TikTok told US e-commerce staff to work from home on Wednesday while awaiting emails regarding “difficult decisions”, suggesting the social media company is preparing to cut jobs.

TikTok Shop tells US employees to work from home as lay-offs loom

Baidu Inc’s revenue beat estimates, after China’s internet search leader fended off intensifying competition in artificial intelligence (AI) and a persistent economic downturn.

Baidu reports surprise revenue jump during China’s AI battle

The recent launch of an artificial intelligence (AI) infrastructure initiative, involving Skyvast Corporation and Huawei Technologies, was not developed, endorsed, or coordinated by the Malaysian government, said the Ministry of Investment, Trade and Industry (Miti).

Malaysian govt not involved in Skyvast-Huawei AI initiative, says Miti

GDANSK (May 21): A group of 58 internet providers and industry associations urged EU tech chief Henna Virkkunen on Wednesday to free up additional spectrum for Wi-Fi services, setting up a clash with operators seeking the same frequencies for mobile networks.

Wi-Fi industry clashes with mobile operators over additional EU spectrum

Airbus Defence and Space has signed a contract with the Ministry of Defence (Mindef) to extend the Malaysian Armed Forces’ (MAF) access to X-band satellite services, reaffirming its support for the country's defence communications infrastructure.

Airbus extends contract with Malaysia's Defence Ministry on access to X-band satellite services

The Ministry of Investment, Trade and Industry (Miti) is creating targeted incentives aimed at further boosting the growth of the local semiconductor industry, said its Minister Tengku Datuk Seri Zafrul Abdul Aziz.

Zafrul: New incentives to be announced in July to boost Malaysian semiconductor industry

TAIPEI, Taiwan (May 21): Nvidia Corp chief executive officer Jensen Huang has openly questioned the effectiveness of former US president Joe Biden’s export controls on advanced artificial intelligence (AI) chips to China, highlighting that the policy has not only hurt Nvidia financially, but also accelerated China’s domestic AI development.

Nvidia CEO Jensen Huang deems US AI chip export curb a ‘failure’, praises DeepSeek and Huawei

Apple Inc is preparing to allow third-party developers to write software using its artificial intelligence (AI) models, aiming to spur the creation of new applications and make its devices more enticing.

Apple to open AI models to developers, betting that it will spur new apps, Bloomberg reports

WhatsApp co-founder Brian Acton said that his messaging company had no plans to build social networking features to compete with Facebook before he sold the company to Mark Zuckerberg, a claim that bolsters Meta’s defence as it faces federal antitrust allegations.

WhatsApp had no plans to vie with Facebook, co-founder says

WASHINGTON (May 20): US President Donald Trump said on Tuesday that he had selected a design for the US$175 billion (RM747.9 billion) Golden Dome missile defence shield, and named a Space Force general to head the ambitious programme aimed at blocking threats from China and Russia.

Trump selects US$175 bil Golden Dome missile defence shield design, appoints leader

Alphabet Inc’s investors are looking to this week’s developer conference to see if the company can reset the narrative amid fears that its long-standing market dominance is on shaky ground.

Alphabet traders look to developer event to shift AI narrative

Inari Amertron Bhd (KL:INARI) posted a 24.7% year-on-year drop in net profit for its third quarter, dragged by lower volume loading of products across all business segments.

Inari 3Q profit down 25% on lower volume loading, declares 1.3 sen dividend

Malaysia declared it’ll build a first-of-its-kind AI system powered by Huawei Technologies Co chips, only to distance itself from that statement a day later, underscoring the Asian nation’s delicate position in the US-Chinese AI race.

Malaysia downplays Huawei deal as US aims to curb China's AI power

Nintendo Co has turned to Samsung Electronics Co to help make the main chips for the Switch 2, a move that may help the Japanese company ramp up production of the gaming console enough to sell a higher-than-projected 20 million units by March 2026.

Nintendo turning to Samsung to make chips, ramp up Switch 2 output, Bloomberg reports

The detection of bird flu in a single poultry farm in southern Brazil is threatening the global chicken supply chain, disturbing buyers from China to Europe.

Bird flu in Brazil threatens global chicken supply chain

Eat, chill and explore in Bukit Bintang’s newest hotspot

Pakistan said on Wednesday it had agreed to deepen trade and investment with China, days after the end of a deadly conflict with India that Beijing urged should be resolved through dialogue.

Pakistan, China agree to deepen trade, maintain close communication

Bumi Armada Bhd (KL:ARMADA) announced that its subsidiary, Armada Kojo BV (AKBV), has signed a production sharing contract (PSC) with Indonesia's Ministry of Energy for the Kojo block in the Makassar Strait.

Bumi Armada unit secures full operating rights for Indonesia’s Kojo block from energy ministry 

Japanese companies have expressed their interest in supporting and investing in the Asean Power Grid (APG) initiative, which, among others, includes the proposed submarine cable project connecting Sarawak and Johor.

Japanese companies sees investment opportunities in Asean Power Grid initiative, says envoy

Petroliam Nasional Bhd (Petronas) and Petroleum Sarawak Bhd (Petros) will carry out their respective roles in accordance with the provisions of federal and state laws, said Sarawak Premier Tan Sri Abang Johari Tun Openg.

Petronas, Petros to play roles in accordance with existing laws, says Abang Johari

Britain suffered a bigger-than-expected inflation surge in April, prompting investors to bet on the Bank of England slowing its already gradual pace of interest rate cuts.

UK inflation jumps in April, raising prospect of BOE rate cut delay

Home appliance company Fiamma Holdings Bhd (KL:FIAMMA) said on Wednesday its quarterly profit jumped to a record high thanks mostly to a one-off gain.

Home appliance maker Fiamma racks up record-high quarterly profit on one-off gain

(May 20):&nbsp;French financial prosecutors alleged in an investigative document last year that former Malaysian prime minister Datuk Seri Najib Razak met defence-company executives to prepare contracts before the 2002 signing of a US$1.2 billion (RM5.13 billion) submarine deal. Those contracts, they say in the document seen by Bloomberg News, were designed to remunerate himself and others.

French prosecutors claim Najib had role in 2002 defence deal bribes

Public Bank Bhd (KL:PBBANK), Malaysia’s third-largest bank by assets, reported that its net profit rose 6% in the first quarter from a year earlier, as both interest and non-interest income expanded.

Public Bank's 1Q net profit rises 6% as non-interest income surges, provisions fall

Sports Toto Bhd’s (KL:SPTOTO) stock rose on Wednesday and snapped recent losses, as investors cheered the lottery operator’s stronger-than-expected earnings that also prompted analyst upgrades.

Sports Toto’s stock snaps recent losses as investors, analysts cheer strong earnings

KUALA LUMPUR (May 21): Malaysia’s plan to introduce a diagnosis-based fixed payment scheme in the healthcare industry nationwide will exclude private hospitals for now, sources told The Edge, marking another speed bump in the government’s effort to improve healthcare affordability as part of sweeping reforms on cost of living.

Medical fee control faces setback as diagnostic-related fixed healthcare payment skips private hospitals for now — sources

A statement from&nbsp;Messrs Shafee &amp; Co, on behalf of former prime minister Datuk Seri Najib Razak.

Najib's lawyers respond to Bloomberg article on French submarine corruption probe

CIMB Securities is doubtful about a possible merger between Affin Bank Bhd (KL:AFFIN) and AMMB Holdings Bhd (KL:AMBANK), presenting two possible scenarios, but not supporting either. Both scenarios would require issuing a large number of new shares, potentially diluting stakes of current shareholders.

CIMB Securities sceptical about potential Affin-AMMB merger

A recent survey by Shopee's buy now, pay later (BNPL) service (SPayLater) shows that 81% of over 40,000 Malaysians use BNPL to handle financial shocks, mainly for essentials like baby formula, medical costs, repairs and insurance.

81% of Malaysians use 'buy now, pay later' to handle financial shocks — survey

Dollar-based assets have “enduring advantages” and remain virtually irreplaceable in the global financial system despite the US&nbsp;losing&nbsp;its top triple-A credit rating, according to Singapore’s central bank chief.

US dollar assets irreplaceable, says Singapore's central bank chief

KUALA LUMPUR (May 21): Shares of Petronas Chemicals Group Bhd (KL:PCHEM) fell again on Wednesday, following a disappointing first-quarter earnings report, while analysts turned increasingly bearish.

Petronas Chemicals extends decline as investors, analysts turn increasingly bearish after weak 1Q

Sunway Construction Group Bhd's (KL:SUNCON) stock reached a five-month high after its first-quarter net profit more than doubled, leading the group to declare a first interim dividend of five sen.

Sunway Construction climbs to five-month high after 1Q profit more than doubles on data centre jobs

The Ministry of Investment, Trade and Industry (Miti) is creating targeted incentives aimed at further boosting the growth of the local semiconductor industry, said its Minister&nbsp;Tengku Datuk Seri Zafrul Abdul Aziz.

KUALA LUMPUR (May 21): Solarvest Holdings Bhd (KL:SLVEST) nearly tripled its net profit in the fourth quarter ended March 31, 2025 (4QFY2025), following roll-outs of more utility-scale solar projects under the Corporate Green Power Programme (CGPP).

Solarvest's 4Q profit nearly triples on more project roll-outs

The federal government and Sarawak have signed a joint declaration, reaching an understanding on matters involving Petroliam Nasional Bhd (Petronas) and Petroleum Sarawak Bhd (Petros).

Putrajaya, Sarawak sign joint declaration on Petronas, Petros

Shares of Inari Amertron Bhd (KL:INARI) slipped in early trade on Wednesday, after its latest quarterly&nbsp;results missed consensus estimates.

Inari slips in early trade after 3Q miss

TAIPEI, Taiwan (May 21): Nvidia Corp chief executive officer Jensen Huang has openly questioned the effectiveness of former US president Joe Biden’s export controls on advanced artificial intelligence (AI) chips to China, highlighting that the policy has not only hurt Nvidia financially, but also accelerated China’s domestic AI development.

Australia is actively pursuing closer economic ties with Asean, particularly Malaysia, a country its Trade and Tourism Minister Don Farrell describes as "a very close friend".

Australia seeks deeper relations with Malaysia, Asean as US appears set to keep 10% base tariff

KUALA LUMPUR (May 21): The Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission (MACC) could face further legal action, as it continues to stay silent over the disappearance of Datin Seri Pamela Ling Yueh, who has been missing for over a month now.&nbsp;

MACC could face more legal action, says family lawyer of missing Pamela Ling

Malaysia is betting big on semiconductors. Backed by a US$250 million (RM1.11 billion) partnership with British chip architect Arm Holdings plc, the country aims to roll out homegrown artificial intelligence (AI) chips in five to seven years.

Tech

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