SINGAPORE (Aug 23): The Edge Singapore scooped up two awards at the SGX Orb Awards on Wednesday (Aug 21), after receiving five nominations across six categories. 

Ben Paul, our editor-at-large, won the Story of the Year — Securities award for a piece titled “Buffett’s methods ought to be as much of an inspiration to corporate boards as to investors” (Issue 881, May 13). Paul had compared the manner in which billionaire investor Warren Buffett reports the performance of Berkshire Hathaway to his fellow shareholders with the way the boards and top management of Singapore-listed companies engage the market. “In my view, investors are not drawn to Berkshire only because of Buffett’s enormously successful investment approach,” Paul wrote. “Many of them simply like being treated as real owners of the businesses under the group.”

The Edge Singapore wins big at SGX awards

Prudential’s Barry Stowe, who retired in Dec 2018, was the highest paid CEO among Singapore listed companies in 2018.

Besides being listed in London, Prudential has a secondary listing on the Singapore Exchange since May 2010.

Who are the 40 highest-paid CEOs among Singapore's listed companies?

Genting Singapore independent director Koh Seow Chuan has been a board member since 2008. However, judging from his past behaviour, the retired renowned architect prefers not to hold shares in the company. According to a May 13 filing with the stock exchange, Koh sold all his 125,000 shares on May 10. The shares were awarded to him less than three months ago, as part of the company’s performance share scheme for its board of directors and employees.

Genting Singapore independent director Koh sells all his shares — as is his usual practice

Following an acquisition spree between 2012 and 2016, luggage maker Samsonite International has cemented its position as the market leader in the industry. With multiple brands and product ranges, the company’s focus now is to build on each of these acquisitions and grow a larger customer base.

Samsonite International digests acquisitions; upbeat on Asia’s growing travel market despite 1Q hiccup

The row over the palm oil industry and the detrimental effects it has on the environment has intensified in recent weeks, fired up by the European Union’s plan to curb the use of palm oil in biofuels. Significantly, biofuels only emerged in the last decade or so as another use for palm oil as the world looked for renewable sources of energy.

Pay up, or they give up

While the proposal by Teresa Kok, Malaysia’s minister of primary industries, to cap oil palm plantations in Malaysia at 6.5 million hectares by 2023 grabbed headlines in March, some environmentalists were uncomfortable with the target.

Greater transparency required to curb deforestation in Malaysia

After the longest Parliament sitting in Singa­pore to debate legislation, the city state passed a law that gives portfolio ministers — part of the group of political office holders in Singapore — the power to decide what amounts to news that is false and against the public interest, and order that it be either corrected or taken down.

What went on behind the passing of Singapore's new fake news law

If there is one thing that internet and app-oriented start-ups track closely regardless of the industry they operate in, it is the conversion rate. This metric measures how much user traffic is translated into a desired action, for instance, sales.

This startup plans to permanently integrate its offerings with Grab

With local brokerage firms already under siege from slumping commissions and waning investor interest, the ongoing trial of  John Soh Chee Wen and Quah Su-Ling in relation to the 2013 penny stock crash is unlikely to improve industry morale.

How responsible should brokerages be held for the 2013 penny stock crash?

In a TV interview on April 11, UBS economist Kelvin Tay blamed “political paralysis” in Malaysia for landing the country in an economic bind that includes a “current account deficit” of higher than 3.4%.

Pakatan Harapan's hope for Malaysia

SINGAPORE (April 18): When Malaysian engineering firm Serba Dinamik Holdings became the largest shareholder in systems integrator CSE Global last year, both parties talked about how they could work on projects together.

But one year on, no joint venture projects have been announced, as ...

Things looking up for CSE Global despite lack of JV projects with Serba Dinamik

Two mid-day announcements on April 4 by Hyflux and its rescuer SM Investments left both investors and market watchers confused. First, Hyflux cancelled the meetings to vote on a scheme of arrangement scheduled for April 5 and 8, because it claimed SMI had repudiated the restructuring agreement.

Hyflux rescue bid by SMI falls through amid conflicting statements

Tackling falsehoods has become a high priority for the Ministry of Law.

How Singapore's laws are evolving in the war against fake news

Over the last 20 years, Ivan Chee Yew Fei has been involved in various industries as founder and CEO of Webcon, a privately held diversified company in Malaysia. He led the company to expand into engineering and construction, property development, mining, trading of heavy machinery and investment holding. Now, as iron ore prices remain firm, Chee intends to grow the mining business under newly incorporated Fortress Minerals — by listing the latter on the Catalist board of the Singapore Exchange.

Iron miner Fortress Minerals lists; digs in to meet further demand from China

Defence Minister Datuk Seri Mohamed Khaled Nordin said the government had no plans to temporarily suspend the service of Fennec and HOM helicopters.

Govt not suspending service of Fennec and HOM helicopters, says minister

It will be a four-way fight in the upcoming Kuala Kubu Bahru by-election between Pakatan Harapan’s pick Pang Sock Tao, Hulu Selangor Bersatu action division head Khairul Azhari, Parti Rakyat Malaysia’s Hafizah Zainudin and independent Nyau Ke Xin.

NEWS: Four-cornered fight in KKB by-election

Parti Rakyar Malaysia’s Hafizah Zainudin says that if elected, PRM will stand on a platform of increased transparency in government.

NEWS: Parti Rakyat Malaysia will run on more transparency

The Malaysian Palm Oil Association (MPOA) said there is an urgent need to accelerate replanting to address the issue of ageing oil palm trees, and urges the government to provide replanting tax incentives to support such efforts.

Ageing oil palm trees: MPOA calls for govt incentives to speed up replanting

Pakatan Harapan’s Pang Sock Tau, who will be representing her party in the Kuala Kubu Bahru by-elections, says that amid all the noise, her focus will be on the rakyat’s issues, especially those concerning the youth and women.

NEWS: PH campaign to focus on core issues

Former prime minister Datuk Seri Najib Razak was never confronted by the Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission (MACC) on whether Blackstone Asia Real Estate Partners — which received millions from 1Malaysia Development Bhd (1MDB) and transferred it to his private banking account — was controlled or owned by fugitive Eric Tan Kim Loong, an alleged associate of Low Taek Jho or Jho Low.

Court told MACC never asked Najib if he knew who owned shell company that transferred US$30 mil to his account

PN chairman Tan Sri Muhyiddin Yassin is confident of the coalition’s odds in the Kuala Kubu Bahru by-election, and says the experience of its candidate, Khairul Azhari Saut, gives him an edge over the others.

NEWS: PN confident of wresting KKB seat

BN chairman Datuk Seri Dr Ahmad Zahid Hamidi said it is time to repay PH’s favour in the Kuala Kubu Bahru by-election. He is also hopeful that MCA will still join the unity coalition's campaign.

NEWS: Time for BN to repay PH’s favour, says Zahid

Bank of Singapore Ltd, the private-banking arm of Oversea-Chinese Banking Corp (OCBC), has fired up to 40 employees over the misuse of medical benefits, according to a CNA report.

Singapore bank fires workers over misuse of medical claims — CNA

The Kuala Kubu Baharu (KKB) state by-election is the time for Barisan Nasional (BN) to return Pakatan Harapan’s (PH) favour in assisting Umno candidates in the previous elections, said Datuk Seri Dr Ahmad Zahid Hamidi.

Time for BN to return PH's favour in Kuala Kubu Baharu by-election, says Zahid

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.

Who pays for anytime EPF withdrawals?

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

Former prime minister Datuk Seri Najib Razak was never confronted by the Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission (MACC) on whether Blackstone Asia Real Estate Partners — which received millions from 1Malaysia Development Bhd (1MDB) and transferred it to his private banking account — was controlled or owned by fugitive Eric Tan Kim Loong, an alleged associate of Low Taek Jho or Jho Low.

Kuala Lumpur Kepong Bhd (KLK) is investigating allegations of unethical recruitment practices made against the sub-agents of SOS Manpower Service, its appointed agent to recruit Nepalese foreign workers for its subsidiary&nbsp;KL-Kepong Rubber Products Sdn Bhd.

The allegations, according to KLK, were made by Sajha Sabal Media, a news portal in Nepal.

KLK investigating allegations of unethical practice linked to its foreign worker recruitment agent

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.

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

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).

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

Bank of Singapore Ltd, the private-banking arm of Oversea-Chinese Banking Corp (OCBC), has fired up to 40 employees over the misuse of medical benefits, according to a CNA report.

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).

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

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.

Lofty US stocks leave investors punishing earnings disappointments

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

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

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

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 Malaysian Palm Oil Association (MPOA) said&nbsp;there is an urgent need to accelerate replanting to address the issue of ageing oil palm trees, and urges the government to provide replanting tax incentives to support such efforts.

The Kuala Kubu Baharu (KKB) state by-election&nbsp;is the time for Barisan Nasional (BN) to return Pakatan Harapan’s (PH) favour in assisting Umno candidates in the previous elections, said&nbsp;Datuk Seri Dr Ahmad Zahid Hamidi.

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.

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

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

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

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;

Apple intensifies talks with OpenAI for iPhone generative AI features

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.

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

The Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission (MACC) has opened an&nbsp;operations room for&nbsp;the public to channel information and complaints of corrupt acts and power abuse in the Kuala Kubu Baharu&nbsp;state by-election.

In The Edge Singapore This Week

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In The Edge Singapore This Week

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