Nation

Retailers in a bind as payments delayed under fishermen's aid programme

GEORGE TOWN: Fishing supplies retailer Abdul Jalil Abdul Rahim is in a dilemma as he is still waiting for about RM60,000 in payments for supplies already redeemed by fishermen under the Fishermen's Aid Redemption Programme.

Corporate News

Nintendo forecasts 16.5 mln annual Switch 2 sales, hikes prices

TOKYO: Nintendo said on Friday it expects to sell 16.5 million Switch 2 units in the financial year ending March 2027 and for operating profit to rise 2.7% to 370 billion yen ($2.36 billion).

Cambodia

Online scam "clean-up" to ensure trustworthy atmosphere for investors, tourists: Cambodian deputy PM

PHNOM PENH: Cambodian Deputy Prime Minister Sun Chanthol said here on Thursday (May 7) that the kingdom's firm commitment to eradicate online scam operation centres will ensure a safe and trustworthy atmosphere for both investors and tourists.

Fashion

Down to a tee: The T-shirt is once again fashion’s go-to statement piece

From souvenir prints to slogan tees, the humble T-shirt has been cast as fashion's new statement piece – again.

Animals

How to manage your pet dog's carsickness

Carsickness isn't just a phenomenon that humans experience. In fact, carsickness in dogs is a common condition.

AI

ByteDance’s AI subscription gamble: chatbot faces reality check in China

Doubao's pay plans mark a turning point for China's chatbot sector, but user reluctance raises doubts about their viability

Family

Managing the mental weight of household expenses

While many women are effectively the 'chief financial officers of the home', the title does not always come with equal support or decision-making power.

World

South Korea parliament drops constitutional amendment vote tied to martial law

SEOUL, May 8 (Reuters) - South ⁠Korea's parliamentary speaker Woo Won-shik said on Friday that a ⁠bill to amend the constitution to tighten rules on martial ‌law would not proceed to a plenary vote after a filibuster by the opposition conservative People Power Party (PPP).

Commodities

Gold set for weekly gain as markets focus on US-Iran deal prospects

GOLD rose on Friday and was headed for a weekly gain on easing fears of inflation and higher interest rates, as investors remained optimistic about a U.S.-Iran peace deal despite renewed hostilities.

Laos

Laos sees decline in population growth

VIENTIANE: Laos' population growth is continuing to decline, driven mainly by socio-economic factors, including later marriages and a shift toward smaller families.

AseanPlus News

US trial opens over alleged Chinese ‘secret police station’ in New York

Lawyers of Lu Jianwang, who has lived in the US for decades, said the alleged covert police station was just a community centre

Nation

Jelutong landfill rehab project still under review, says state exco rep

GEORGE TOWN: The Jelutong Waste Disposal Site (TPSJ) rehabilitation project remains under review as authorities await further deliberation on key technical and administrative matters, including an extension of time (EOT) application submitted by the project contractor PLB Engineering.

Sabah & Sarawak

Experts push for safer coexistence with crocodiles instead of culling

KOTA KINABALU: Science-based strategies are the best option to reduce crocodile-human conflict as large-scale culling or relocation of the reptiles may create a false sense of security without addressing the root causes of danger.

Vietnam

Communist-run Vietnam eyes influencers, AI to spruce up propaganda, documents show

HANOI: Vietnam's ruling Communist Party plans to revamp its propaganda efforts by drafting in social media influencers and artificial intelligence experts while adopting new formats such as podcasts and targeted content, internal documents seen by Reuters show.

Video games

Nintendo teases return of space-faring hero in Switch 2 reveal

Nintendo on Wednesday announced a new entry in its long-running space combat franchise, revealing that Star Fox will launch on June 25 for the upcoming Nintendo Switch 2 system, bringing Fox McCloud and his crew back into action with a modernised overhaul of the classic sci-fi adventure.

Business

China approves 6G trials to accelerate next-gen connectivity

CHINA has taken a key step toward shaping the global future of telecommunications, as the Ministry of Industry and Information Technology officially approved the use of test frequencies for sixth-generation (6G) mobile communication systems.

Nation

Selangor Ruler reaffirms stance against pig farming in state, wants 'full stop' to issue

KLANG: Selangor Ruler Sultan Sharafuddin Idris Shah has reaffirmed his stance against pig farming activities in the state.

World

Poll shows Swiss evenly split on proposal to cap population at 10 million

ZURICH, May 8 (Reuters) - Swiss voters ⁠are evenly split on whether to back a referendum proposal to ⁠restrict Switzerland's population to 10 million, an opinion poll showed ‌on Friday.

Philippines

Philippines' Marcos says Asean is demonstrating its capacity to respond to Middle East crisis

CEBU: Philippine President Ferdinand Marcos Jr said on Friday (May 8) the regional bloc Asean was standing together to demonstrate its capacity to respond with unity and resolve amid uncertainty and volatility in the Middle East.

Nation

Bomba trainer claims trial to sexual assault of minor, possessing obscene image

IPOH: An instructor with the Fire and Rescue Department has been charged with eight counts of physical sexual assault and possessing a child sexual abuse image involving a 14-year-old boarding school student.