Why women need to save more than men

The entry of China’s DeepSeek, which launched the DeepSeek-V3 artificial intelligence (AI) model in December and the DeepSeek-R1 reasoning model on Jan 20, has been described as a “Sputnik moment”. We look at the better-known generative AI models in the market, and how they compare.

Getting to know GEN AI players

Setting goals is easy, but meeting them is hard. The Paris Agreement managed to get 194 states and the European Union to agree on the target of limiting global warming to below 1.5oC by 2050, and for the signatories to set respective climate targets — called “nationally determined contribution” (NDC) – aligned with the global ambition.

How is Malaysia progressing towards net zero emissions?

After three years of underwhelming mergers and acquisitions (M&A) activity globally, this may finally be the year the M&A market regains footing. The two biggest inhibitors to recent deals — interest rates and regulatory challenges – are expected to ease in 2025, raising the prospect of more deals being done, according to consulting firm Bain & Co in its latest Global M&A Report, released on Feb 4. The firm believes the market is poised for an upturn.

M&A market poised for comeback in 2025 

Since the invention of the transistor nearly 70 years ago, semiconductors have been the driving force behind technological advancements and transformative changes across industries worldwide. From personal computing and smartphones to data centres and cloud computing, semiconductor innovations have powered the development of critical applications across the global economy. Looking ahead, the semiconductor sector is poised for sustained growth, fuelled by megatrends such as electrification, digitisation, and the rapid expansion of artificial intelligence (AI) and Internet of Things (IoT) technologies. In its November 2024 report titled “State of the Semiconductor Industry”, PwC forecasts that global semiconductor revenues will grow at more than double the rate of global gross domestic product (GDP), surpassing US$1 trillion by 2030. Here’s a closer look at the key growth drivers and significant trends shaping this industry.

Raising the stakes towards a trillion-dollar chip industry

The 13 states in Malaysia have different levels of socioeconomic development. From the golden state of Selangor and the rice bowl state of Kedah, to the natural gas giant that is  Sarawak, these states have different developmental priorities. To fund their respective developments, the states collect revenues from the people and businesses that operate within their territories, based on what has been prescribed under the Federal Constitution.