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The Education Ministry and Google Malaysia are teaming up to train up to 5,000 public school teachers to become Google-certified educators as part of the Delima Certification Programme.

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Malaysia External Trade Development Corporation (MATRADE) under the Ministry of International Trade and Industry (MITI) announced additional initiatives under the Market Development Grant aimed to ensure Malaysian exporters remain resilient and can sustain themselves during the pandemic.

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The need for a booster shot for Covid-19 vaccines and the efficacy for a mixed shot will be determined next week by the Vaccine Selection Technical Working Group.

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Conversational AI is changing the way we interact with technology. From voice-enabled interfaces to chatbots, customers are looking for more and more humanlike and natural experiences. Users want to speak freely, using the platforms where they spend most of their time. Vox help organisations across the private and public sectors on automating processes with the adoption of Artificial Intelligence. They partner with their clients and drive their digital transformation by analysing data and create conversational experiences, amplifying engagement and interactions.

Flipping sneakers have been a viable business for decades. According to Statistica, a company specialising in market and consumer data, the overall global resale sneakers market is forecasted to reach a value of US$97.8 billion by 2024. In Asia, Novelship is known to be the fastest-growing marketplace for sneakers and streetwear. After just two years into the business, they have achieved their first US$1 million monthly revenue milestone despite the recent pandemic.

Insurance is a vital pillar of personal finance, but what if for some reason, you can’t get insurance? How does this change your financial planning, and more importantly, how do you then prepare and protect yourself? Roshan Kanesan explores this with VP Thanga, Executive Director and Licensed Financial Planner, with Blueprint Planning.

Other episodes to check out:

> Life & Health Insurance: What, Why, And How Much?

> Wealth Protection, Accumulation, And Distribution: What, Why, And How?

> 5 Steps To Jumpstart Your Retirement Planning

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Last November, an exemption allowing foreign vessels to conduct undersea cable repairs was revoked by the Transport Ministry - a move that has stalled efforts to make Malaysia attractive to investors as a digital hub. Despite assurances that the issue would be resolved by the end of April, to date, no resolution is to be found. We speak to Dr. Rais Hussin Mohamed Ariff, Chairman, MDEC about the status of negotiations, and also ask him what the implications could be if this situation continues any longer.

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Back in 2019, the federal government said it was aiming to achieve 40% of public transportation usage within the next 10 years, from the 20% it was at the time. Can Malaysia realistically hit that target and are we doing enough to develop public transport in the country? Roshan Kanesan breaks this down with Dato Ridza Abdoh Salleh, Prasarana's first CEO and was involved with the LRT project during its inception back in 1997, and Dr. Rosli Khan, a transportation expert with over 30 years in the transport industry.

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Vaccine Minister, Khairy Jamaluddin said that we still have a long way to go to immunise 80% of Malaysians. Azrul Mohd Khalib, CEO of the Galen Centre for Health & Social Policy discusses the ongoing challenges especially in reaching out to niche groups like inmates and Orang Aslis, and other ways to measure the severity of the pandemic and make better decisions.

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The year 2021 might be a record year for global IPOs (initial public offerings), according to a recent report by EY. But how will Beijing’s regulatory changes affect the pipeline of Chinese companies listing in the US and Hong Kong? And will investor interest in SPACs (Special Purpose Acquisition Companies) hold? What are hot IPOs to look out for in Southeast Asia? Max Loh, ASEAN IPO Leader at EY discusses his outlook including what is driving demand and supply.

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