Singapore

Eight-year-old boy voices Singapore MRT announcement to mark autism awareness month

SINGAPORE: From April 10 to 12, eight-year-old Muhammad Khalif Muhammad Khair Abdillah's voice will fill MRT station platforms when a train arrives and the doors slide open.

Nation

S. Korean, wanted for cheating back home, nabbed in JB with fake employment pass

JOHOR BARU: A South Korean man on the police wanted list for cheating in his home country has been detained here for using a fake employment pass.

Thailand

Thailand's state-run bus operator freezes fares for Songkran

BANGKOK: Thailand's state-run bus operator Transport Co is preparing for a heavy Songkran travel rush by deploying extra buses, increasing daily services to more than 7,000 trips and freezing fares during the main holiday period.

Nation

Transport Ministry in talks with CAAM, MAHB to shield aviation sector from energy crisis

PUTRAJAYA: The Transport Ministry is in discussions with the Civil Aviation Authority of Malaysia (CAAM) and Malaysia Airports Holdings Bhd (MAHB) over the global energy crisis.

AseanPlus News

Australia calls for Lebanon to be included in West Asia ceasefire

CANBERRA: Australian Foreign Affairs Minister Penny Wong on Thursday (April 9) said that the ongoing conflict in Lebanon risks jeopardising the ceasefire in West Asia, reported Xinhua.

Nation

Dad admits to sexually assaulting teenage daughter

SEREMBAN: A 47-year-old man pleaded guilty in the Sessions Court here to two counts of physical sexual assault against his teenage daughter.

Brunei

Brunei to continue price monitoring initiative amid global economic uncertainties

BANDAR SERI BEGAWAN: Amid global economic uncertainties and increased festive spending, the Department of Economic Planning and Statistics (JPES) at the Ministry of Finance and Economy continues to strengthen its price monitoring initiative to support informed purchasing decisions and promote fair and transparent market practices.

Vietnam

Vietnam leader To Lam to make four-day visit to China: Chinese state media

BEIJING: Vietnam's top leader To Lam will visit China next week from April 14 to 17, Chinese state news agency Xinhua said on Thursday (April 9).

Nation

Cops bust crypto scam call centre in Bagan Datuk, 22 foreigners held

IPOH: Police have arrested 22 Chinese nationals and shut down a cryptocurrency scam call centre operating out of a homestay in Bagan Datuk.

Singapore

About 150 in Singapore evacuate after fire breaks out in Choa Chu Kang condominium

SINGAPORE: Some 150 people were evacuated from a condominium in Choa Chu Kang after a fire broke out early on Thursday (April 9) morning.

Aviation

High jet fuel prices likely to spark structural shakeout in airline industry - aviation experts

KUALA LUMPUR: Rising fuel prices can precipitate a structural shakeout in the airline industry via consolidation, as well as signal the demise of weak and badly run airlines, an aviation analyst warned today.

AseanPlus News

Asean+3 nations discuss economic responses amid West Asia conflict

SEOUL: South Korea, China, Japan and the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) shared their assessments of the economic impact and government responses amid uncertainties stemming from the West Asia conflict, Yonhap News Agency reported Thursday (April 9).

Nation

Anwar: Brace for cost surge as Middle East conflict hits Malaysia’s supply chain

PUTRAJAYA: Malaysians must brace for economic fallout from the ongoing Middle East conflict, as soaring freight charges and looming fertiliser shortages threaten the nation's supply chain, says Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim.

South Korea

Escaped wolf forces school closure in South Korea

SEOUL: A wolf that escaped from a zoo in South Korea remained at large Thursday (April 9), authorities said, prompting a local school to close over safety concerns as the search continued.

Nation

Anwar: Strong foreign ties protect Malaysia’s shipping in volatile Hormuz Strait

PUTRAJAYA: Malaysia's policy of maintaining friendly ties with all nations is helping protect its key trade routes amid the escalating Middle East conflict, says Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim.

Thailand

Thailand to remain hot with limited rain until April 14 .

BANGKOK: The Thai Meteorological Department (TMD) said in its advance forecast for April 9-14, 2026, that Thailand will remain generally hot to very hot, with daytime haze and little rain, as a heat-induced low-pressure area continues to cover upper Thailand while weak westerly winds prevail

Forex

Ringgit holds firm at 3.97 vs US$, stronger against major currencies

KUALA LUMPUR: The ringgit remained firmer at the 3.97 level against the US dollar and other major currencies at Thursday's opening, supported by improved market optimism following the two-week ceasefire, which spurred risk-on sentiment.

Markets

Bursa backs down as Middle East ceasefire deal in peril

KUALA LUMPUR: Bursa Malaysia drifted lower on Thursday despite the overnight surge in US stocks as negotiations in the Middle East may have hit a wall less than a day after a ceasefire deal was struck.

Commodities

Oil falls below US$100 on ceasefire announcement

Oil plummeted on Wednesday, falling below US$100 a barrel, on hope of the Strait of Hormuz reopening after US President Donald Trump agreed to a two-week ceasefire with Iran.

Philippines

Rising costs push farmers to let their veggies rot than sell at a loss

Filipino farmers like Romeo Wagayan have been left with little choice but to let their vegetables rot in the field rather than sell them at a loss, as rising oil prices linked to the conflict in the Middle East are driving up the cost of harvesting, labour and transport.