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World

Russia conducting rolling aerial attack on Ukraine, Kyiv says

KYIV, April 3 (Reuters) - Russia ⁠is conducting a rolling aerial attack on Ukraine since Thursday ⁠evening, Ukraine's air force said on Friday, adding that a ‌large number of enemy drones were in Ukrainian airspace.

Aviation

Price hikes, outlook cuts - What airlines are doing as fuel costs surge

A surge in jet fuel prices driven by the U.S.-Israeli war on Iran has upended the global aviation industry, forcing airlines to raise fares and revise financial outlooks.

AseanPlus News

Bhutan bets on mega farms to boost food security, create jobs

THIMPHU: The Ministry of Agriculture and Livestock (MoAL) is investing in large commercial projects such as Chirub Farms and the Yarjugang Open-Air Prison (OAP) Farm to reduce food imports and keep up with rapid urbanisation.

Brunei

Brunei Year 7 students attend nationhood briefing

BANDAR SERI BEGAWAN: A total of 169 Year 7 students from Sultan Sharif Ali Secondary School, Salambigar, attended the national briefing programme 'Our Monarch, Appreciating the National Flag and Anthem of Brunei Darussalam' on Wednesday (April 1).

Entertainment

Jay-Z says he felt ‘uncontrollable anger’ amid rape lawsuit: ‘The darkest moment’

The rap giant and Roc Nation billionaire spoke candidly about the fallout and emotional toll of the accusations in a lengthy — and rare — conversation with GQ magazine.

Markets

China stocks decline for third straight week on Mideast jitters

SHANGHAI: China stocks slipped on Friday, decliningfor the third straight week, as uncertainties in the Middle East reinforced a risk-averse mood ahead of a local holiday. Hong Kong market was closed for the Easter holiday.

Cambodia

Cambodian PM likely to use French visit to shore up support for border resolution

PHNOM PENH: Prime Minister Hun Manet will meet French President Emmanuel Macron next week as he attends the One Health Summit during a working visit to Paris and Lyon, France, from April 6-9. Some analysts have suggested that that Manet could use the occasion to leverage border solution.

Technology

Samsung Elec likely to report stupendous surge in quarterly profit to record level

SEOUL, April 3 (Reuters) - Samsung Electronics, benefiting from ⁠red-hot chip prices stoked by the AI boom, is expected to book a six-fold jump in operating profit for January-March - a quarterly ⁠record and just shy of what it earned for all of the past business year.

AI

AI-generated 'Fruit Love Island' takes TikTok by storm

Millions of people have been gripped by the juicy twists of an AI-generated TikTok micro-series based on the television hit Love Island – except all the participants are sexy human-like fruit.

Laos

Fuel crisis drives up Lao inflation to 9.7%

VIENTIANE: Inflation in Laos rose to 9.7 per cent in March, driven by the ongoing global oil crisis that has sharply increased fuel costs and pushed up living expenses nationwide.

Nation

Cable thieves nabbed after car chase in Bercham

IPOH: Police have arrested two suspected cable thieves after a car chase in Bercham.

Arts

Exploring the many dualities of Art Basel Hong Kong 2026

The 13th edition of the art fair captured the contrasts between old and new, physical and digital, terror and ecstasy.

Vietnam

Vietnam refinery boosting jet fuel production

HANOI: Vietnam's Binh Son Refining and Petrochemical said on Friday (April 3) it is prioritising the production of jet fuel to stabilise the domestic market amid supply disruption.

Philippines

Philippine farmers turn to ‘Pasyon’ to sustain fight for land and justice

LUCENA CITY, Philippines: Farmers in Sariaya, Quezon, who lost their land following the revocation of their Certificates of Land Ownership Award (CLOAs), have turned to the Holy Week tradition of reading the "Pasyong Mahal" to draw strength as they continue their fight to reclaim their farms.

Markets

Asian stocks edge higher in holiday-thinned trading

SOUTH Korean equities led emerging Asian stocks higher on Friday, with muted trading volumes across major markets due to public holidays, while investors kept a close eye on developments in the Middle East conflict.

Indonesia

Indonesian airlines renew call to raise fare cap as jet fuel prices jump 70%

JAKARTA: The Indonesia National Air Carriers Association (INACA) has renewed its call to increase the fuel surcharge and airfare cap (TBA), following the decision of state-owned energy giant Pertamina to raise domestic jet fuel prices as of April 1 by an average 70 per cent compared with the month prior.

Nation

JPJ shifts enforcement focus from fines to road safety compliance

PUTRAJAYA: The Road Transport Department (JPJ) will no longer set key performance indicators (KPIs) for the number of summonses issued by its enforcement officers.

Sabah & Sarawak

Restore 300-litre fuel subsidy quota for healthcare workers who cannot WFH, says union

KOTA KINABALU: The decision to reduce the fuel subsidy quota from 300 litres to 200 litres could directly affect public healthcare workers, says the Joint Council of Presidents and Secretary-Generals of the Health Ministry Workers Union (Mapsu).

Nation

New opposition leader to be named before June sitting, says Abdul Hadi

KUALA NERUS: PAS president Tan Sri Abdul Hadi Awang said a new opposition leader will be decided before Parliament convenes in June.

Banking

BOJ keeps rate‑hike door open even as Iran war squeezes firms

TOKYO: The Bank of Japan will keep raising interest rates if its economic forecasts hold, a senior central bank official said, reinforcing a tightening bias even as fresh surveys show firms feeling the pinch of rising fuel costs linked to the Iran war.