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

A US national security panel has deadlocked on its review of the sale of US Steel Corp to Japan's Nippon Steel Corp, a procedural development that opens the door for President Joe Biden to block the transaction.

Biden to decide on US Steel acquisition after panel deadlocks, Bloomberg reports

Japan is pushing through a new target to cut greenhouse gas emissions by 60% by 2035, even as the plan faces criticism as lacking in ambition.

Japan aims for 60% emissions cut by 2035 in target seen as lax

Defaulted Chinese developer Shimao Group Holdings Ltd has slashed the asking price for a Sheraton-branded hotel property near Hong Kong’s airport by a quarter, according to a person familiar with the matter.

Shimao slashed asking price for HK’s second-largest hotel by a quarter — Bloomberg

Permodalan Nasional Bhd’s (PNB) wholly owned unit trust management company, Amanah Saham Nasional Bhd (ASNB), has announced a total income distribution of 5.75 sen per unit for Amanah Saham Bumiputera (ASB) for the financial year ending Dec 31, 2024 (FY2024).

PNB declares 5.75 sen per unit income distribution, RM10.1b payout for ASB

Taiwan’s lawmakers blocked all of President Lai Ching-te’s nominees for the Constitutional Court, widening the opposition’s efforts to derail his agenda.

Taiwan’s president faces fresh setback as lawmakers vote down judges

(Dec 24): Traders continue to see a slower pace of interest rate reductions by the Federal Reserve next year and the potential worsening of country’s fiscal backdrop under President-elect Donald Trump’s administration.

The rise in longer-term Treasury yields outstripped that of shorter ...

Treasury yields edge higher with long-term debt out of favor

The Covid-19 and influenza situation in Malaysia remains under control, with no increase in cases requiring intensive care unit (ICU) treatment and no fatalities reported.

Covid-19, influenza cases under control in Malaysia, says MOH

Coastal Contracts Bhd’s (KL:COASTAL) maiden foray into the renewable energy (RE) sector is timely while providing long-term income visibility for the oil-and-gas services firm, said RHB Investment Bank (RHB IB).

Coastal Contracts' foray into renewable energy timely, helps cut reliance on Pemex — RHB IB

(Dec 24): Mainland Chinese investors snapped up a record amount of Hong Kong stocks as they ramped up exposure to risk assets in the city amid a revival of animal spirits and a weakening yuan.

Traders in Shanghai and Shenzhen bought HK$778 billion ($100 billion) of stocks in the fi...

Chinese investors buy record amount of Hong Kong stocks via Link

(Dec 24): Donald Trump hinted he still wants to buy Greenland, a self-ruling territory of Denmark, saying that US ownership and control of the island is an “absolute necessity” for national security.

The US President-elect reopened a debate from 2019, when he offered to buy what is the ...

Trump reiterates he wants to buy Greenland for US security

Singapore forged ahead with efforts to formulate a digital-assets hub in 2024, while rival financial center Hong Kong has struggled to gain traction.

Singapore pulls ahead of Hong Kong in race to be crypto hub

Corporate services provider Amicorp Group has denied allegations it knowingly facilitated more than US$7 billion (RM31.43 billion) in fraudulent transactions related to the misappropriation of funds from scandal-hit Malaysian state fund 1Malaysia Development Bhd (1MDB).

Amicorp Group denies alleged fraud of over US$7b in 1MDB scandal

The High Court has dismissed Muar Member of Parliament Syed Saddiq Syed Abdul Rahman's leave (permission) application to commence legal action against Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim and the government over RM730,300 in allocations for his constituency.

Court dismisses Syed Saddiq's bid to mount legal challenge on unpaid MP allocations

Malaysia’s utilities stocks still have room to run as electricity demand surges from the proliferation of data centres and electric vehicles, Apex Securities said and told investors to "overweight" the sector.

Utilities stocks still have room to run as electricity demand surges, Apex joins coverage with 'overweight' call

Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Co (TSMC) shares touched a record high, as the world’s largest contract chipmaker is poised to cap its best annual stock performance in 25 years.

TSMC shares touch record high, eyeing best year since 1999 on AI

Stocks in Asia traded in tight ranges amid relatively thin holiday trading after a rally in some of the world’s largest technology companies boosted US benchmarks.

Asian stocks in narrow ranges after US tech boost

Rain and thunderstorms are expected to hit Selangor, Negeri Sembilan, Sabah, and Sarawak on Christmas morning.

Rain, thunderstorms expected to hit four states on Christmas morning — MetMalaysia

China’s real estate woes look set to get worse before they get better, raising the prospect of a miserable year for property shares despite a recent bounce.

China’s property stock rebound faces a reality check in 2025

A rally in some of the world’s largest technology companies spurred a rebound in stocks, following a brief slide fueled by weaker-than-expected data on US consumer confidence.

In a thin trading session at the start of a holiday-shortened week, the S&amp;P 500 finished near session highs. Nvidia Corp., Meta Platforms Inc. and Tesla Inc. drove a gauge of the “Magnificent Seven” megacaps up almost 1.5%.

US stocks get boost from tech at start of Christmas week

Permodalan Nasional Bhd’s (PNB) wholly owned unit trust management company, Amanah Saham Nasional Bhd (ASNB), has announced a total income distribution of 5.75 sen per unit for Amanah Saham Bumiputera (ASB) for the financial year ending Dec 31, 2024 (FY2024).

Honda Motor Co’s shares climbed over 17%, the most since August, after the carmaker said it would repurchase up to ¥1.1 trillion (US$7 billion or RM28.58 billion) in shares by next December, ahead of a deal that amounts to an acquisition of ailing peer Nissan Motor Co.

Honda shares jump 17% as buyback eases concern over Nissan deal

British confectionery giant Cadbury has lost its status as supplier to the British Royal Family after 170 years and six monarchs, reported Sputnik/RIA Novosti, citing the Daily Mail.

Candy maker Cadbury loses royal supplier status after 170 years — reports

Bitcoin is flagging in the last leg of a record-breaking year.

Bitcoin momentum ebbs heading into last stretch of record year

BYD Co has severed ties with a construction firm after Brazilian authorities halted construction of a new electric vehicle (EV) plant where workers were found working and living in “slavery”-like conditions.

Brazil halts BYD site after workers found in ‘slave’ conditions

Agrochemicals giant Syngenta Group Co signed a US$4.5 billion (RM20.2 billion) sustainability-linked loan, according to a company statement on Monday, in Asia’s largest such dollar facility this year.

Syngenta signs US$4.5b ESG loan, Asia’s biggest this year — Bloomberg

Social media app Telegram is profitable for the first time after paying down “a meaningful share” of some US$2 billion (RM8.97 billion) in debt, CEO Pavel Durov said in a post on X Monday (Dec 23).

Telegram profitable for first time after app pays down debts

Saks Global completed its US$2.7 billion (RM12.11 billion) acquisition of Neiman Marcus, creating what the company says is a multibrand luxury giant that’s powered by the technology of its high-profile investors, Amazon.com Inc and Salesforce Inc.

Saks closes US$2.7 bil Neiman deal, creating big luxury player

South Korea's consumer sentiment dropped sharply this month to hit the weakest level in more than two years on growing worries about political uncertainty following parliament's impeachment of President Yoon Suk Yeol.

South Korea consumer sentiment weakest since 2022 on political uncertainty

Australia’s balance of risks is tilted to the downside, including a potential stall in disinflation, the International Monetary Fund (IMF) said, calling on the government to avoid excessive spending.

Australia’s risks tilt to downside, IMF says, urging restraint

Panama President Jose Raul Mulino rallied support from former presidents in defence of the country’s canal following threats from Donald Trump to reimpose US control over the waterway.

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