Technology

Bank of Korea warns country's chip exports could fall by up to $100 billion if AI spending slows

SEOUL, Oct 27 (Reuters) - ⁠South Korea's semiconductor exports could fall by $50 billion ⁠to $100 billion compared with earlier forecasts if ‌capital spending on artificial intelligence by major US technology firms slows next year, according to central bank data.

Nation

Perak cops nab three over arson, paint-splashing cases across five states

IPOH: Perak police have solved nine cases of vandalism involving arson and paint splashing across five states following the arrest of three 19-year-old men in Penang.

Nation

Nga: Over 28,000 business licences revoked in crackdown on foreign traders

KUALA LUMPUR: A total of 28,401 business licences were revoked nationwide between 2023 and last year following enforcement operations against licensing violations, including locals renting out business licences or premises to foreigners, says Nga Kor Ming.

Indonesia

'I feel like crying': First rains bring relief to haze-hit Sumatra and Kalimantan as rainy season nears

JAKARTA: When heavy rain finally swept across parts of Palembang on the afternoon of Oct 24, many residents of the South Sumatran capital did not run for cover. They reached for their phones.

Sabah & Sarawak

Haze: Samalaju in S'wak only area with unhealthy API reading as at 10am

KUALA LUMPUR: Samalaju in Sarawak recorded the highest Air Pollutant Index (API) reading of 152, in the unhealthy range, while 46 other areas recorded moderate readings of between 51 to 100 as at 10am Tuesday (Oct 27).

Nation

LCS project 9 percentage points behind scheduled completion target, Dewan Rakyat told

KUALA LUMPUR: Construction of the five littoral combat ships (LCS) has reached 80.72% completion as of Sept 25, 9.19 percentage points behind the scheduled target of 89.91%, says Datuk Seri Mohamed Khaled Nordin.

Singapore

Singapore's Megan Khung case: Woman who took videos of abuse, helped dispose of body convicted

SINGAPORE: A mother on Oct 26 pleaded guilty to charges related to the abuse of her friend's four-year-old daughter, Megan Khung, admitting her role in the girl's misery.

Nation

Stay alert as northeast monsoon begins, Zahid urges public

KUALA LUMPUR: Datuk Seri Dr Ahmad Zahid Hamidi urges the public to stay vigilant and prioritise safety as the 2026/2027 northeast monsoon is expected to begin Tuesday (Oct 27).

AI

Dutch government plans to cut 25,000 jobs in AI-led overhaul

The Dutch government aims to cut 25,000 civil servant jobs in an AI-led efficiency drive targeting annual savings of €3.5bil (US$3.9bil or RM15.9bil).

The Doctor Says

Air pollution and our health

Those tiny pollutants in the air can have many adverse effects on our body.

Climate

Plant life in the warming Arctic alters lush knee-high jungle

A lush knee-high jungle grows in the Arctic, but warming is changing Earth's mini-greenhouse.

Nation

Govt collecting data on refugee communities nationwide, says Zahid

KUALA LUMPUR: Putrajaya is collecting data on refugee communities nationwide through the Refugee Registration Document (DPP) programme, says Datuk Seri Dr Ahmad Zahid Hamidi.

Nation

Regional haze cooperation must move beyond statements, says social activist

KUALA LUMPUR: The Asean Agreement on Transboundary Haze Pollution must be further discussed and fully implemented, with stronger commitments and concrete action to tackle recurring haze, says Tan Sri Lee Lam Thye.

Thailand

Thailand's investment pledges jump 28% in first nine months

BANGKOK: Applications for investment promotion in Thailand rose 28 per cent from a year earlier in the first nine months of 2026, led by the digital and electronics industries, the country's Board of Investment (BOI) said on Monday (Oct 26).

Indonesia

Indonesia defends gas export cuts; says existing contracts have not been breached

JAKARTA: Indonesia has defended its gas export cuts amid concerns raised by Singapore, saying it would not be lectured on honouring contracts and that the reductions do not breach existing agreements.

Myanmar

Myanmar woman asks Denmark to investigate alleged war crimes

COPENHAGEN: A Myanmar citizen residing in Denmark on Monday (Oct 26) filed a complaint with Danish authorities against Myanmar's ruling military junta for alleged war crimes committed against minorities.

Aviation

Lufthansa resumes KL-Frankfurt direct flight service

SEPANG: Lufthansa Airlines today launched its nonstop service between Kuala Lumpur and Frankfurt, Germany, restoring a direct air link between the two cities after nearly a decade.

Forex

Ringgit opens higher against US$, major currencies

KUALA LUMPUR: The ringgit opened higher against the US dollar and other major currencies on Tuesday as Malaysia's resilient economic fundamentals continued to support the local note amid lingering geopolitical risks in West Asia, an analyst said.

Markets

FBM KLCI retraces higher as global sentiment improves

KUALA LUMPUR: The FBM KLCI bounced slightly higher amid an uptick in investor sentiment after Anthropic filed for an initial public offering in the US, spurring interest in AI plays.

Nation

Bomba to boost operational capabilities, explore new technologies, says DG

KUALA LUMPUR: The Fire and Rescue Department is strengthening its operational and logistical capabilities through asset modernisation efforts and the exploration of new technologies, including Unmanned Remote Systems (URS) involving two Fire Fighting Robots (FFRs).