<div class=newsTextDataWrapInner><p>TOKYO (Feb 22): Melco Crown Entertainment is ready to outspend rival casino operators to build a Japanese casino, its chief said on Wednesday, a day after Las Vegas Sands Corp put a price tag of up to US$10 billion on a facility in Japan.</p></div>

<div class=newsTextDataWrapInner><p>&quot;We'll absolutely spend whatever we need to win,&quot; Chairman and Chief Executive Officer Lawrence Ho told reporters at an investor conference in Tokyo.</p></div>

<div class=newsTextDataWrapInner><p>Sands' Chairman and Chief Executive Officer Sheldon Adelson said on Tuesday an &quot;integrated resort&quot; in Japan would cost between US$6 and US$10 billion to build.</p></div><div class=inPageAd id=div-gpt-ad-inpage></div>

<div class=newsTextDataWrapInner><p>MGM Resorts International, also vying for operating rights in Japan, said in October it is ready to bet up to US$10 billion on a Japanese casino.</p></div>

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TOKYO (Feb 22): Melco Crown Entertainment is ready to outspend rival casino operators to build a Japanese casino, its chief said on Wednesday, a day after Las Vegas Sands Corp put a price tag of up to US$10 billion on a facility in Japan.

"We'll absolutely spend whatever we need to...

Melco Crown CEO says willing to outspend rivals on Japan casino

The High Court on Tuesday set a three-day trial in January 2026 for the defamation suit filed by former culture, arts, and tourism minister Tan Sri Abdul Kadir Sheikh Fadzir against businessman Datuk Seri Aliff Syukri Kamaruzaman over defamatory statements involving tens of millions of ringgit in investment debts.

Ex-minister's defamation suit against businessman to be heard in January 2026

Iran’s unprecedented attack on Israel and the prospect of escalating hostilities have threatened to embroil Jordan, a key Western ally and a country regarded by Gulf states as pivotal to their own security.

Iran’s growing conflict with Israel puts US ally Jordan on edge

The Sik district is being targeted to become a hub for ‘huma’ (hill) paddy cultivation in Kedah, as an alternative measure to increase local rice supply.

Kedah Menteri Besar Datuk Seri Muhammad Sanusi Md Nor said the Kedah State Zakat Board (LZNK) had initiated hill paddy cultivation by focusing on unused land in the district.

Sanusi wants Sik to become Kedah's 'huma' paddy cultivation hub

According to the latest small and medium enterprise (SME) index by Oversea-Chinese Banking Corp (OCBC), SMEs have remained contractionary for the fifth consecutive quarter in Singapore.

SMEs in Singapore remain contractionary for fifth consecutive quarter — OCBC

Kossan Rubber Industries Bhd has proposed a final dividend of two sen per share for the financial year ended Dec 31, 2023 (FY2023).

The final dividend will be paid on July 18, with June 20 as the ex-date and June 21 as the entitlement date, the glove maker said in a bourse filing on Tuesday.

Kossan proposes final dividend of two sen for FY2023

ISKANDAR PUTERI (April 16): The Johor government wants to develop a multi-tiered Automated Rapid Transit (ART) system in Johor Bahru to address traffic congestion in the city.

MB: Multi-tiered Automated Rapid Transit system planned to overcome Johor Bahru congestion

Stellantis NV CEO Carlos Tavares’ jump in 2023 remuneration is getting pushback as the Jeep maker pursues deep job cuts and tough savings goals in the EV transition.

Stellantis’ US$39m CEO pay draws investor ire amid cuts

When the group of mining executives arrived at Panama’s regal Palacio de las Garzas, they were ushered past the ornate, wood-panelledd ceremonial rooms and straight to the private office of the president.

How a US$10b mine became a cautionary tale for the energy transition

KUALA LUMPUR (April 16): Bursa Malaysia Bhd is collaborating with the UK government’s Mobilising Institutional Capital Through Listed Product Structures (Mobilist) programme to help address the funding gap needed in Malaysia to achieve the United Nations’ (UN) Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) by 2030.

Bursa works with UK's Mobilist programme to address funding gap and achieve UN SDGs

The ringgit continued its downtrend on Tuesday to end lower against the greenback, due to continued positive sentiment for the US dollar, which was bolstered by strong US retail sales data in March, amid concerns over tension in the Middle East, said an analyst.

Ringgit easier against US dollar at closing

<p>The collective wealth of tycoons listed on the 2024 Forbes Malaysia Rich List increased by a modest 2% to US$83.4 billion (RM398.8 billion), according to <i>Forbes Asia</i>.</p>


Wealth of Malaysia’s 50 richest individuals on Forbes list rises 2% — Forbes Asia 

<p>Datuk Abdul Rahman Ahmad will return to Permodalan Nasional Bhd (PNB) as its president and group chief executive effective July 1, 2024, the government-linked investment company said.</p>


CIMB’s Abdul Rahman Ahmad returns to PNB as president, group chief executive

<p>E-government services providers MyEG Services Bhd and HeiTech Padu Bhd have formed a partnership to collaborate on IT projects in Malaysia.</p>

<p>According to separate bourse filings from both companies on Tuesday, MyEG and HeiTech Padu have inked a teaming agreement for the collaboration.&nbsp;</p>


MyEG, HeiTech Padu form partnership to collaborate on IT projects

<p>Analysts are positive on Malaysia’s pilot green power exports to Singapore using existing infrastructure in both countries, following establishment of the platform enabling cross-border trading of green electricity, the Energy Exchange Malaysia (Enegem).</p>


Analysts positive on pilot green power exports to Singapore; name Tenaga, YTLP as top picks

<p>CIMB Group Holdings Bhd, Malaysia’s second-biggest banking group by assets, said on Tuesday its chief executive Datuk Abdul Rahman Ahmad will step down on June 30.</p>


CIMB says CEO Abdul Rahman Ahmad stepping down on June 30

<p>Alliance Bank Malaysia Bhd’s (ABMB) net profit is expected to jump by 37.3% year-on-year (y-o-y) to RM179 million for the fourth quarter ended March 31, 2024 (4QFY2024), according to AmInvestment Bank Research.</p>


AmInvestment sees Alliance Bank’s 4Q earnings jump by 37% y-o-y

<p>The Ministry of Transport clarified on Tuesday that the higher contract value of RM190.01 million awarded to HeiTech Padu Bhd for Road Transport Department (JPJ) services was only due to a longer extended contract duration.</p>


Loke: Higher contract value awarded to HeiTech Padu due to longer extended duration

<p>The automotive industry is not exactly the place one would want to be in the next few years.</p>

<p>Competition among manufacturers of internal combustion engine vehicles, battery electric vehicles (EVs) and hybrid cars has been ongoing for more than a decade now. Last year, some certainty fin...

Alternative Views: Automotive industry feels heat from intensifying EV price war

<p>Transport Minister Anthony Loke Siew Fook said his ministry has no objection to MMC Corp Bhd divesting a stake in MMC Port Holdings Sdn Bhd, including to foreign entities, as long as it does not contravene the government's policy that requires 51% ownership of major national assets to remain with local companies.</p>


Loke says MMC Port free to sell stake to foreign firms, but govt has to be notified of shareholding changes

<p>Carlo Rino Group Bhd has filed for an initial public offering (IPO) that would raise more funds for the apparel company as part of its listing transfer to the ACE Market from the LEAP Market.</p>


Carlo Rino files draft prospectus for listing transfer to ACE Market

<p>Former prime minister Tan Sri Muhyiddin Yassin has requested for a bench of five Court of Appeal (COA) judges to hear his review against the court’s own decision to reinstate abuse of power charges involving RM232.5 million against him.</p>


Muhyiddin seeks five-judge bench to hear criminal charges review

<p>Singapore’s Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong is stepping down on May 15 after two decades in office. Lee, 72, will hand the reins over to his deputy Lawrence Wong, 51, in a widely-telegraphed transition.</p>


What observers are saying as Singapore’s Lee paves way for next PM Wong

<p>China said it believed Iran could "handle the situation well and spare the region further turmoil" while safeguarding its sovereignty and dignity, referring to an attack on Iran's embassy in Syria and its retaliatory strike over the weekend.</p>


Iran able to 'handle situation' and spare Middle East more tension, China's foreign minister says

<p>Bursa Malaysia ended the morning session lower on Tuesday, in tandem with the weaker regional performance due to a broad sell-off on Wall Street overnight, said an analyst. &nbsp;</p>


Bursa ends morning session lower along with regional peers

<p>KTI Landmark Bhd (KTI) has signed an underwriting agreement with M&amp;A Securities Sdn Bhd for its listing on the ACE Market of Bursa Malaysia Securities Bhd.</p>

<p>In a statement on Tuesday, the Sabah-based integrated property developer said the initial public offering (IPO) comprises a public issue of 160 million new shares and an offer for sale of 45 million existing shares, representing 20% and 5.6% of the enlarged share capital of KTI respectively.</p>


KTI Landmark inks underwriting deal with M&A Securities en route to ACE Market listing

<p>European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen is unleashing a barrage of trade restrictions against China as she seeks to follow through on a pledge to make the EU a more relevant political player on the global stage.</p>


EU goes on China trade offensive after getting ‘played’ 

<p>EP Manufacturing Bhd's (EPMB) shares climbed on Tuesday and marked their best day in 10 months after the Shah-Alam based auto parts maker signed an assembly deal with a Chinese carmaker.</p>


EP Manufacturing shares chart best day in 10 months after assembly deal

<p>Outsourced semiconductor assembly and testing (OSAT) player Globetronics Technology Bhd is in the final stages of discussion with two prospective clients interested in leveraging advanced packaging technology.</p>


Globetronics in final talks with two potential customers for advanced packaging

<p>Gold is set to reach US$3,000 (RM14,381.71) an ounce over the next six to 18 months on increasing investor inflows amid expectations that the Federal Reserve will eventually cut interest rates, Citigroup Inc said, adding to a roll call of Wall Street banks that have raised forecasts.</p>


Gold seen hitting US$3,000 at Citi as investor inflows juice rally

<p>China’s rapidly expanding petrochemicals industry is making life increasingly difficult for producers in Asia’s next-biggest exporter of the building blocks for making plastics.<br />
&nbsp;<br />
Asia’s largest economy used to be the major market for South Korean companies like LG Chem Ltd and Lotte Chemical Corp. But the exporters of the chemicals used to make everything from nylon to disposable bottles and car interiors are now being forced to downsize their operations after a frenzy of petchem-plant building in China over the last few years created a supply glut. &nbsp;</p>
