Motorsport

Motor racing-F1 technical heads to kick off series of meetings on rules

LONDON, April 8 (Reuters) - Formula One's ⁠top technical minds will get together on Thursday for the first of a series of meetings to ⁠discuss the sport's new engine rules and what tweaks need to be made after three races.

Technology

Citigroup says AI helps speed account openings and systems upgrades

NEW YORK, April 8 (Reuters) - ⁠Citigroup is using artificial intelligence to speed up account openings and the retirement of ⁠old software, the U.S. bank's head of technology, Tim Ryan, said, as the ‌firm pushes to improve productivity. 

World

3 hospitalized in western Uganda anthrax outbreak

KAMPALA, April 8 (Xinhua) -- An anthrax outbreak in the western Ugandan district of Kitagwenda has left three people hospitalized, a health official said Wednesday.

World

Chinese enterprises welcome Zambia's policy on mining tax payments in RMB

LUSAKA, April 8 (Xinhua) -- Chinese mining enterprises on Wednesday commended the Zambian government's move to accept mining tax payments in Chinese currency renminbi (RMB).

Technology

Meta unveils first AI model from costly superintelligence team

April 8 (Reuters) - Meta Platforms on ⁠Wednesday unveiled Muse Spark, the first artificial intelligence model from a costly team it assembled last year to catch up with rivals in the ⁠AI race.

Other Sports

Italy’s Serie A soccer league sounds out private equity for stake in overseas media unit, sources say

MILAN/LONDON, ⁠April 8 (Reuters) - Italy's Serie A soccer league has sounded out private equity investor ⁠interest for a minority stake in its international media rights business, three sources ‌with knowledge of the matter told Reuters.

Nation

GOF cripples human smuggling syndicate, 52 Myanmar nationals detained

KOTA BARU: The General Operations Force (GOF) crippled a human smuggling syndicate with the detention of 52 undocumented Myanmar nationals at the Buloh Poh Highway exit in Kampung Buloh Poh, Melor, near here on Wednesday (April 8).

World

Canada PM Carney on verge of majority after opposition member joins ruling Liberals

OTTAWA, April 8 (Reuters) - A ⁠Canadian opposition legislator defected to the ruling Liberal Party on ⁠Wednesday, leaving Prime Minister Mark Carney on the verge ‌of a parliamentary majority that would make it easier to push through his agenda.

World

Iran halts tanker traffic at Strait of Hormuz after Israeli strikes on Lebanon

ISTANBUL: Oil tanker traffic through the Strait of Hormuz has been halted following Israeli attacks on Lebanon, Anadolu Ajansi reported, citing Iran's Fars News Agency.

World

US military says it's ready to resume Iran fighting if diplomacy fails

WASHINGTON, April 8 (Reuters) - ⁠The top U.S. general said on Wednesday U.S. troops stood ready to resume fighting if Tehran failed to strike a ⁠negotiated settlement as the Trump administration sought to portray the war as a decisive victory against Iran.

Nation

79 Bangladeshis arrested in Ipoh immigration raid

IPOH: A total of 79 Bangladeshi nationals were arrested by the Malaysian Immigration Department during a raid on two rubber glove factories in the Kanthan Industrial Estate, Chemor, near here, on Wednesday (April 8) night.

World

Hungarian minister offered to send Russia EU document in leaked audio

April 8 (Reuters) - Hungary's foreign minister offered to ⁠send his Russian counterpart a document about Ukraine's European Union accession, leaked recordings purported to show on Wednesday, in ⁠the latest indication of Budapest's warm relations with Moscow.

Badminton

Sze Fei-Izzuddin crash out early in Asian Championships

PETALING JAYA: Former world No. 1 men's doubles pair Goh Sze Fei-Nur Izzuddin Rumsani had only themselves to blame after crashing out in the first round of the Asian Championships in Ningbo on Wednesday (April 8).

Japan

Japanese PM Takaichi speaks with Iranian President by phone, believed to urge dialogue, free movement in Strait of Hormuz

TOKYO: Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi held telephone talks with Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian on Wednesday (April 8), her first contact with a leader in that country since the United States and Israel launched strikes against it in late February.

World

US, Israel and Iran agree to a 2-week ceasefire but much remains unclear

TEHRAN: Iran, the United States and Israel agreed to a two-week ceasefire in an 11th-hour deal that headed off US President Donald Trump's threat to unleash a bombing campaign to destroy Iranian civilisation.

China

China says 'welcomes' Middle East ceasefire agreement

BEJING: China said on Wednesday (April 8) it welcomed a ceasefire in the Middle East, underlining its role in encouraging a deal between the United States and Iran to pause hostilities for two weeks.

Thailand

Thailand reduces diesel prices by 2.14 baht from Thursday (April 9)

BANGKOK: (Bernama) Thailand will cut diesel prices by 2.14 baht (RM0.27) per litre from Thursday (April 9). Offering immediate relief to motorists and businesses ahead of the Songkran festival.

Thailand

Thailand’s Songkran 2026 alcohol rules: hours, fines and penalties explained

BANGKOK: A look at Thailand's latest alcohol control rules for Songkran 2026, from sales hours and fines to penalties for selling to under-20s or intoxicated customers

Nation

'Preserving authentic Melaka history crucial in countering distorted narratives by colonial powers'

JASIN: Preserving the authentic history of Melaka is crucial in strengthening public confidence and countering distorted narratives shaped by colonial powers, said Datuk Seri Ab Rauf Yusoh.

Nation

NRD detains 46 foreigners for using fake MyKads in Klang raid

KLANG: The National Registration Department (NRD) detained 46 foreigners during an enforcement operation dubbed 'Op Roda' at a factory in Bukit Raja here on Wednesday (April 8)  for allegedly using forged MyKads and identification documents belonging to others.