13 January 2021
COVID-19 UPDATE
AstraZeneca, Oxford University request expedited approval of vaccine across EU
More staff likely to be hired remotely, WFH
Cornwall could lose £1 billion in tourist spending
Shell axing 330 jobs from North Sea operations
Hotel bookings in Langkawi down 60%
MALAYSIA
Business
Essential services that are allowed to operate during Movement Control Order
Construction
MTD Construction accepts RM33 million contract in Pahang
Economy
MCO 2.0 less painful, but will still drag GDP growth
Education
Ministry’s guidelines on reopening of schools
Media
FC verdict on Malaysiakini and editor, widely seen as test for press freedom, on Friday
Pharmaceuticals
Pharmaniaga, China’s Sinovac ink deal for 14 million doses of coronavirus vaccine
Plantations
Felda’s offer of RM1.30 per FGV share closes in February
Sime Darby Plantation reiterates allegations ‘absolutely false’
Property
Mah Sing CEO discusses rubber gloves business, plans for future property launches
IJM Land targeting to launch affordably priced, sizeable double- and single-storey link homes
Technology
SC-approved TNG Digital launching investment product in Q1
ASIA
Banks
HSBC casts wide net in search for next top Asia executive
Technology
NEC enters medical devices field
Wealth
Hong Kong magnate, once one of Asia’s richest, drops off list of world’s 500 wealthiest people
AUSTRALIA
Aviation
Qantas accused of ripping off staff during pandemic lockdowns
Energy
Origin Energy plans 700MW battery, nation’s largest, in New South Wales
Real estate
Netherlands-based VidaXL to build 81,000 sq m hub within Frasers Property estate
EUROPE
Autos
Outbreak takes toll on BMW’s sales in 2020
Sales of Volkswagen’s battery-powered cars tripled last year
Retail
Canada’s Alimentation Couche-Tard exploring potential acquisition of France’s Carrefour
SINGAPORE
Manufacturing
Aspen’s glovemaking unit secures US$100 million in sales
Property
Blackstone to purchase Lucasfilm’s regional HQ, Sandcrawler
UK
Data protection
More than 16,000 have signed up in claim against British Airways
Property
Retail
Investors save Edinburgh Woollen Mill
US
Antitrust
US$5 billion Visa-Plaid deal is off
Gaming
Billionaire founder of Las Vegas Sands Corp dies aged 87
Technology
Signal sees bump in users amid confusion over WhatsApp policy update