Cutting Edge: Genome sequencing for all

The potential of artificial intelligence (AI) and machine learning (ML) is endless. Inference Tech Sdn Bhd CEO Izad Che Muda discovered this during his time as chief technology officer of Aerodyne Group, a provider of drone-based enterprise solutions.

This is because at Aerodyne, he was...

AI: Using AI to address worker safety, potholes and prescriptions

The movement control order (MCO) saw a lot of people losing their jobs. The publishing industry was not spared. But what Sean Teoh, the founder and chief executive officer (CEO) of Monster Alliance Bhd (MOPress), realised was that while a lot of companies were moving to digital, publishing platforms were looking for content other than articles.

MOPress to diversify into voice and video content to suit present demand

Fintech firm Juris Technologies (JurisTech) has acquired personal finance company Intelligent Money Sdn Bhd (iMoney) in an effort to develop end-to-end solutions for its enterprise clients.

JurisTech acquires financial comparison site iMoney

Here is an atypical Covid-19 story. After finishing online classes for a bunch of business management students, the professor announced on the day of the exam: “Although I did not see you in person, I believe you attended my online classes regularly, took notes diligently and worked on projects h...

Econ 4.0: What hath Covid-19 wrought?

The once controversial Goods and Services Tax (GST) could be making a return. Multiple sources have informed Enterprise that the tax regime could be announced during the tabling of Budget 2021, slated for November.

“In fact, the reason the announcement was moved from its traditional Oct...

Taxation: GST on the horizon?

Like most companies linked to the tourism industry, Flexiroam Sdn Bhd — a company founded in Malaysia and listed on the Australian Securities Exchange that provides mobile roaming packages for travellers in 150 countries — saw its business decimated in the face of the Covid-19 pandemic, when trav...

Entrepreneurship: Love and connection

Spritzer Bhd (KL:SPRITZER) said it will spend between RM90 million and RM100 million in 2025 to upgrade and expand its production.

Spritzer to spend up to RM100m in 2025 to upgrade, expand production

US President Donald Trump will extend a June 19 deadline for China-based ByteDance to divest the US assets of short video app TikTok by 90 days despite a law that had mandated a sale or a shutdown absent significant progress, the White House said on Tuesday.

Trump will extend TikTok sale deadline for third time, White House says

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskiy will leave the Group of Seven summit on Tuesday with new aid from host Canada for its war against invader Russia but without a joint statement of support from members or a chance to meet with US President Donald Trump.

The G7 wealthy nations struggled to find unity over the conflict in Ukraine after Trump expressed support for Russian President Vladimir Putin and left a day early to address the Israel-Iran conflict from Washington.

G7 abandons joint Ukraine statement as Zelenskiy says diplomacy in crisis

The S&P 500 declined on Tuesday as fears over a potential US involvement in the conflict between Israel and Iran caused traders to take risk off the table.

The S&P 500 Index closed down 0.8% in New York, while the tech-heavy Nasdaq 100 Index lost 1%.

S&P 500 falls with geopolitics in focus amid Israel-Iran jitters

Rollout of generative AI and agents will reduce Amazon's total corporate workforce in the next few years, Andy Jassy, the CEO of the online retailer, said in a note to employees on Tuesday.

Amazon's corporate workforce may shrink as AI takes over routine tasks

US retail sales dropped more than expected in May, weighed down by a decline in motor vehicle purchases as a rush to beat potential tariff-related price hikes ebbed, but consumer spending remains supported by solid wage growth for now.

Weak US retail sales, manufacturing output point to softening economy

Here is a brief recap of Tuesday’s top local business news and corporate announcements.

Apollo, UWC, Jaycorp, Chin Hin, KPJ Healthcare, Malaysia Marine and Heavy Engineering, Yinson

South Malaysia Industries Bhd (KL:SMI) on Tuesday said it has rejected a proposal to nominate Teh Chee Hoe and three others as directors at its upcoming annual general meeting, citing violations of corporate and securities regulations.

SMI rejects board nominations ahead of AGM over regulatory concerns

Top officials from central banks and finance ministries were forced to call a timeout at a meeting of the world’s most powerful financial watchdog last week, amid clashes over the US stance on climate change.

US draws ire of France, Canada at meeting of finance regulators

Wall Street's main indexes slipped on Tuesday as the Israel-Iran conflict entered its fifth day, denting global investor confidence ahead of the Federal Reserve's upcoming monetary policy decision.

Wall Street slips as Middle East conflict escalates

Here is a brief recap of Tuesday’s top local business news and corporate announcements.

Spritzer Bhd (KL:SPRITZER) said it will spend between RM90 million and RM100 million in 2025 to upgrade and expand its production.

Chinese companies were flying suitcases of hard drives to Malaysia to train their artificial intelligence (AI) models at data centres equipped with advanced Nvidia chips, The Wall Street Journal reported.

Chinese firms training AI models in Malaysia at Nvidia-powered data centres, WSJ reports

Investors will demand a higher risk premium&nbsp;for PPB Group Bhd (KL:PPB) after associate and main profit contributor Wilmar International Ltd was charged by Indonesia's Attorney General Office (AGO), according to Kenanga Research.

PPB faces higher risk premium after Wilmar's US$729m deposit in Indonesia case

The S&amp;P 500 declined on Tuesday as fears over a potential US involvement in the conflict between Israel and Iran caused traders to take risk off the table.

The S&amp;P 500 Index closed down&nbsp;0.8%&nbsp;in New York, while the tech-heavy Nasdaq 100 Index lost&nbsp;1%.

South Malaysia Industries Bhd (KL:SMI) on Tuesday said it has rejected a proposal to nominate Teh Chee Hoe and three others as directors at its upcoming annual general meeting, citing violations of corporate and securities regulations.

US President Donald Trump met with his national security team in Washington for more than an hour on Tuesday to discuss the escalating Middle East conflict, according to people familiar with the matter, fuelling fresh speculation that the US is on the verge of joining Israel’s attack on Iran.&nbsp;

Trump weighs Iran options as Israel ratchets up air strikes

US President Donald Trump is extending for a third time the deadline for Chinese company ByteDance Ltd&nbsp;to divest the American operations of TikTok, allowing the social media app to keep running in the US while negotiations proceed.

Trump again pushes TikTok sale deadline with 90-day extension

US Federal Reserve (Fed) officials are widely expected to leave interest rates unchanged for a fourth straight meeting on Wednesday, reiterating they want more clarity on the economic impact of a&nbsp;wide array&nbsp;of government policy changes before adjusting borrowing costs. &nbsp;

Fed expected to hold rates steady again as officials wait for more clarity on economy

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskiy will leave the Group of Seven summit on Tuesday with new aid from host Canada for its war against invader Russia but without a&nbsp;joint&nbsp;statement of support from members or a chance to meet with US&nbsp;President Donald Trump.

The&nbsp;G7&nbsp;wealthy nations struggled to find unity over the conflict in&nbsp;Ukraine&nbsp;after Trump expressed support for Russian President Vladimir Putin and left a day early to address the Israel-Iran conflict from Washington.

Rollout of generative AI and agents will reduce Amazon's total corporate workforce in the next few years, Andy Jassy, the CEO of the online retailer, said in a note to employees on Tuesday.

Malaysia remains committed to expanding strategic ties with international partners, including Russia, in areas that can yield mutual benefit and contribute to sustainable development.

Malaysia committed to expanding strategic ties with Russia, focus on renewable energy, says Fadillah

Top officials from central banks and finance ministries were forced to call a timeout at a meeting of the world’s most powerful financial watchdog last week, amid clashes over the US stance on climate change.

US retail sales dropped more than expected in May, weighed down by a decline in motor vehicle purchases as a rush to beat potential tariff-related price hikes ebbed, but consumer spending remains supported by solid wage growth for now.

The US Senate passed stablecoin legislation setting up regulatory rules for cryptocurrencies pegged to the dollar, in a landmark win for the ascendant crypto industry and President Donald Trump.

US Senate passes stablecoin legislation in win for crypto, Trump

The top US bank regulators plan to reduce a key capital buffer by up to 1.5 percentage points for the biggest lenders after concerns that it constrained their trading in the US$29 trillion (RM123.22 trillion) Treasuries market.&nbsp;

US planning to ease capital rule limiting banks’ Treasury trades, Bloomberg reports

The Front Tyne oil tanker was sailing through the Gulf between Iran and the United Arab Emirates on Sunday when just past 9.40am shiptracking data appeared to show the massive vessel in Russia, in fields better known for barley and sugar beets.

Oil tankers near Iran appear to be in rural Russia as signals jammed

The UK is looking to restrict the number of visas it gives to countries which refuse to sign returns agreements with Britain, Prime Minister Keir Starmer said, as his government pursues more assertive measures to reduce levels of net migration.

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