(Feb 24): Bitcoin extended its decline on Tuesday (Feb 24), putting the token on course for its steepest monthly drop since the industry suffered a slew of corporate collapses in 2022. It’s now down more than 19% in February, set for its worst monthly performance since June 2022. Bitcoin is also on track for a fifth straight monthly decline, its longest losing streak since 2018 — another bruising period for crypto markets defined by the unravelling of an initial coin offering boom. “President Trump’s decision to raise global tariffs to 15% rattled risk assets broadly and Bitcoin moved with them,” said Rachael Lucas, crypto analyst at BTC Markets. Conversely, a fall to below the US$58,000 to US$60,000 support zone “would likely open the door to a deeper pullback,” Sycamore wrote.

KUALA LUMPUR (Feb 24): Tropicana Corp Bhd (KL:TROP) inked a memorandum of understanding (MOU) with Signature International Bhd and EDCA Energy on Tuesday to offer home renovation and solar panel system packages respectively, to buyers of Avisa Residences at Tropicana Alam. Under the collaboration, Signature is offering seven curated and flexible home enhancement packages, with prices starting from RM20,800. Buyers can settle their selected packages via a six- to 18-month instalment scheme prior to the commencement of renovation works. EDCA Energy is offering two solar packages under its Solar Accelerated Transition Action Programme (Solar ATAP) — an eight-panel and a 12-panel option priced from RM14,299 to RM19,999. The company started the Solar ATAP programme for users to be able to backflow excess energy for further use and may expand the programme if demand is encouraging.

(Feb 24): Pfizer Inc has acquired exclusive rights to commercialise an obesity therapy in China, strengthening its push into the fast-growing weight loss market. It “accelerates Pfizer’s long-term strategic planning in the metabolic space and meets the growing needs of Chinese patients,” Jean-Christophe Pointeau, Pfizer’s China president, said in the statement. He noted that obesity affects 14.1% of Chinese adults and has been prioritised under the government’s Healthy China campaign. In a late-stage study, ecnoglutide spurred weight loss on par with Eli Lilly’s Zepbound. Under the deal with Pfizer, Sciwind will still be responsible for the development, registration, manufacturing and supply of the drug.

IN a higher education landscape shaped by rapid technological change and rising global competition, awards are more than symbols of prestige. “At APU, our leadership, led by chief executive officer and co-founder Datuk Parmjit Singh, has consistently positioned us as a future-ready institution. The result is momentum — evident in APU’s repeated wins in categories such as Best Tech University, Best AI University, Best Future-Ready University and Employer’s Choice of University. At APU, recognition is not the goal — it is the natural outcome of a higher education designed with purpose, relevance, and real-world impact. Each element reinforces the next, creating a virtuous cycle where excellence generates recognition, and recognition fuels ambition.

KUALA LUMPUR: His Majesty Sultan Ibrahim, King of Malaysia, granted an audience to Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim on Tuesday (Feb 24). During the session, His Majesty was presented with the latest developments concerning the administration of the federal government and discussions were held on current issues of national interest. According to a post on His Majesty's official Facebook page, the meeting between His Majesty and the Prime Minister took place at Istana Bukit Tunku here.

This year, the Chinese New Year coincides with the start of Ramadan, a cycle that comes every 30 years. This means Malaysians will be jointly celebrating Chinese New Year and Ramadan for the next few years, culminating with a Kongsi Raya in 2029 and 2030. Chinese New Year and Ramadan this year come at the right time, with their messages of faith, love, peace, understanding and fortitude. Just like with Hindu temples, you can worship as you please and set up temples, but follow the rules. Let us not forget that there are many Muslims among the Chinese and Indians, too.

While this reduces costs for US buyers, structural oversupply and a weakening US dollar continue to weigh on the company’s prospects. "While the ruling may provide a temporary boost to Kossan’s order volume, oversupply continues to cloud longer-term prospects. This may provide a temporary boost to order volumes and sector sentiment. However, the research unit cautioned that any significant volume uplift is more likely to be evident in the second quarter of 2026. Despite the short-term boost from the US, Kossan continues to face significant industry-wide hurdles.

The US oil giant signed preliminary agreements to negotiate terms and exchange confidential data with state-owned Basra Oil Co over the West Qurna 2 field, Chevron said in a statement. The 480,000 barrels-a-day Iraqi field had also drawn interest from Exxon Mobil Corp and others. Iraqi officials appeared to agree in the case of West Qurna 2. Iraq last week approved a settlement process that would’ve had Lukoil transfer operations of the oilfield to state-run Basra Oil. The move for West Qurna 2 is part of Chevron’s increasing focus on the Middle East in recent months.

KUALA TERENGGANU (Feb 24): A Terengganu state executive council (exco) member who was detained by the Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission (MACC) on suspicion of abusing his position will be charged at the Sessions Court here on Tuesday. The assemblyman, in his 60s, arrived at the court premises at 8.13am. Several police officers were deployed inside and outside the premises to maintain order, as a number of his supporters had gathered there. On Sunday, a source said the suspect is believed to have abused his position as an exco member and chairman of the board of a company by instructing that his two children be employed at two state government subsidiaries. The man was detained after giving his statement at the MACC office in Kemaman over the offences allegedly committed in 2018 and 2020.

(Feb 24) : A European Union assessment found that US President Donald Trump’s new tariff policy will increase levies on some of the bloc’s exports, including cheese and some agricultural products, above the level permitted in their trade agreement. The new cumulative rate means some goods would be above the 15% ceiling the EU and US agreed to in their trade deal. The new global tariffs can stay in place for as many as 150 days. The European Parliament suspended legislative work on approving the EU-US accord on Monday, requesting clarity on Trump’s new trade policy. Both sides have indicated they want to stick to the trade deal but it’s still unclear how they will be able to do this — and how quickly, some of the people said.

(Feb 24) : The artificial intelligence “scare trade” erupted again on Monday as growing concerns about the disruptive power of AI dragged down shares of delivery, payments and software companies, and sent International Business Machines Corp. to its worst plunge in 25 years. It began after a bearish report was published over the weekend by a little known firm called Citrini Research. Then AI startup Anthropic said in a blog post Monday that Claude Code tool can help with modernizing COBOL, a dated programming language that’s mainly run on IBM computers. And finally came a warning from Nassim Taleb: investors should brace for escalating volatility and even bankruptcies in the software sector as the AI rally enters a fragile phase. Dire OutlookCitrini’s report described a potential scenario where AI agents seek to save users’ money by eliminating transaction fees charged by payment processing firms like Mastercard and Visa.

(Feb 24): Stocks fell and bonds rose as renewed anxiety over the impact of artificial intelligence (AI) on company profits joined lingering tariff uncertainty in squelching risk appetites. Tech, delivery and payment shares got hit as Citrini Research laid out the potential AI risks to various industries. “Given the various economic risks and uncertainties that can be linked to the tariff drama, we expect the Fed’s wait-and-see approach to be reinforced,” said Ian Lyngen at BMO Capital Markets. At Edward Jones, Angelo Kourkafas said the newly announced 15% tariff rate is unlikely to have a meaningful impact on economic activity. “We recommend overweight positions in industrials, healthcare, and consumer discretionary, offset by underweights in consumer staples and utilities,” Kourkafas noted.

(Feb 23): Software companies are delaying debt deals as higher borrowing costs and tougher scrutiny from lenders weigh on the sector, at a time when mounting pressure from artificial intelligence threatens their business models, industry sources said. U.S. stocks have also been roiled by AI, starting with investors dumping shares of software companies, then companies in sectors vulnerable to automation. Only 0.5% of outstanding software sector loans are due this year, while 6% are due in 2027, Fitch's Hoelmer said. On the high-yield side, only 0.7% of software debt is due this year and 8% in 2027, he added. Still, companies in the sector that have tried to tap U.S. debt markets have faced significantly higher borrowing costs from banks to underwrite the debt.

KUALA LUMPUR: The constitutional amendment to limit the prime minister’s tenure to two terms has been tabled for the first reading in the Dewan Rakyat on Monday (Feb 23). The Bill was tabled by Minister in the Prime Minister’s Department (Law and Institutional Reform) Datuk Seri Azalina Othman Said. The proposed amendment involves Article 43 of the Federal Constitution, which is related to the appointment of a Prime Minister. According to the new Clause (4b), Cabinet will also be dissolved once the prime minister’s ten-year tenure ends. A prime minister’s tenure prior to the enactment of the new law will also be taken into account when computing the ten years.

ISKANDAR PUTERI: Police are tracking down a driver who drove recklessly and sped towards Singapore at the Sultan Abu Bakar Customs, Immigration and Quarantine complex (KSAB) here. "A car with a Malaysian registration number was seen entering the heavy vehicle lane at Gate C for entry from Malaysia heading towards Singapore. "When the auxiliary policeman directed the driver to make a U-turn into the car lane, the suspect did not cooperate. The case is also being investigated under Section 42(1) of the Road Transport Act 1987 for reckless and dangerous driving. "I advise the public to obey the law and act responsibly to protect public property and road safety," he said.