<div class=newsTextDataWrapInner><p>(July 19):&nbsp;Alibaba Group Holding Ltd&nbsp;launched a preview version of its flagship Qwen3.8 Max model, which it&nbsp;described&nbsp;as comparable to leading frontier AI models and second only to Anthropic PBC’s Fable 5.</p></div>

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<div class=newsTextDataWrapInner><p>The Sunday release came only days after Chinese startup Moonshot AI unveiled a powerful offering. Kimi K3’s performance&nbsp;rivals&nbsp;top offerings from Anthropic and OpenAI and helped upend perceptions of China’s AI capabilities while roiling global technology stocks.</p></div>

<div class=newsTextDataWrapInner><p>Developers can now access Qwen3.8 Max through Alibaba’s coding platforms, including Qoder. The new model is among the most powerful available today, the Hangzhou-based company said in a post on X.&nbsp;</p></div><div class=inPageAd id=div-gpt-ad-inpage></div>

<div class=newsTextDataWrapInner><p>Alibaba plans to make the model open-weight soon, expanding access beyond the preview release. The post said Qwen3.8 Max has 2.4 trillion parameters but provided no additional technical specifications. Moonshot’s Kimi K3, meanwhile, boasts of 2.8 trillion parameters.&nbsp;</p></div>

<div class=newsTextDataWrapInner><p>The Chinese e-commerce giant recently&nbsp;scored&nbsp;a victory after Beijing approved Apple Intelligence, as Alibaba is serving as a technology partner for the US company’s AI offering in the Asian nation.</p></div>

<div class=newsTextDataWrapInner><p><em>Uploaded by Liza Shireen Koshy</em></p></div>
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Alibaba Group Holding Ltd launched a preview version of its flagship Qwen3.8 Max model, which it described as comparable to leading frontier AI models and second only to Anthropic PBC’s Fable 5.

Alibaba’s Qwen unveils preview of flagship AI model

Tun Dr Siti Hasmah Mohd Ali passes away at National Heart Institute this morning — Mokhzani Mahathir

Former prime minister Datuk Seri Najib Razak was granted a conditional pardon by the King on Sept 18, allowing him to serve the remainder of his SRC International sentence under house arrest. In the coming week, the focus is likely to turn to whether he can meet the condition that he must first p...

The Week Ahead: Attention on Najib’s RM50 mil conditional pardon fine, regional key economic data

MELBOURNE/BENGALURU (Sept 28): Australia's top gold producer Northern Star Resources said it rejected an unsolicited A$38.7 billion (US$27.12 billion) takeover proposal from South Africa's Gold Fields, the latest sign of consolidation pressure in the gold sector.

Australia's Northern Star rejects US$27 bil takeover approach from Gold Fields

KUALA LUMPUR (Sept 28): TSH Resources Bhd (KL:TSH) extended its decline on Monday after the plantation firm’s Indonesian subsidiary was slapped with a RM42 million administrative fine.

TSH extends decline to over one-month lows after unit fined RM42 mil by Indonesia

Evocom Bhd (KL:EVOCOM) fell over 20% in its trading debut on Monday as weak market conditions weighed on the flexible staffing firm.

Evocom falls over 20% in ACE Market trading debut

TOKYO (Sept 28): Many Bank of Japan (BOJ) policymakers saw the need to focus on mounting inflation risks, with some calling for faster interest rate increases, minutes of their July meeting showed, cementing the case for further hikes to still-low borrowing costs.

Bank of Japan debated need for faster rate hikes, July minutes show

City Developments Ltd, the Singapore property group controlled by one of the country’s wealthiest families, said it wants to invest S$5 billion (US$3.9 billion or RM16 billion) in Singapore, China and Japan by 2029 as part of measures to regain investor confidence after a feud within the clan.

Singapore’s Kwek property clan eyes China, Japan for investments

(Sept 28): The Malaysian ringgit may be poised for gains as higher oil prices and the artificial-intelligence boom provide tailwinds for the currency, strategists say.

Oil, AI demand give ringgit room to rally, strategists say

SINGAPORE (Sept 28): Oil prices rebounded more than 1% on Monday after US President Donald Trump rejected a peace deal from Iran to resolve their conflict and reopen the Strait of Hormuz, keeping tensions in the Middle East elevated.

Oil heads higher as US-Iran peace talks in stalemate

SYDNEY (Sept 28): Share markets made a cautious start on Monday as oil prices popped higher again amid doubts the United States and Iran will reach a truce anytime soon, keeping bonds under pressure ahead of a week packed with economic news.

Over the we...

Stocks cautious in Asia as oil gains, yields rise

<p>Oil advanced and US equity futures slipped after President Donald Trump rejected Iran’s latest proposal to reopen the Strait of Hormuz, while saying negotiations may resume this week.</p>


Oil up, stock futures slip as Iran offer rejected

<p>(Sept 27):&nbsp;Malaysia’s Deputy Prime Minister Datuk Seri Dr Ahmad Zahid Hamidi said his Barisan Nasional party will leave the ruling coalition once Parliament is dissolved at the next election, the <em>New Straits Times</em> reported.&nbsp;</p>


BN says it will quit coalition at next election — NST

<p>SINGAPORE (Sept 28): Oil prices rebounded more than 1% on Monday after US President Donald Trump rejected a peace deal from Iran to resolve their conflict and reopen the Strait of Hormuz, keeping tensions in the Middle East elevated.</p>


<p>Here's a heads up on what to look out for today.</p>


YOUR DAY AHEAD: Sept 28, 2026 

<p>Most debates about democracy ask whether democracy is superior to the alternatives. Supporters point to freedom, representation and legitimacy. Critics point to voter ignorance, populism, short-termism and political dysfunction. Others look at countries governed by technocrats or strong states and ask whether expertise and competence might sometimes produce better outcomes than electoral politics.</p>


Tong's Portfolio: Who governs the governors?

<p>KUALA LUMPUR (Sept 27): The Negeri Sembilan government must continue to function as usual to ensure the well-being and interests of the people are not affected by the current political crisis in the state.</p>


Negeri Sembilan government must continue to function as usual — Jalaluddin

<p>WASHINGTON/CHICAGO (Sept 27): US President Donald Trump confirmed that he plans to have a dinner meeting with Anthropic CEO Dario Amodei on Sunday night, but reaffirmed his stance against slowing the pace of AI development.</p>


Trump confirms meeting with Anthropic's Amodei, repeats dismissal of AI fears

<p data-qa-component="item-headline">SYDNEY (Sept 28): Share markets made a cautious start on Monday as oil prices popped higher again amid doubts the United States and Iran will reach a truce anytime soon, keeping bonds under pressure ahead of a week packed with economic news.</p>

<p>Over the we...

<p>Evocom Bhd (KL:EVOCOM) fell over 20% in its trading debut on Monday as weak market conditions weighed on the flexible staffing firm.</p>


<p>(Sept 28):&nbsp;The Malaysian ringgit may be poised for gains as higher oil prices and the artificial-intelligence boom provide tailwinds for the currency, strategists say.</p>


<p>City Developments Ltd, the Singapore property group controlled by one of the country’s wealthiest families, said it wants to invest S$5 billion (US$3.9 billion or RM16 billion) in Singapore, China and Japan by 2029 as part of measures to regain investor confidence after a feud within the clan.</p>


<p>MELBOURNE/BENGALURU (Sept 28): Australia's top gold producer Northern Star Resources said it rejected an unsolicited A$38.7 billion (US$27.12 billion) takeover proposal from South Africa's Gold Fields, the latest sign of consolidation pressure in the gold sector.</p>


<p>KUALA LUMPUR (Sept 28): TSH Resources Bhd (KL:TSH) extended its decline on Monday after the plantation firm’s Indonesian subsidiary was slapped with a RM42 million administrative fine.</p>


<p>TOKYO (Sept 28): Many Bank of Japan (BOJ) policymakers saw the need to focus on mounting inflation risks, with some calling for faster interest rate increases, minutes of their July meeting showed, cementing the case for further hikes to still-low borrowing costs.</p>


<p><em><strong>More to come</strong></em></p>
...