Bangladesh

Bangladesh sentences two policemen to death for protest murder

DHAKA: Bangladesh sentenced two former policemen to death by hanging Thursday (April 9) for murdering student protester Abu Sayeed, whose killing escalated the 2024 uprising that toppled the autocratic government of Sheikh Hasina.

India

From hospital bed to ballot box, Indian singer Zubeen Garg's widow Garima votes solo and pushes hard for justice in his case

NEW DELHI: On Thursday (April 9), amid the buzz of the Assam Assembly Elections, Garima Saikia quietly stepped out to vote, but this time, she walked in without Zubeen Garg, the man who had always been by her side.

South Korea

Student assault sends Korean teacher to ER, sparks outrage

SEOUL: An umbrella teachers' union on Thursday (April 9) called for stronger legal protections after a middle school student assaulted a teacher in Gwangju, Gyeonggi Province, leaving her with injuries requiring two weeks of treatment.

Forex

Ringgit closed mostly higher against major currencies, slightly lower versus US dollar

KUALA LUMPUR: The ringgit closed mostly higher against major currencies today, but eased slightly against the US dollar amid concerns over the durability of the ceasefire between the United States and Iran.

Thailand

Thai PM orders strict WFH for state agencies amid energy crisis

BANGKOK: The Cabinet Secretariat has sent an urgent circular to all ministries ordering them to act on resolutions from the special Cabinet meeting on Monday (April 6), with Prime Minister Anutin Charnvirakul pressing state agencies to strictly enforce Work from Home arrangements and allow Work from Anywhere where necessary to cut fuel use during the energy crisis, according to a Government House source.

China

Booking over 20 flights: Some Chinese travellers stockpiled air tickets before fuel surcharge hike

BEIJING: When fuel surcharges on Chinese domestic flights rose on Sunday (April 5), Shrek Wang, a self-professed travel enthusiast, was unfazed.

Nation

Middle East tensions highlight need for energy security, transition, says Fadillah

KUALA LUMPUR: Recent geopolitical tensions in the Middle East emphasise the urgency for Malaysia to strengthen its energy security and accelerate its transition efforts, says Datuk Seri Fadillah Yusof today.

Bangladesh

Police recover bodies of 13 slaughtered horses in Bangladesh

DHAKA: Police recovered the bodies of 13 slaughtered horses and rescued one alive from an abandoned house in Anarpura village of Munshiganj's Gazaria upazila on Wednesday (April 8).

Entertainment

Mimi Fly to represent Malaysia in ASEAN-Korea Festival 2026

The event is set to take place on April 18 and 19 at the Araneta Coliseum in the Philippines.

Singapore

251 suspected scammers, money mules under probe in Singapore over cases linked to more than S$3.9mil in losses

SINGAPORE: A total of 251 people are being investigated for their suspected involvement in scams as scammers or money mules, following a police operation from March 26 to April 8.

China

10,000 suspected fake football jerseys seized in Hong Kong's US$8mil customs crackdown

HONG KONG: Hong Kong customs has seized about 10,000 suspected counterfeit football jerseys and other unlicensed goods worth an estimated HK$64 million (US$8 million) ahead of the World Cup finals in June.

Nation

Appeals court upholds 30-year jail term and caning for man who murdered senior citizen

PUTRAJAYA: The Court of Appeal has upheld a 30-year prison sentence and 12 strokes of the cane on a former car workshop employee for murdering a senior citizen at a homestay five years ago.

Indonesia

Indonesia breaks ground on first melamine plant in Gresik

JAKARTA: (Bernama) Indonesia has broken ground on its first melamine plant in Gresik, East Java, described by the government as the largest of its kind in the country. The event marked a key step in advancing the country's industrial downstreaming agenda and strengthening its domestic manufacturing sector.

World

More than 3,000 Iranians killed during war, medical body says

DUBAI, ⁠April 9 (Reuters) - ⁠More than ‌3,000 people were killed throughout ​Iran during ⁠the ⁠war that began ⁠on ‌February ⁠28, Iran's forensic chief ​told ‌state media ⁠on ​Thursday, adding that ⁠40% of ​the dead needed forensic work ⁠to be identified and returned ​to ⁠families.

Laos

Vientiane province raises five-year growth targets

VIENTIANE: Vientiane province aims to achieve annual economic growth of at least 6 per cent from 2026 to 2030, rising to 6.5 per cent by the end of the period, while average annual income is set to reach US$2,500 per person.

Markets

FBM KLCI slips on profit-taking amid ceasefire uncertainty

KUALA LUMPUR: The FBM KLCI closed lower on Thursday as profit-taking tracked losses across key Asian markets, while an uncertain US-Iran ceasefire kept investor sentiment cautious.

Sabah & Sarawak

Sabah urged to end cruel treatment of long-tailed macaques

KOTA KINABALU: Long-tailed macaques in Sabah are increasingly subjected to cruel treatment as they are widely regarded as pests, says the Danau Girang Field Centre.

AseanPlus News

Trump says Iranian people want more US strikes for ‘freedom’ as Middle East goes chaotic again

US leader said he was unsure if the war was escalating or easing, but warned of sweeping strikes if no deal is reached by this week.

Nation

Foreign workers: Govt mulls technology-driven, AI-based recruitment system

PETALING JAYA: The government plans to introduce a technology-driven, artificial intelligence (AI)-based recruitment system applicable to all source countries, says Datuk Seri Ramanan Ramakrishnan.

World

Iran warns of sea mines in Strait of Hormuz, advises alternative routes

TEHRAN: The Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) has issued a warning about sea mines - explosive devices laid in the water to damage or sink ships - in the Strait of Hormuz, complicating efforts to reopen the waterway following the ceasefire between Tehran and the United States.