Those who have read When Breath Becomes Air, the beautiful and evocative autobiography by the late neurosurgeon Paul Kalanithi that documents his battle against stage IV metastatic lung cancer, can rest assured they won’t be ugly-crying while reaching for the Kleenex in the book Beyond The White Coat.

Of passion + compassion

KUALA LUMPUR (Sept 1): Child of the cinema and a bona fide style icon, Oscar-winning director Sofia Coppola releases a line of sheer tinted lip balms in collaboration with cult skincare brand Augustinus Bader.

Gloss in translation

In honour of the 67th anniversary of Merdeka, 10 of the country’s best and brightest sartorial talents — from the OGs to the rising stars — play dress up (albeit with a local twist) with one of the industry’s best-loved personalities — model, actress and TV host Scha Al-Yahya.

Style of a nation

KUALA LUMPUR (Aug 18): When Puan Sri Siew Yong Gnanalingam was first approached about joining the charter of Soroptimist International Petaling Jaya, she was unaware of its existence and had no interest in taking part, being then too busy with her job as public relations manager of Malaysia Airlines.

Hear her roar!

Steering a global humanitarian and relief organisation like World Vision International is a formidable task that demands resilience, strategic foresight and an unwavering commitment to human welfare.

Crisis + compassion

KUALA LUMPUR (Aug 4): Believing Malaysia needed a space offering more than just culinary delights or traditional tourist spots, architect and collector Tan Loke Mun established a series of Urban Museums (or Ur-Mu) to provide an alternative cultural experience in the heart of Kuala Lumpur.

Reimagining art

Prolific multidisciplinary artist Daniel Arsham, who distorts structures and spaces by turning everyday objects into decaying relics, has teamed up with Swiss stalwart Hublot to reimagine the pocket watch. The timepiece, which can also be turned into a pendant or a table clock, counts the hours with the aid of art and archaeology.

Pocket ace

In the past few years since the pandemic, Watches and Wonders (W&W) has consistently convened in late March, preceding the Easter holiday. The sheer volume of appointments, interviews and Touch & Feel sessions expected at the world’s premier watch exhibition is unsurprising.

Calibre: The latest 2024 novelties continue to exemplify the pinnacle of haute horology

Gorgeous, glittering but elusive, gold has fascinated mankind for millennia. The pharaohs put it in their tombs, modern man puts it in his teeth, but all the gold ever mined would fit comfortably into just three and a half Olympic-sized swimming pools. And when it comes to claiming sport’s most precious metal, Malaysia has yet to dip its toe in the golden pond.

Game on

Desaru Coast in Johor is launching the Ombak Festival in a big way, bringing world-class names like Grace Jones, Macy Gray and The Cardigans to Malaysia for three days of music, food and fun in September. Festival director Karina Ridzuan shares the inspiration behind the idea, what to expect and why a music fest is best enjoyed to the beat of one’s own drum.

Making waves

KUALA LUMPUR (July 7): The fashion world is certainly not short on icons, but few dominate as discreetly yet powerfully as Giorgio Armani does. From a simple childhood in the small town of Piacenza, on the banks of the River Po, he went on to grow his eponymous label into a veritable billion-dollar empire that encompasses not just fashion but also hotels, furniture, fragrances — the accidental evangelist of an effortlessly elegant way of life that celebrates dressing with style and a sense of practicality.

La Vita è Bella

A new book titled Globalization: Perak’s Rise, Relative Decline, and Regeneration by DYMM Paduka Seri Sultan Nazrin Shah discusses and documents his state’s cycles of fortune set against a backdrop of the world’s economic, social and political history.

Silver lining

Richard Mille’s RM 027 sports collection wraps up with the new RM 27-05 Flying Tourbillon Rafael Nadal, an ultra-light and resilient timepiece worthy of the king of clay.

The weight of the matter

HSBC started in this part of the world in 1884, with its first branch in Penang. This was in line with the bank’s origins, having been founded in Hong Kong and Shanghai to facilitate trade and commerce. To mark its 140-year presence in the country, CEO Datuk Omar Siddiq, CEO of HSBC Bank Malaysia discusses how it has been a key player in the country’s development narrative, the evolution of our banking system and how he is driving the bank’s growth alongside its people.

A roaring success

India's palm oil imports in August fell more than a quarter from a month ago, primarily driven by sufficient domestic stocks and negative margins that discouraged refiners from purchasing more of the tropical oil, a leading trade body said on Thursday.

India's palm oil imports plunge as buyers shift to soyoil

BlackRock Inc and Partners Group Holding AG are teaming up to offer retail investors access to a variety of private markets through a single portfolio, tapping into rising demand for alternative investments.

BlackRock, Partners Group to offer retail investors ‘one-stop’ access

Standard Chartered has created a new banking team in its corporate and investment banking division, as a reorganisation of the unit aimed at boosting cross-border business continues, according to an internal memo seen by Reuters on Thursday.

StanChart creates new banking team as it bids for big cross-border deals

NEXTDC Ltd, an Australian data-centre operator, is seeking a A$2.9 billion (US$1.9 billion or RM8.38 billion) syndicated loan from banks to expand its operations in Asia.

NEXTDC seeks US$1.9 loan to expand data centres in Asia, including Malaysia

South Korea’s top financial regulator said it plans to lift the ban on short selling at the end of March, and will ensure that necessary rule revisions are in place by then.

South Korea aims to end short-selling ban on all stocks in March

SUBANG (Sept 12): SIA Engineering Co Ltd (SIAEC), the maintenance, repair and overhaul (MRO) arm of Singapore Airlines Ltd, said less than 10% of its new hires in the country came from Malaysia Airlines’ engineering arm.

Less than 10% of Malaysia Airlines’ technical staff joined us, says SIA Engineering’s unit over poaching its staff

The Philippines will stick to its position on Sabina Shoal, it said on Thursday, even while exploring ways to ease tension in the area during "frank and candid" talks with China on managing disputes in the key waterway of the South China Sea.

Philippines stands firm on Sabina Shoal but looks to ease tension with China

Oil and gas exploration and production group Hibiscus Petroleum Bhd (KL:HIBISCS) is proposing an additional one sen dividend per share for the financial year ended June 30, 2024 (FY2024).

Hibiscus raises dividend payout for FY2024

Since gaining independence in 1957, Malaysia has undergone tremendous transformation in its built environment and infrastructure, evolving from a nation with basic essential amenities to one that boasts world-class architecture and shiny skyscrapers.

Through the decades, both local and ...

Malaysia’s architectural landmarks through the decades

(Sept 12): Apollo Global Management Inc said the evolving needs of “average savers” in Asia is helping drive fundraising and growth for its global wealth business.

Apollo’s fundraising grows as it targets ‘average savers’ in Asia

Concorde Hotel Kuala Lumpur "is not for sale" by its owners and shareholders, said Tan Sri Sallehuddin Mohamed, chairman of its owner Ampang Hotel Sdn Bhd.

In a statement, Sallehuddin said the shareholders "are satisfied with our progress and the direction we are taking" for the hotel.

Concorde Hotel KL not for sale, says owner

Southeast Asian equities have cemented their position as a favourite play of money managers positioning for the US Federal Reserve’s (Fed) policy pivot.

Four of the five best-performing Asian equity benchmarks this month are from the region, with Thailand leading the pack. The buying frenzy has put foreign inflows on track for a fifth consecutive week while the MSCI Asean Index is now trading near its highest level since April 2022.

Global funds rush into Malaysian, Southeast Asian stocks as Fed pivot play

A former aide to Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim was charged with drug trafficking at the Magistrate's Court in Kuala Lumpur on Thursday.

Muhammed Yusoff Rawther, who has an ongoing sexual assault suit against Anwar, was charged with one count of trafficking 305 grammes of cannabis at the Kuala Lumpur Police Contingent Headquarters' surau last Friday.

Anwar's former aide, who is suing PM for sexual assault, charged with drug trafficking

Sales of Mazda and Kia vehicles are expected to pick up in the months ahead as analysts shrugged off Bermaz Auto Bhd’s (KL:BAUTO) weaker-than-expected quarter.

Volume-heavy Mazda cars, 10% dividend yield set to prop up Bermaz Auto after weak quarter

China is turning up the heat on its army of 8,700 investment bankers.&nbsp;

After being forced to take big&nbsp;pay cuts&nbsp;and adhere to other belt-tightening measures under President Xi Jinping’s years-long common prosperity campaign, the country’s dealmakers are now in the crosshairs of the nation’s top graft buster.&nbsp;

China detains investment bankers, takes passports in corruption sweep

Any decision&nbsp;on the proposal to make&nbsp;halal certification mandatory for all restaurants and food operators is under the jurisdiction of the Conference of Rulers, according to Deputy Prime Minister Datuk Seri Dr Ahmad Zahid Hamidi.

He said the&nbsp;issue should not be turned into polemics, as it is still in the proposal phase and had yet to become&nbsp;a permanent policy.

Conference of Rulers to have final say on mandatory halal certification, says Zahid

Maybank Investment Bank (Maybank IB) advised investors to refocus on property stocks with solid fundamentals and proven execution capabilities amid enthusiasm around the Johor-Singapore Special Economic Zone (JS-SEZ).

Refocus on property stocks with strong fundamentals amid Johor-Singapore SEZ excitement — Maybank IB

In the second quarter of 2024 (2Q2024), Malaysia's retail sales decelerated to 0.6%, falling short of market expectations, according to Retail Group Malaysia (RGM).

In June, members of the Malaysia Retailers Association (MRA) and Malaysia Retail Chain Association (MRCA) projected a growth rate of 1.7%, making the actual result 65% below the estimate.

Malaysian retailers point to 2Q growth slowdown amid rising prices, weak sentiment

The Federal Territory of Kuala Lumpur Land Registrar has been granted a stay by the High Court on Thursday from registering a 263.27-acre plot of land in the ‘Duta enclave’ to the liquidator of Semantan Estate (1952) Sdn Bhd.

High Court grants stay over registration of Semantan Estate

A rally in the world’s largest technology companies spurred a stock-market rebound in a volatile session that had Wall Street traders digesting faster-than-anticipated inflation data.

Stocks wipe out CPI-fuelled slide as Big Tech jumps

Asian shares bounced on Thursday, tracking a tech-driven rally on Wall Street, while the dollar held onto gains after US&nbsp;core inflation surprised slightly on the upside and dashed hopes of a large rate cut by the Federal Reserve (Fed) next week.

Asian shares up on Wall St tech boost; dollar extends gains on yen

Selection of the technology provider for the Kuala Lumpur-Singapore high-speed rail (HSR) is still open, said MyHSR Corporation Sdn Bhd chief executive officer Datuk Mohd Nur Ismal Mohamed Kamal.

Selection still open for KL-Singapore high-speed rail technology provider — MyHSR CEO

Chinese hotpot chain Haidilao said it will focus on expanding further into established foreign markets in the coming years, notably the US, working to draw new customers as diners at home pull back on spending.&nbsp;

Chinese hotpot chain plans US expansion to escape slump at home

First-half earnings in Asia showed how the ripple effects of the Red Sea crisis will continue to be costly for companies that make goods for export, while those that transport their wares benefit from higher freight rates.

Red Sea crisis produces winners and losers in Asia as freight rates spike

KUALA LUMPUR (Sept 12): BIMB Securities has maintained its “underweight” call on the rubber glove sector, citing challenges from strict European Union Deforestation Regulation (EUDR) and persistent overcapacity in the industry.

BIMB Securities flags challenges in rubber glove sector amid EU deforestation rules

China has strongly advised its carmakers to make sure advanced electric vehicle (EV) technology stays in the country, people familiar with the matter said, even as they build factories around the world to escape punitive tariffs on Chinese exports.

Chinese carmakers advised to keep key EV technology at home — Bloomberg

Grand Venture Technology (GVT) has confirmed that it is in discussions for a potential secondary listing of its shares on the Main Market of Bursa Malaysia.

Grand Venture Technology confirms plans for secondary listing on Bursa

The 1Malaysia Development Bhd (1MDB)-Tanore trial has been postponed yet again, as former prime minister Datuk Seri Najib Razak is still nursing an acute knee inflammation in a hospital.

1MDB-Tanore trial postponed once again as Najib still unfit for court

WTEC Group Bhd, a foam and fabric products maker, filed for an initial public offering (IPO) on the ACE Market to raise funds for acquisition of a new, larger factory in Selangor.

Foam products maker WTEC Group files for IPO on ACE Market

Oil attempted to mount a recovery from its plunge to the lowest level in more than two years, with traders weighing intensifying concerns about looming oversupply.

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