Technology

Grab to lean on scale, AI to navigate rising fuel costs, CEO says

JAKARTA, April 8 (Reuters) - Southeast Asia's top ride-hailing and delivery firm Grab believes artificial intelligence-led products ⁠and services will help it drive growth and navigate challenges such as affordability and ‌rising fuel costs in the wake of the war in Iran, company CEO Anthony Tan told Reuters.

Nation

Media must be allowed to perform duties unhindered, says Fahmi

PUTRAJAYA: Journalists must be given full freedom to carry out their professional duties if they identify themselves as members of the press, says Datuk Fahmi Fadzil.

Cambodia

Cambodia resumes detained opposition leader Kem Sokha’s appeal process: Lawyer

PHNOM PENH: A Cambodian court resumed a detained opposition leader's appeal proceedings on Wednesday (April 8), his lawyer said, more than 18 months after the latest hearing for the politician convicted of treason.

South Korea

45 years later, granddaughter clears family name in South Korean spy case

SEOUL: The late Park Gi-hong, who was wrongfully jailed on espionage charges in the early 1980s, has been cleared of wrongdoing more than four decades later after a court overturned his conviction in a retrial sought by his granddaughter

Thailand

Thailand assures all that fuel supply, stable fares, and safety ahead of the much-celebrated Songkran festival

Thailand is ramping up measures to support the anticipated influx of travellers during its most-celebrated Songkran festival, assuring adequate fuel supply, stable fares and enhanced safety measures nationwide.

Japan

Two women in Osaka found lying on floor bleeding, later pronounced dead

OSAKA, (Japan): Two women, believed to be adults, were found collapsed inside an apartment in Izumi, Osaka Prefecture, on Wednesday (April 8). Both were later pronounced dead at the scene.

Nation

Govt to evaluate aviation, hospitality sectors as Visit Malaysia Year extends to 2027

PUTRAJAYA: A comprehensive evaluation of the aviation and hospitality sectors will be carried out to ensure the success of the Visit Malaysia Year 2026 campaign, says Datuk Fahmi Fadzil.

Nation

Misunderstanding occurred between police and press covering Cheras gang attack, says KL chief cop

KUALA LUMPUR: The police will foster better cooperation with the media to prevent any misunderstanding from occurring, says city police chief Comm Datuk Fadil Marsus.

World

Thailand confirms three deaths from vessel attacked in Strait of Hormuz

BANGKOK, April ⁠8 (Reuters) - The three crewmen on ⁠the Thai-flagged vessel that ‌was attacked in the Strait of Hormuz last month have died, Foreign Minister ​Sihasak Phuangketkeow said ⁠at a press ⁠conference on Wednesday. 

Energy

Oil tumbles below US$100 after Trump announces two-week ceasefire

LONDON: Oil fell below US$100 per barrel on Wednesday after U.S. President Donald Trump said he had agreed to a two-week ceasefire with Iran, subject to the immediate and safe reopening of the Strait of Hormuz.

Nation

Police presence at border petrol stations being considered to deter fuel smuggling, says Fahmi

PUTRAJAYA: The government is considering the deployment of police officers to petrol stations located along the country's borders.

Sabah & Sarawak

Tawau resort raid sees 80 'tourists' nabbed for involvement in online scam syndicate

KOTA KINABALU: A large group of foreigners pretending to be tourists at a resort were arrested for involvement in an online scam syndicate.

AseanPlus News

Strait of Hormuz: Are France and Germany just out to ‘manage their irrelevance’?

The European powers are leading calls for de-escalation but analyst notes 'the age of soft power as a substitute for hard capacity is over'

Nation

Man jailed 165 years for raping his two daughters

PETALING JAYA: A 54-year-old man has been sentenced to 165 years in prison and caning after pleading guilty to raping his two daughters.

AseanPlus News

China talkies - China ‘s 'sexual intelligence godmum' returns, paper robots for ancestors, mum goes bald tutoring son

Stressed-out tutoring mum goes bald; tech-age offerings for dead relatives; online sex guru is back online after ban

Nation

Court reserves judgment on Guan Eng, wife and businesswoman's appeal to strike out charges over RM11.6mil hostel project

PUTRAJAYA: The Court of Appeal on Wednesday (April 8) has reserved its judgment in the appeal by former chief minister Lim Guan Eng, his wife Betty Chew, and businesswoman Phang Li Koon to strike out their corruption charges involving a foreign workers' hostel project worth RM11.6mil.

Nation

Woman hanging up clothes stumbles on king cobra

KUALA TERENGGANU: A woman who was hanging up clothes to dry in Kampung Banggol Katong here had a terrifying encounter with a king cobra measuring over three metres long.

Singapore

Jail, caning for Singapore man who was an auxiliary cop when he carried loaded firearm in public

SINGAPORE: An off-duty Certis auxiliary policeman arrested at a shopping mall with a loaded service revolver in his possession in 2024 told investigators he had wanted to kill himself after his girlfriend broke up with him over his gambling habit.

World

South Korea to push for the release of ships in the Strait of Hormuz

SEOUL, April 8 (Reuters) - ⁠South Korea's presidential Blue House ⁠said on Wednesday that the government would ‌do its best to ensure the country's ships can pass through the Strait of Hormuz as ​soon as possible based ⁠on conditions created ⁠under a two-week ceasefire agreed between the U.S. ⁠and ‌Iran, local media reported.

Cambodia

Cambodia subsidises about US$47mil per month to mitigate impact of rising fuel prices

PHNOM PENH: The General Department of Customs and Excise (GDCE) of Cambodia has subsidised about US$47 million a month to minimise the impact of rising fuel prices caused by the Middle East conflict, said its news release on Wednesday (April 8).