With 94% of Malaysian companies gearing up for an artificial intelligence (AI) driven future, National Technology and Innovation Sandbox (NTIS) together with NVIDIA has launched an AI pilot sandbox programme.

MOHE estimates 13,000 new AI talents by 2026

Chinese technology giant Huawei started selling two models of its highly anticipated, high-end Pura 70 smartphone series on Thursday that many analysts expect to contain an advanced China-made chip like its Mate 60 handset.

The Pura series developed by the Shenzhen-headquartered company has advanced cameras and is known for its sleek design, while the Mate series emphasises performance and business features.

Huawei starts sales of new Pura 70 smartphone to crowds amid chip scrutiny

Healthcare digitalisation and financing reform remain the priorities of the Ministry of Health (MOH) aimed at strengthening and improving the healthcare system across the country.

Healthcare digitalisation, financing reform remain MOH's priorities, says Dzulkefly

Digital payment and financial technology provider Ant International is going to establish what it calls a new digital business centre in Malaysia, creating more than 500 job opportunities in the first year, with more hirings in the next four years until 2028.

Ant International to set up new business centre in Malaysia, creating over 500 jobs

A gauge of global chip stocks and artificial intelligence (AI) bellwether Nvidia Corp have fallen together into a technical correction, showing moderation in the global equity market’s most conspicuous driver over the past year and a half.

Nvidia, chip stocks drop into correction as rate bets shift

Elon Musk said some of the severance packages sent to former Tesla Inc employees as part of its biggest-ever workforce reduction were too low.

Musk apologises for ‘incorrectly low’ Tesla severance packages

Nokia Oyj reported higher first-quarter profit than analysts expected and the telecom network equipment maker said it expects its struggling network infrastructure business to return to sales growth for the full year.

Nokia’s profit beats estimates, networks to return to growth

Taiwanese chipmaker TSMC posted a 9% rise in first-quarter net profit on Thursday that beat market expectations as it rides a wave of demand for semiconductors used in artificial intelligence applications.

TSMC's first quarter profit rises 9%, beats forecasts

Apple Inc chief executive officer Tim Cook will meet Singapore’s leader at the tail end of his most extensive Southeast Asia tour in years, searching for new growth markets and manufacturing locations to offset headwinds in China.

Apple CEO to meet Singapore leader to wrap whirlwind Asia tour

Global IT spending is expected to rise 8% year-on-year to US$5.06 trillion (RM24.2 trillion) in 2024, according to consulting firm Gartner, Inc.

Global IT spend seen rising 8% y-o-y to US$5 tril in 2024, says Gartner

Alphabet Inc’s Google has put more than two dozen employees on immediate administrative leave after they were involved in protests against Project Nimbus, a US$1.2 billion (RM5.7 billion) joint contract with Amazon.com Inc to provide the Israeli government with AI and cloud services.

Google fires workers protesting US$1.2b Israeli contract

Alphabet-owned Google is laying off an unspecified number of employees, a company spokesperson said on Wednesday, marking the latest cuts at the technology giant as it cracks down on costs.

Google lays off employees, shifts some roles abroad amid cost cuts

Micron Technology Inc, the largest US maker of computer-memory chips, is poised to get more than US$6 billion (RM28.7 billion) in grants from the Commerce Department to help pay for domestic factory projects, part of an effort to bring semiconductor production back to American soil.

Micron poised to get over US$6b in chips grants in announcement next week

Tesla will lay off 285 employees in Buffalo, New York, as part of its plans to trim 10% of its global workforce, the electric-vehicle maker said in a legally mandated notice on Wednesday.

Tesla layoffs include 14% of Buffalo workers, notice shows

Dubai Airports Chief Operating Officer (COO), Majed Al Joker announced that Dubai International Airport (DXB) will resume normal operations within 24 hours, signifying a return to its full capacity and regular schedule.

Dubai International Airport set to resume full operations within 24 hours

The remains of the late Tan Sri Joseph Kurup arrived at the Kota Kinabalu International Airport here at 11.20pm on a commercial flight.

The flight which was initially scheduled at 9.15am on Thursday was cancelled due to ash clouds from Mount Ruang’s volcanic eruption in North Sulawesi, Indonesia, engulfing the air space.

Remains of late Joseph Kurup arrive in Kota Kinabalu on Thursday night

FE Green Pet (M) Sdn Bhd’s new high-tech recycling factory is expected to make Melaka a green investment destination and complement the economic growth strategy in the state, said Melaka Chief Minister Datuk Seri Ab Rauf Yusoh.

He said with an investment totalling approximately RM958 million, the plant on 14 hectares of land is projected to be completed by 2Q 2025, creating almost 500 jobs.

RM958 mil high-tech recycling factory puts Melaka on green investors map — Ab Rauf

The crude palm oil (CPO) futures contract on Bursa Malaysia Derivatives closed lower for the fifth consecutive day, said palm oil trader David Ng.

He said the weaker soybean oil market and lower crude oil prices continue to pile pressure on prices.

CPO futures end lower for 5th consecutive trading day

The US dollar's dominant reserve currency status is likely to endure partly because even the most talked about alternative the Chinese yuan falls short as a credible challenger, Morgan Stanley said in a report on Thursday.

Rivalry with China, Russia's war in Ukraine, wrangling in Washington over the US debt ceiling and rising debt levels have put the dollar's status as the world's dominant currency under scrutiny in recent years.

Dollar's dominant reserve currency status to endure, says Morgan Stanley

Wall Street's main stock indexes gained on Thursday as investors cheered upbeat earnings across several sectors, while advancing megacap growth stocks were amongst the biggest boosts.

Megacap growth stock Meta Platforms outpaced peers and gained 2.7% after Bernstein raised its price target to US$590, a sixth such hike on the stock this week.

Wall St ticks up on megacaps, earnings boost

Goldman Sachs Group Inc President John Waldron warned that out-of-control spending could expose the US to serious risk in the event of a political crisis.

Goldman’s Waldron sounds alarm over US debt jolt to markets

The head of the International Monetary Fund warned the US that the global economy is closely watching interest rates and industrial policies given the potential spillovers from the world’s biggest economy and reserve currency.

“All eyes are on the US,” Kristalina Georgieva said in an interview on Bloomberg’s Surveillance on Thursday.

IMF boss says ‘all eyes’ on US amid risks to global economy

KUALA LUMPUR (April 18): Here is a brief recap of some business news and corporate announcements that made the headlines on Thursday:

Datuk Farhash Wafa Salvador, former political aide to Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim, has ceased to be a substantial shareholder of HeiT...

HeiTech Padu, Axiata, AmanahRaya REIT, AmFirst REIT, RHB Bank, 7-Eleven Malaysia, MBSB, Awantec, MAA Group, UMediC, Systech, Pansar, Auro, Kimlun and AWC

Swiss state prosecutors are seeking long prison terms for two men accused of embezzling US$1.8 billion from 1Malaysia Development Bhd (1MDB) — Saudi-Swiss businessman Tarek Obaid and his Swiss-British business partner Patrick Mahony, the AFP reported.

Swiss prosecutors seek long jail terms for duo in US$1.8bil 1MDB fraud — report

The Federal Court on Thursday dismissed an appeal by the Petaling Jaya City Council (MBPJ) over the Court of Appeal’s decision last year that decided that non-paying members in a residential area (RA) could raise the boom gates at the entrance to the housing area themselves without the security guards' assistance.

Federal Court dismisses MBPJ’s appeal on residents' boom gate operation

Datuk Farhash Wafa Salvador, former political aide to Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim, has ceased to be a substantial shareholder of HeiTech Padu Bhd, just one month after acquiring a 15.9% stake via a private vehicle in the company.

Amid controversy over govt contracts, Farhash ceases to be HeiTech Padu substantial shareholder after one month

Malaysia Building Society Bhd (MBSB) has recommended a final dividend of 3.5 sen for the financial year ended Dec 31, 2023 (FY2023).

This would equate to a payout of RM287.78 million, based on the bank’s share base of 8.22 billion shares as at end-December 2023, according to MBSB’s bourse filing on Thursday.

MBSB proposes 3.5 sen dividend for FY2023

Digital payment and financial technology provider Ant International is going to establish what it calls a new digital business centre in Malaysia, creating more than 500 job opportunities in the first year, with more hirings in the next four years until 2028.

Bursa Malaysia Bhd’s wholly-owned Bursa Carbon Exchange (BCX) will hold its inaugural auction of renewable energy certificates (RECs) on June 25 to support Malaysia’s energy transition plans and corporates’ net-zero aspirations.

Bursa to hold auction of maiden RE certificates on June 25

Bursa Malaysia continued its upbeat momentum to end higher for the second straight day on Thursday, due to an improvement in sentiment and a resurgence in bargain-hunting following the recent downturn, said an analyst.

Bursa closes higher on improved sentiment, bargain hunting

KUALA LUMPUR (April 18): IT services firm Systech Bhd said on Thursday that shareholders have approved several proposals, including an acquisition and bonus shares issue.

Systech gets shareholders’ nod for acquisition, bonus shares issue

KUALA LUMPUR (April 18): AwanBiru Technology Bhd (Awantec) said trading in its shares will be suspended from April 26, after the group failed to submit its regularisation plan to the regulators for approval within the stipulated timeframe.

Awantec faces trading suspension from April 26 after failing to submit regularisation plan

After spending over two years in court due to a suit from Empire Holdings Ltd, MAA Group Bhd, its major shareholder Tunku Datuk Yaacob Khyra and Turiya Bhd have been dropped as parties in the suit over MAA’s purchase of Turiya shares from a Bahrain-based bank. &nbsp;

MAA Group exits legal bout over 2021 Turiya share acquisition under settlement deal

Malaysia needs to restructure the whole ecosystem of technical and vocational education and training (TVET) programmes, so that it can effectively meet the industry’s requirements, said Federation of Malaysian Manufacturers (FMM) president Tan Sri Soh Thian Lai.

Revamp needed for TVET ecosystem to reduce mismatch, says FMM president

Malaysia’s current tallest building, the Merdeka 118 tower, has been awarded the Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED) Platinum certification in the LEED v2009 Core and Shell rating system, marking it as the first megatall building in the country to achieve it, according to a press statement on Thursday.&nbsp;

Merdeka 118 first megatall building in Malaysia to get LEED Platinum certification

Australia brought 23 companies seeking investment in maritime decarbonisation and renewable energy (RE) sectors to Malaysia as part of the Australia-Southeast Asia Business Exchange programme.

Australia brings 23 firms looking to invest in maritime decarbonisation, RE sectors in Malaysia

Pansar Bhd has secured a contract worth RM269.1 million to upgrade the capacity of a water treatment plant in Sibu, Sarawak.

The construction and infrastructure outfit secured the job from Lembaga Air Sibu via an open tender, through its wholly owned Perbena Emas Sdn Bhd.

Pansar bags RM269m job to upgrade water treatment plant in Sarawak

High-impact projects such as the Johor-Singapore Special Economic Zone (JS-SEZ) and&nbsp;Special Financial Zone&nbsp;(SFZ) in Forest City can spur Johor’s economy to outpace that&nbsp;of other states in the next one to two years, said Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim.

Special economic, financial zones can help Johor surpass other states economically, says Anwar

A former technician was brought before the Sessions Court again here on Thursday on a charge of posting offensive messages insulting Islam on his Facebook account in&nbsp;March, regarding the sale of stockings bearing the word 'Allah'.

'Allah' socks insults: Former technician brought before Sessions Court again

ACE Market-bound Sin-Kung Logistics Bhd, which launched its&nbsp;initial public offering (IPO) on Thursday, said that demand for trucking services remains intact amid higher logistics costs and economic uncertainty.

Sin-Kung expects demand for trucking services to stay intact amid higher logistics costs, economic uncertainty

Engineering services provider AWC Bhd has bagged two contracts worth a total of RM19.39 million for plumbing works at Hospital Kapar in Selangor and a data centre in Cyberjaya.

In a statement on Thursday, AWC said the Hospital Kapar job was awarded to its wholly-owned subsidiary Qudotech Sdn Bhd by the project's main contractor, IJM Corp Bhd's unit IJM Construction Sdn Bhd.

AWC secures plumbing jobs at Hospital Kapar and Cyberjaya data centre

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EVENING 5: Five things you need to know today

Bursa Malaysia Securities Bhd has approved the transfer of UMediC Group Bhd’s listing status from the ACE Market to the Main Market, under the 'health care'&nbsp;sector.

Bursa approves UMediC’s transfer to Main Market

KUALA LUMPUR (April 18): Here is a brief recap of some business news and corporate announcements that made the headlines on Thursday:

Datuk Farhash Wafa Salvador, former political aide to Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim, has ceased to be a substantial shareholder of HeiT...

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