Laos

Relief efforts underway after hailstorm batters Vientiane

VIENTIANE: City authorities are carrying out relief and recovery operations after a hailstorm caused widespread damage in Sikhottabong and Naxaithong districts on Sunday (March 22), affecting more than 5,000 houses and damaging numerous other buildings.

Animals

Antarctica’s best ocean explorers have whiskers and love to lounge

Scientists are hoping to better understand how the warming ocean is affecting the Weddell seals' diving and foraging behaviour.

Fashion

Is intelligence chic? South Korea sees the rise of the 'poetcore' fashion trend

A quiet, introspective mood is reshaping fashion in South Korea. Dubbed "poetcore", the trend channels the romantic sensibility of writers into understated silhouettes

Singapore

Singapore authorities seize largest cargo of scales from over 2,200 Asian pangolins

SINGAPORE: More than 830kg of Asian pangolin scales transiting through Singapore were seized by the authorities. This is Singapore's largest seizure of Asian pangolin scales, estimated to be from more than 2,200 of the animals.

Indonesia

Batam Immigration investigates alleged extortion of foreign tourists

JAKARTA: Immigration authorities are investigating officers from Batam Immigration Office over reports that they

Nation

MSME fuel costs may soar to 50% of operating expenses if Middle East conflict drags on

SHAH ALAM: Fuel costs for Malaysia's micro, small and medium enterprises (MSMEs) could surge to as much as 50% of total operating expenses if the conflict in the Middle East extends beyond May.

Vietnam

New Vietnam council to evaluate revisions to Ninh Thuan nuclear projects

HANOI: An appraisal council has been established to review proposed changes to the investment policy for the Ninh Thuan 1 Nuclear Power Project, as authorities revisit plans for what would be the country's first nuclear energy development.

Nation

Umno to weigh return of suspended leaders at April 17 meet

KOTA TINGGI: Applications by several former Umno leaders, including Datuk Seri Hishammuddin Hussein and Khairy Jamaluddin, to rejoin the party will be tabled at the Umno supreme council meeting next month.

China

Chinese ships abort Strait of Hormuz voyage amid West Asia conflict

ISTANBUL: (Bernama-Anadolu) At least two Chinese ships halted their attempts to exit the Strait of Hormuz amid ongoing West Asia tensions, according to MarineTraffic data released on Friday (March 27), Anadolu Ajansi (AA) reported.

Nation

Perikatan to treat MIC's silence as rejection, says Takiyuddin

KOTA BARU: Perikatan secretary-general Datuk Seri Takiyuddin Hassan said Perikatan will regard MIC as having rejected its offer to join the coalition if no official response is received soon.

South Korea

K-pop supergroup BTS tops UK music charts with comeback album Arirang

LONDON: K-pop stars BTS topped the UK music charts on Friday, with their comeback album and its lead single both going straight to No. 1.

Nation

Seven Malaysian ships will leave Strait of Hormuz soon, says Mohamad Hasan

REMBAU: Datuk Seri Mohamad Hasan says the seven Malaysian ships currently stranded in the Strait of Hormuz will be able to sail back soon.

Myanmar

Thousands of Myanmar children face misery one year after deadly earthquake

YANGON: (Bernama) As Myanmar observes the first anniversary of its deadly earthquake, an international organisation cautions that many children are still struggling with the trauma of the disaster and need humanitarian support.

Nation

Mindef to focus on economic empowerment instead of welfare aid for military vets, says Khaled

KOTA TINGGI: The Defence Ministry is shifting its approach towards supporting military veterans by focusing on long-term employment and economic empowerment rather than relying solely on welfare assistance, says Datuk Seri Mohamed Khaled Nordin.

Thailand

Thai PM says reached deal with Iran for vessels to transit Hormuz Strait

BANGKOK: Thailand has reached an agreement with Iran to allow Thai oil vessels safe passage through the Strait of Hormuz, Prime Minister Anutin Charnvirakul said on Saturday (March 28).

Sabah & Sarawak

Targeted diesel subsidy to be implemented in Sabah and Sarawak in phases, says Armizan

KOTA KINABALU: Allowing Sabah, Sarawak and Labuan to continue enjoying subsidised diesel is not unfair because the government did not say the policy would never be applied in these three regions, said Datuk Armizan Mohd Ali.

Cambodia

Cambodia pushes local locations during Hong Kong film industry event

PHNOM PENH: The Cambodia Tourism Board (CTB), in collaboration with the Department of Cinema and Cultural Diffusion (CDDC), represented the kingdom on the international stage at the March 17-20 Hong Kong International Film & TV Market (FILMART).

Indonesia

Indonesia first in South-East Asia to impose social media restrictions for children under 16

JAKARTA: Indonesia on Saturday (March 28) began implementing a new government regulation approved earlier this month that bans children younger than 16 from access to digital platforms that could expose them to pornography, cyberbullying, online scams and addiction.

Nation

Measures in place to safeguard Malbatt personnel in Lebanon, says Khaled

KOTA TINGGI: Malaysian peacekeeping troops in Lebanon remain safe despite recent encounters with the Israeli Defence Forces (IDF), says Datuk Seri Mohamed Khaled Nordin.

Laos

Laos PM congratulates Thai counterpart on reappointment

VIENTIANE: Lao Prime Minister Sonexay Siphandone last week sent a formal message of congratulations to Anutin Charnvirakul following his reappointment as the Prime Minister of Thailand.