The Selangor government is prepared to study the need to ban the sale of electronic cigarettes or vape in the state, following a suggestion made by Deputy Inspector General of Police Datuk Seri Ayob Khan Mydin Pitchay on Thursday.

Selangor to study proposal to ban vape sales, says MB

The government will proceed with the implementation of the Medicine Price Transparency Mechanism on May 1, said Domestic Trade and Cost of Living Minister Datuk Armizan Mohd Ali.

He said the draft order which, among others, will require private healthcare facilities to display medicine prices, is currently under review by the Attorney General’s Chambers.

Medicine price transparency mechanism set to be rolled out on May 1, says Armizan

Econpile Holdings Bhd (KL:ECONBHD) has secured a RM35.8 million subcontract for piling and substructure works for a proposed commercial development project located along Jalan Ampang, Kuala Lumpur.

Econpile clinches RM35.8m piling, substructure contract for Jalan Ampang project

Malaysian stocks rose on Friday and racked up the biggest weekly gain in more than two years amid broad optimism in Asia about easing international trade tensions.

Malaysian stocks notch best week in over two years on hopes of easing trade tensions

The US will continue to assist Taiwan with its self-defence and wants to see peace across the Taiwan Strait without coercion or the threat of force, a visiting US senator told President Lai Ching-te on Friday.

US will keep helping Taiwan in its self-defence, says senator

Below is a summary of how key Bursa Malaysia indices and the ringgit performed on Friday.

FBM KLCI rises over two-week high to 1,499.40 on April 18, 2025

Police have recorded statements from 42 witnesses to assist in the investigation into the publication of a Jalur Gemilang image without the crescent symbol on the front page of Sin Chew Daily.

Police record 42 witness statements over Sin Chew Daily's Jalur Gemilang blunder

US political commentator Bill O’Reilly’s remark that Southeast Asia 'has no money' is arrogant and ignorant — Anwar

Malaysia and China will set up a consultative council to coordinate and monitor the implementation of the 31 memoranda of understanding (MOUs) signed between the two countries on Wednesday.

Malaysia, China to set up consultative council to monitor 31 MOUs signed — Mohamad Hasan 

US President Donald Trump will walk away from trying to broker a Russia-Ukraine peace deal within days unless there are clear signs that a deal can be done, US Secretary of State Marco Rubio said on Friday.

US will abandon Ukraine peace push if no progress 'within a matter of days,' Rubio says

President Donald Trump said he was reluctant to continue ratcheting up tariffs on China because it could stall trade between the two countries, and insisted Beijing had repeatedly reached out in a bid to broker a deal.

Trump says he is reluctant to keep raising tariffs on China

The Court of Appeal on Thursday ordered the High Court to hear a suit filed by 10 purchasers of Sky Park @ Cyberjaya, who had only obtained a partial certificate of completion and compliance (CCC) issued by the project’s architect, resulting in them not obtaining a strata title until now.

Appellate court directs full trial for 10 purchasers of SkyPark @ Cyberjaya over partial CCC

The High Court has ordered religious preacher Mohd Rasyiq Mohd Alwi to pay former health minister Khairy Jamaluddin Abu Bakar RM2.5&nbsp;million for defamatory statements over Covid-19 vaccination at the height of the pandemic.

Court orders preacher to pay RM2.5m to KJ for defamatory statements on Covid vaccines

CIMB Securities has widened the valuation discount for construction and property group WCT Holdings Bhd (KL:WCT), citing growing uncertainty over its order book.

CIMB Securities widens WCT's discount as order book challenges mount, keeps 'hold' call

Shares of Chagee Holdings Ltd jumped 16% in their debut session after the Chinese tea chain raised US$411 million (RM1.81 billion) in its US initial public offering (IPO), defying a market besieged by trade-war volatility.

Chinese tea chain’s US shares rise 43% as IPO defies volatility

An aggressive US&nbsp;tariff policy will trigger a significant slowdown in the US&nbsp;economy this year and next, with the median probability of recession in the next 12 months approaching 50%, according to economists polled by Reuters.

Tariffs to trigger sharp US economic slowdown, chance of recession now at 45% — Reuters poll

Malaysia’s economic growth may have decelerated in the first quarter of 2025 as manufacturing production and services activities cushioned a sharper contraction in mining output, official flash estimates showed.

Malaysia's economic growth likely slowed in 1Q, official flash estimates show

A former manager at Petroliam Nasional Bhd (Petronas) pleaded not guilty in the Sessions Court here to a charge of attempting to disclose confidential information regarding the national oil company's operation and financial performance.

Former Petronas manager charged with disclosure of confidential information

The Trump administration took steps to impose levies on Chinese vessels docking at US ports, threatening to shake up global shipping routes and escalate the trade war between the world’s two biggest economies.

Trump moves to levy Chinese vessels in widening trade war

Malaysia Airlines announced on Friday that it will resume direct flights from Kuala Lumpur to Brisbane starting Nov&nbsp;29, after a two-year hiatus.&nbsp;

The airline dropped the Kuala Lumpur-Brisbane route from March 27, 2023, as part of its ongoing business review.

Malaysia Airlines to resume direct flights to Brisbane after two-year hiatus

The Sultan of Pahang, Al-Sultan Abdullah Ri’ayatuddin Al-Mustafa Billah Shah, has called for a definitive end to the long-standing crisis of illegal land encroachment in the state, describing it as a blatant theft of public resources under the guise of agriculture.

Pahang Sultan calls for definitive end to illegal land encroachment under the guise of agriculture

The federal and Sarawak state governments have been allowed to advise the court in a legal battle between Petroliam Nasional Bhd (Petronas) and Petroleum Sarawak Bhd (Petros), according to Utusan Borneo.

Federal govt, Sarawak allowed to advise court on Petronas-Petros dispute — report

Plantation and Commodities Minister Datuk Seri Johari Abdul&nbsp;Ghani urged Malaysian commodity exporters to expand into new markets, and focus on producing high-quality products, as US tariffs grab the headlines.

Forget tariffs, focus on quality and market diversity, Johari Ghani tells exporters

Former prime minister Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad has issued a legal notice to Umno Supreme Council member Datuk Dr Mohd Puad Zarkashi, demanding a written and public apology.

Dr M demands public apology from Puad over defamatory post on Seri Pacific Hotel land

A Boeing jet that arrived at a completion plant near Shanghai last month was returning to the US, flight tracking data showed on Friday, in a sign that at least one Chinese airline could be halting deliveries due to US tariffs.

Boeing jet returns to US from China amid tariff war

Malaysia’s exports accelerated and grew at a much faster than expected pace in March, thanks to strong shipments of electronics, while deliveries to the US surged ahead of a slew of upcoming tariffs.

Malaysia's exports up in March ahead of US tariffs — official data

Malaysia may roll out the first phase of the diagnosis-related group (DRG) payment system as early as this year, beginning with less complex medical conditions, according to Health Minister Datuk Seri Dr Dzulkefly Ahmad.

He said that the Ministry of Health (MOH) is currently undergoing “very intense engagement” with key stakeholders — including the Ministry of Finance, Bank Negara Malaysia, private healthcare providers, and insurance and takaful operators — to formulate a locally customised DRG model.

First phase of DRG payment system may begin this year with simple diseases, says health minister

Hong Leong Investment Bank has raised its earnings forecast for MN Holdings Bhd (KL:MNHLDG) after its subsidiary, Mutu Nusantara Sdn Bhd's latest data centre contract pushed its order book to an all-time high of RM1.1 billion.

HLIB raises earnings outlook for MN Holdings after order book hits new record

The chairman of a US congressional committee on China is calling on Bank of America Corp and JPMorgan Chase &amp; Co to withdraw from working on the Hong Kong first-time share sale of battery maker Contemporary Amperex Technology Co Ltd, which could be the year’s biggest listing.

House China committee urges US banks to drop CATL listing roles

The MSPO Impact Alliance is expected to be launched by the third quarter of this year ahead of the implementation of the European Union Deforestation Regulation (EUDR), said Plantation Industries and Commodities Minister Datuk Seri Johari Abdul Ghani.

Selcuk Gokoluk & Irene García Pérez