Laos

Attapeu court sentences 15 officials, 10 to life imprisonment, in major corruption case

ATTAPEU: On July 30, the Attapeu Provincial People's Court sentenced 15 provincial officials for corruption, handing down life imprisonment to 10 of the defendants in one of the province's most sweeping corruption verdicts in recent years.

Nation

Negri polls: IGP reminds winning parties to ensure supporters abide by law

SEREMBAN: Political parties emerging victorious in the Negri Sembilan state polls must ensure their supporters abide by the law at all times, says the Inspector-General of Police Tan Sri Mohd Khalid Ismail.

Nation

Negri DKU recognises new Sungei Ujong, Rembau ruling chiefs, declares Jelebu office vacant

PETALING JAYA: The Dewan Keadilan dan Undang Negri Sembilan (DKU) has recognised the appointments of the new ruling chiefs of Sungai Ujong and Rembau and declared the office of the Undang of Luak Jelebu as vacant.

Nation

Police track e-hailing driver over viral video of passenger insulting Islam

JOHOR BARU: Police are looking for an e-hailing driver whose dashcam recording went viral after capturing a passenger allegedly making insulting remarks about Islam and the Quran.

Football

Soccer-Infantino faces crisis as UEFA, CONCACAF declare lost confidence over scrapped World Cup deal

Aug 1 (Reuters) - FIFA President Gianni Infantino is under unprecedented fire after regional confederations UEFA and ⁠CONCACAF said on Saturday they had lost confidence in his leadership following his abandoned plan to sell a stake in World Cup commercial rights.

Nation

Clear skies for now: EC tells Negri youth to come out and vote early

SEREMBAN: Take advantage of the good weather to come out and vote earlier in the day, says Election Commission (EC) chairman Datuk Seri Ramlan Harun.

Nation

Negri voter turnout on par with last state polls, says Loke

SEREMBAN: Voter turnout in the Negri Sembilan polls is roughly on par with the last state election, says Pakatan Harapan's Anthony Loke.

Bangladesh

Nine Rohingya missing after boat capsizes in Bangladesh

Cox's Bazar: At least nine Rohingya were missing after a boat carrying them capsized in the Naf, a shared waterway between Bangladesh and Myanmar, police said Friday.

Nation

Police seize RM1.9mil in duty-unpaid liquor, arrest five in Selangor raids

PETALING JAYA: Police have busted a syndicate involved in the smuggling and distribution of duty-unpaid liquor worth RM1.9mil following raids in Puchong and Klang, Selangor, on Thursday (July 30).

Nation

Hybrid workday policy for civil servants takes effect today

KUALA LUMPUR: The Hybrid Workday (HBH) Policy comes into force on Saturday (Aug 1), allowing civil servants to work three days in the office and two days from home or alternative locations.

Vietnam

Vietnam targets advanced materials industry to boost technological self-reliance

HANOI: Vietnam is drafting a national strategy for the materials industry through 2030, with a longer-term vision to 2045, as it seeks to shift the country's competitive advantage from abundant natural resources to technological capability and high-value manufacturing.

Philippines

Crocodile believed extinct in Pampanga found and rescued

SAN FERNANDO CITY: A crocodile believed to be extinct in Pampanga was "safely rescued" in the northern part of the province on Saturday (Aug. 1).

AI

Are AI translators ready to replace humans? Not nearly, study shows

Warnings have been sounded that artificial intelligence could lead to mass layoffs for software developers, finance professionals and customer service agents, among other office workers.

Living

The bagel’s journey to becoming an American breakfast staple

The bagel in America is an immigrant story with a hole in the middle.

TV

Actor Nam Joo-hyuk attempts comeback with supernatural K-drama 'The East Palace'

Netflix is anchoring its summer slate with a period K-drama that doubles as the industry comeback for Nam Joo-hyuk, whose career had been overshadowed by school bullying allegations before his military enlistment in 2023.

Indonesia

Floods hit North Sumatra despite intensifying dry season across Indonesia

MEDAN: Several regions in North Sumatra were hit by floods over the past few days despite the intensifying dry season across much of the country

Singapore

Massive Attack banned from Singapore over Palestinian flag display

Singapore: British trip-hop band Massive Attack has been barred from performing in Singapore after an investigation found two members unfurled a Palestinian flag during a concert, police said.

Thailand

Thailand celebrates 9th UNESCO World Heritage Site inscription

BANGKOK: The Tourism Authority of Thailand (TAT) is joining hands with southern Thailand's Nakhon Si Thammarat Province and other public and private agencies in celebrating Wat Phra Mahathat Woramahawihan's inscription as a UNESCO World Heritage Site.

World

US to make visa bond program permanent for people from dozens of countries

WASHINGTON, July 31 (Reuters) - ⁠The U.S. State Department will make permanent a visa bond program that ⁠could require applicants from 50 countries, mostly from Africa, to post bonds ‌of up to $20,000 when seeking U.S. visas, according to a federal notice posted online on Friday.

Sabah & Sarawak

Sabah launches National Month campaign

KOTA KINABALU: Sabah Chief Minister Datuk Seri Hajiji Noor launches the state-level National Month and Fly the Jalur Gemilang Campaign at Menara Kinabalu. Deputy Chief Minister II Datuk Seri Masidi Manjun delivered the speech on behalf of Hajiji at the event on Saturday (Aug 1).