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Airbus Defence and Space has signed a contract with the Ministry of Defence (Mindef) to extend the Malaysian Armed Forces’ (MAF) access to X-band satellite services, reaffirming its support for Malaysia’s defence communications infrastructure.

Airbus extends contract with Malaysia's Defence Ministry on access to X-band satellite services

(May 21): Critical minerals are at increasing risk of “painful disruption” due to their higher concentration in a handful of countries, and the spread of export restrictions, according to a report from the International Energy Agency (IEA).

Critical minerals at higher risk of painful disruption, says IEA

Airbus Defence and Space sees that its A400M is gaining traction across the region, driven by rising demand for versatile air mobility solutions in Asia-Pacific.

Airbus sees increasing demand for A400M fleet

(May 21): Demand for Covid tests is increasing in Hong Kong, as cases surged in recent weeks, according to the top executive of diagnostic kit-maker Phase Scientific International Ltd.

Covid testing demand surges as cases spike across Asia — diagnostic kit-maker

Japan’s farm minister quit Wednesday after saying he’s never needed to buy rice, a comment that fuelled criticism of Prime Minister Shigeru Ishiba’s minority government and its handling of rising food prices ahead of an election.

Japan’s farm minister quits over rice gaffe in blow to Ishiba

The Ministry of Investment, Trade and Industry (Miti) is creating targeted incentives aimed at further boosting the growth of the local semiconductor industry, said its Minister Tengku Datuk Seri Zafrul Abdul Aziz.

Zafrul: New incentives to be announced in July to boost Malaysian semiconductor industry

Marks & Spencer Group plc is facing a £300 million (RM1.72 billion) hit to operating profit this fiscal year from a cyber attack it suffered a month ago.

Marks & Spencer says cyber attack to cost business £300 mil

Duopharma Biotech Bhd (KL:DPHARMA) expects demand for its halal-certified products to pick up in Indonesia thanks to policy support.

Duopharma sees stronger halal product demand from Indonesia amid policy support

RAM Ratings has given a top AAA rating to Malaysia's first gold-backed pawn bond issuance by TY Consolidated Capital Bhd, a special-purpose company created by pawnbroker Ta Yoong Sdn Bhd.

RAM Ratings gives a top preliminary rating to Malaysia’s first gold-backed pawn loan bonds

A recent survey by Shopee's buy now, pay later (BNPL) service (SPayLater) shows that 81% of over 40,000 Malaysians use BNPL to handle financial shocks, mainly for essentials like baby formula, medical costs, repairs and insurance.

81% of Malaysians use 'buy now, pay later' to handle financial shocks — survey

<p>(May 20):&nbsp;French financial prosecutors alleged in an investigative document last year that former Malaysian prime minister Datuk Seri Najib Razak met defence-company executives to prepare contracts before the 2002 signing of a US$1.2 billion (RM5.13 billion) submarine deal. Those contracts, they say in the document seen by <em>Bloomberg News</em>, were designed to remunerate himself and others.</p>


French prosecutors claim Najib had role in 2002 defence deal bribes

<p>Public Bank Bhd (KL:PBBANK), Malaysia’s third-largest bank by assets, reported that its net profit rose 6% in the first quarter from a year earlier, as both interest and non-interest income expanded.</p>


Public Bank's 1Q net profit rises 6% as non-interest income surges, provisions fall

<p>Sports Toto Bhd’s (KL:SPTOTO) stock rose on Wednesday and snapped recent losses, as investors cheered the lottery operator’s stronger-than-expected earnings that also prompted analyst upgrades.</p>


Sports Toto’s stock snaps recent losses as investors, analysts cheer strong earnings

<p>KUALA LUMPUR (May 21): Malaysia’s plan to introduce a diagnosis-based fixed payment scheme in the healthcare industry nationwide will exclude private hospitals for now, sources told <em>The Edge</em>, marking another speed bump in the government’s effort to improve healthcare affordability as part of sweeping reforms on cost of living.</p>


Medical fee control faces setback as diagnostic-related fixed healthcare payment skips private hospitals for now — sources

<p>A statement from&nbsp;Messrs Shafee &amp; Co, on behalf of former prime minister Datuk Seri Najib Razak.</p>


Najib's lawyers respond to Bloomberg article on French submarine corruption probe

<p>Dollar-based assets have “enduring advantages” and remain virtually irreplaceable in the global financial system despite the US&nbsp;losing&nbsp;its top triple-A credit rating, according to Singapore’s central bank chief.</p>


US dollar assets irreplaceable, says Singapore's central bank chief

<p>Sunway Construction Group Bhd's (KL:SUNCON) stock reached a five-month high after its first-quarter net profit more than doubled, leading the group to declare a first interim dividend of five sen.</p>


Sunway Construction climbs to five-month high after 1Q profit more than doubles on data centre jobs

<p>CIMB Securities is doubtful about a possible merger between Affin Bank Bhd (KL:AFFIN) and AMMB Holdings Bhd (KL:AMBANK), presenting two possible scenarios, but not supporting either. Both scenarios would require issuing a large number of new shares, potentially diluting stakes of current shareholders.</p>


CIMB Securities sceptical about potential Affin-AMMB merger

<p>KUALA LUMPUR (May 21): Shares of Petronas Chemicals Group Bhd (KL:PCHEM) fell again on Wednesday, following a disappointing first-quarter earnings report, while analysts turned increasingly bearish.</p>


Petronas Chemicals extends decline as investors, analysts turn increasingly bearish after weak 1Q

<p>China said it could take legal action against any individual or organisation assisting or implementing US&nbsp;measures that advise companies against using advanced semiconductors from China.</p>


China warns of legal consequences to those involved in US chip measures

<p>Shares of Inari Amertron Bhd (KL:INARI) slipped in early trade on Wednesday, after its latest quarterly&nbsp;results missed consensus estimates.</p>


Inari slips in early trade after 3Q miss

<p>Australia is actively pursuing closer economic ties with Asean, particularly Malaysia, a country its Trade and Tourism Minister Don Farrell describes as "a very close friend".</p>


Australia seeks deeper relations with Malaysia, Asean as US appears set to keep 10% base tariff

<p>KUALA LUMPUR (May 21): Solarvest Holdings Bhd (KL:SLVEST) nearly tripled its net profit in the fourth quarter ended March 31, 2025 (4QFY2025), following roll-outs of more utility-scale solar projects under the Corporate Green Power Programme (CGPP).</p>


Solarvest's 4Q profit nearly triples on more project roll-outs

<p>KUALA LUMPUR (May 21): The Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission (MACC) could face further legal action, as it continues to stay silent over the disappearance of Datin Seri Pamela Ling Yueh, who has been missing for over a month now.&nbsp;</p>


MACC could face more legal action, says family lawyer of missing Pamela Ling

<p>TAIPEI, Taiwan (May 21): Nvidia Corp chief executive officer Jensen Huang has openly questioned the effectiveness of former US president Joe Biden’s export controls on advanced artificial intelligence (AI) chips to China, highlighting that the policy has not only hurt Nvidia financially, but also accelerated China’s domestic AI development.</p>


Nvidia CEO Jensen Huang deems US AI chip export curb a ‘failure’, praises DeepSeek and Huawei

<p>Malaysia is betting big on semiconductors. Backed by a US$250 million (RM1.11 billion) partnership with British chip architect Arm Holdings plc, the country aims to roll out homegrown artificial intelligence (AI) chips in five to seven years.</p>


Malaysia’s long game to join ranks of global chip titans

<p>Asian equities edged higher on Wednesday, with risk appetite contained by elevated bond yields, as investors remained nervous about the fiscal outlook of major developed economies and the lack of progress on fresh trade deals.</p>


Asian stocks edge up as US trade deals, fiscal health in focus

<p>A recent survey by Shopee's buy now, pay later (BNPL) service (SPayLater) shows that 81% of over 40,000 Malaysians use BNPL to handle financial shocks, mainly for essentials like baby formula, medical costs, repairs and insurance.</p>


<p>Wall Street’s rally took a breather on Tuesday, with stocks falling as traders awaited fresh catalysts after a six-day run that put the S&amp;P 500 up almost 20% from its April lows.</p>
