Prime Minister Tan Sri Muhyiddin Yassin announced today that Microsoft will be investing US$1 billion (about RM4.1 billion) in Malaysia over the next five years in partnership with Putrajaya under the Bersama Malaysia initiative. </div><div class=inPageAd id=div-gpt-ad-inpage>

NEWS: Microsoft to invest US$1b under Bersama Malaysia

Johor must push for a higher rate of automation, adoption of new technologies as well as higher wages across the board to capitalise on the Johor-Singapore Special Economic Zone (JS-SEZ), Deputy Investment, Trade and Industry Minister Liew Chin Tong said.

Johor corporates urged to push for increased automation, technology adoption and wages

Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong called on Singaporeans to rally behind his successor as he prepares to step aside later this month after a two decades-long stint in power.

Lee asks Singapore to rally behind his successor in final address

South Korea has held talks about joining part of the Aukus defence deal between the US, Britain and Australia, Defence Minister Shin Won-sik said on Wednesday, only weeks after the pact said it would consider including Japan.

South Korea discusses joining part of Aukus pact with US, UK and Australia

This is the final instalment of a four-part series on propelling the Madani economy. To summarise, fuel subsidy rationalisation is a contractionary but necessary move for Malaysia, discussed in Part I (“Taking a systems approach to fuel subsidies”, Issue 1515, March 18). In Part II (“Breaking out...

My Say: Madani-Bersama: Address disparities to unlock powerful engines of growth

Microsoft will open its first regional data centre in Thailand, the tech giant said on Wednesday, as it looks to boost availability of cloud services.

Microsoft to open first regional data centre in Thailand

Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim on Wednesday announced that civil servants will enjoy a salary hike of more than 13% starting December this year, the highest increase in the nation’s history.

Anwar announces over 13% salary hike for civil servants

In a world of depressing news headlines, how is the Southeast Asian region faring? An examination of the risk environment leads us to a few key assessments.

First, being one of the main arenas for US-China contestation, this region is exposed to potentially nasty scenarios if big power ...

My Say: How risks have changed in Southeast Asia

The popularity of property investing among the younger investors seems to be waning. The mismatch between one’s salary and property price is a key reason. However, financial planning experts say these investors should not be hasty in dismissing property as an attractive asset class.

Red...

Property: To buy or rent, that is the question

Police apprehended 11 individuals suspected of being part of a fake job scam and non-existent investment syndicate during a raid on two residential units in the city at approximately 6pm on Monday.

Johor police nab 11 involved in job, investment scams

The Philippines on Wednesday accused China's coast guard of elevating tensions in the South China Sea after two vessels suffered damage from water cannon use by Beijing, an official said.

Philippines says Chinese coast guard elevating tensions in South China Sea

Here is a brief recap of some business news and corporate announcements that made the headlines on Tuesday (April 30):

Bursa, SimePlant, SEGi, Capital A, Duopharma, Rimbunan Sawit, MKHOP, Tasco, CIMB, Atrium REIT, KSL, GUH, Lebtech, Mentiga, Ge-Shen, Green Packet, Apex Equity

KUALA LUMPUR (May 1): Malaysia’s top six universities have soared in Times Higher Education’s (THE) 2024 Asia University Rankings, compared to last year’s performance.

Malaysian universities rise in Times Higher Education’s 2024 Asia rankings

McDonald's missed quarterly profit estimates for the first time in two years as budget-conscious consumers looked past its offers and the Middle East conflict weighed on the burger chain's international sales.

McDonald's posts rare profit miss as customers turn picky

Starbucks Corp sales fell for the first time since 2020 as half-off deals and new lavender lattes weren’t enough to entice increasingly budget-conscious consumers.

Starbucks posts first sales drop since 2020 during global pullback

Apex Equity Holdings Bhd's external auditor is unconvinced that the group will be able to recover RM23.8 million in loan receivable, though its directors is confident that the sum is recoverable and had made no impairment loss in its financial statements for the year ended Dec 31, 2023.

Apex Equity's auditor unconvinced group can recover RM24m loan

Changpeng Zhao, the former chief executive of Binance, was sentenced on Tuesday to four months in prison after pleading guilty to violating US laws against money laundering at the world's largest cryptocurrency exchange.

Binance crypto founder Zhao sentenced to four months in prison

Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim on Wednesday announced that civil servants will enjoy a salary hike of more than 13% starting December this year, the highest increase in the nation’s history.

US stocks ended lower on Tuesday as markets weighed economic data showing rising labour costs and deteriorating consumer confidence on the day of a key Federal Reserve policy meeting to decide the direction of interest rates.

Wall Street stocks fall as markets weigh strong wage data, Fed meeting 

An early investor in bitcoins dubbed the "Bitcoin Jesus" has been arrested in Spain on US charges that he evaded paying at least US$48 million (RM228.9 million) in taxes, the US Department of Justice said on Tuesday.

'Bitcoin Jesus' arrested in Spain on US tax evasion charges

Manchester United said on Tuesday that interim CEO Patrick Stewart and CFO Cliff Baty will step down from their positions at the end of the season

Manchester United's interim CEO, CFO to step down

The Philippines on Wednesday accused China's coast guard of elevating tensions in the South China Sea after two vessels suffered damage from water cannon use by Beijing, an official said.

Fraser &amp; Neave Holdings Bhd (F&amp;N) posted a net profit of RM165.41 million in the second quarter ended March 31, 2024 (2QFY2024), higher by 63.48% compared to RM101.18 million a year before, driven by higher sales amid Chinese New Year and Hari Raya festival seasons and better margins.

Festive sales and better margins lift F&N’s 2Q net profit by 63%

Southeast Asian governments are grappling with the challenges of rising energy demand, a burgeoning middle class, strong pressure not to increase energy and electricity prices, and the need to deliver just and equitable growth — before even considering ambitious plans to decarbonise and build industries of tomorrow.

Southeast Asia remains off-track in net zero ambitions 

Amazon.com reported quarterly results above Wall Street's expectations on Tuesday, as interest in artificial intelligence helped drive cloud-computing growth.

Amazon results beat estimates, revenue forecast misses

Oil prices fell for a third day on Wednesday on rising crude inventories and production in the US, the world's biggest oil consumer, along with increasing hopes of a ceasefire agreement in the Middle East.

Oil falls for a third day as US crude inventories swell

Citigroup&nbsp;CEO Jane Fraser told shareholders on Tuesday that US consumers are becoming more cautious with their spending and making smaller purchases.

Citi CEO says US consumers more cautious, emphasises bank overhaul

Police apprehended 11 individuals suspected of being part of a fake job scam and non-existent investment syndicate during a raid on two residential units in the city at approximately 6pm on Monday.

European car giants Volkswagen, Mercedes-Benz and Stellantis all posted lower sales and first-quarter revenue on Tuesday as they geared up to launch new models, faced higher costs and were hit by weaker demand for new cars as interest rates remain high.

Weak demand, new model ramp-up hit Europe's top automakers

The meeting between Defence Minister Datuk Seri Mohamed Khaled Nordin and his Indonesian counterpart Prabowo Subianto on Tuesday discussed various issues, including security challenges and promoting stability in the Southeast Asian region.

Defence ministers of Malaysia, Indonesia discuss security, regional preparedness

The popularity of property investing among the younger investors seems to be waning. The mismatch between one’s salary and property price is a key reason. However, financial planning experts say these investors should not be hasty in dismissing property as an attractive asset class.

Red...