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<div class=newsTextDataWrapInner><p class="thumb-cap">EVENING 5: No end in sight as M’sia marks one year of Covid-19</p></div>
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<div class=newsTextDataWrapInner><p>Dirty dealings. Corporate battles. Consumer woes. Here are five things you need to know today.</p></div>

<div class=newsTextDataWrapInner><p>1. With no end in sight, Health DG Tan Sri Dr Noor Hisham Abdullah hopes for <a href="https://www.theedgemarkets.com/article/malaysia-reports-3048-new-covid19-cases-today-1st-anniversary-virus-was-detected-its-shores">stability in infections</a> as Malaysia marks one year of Covid-19.</p></div>

<div class=newsTextDataWrapInner><p>2. FMM warns industries to tighten SOPs to <a href="https://www.theedgemarkets.com/article/fmm-warns-industries-tighten-sops-or-face-another-fullscale-lockdown" target="_blank">contain the spread of Covid-19 </a>amid fears of another national full-scale lockdown.</p></div>

<div class=newsTextDataWrapInner><p>3. Hartalega sees its <a href="https://www.theedgemarkets.com/article/hartalega-3q-net-profit-surges-rm1b" target="_blank">3Q net profit surge to RM1 billion</a> and its cash pile soar to RM2.14 billion as demand for gloves remains unabated.</p></div>

<div class=newsTextDataWrapInner><p>4. Integrated health supplement company Bioalpha Holdings becomes the latest to jump on the <a href="https://www.theedgemarkets.com/article/bioalpha-join-vaccine-distribution-bandwagon" target="_blank">vaccine distribution bandwagon</a>.</p></div>

<div class=newsTextDataWrapInner><p>5. Bintai Kinden Corp and ASX-listed International Equities Corp will jointly undertake <a href="https://www.theedgemarkets.com/article/bintai-kinden-australia-firm-jointly-undertake-rm470-million-gdv-projects" target="_blank">mixed property projects</a> in Melaka and Penang.</p></div>


Here’s a quick look at some of the stories that made headlines today.

EVENING 5: Five things you need to know today

The Kuala Kubu Baharu (KKB) state by-election will see a four-cornered fight between the candidates of Pakatan Harapan (PH), Perikatan Nasional (PN), Parti Rakyat Malaysia (PRM), and an independent.

A four-way bout in Kuala Kubu Baharu by-election

China's industrial profits posted smaller gains for the first quarter compared to the first two months, official data showed on Saturday, adding to evidence of an uneven recovery for the world's second-biggest economy.

China's first-quarter industrial profits rise at slower pace

Last December, the European Union set a global precedent by finalizing the Artificial Intelligence Act, one of the world’s most comprehensive sets of AI rules. Europe’s landmark legislation could signal a broader trend toward more responsive AI policies. But while regulation is necessary, it is i...

The Visible Hand: Governments must shape AI’s future

Singapore will introduce a new law this year that will help so-called gig-economy workers plan for their retirement needs and get work injury protection, Minister for Manpower Tan See Leng said.

Singapore plans law to support gig workers’ retirement needs

The nomination centre for the Kuala Kubu Baharu state by-election closed at 10am on Saturday.

The announcement was made by returning officer Yuhanas Auree Kamaruddin at the Hulu Selangor Multipurpose Hall and District Sports Complex here.

Nomination centre for Kuala Kubu Baharu by-election closes at 10am

Alphabet Inc closed decisively above a US$2 trillion (RM9.54 trillion) market capitalisation for the first time on Friday, as a powerhouse earnings report reassured investors that the Google parent would be a major player in artificial intelligence (AI).

Alphabet joins US$2 trillion club as results show AI strength

Candidates contesting the upcoming Kuala Kubu Bharu by-election, a semi-urban seat located in the Hulu Selangor district, have started executing their campaign strategies over the weekend. The by-election is being held following the demise of its incumbent, Lee Kee Hiong from DAP, on March 21 due to cancer.

The Week Ahead: Attention on KKB by-election, FOMC decision, trade data in Asia

Richly valued US stocks are leaving investors with little tolerance for disappointment, raising the stakes ahead of a week in which two more technology and growth giants are set to report.

Lofty US stocks leave investors punishing earnings disappointments

Two earthquakes, the largest a 6.1 magnitude, struck Taiwan's eastern county of Hualien on Saturday, the island's weather administration said, with no immediate reports of damage.

The quakes, within half an hour of each other in the early hours of the morning, shook buildings in the capital, Taipei.

Taiwan rattled by quakes again, no immediate reports of damage

Nomination for the Kuala Kubu Baharu state by-election opened at 9am on Saturday at the Hulu Selangor Multipurpose Hall and District Sports Complex here.

Nomination opens at 9am for Kuala Kubu Baharu by-election

<p>The creation of Flexible Account 3 for anytime withdrawals from May 11 means Employees Provident Fund (EPF) members can choose to take out up to a third of the balance in their existing Wellbeing Account 2.</p>


Who pays for anytime EPF withdrawals?

<p>The Kuala Kubu Baharu (KKB) state by-election will see a four-cornered fight between the candidates of Pakatan Harapan (PH), Perikatan Nasional (PN), Parti Rakyat Malaysia (PRM), and an independent.</p>


<p>Global&nbsp;stocks were higher on Friday, as Big Tech gains lifted Wall Street shares, while Japan's yen&nbsp;sank to a&nbsp;34-year low after the Bank of Japan (BOJ)&nbsp;kept&nbsp;monetary policy loose.</p>


Global stocks gain on Big Tech lift; yen slides to 34-year low

<p>The Perak government is expected to establish cooperation with Star Group Industries (SGI), a leading South Korean company with experience in the production of downstream products of rare earth elements (REE).</p>


Perak to collaborate with rare earth elements company from South Korea, says MB

<p>Alphabet Inc&nbsp;closed decisively above a US$2 trillion (RM9.54 trillion) market capitalisation for the first time on Friday, as a powerhouse earnings report reassured investors that the Google parent would be a major player in artificial intelligence (AI).</p>


<p>Richly valued US&nbsp;stocks are leaving investors with little tolerance for disappointment, raising the stakes ahead of a week in which two more technology and growth giants are set to report.</p>


<p>The nomination centre&nbsp;for the Kuala Kubu Baharu state by-election closed at 10am on Saturday.</p>

<p>The announcement was made by returning officer Yuhanas Auree Kamaruddin&nbsp;at the Hulu Selangor Multipurpose Hall and District Sports Complex here.</p>


<p>Candidates contesting the upcoming Kuala Kubu Bharu by-election, a semi-urban seat located in the Hulu Selangor district, have started executing their campaign strategies over the weekend. The by-election is being held following the demise of its incumbent, Lee Kee Hiong from DAP, on March 21 due to cancer.</p>


<p>US&nbsp;regulators have seized Republic First Bancorp and agreed to sell it to Fulton Bank, the Federal Deposit Insurance Corp (FDIC) said on Friday, underscoring the challenges facing regional banks a year after the collapse of three peers.</p>


US regulators seize troubled lender Republic First, sell it to Fulton Bank

<p>Singapore will introduce a new law this year that will help so-called gig-economy workers plan for their retirement needs and get work injury protection, Minister for Manpower Tan See Leng said.</p>


<p>Two earthquakes, the largest a 6.1 magnitude, struck Taiwan's eastern county of Hualien on Saturday, the island's weather administration said, with no immediate reports of damage.</p>

<p>The quakes, within half an hour of each other in the early hours of the morning, shook buildings in the capital, Taipei.</p>


<p>Nomination&nbsp;for the Kuala Kubu Baharu state by-election opened at 9am on Saturday at&nbsp;the Hulu Selangor Multipurpose Hall and District Sports Complex here.</p>


<p>Apple Inc&nbsp;has renewed discussions with OpenAI about using the start-up’s technology to power some new features coming to the iPhone later this year, according to people familiar with the matter.&nbsp;</p>


Apple intensifies talks with OpenAI for iPhone generative AI features

<p>China's industrial profits posted smaller gains for the first quarter compared to the first two months, official data showed on Saturday, adding to evidence of an uneven recovery for the world's second-biggest economy.</p>
