Thailand

Thai army recruits record number of volunteers, offering them a 'break from wives'

BANGKOK: At the start of this year's military draft, the Thai army recruited over 30,000 volunteers, thanks to a social media campaign that humorously urged men to take a break from their wives, Sputnik/RIA Novosti reported after analysing army command data and the PR effort

AseanPlus News

Nepal government recalls six envoys, 17 missions left without ambassadors

KATHMANDU: The government has recalled six remaining ambassadors appointed by the K. P. Sharma Oli-led government.

World

Some smugglers shift to Belgium from France to move migrants into UK

BRUSSELS, April 8 (Reuters) - Smugglers are increasingly using Belgium's shoreline to ⁠transport migrants to Britain since tighter controls began along the French ‌coast, authorities say. 

Business

SC appoints Manoj Kurup as executive director for enforcement

PETALING JAYA: The Securities Commission Malaysia (SC) has appointed Datuk Manoj Kurup as executive director, enforcement, with immediate effect.

Nation

Bonds built beyond the beat

CORPORATIONS and industry players show appreciation for the media in many ways, recognising their vital contributions to disseminating corporate initiatives, shaping public understanding and ensuring organisational stories reach the right audiences.

AseanPlus News

Young Bhutanese entrepreneur turns local crops into snacks

THIMPHU: Six months into launching his food business, Ugyen Phuntsho, 28, from Lumang Gewog in Trashigang, is earning between Nu 20,000 (US$217) and Nu 30,000 a month by turning local farm produce into packaged snacks.

Vietnam

Vietnam's To Lam bets big on building blitz

HANOI: The world's largest stadium, South-East Asia's biggest exhibition hall and hundreds of major road, aviation and energy projects -- Vietnam is building faster than ever in its self-proclaimed "era of national rise".

Smartphones

Samsung to launch Galaxy A57 and A37 on April 10; prices start from RM1,899

South Korean tech company Samsung's latest addition to its midrange offerings will soon be hitting Malaysian shores, with the Galaxy A57 and A37 launching on April 10 following their global unveiling late last month.

Philippines

Middle East conflict: 166 Filipinos set to return to Manila Thursday

MANILA: A total of 166 Filipinos are en route to Manila following their repatriation from the Middle East, according to the Overseas Workers Welfare Administration (OWWA) on Wednesday (April 8).

Markets

Bus Cap secures Bursa Malaysia nod for ACE Market listing

KUALA LUMPUR: Bus Cap Bhd has secured approval from Bursa Malaysia Securities Bhd to undertake an initial public offering (IPO) and list on the ACE Market.

Nation

Discarding cigarette butts tops list of littering offences in Melaka

MELAKA: Littering of cigarette butts remains the leading offence under the Solid Waste and Public Cleansing Management Act 2007.

China

Asean survey finds China overtaking US as strategic partner

HONG KONG: Most respondents in the latest ISEAS-Yusof Ishak Institute survey said South-East Asia should choose China over the United States if forced to side with one superpower, though analysts said the result should not be mistaken for a clear-cut turn towards Beijing.

India

Heartburn in New Delhi over Pakistan’s role in brokering Middle East ceasefire

NEW DELHI: India is experiencing some heartburn over Pakistan's visible role in negotiating the ceasefire between Iran and the US – a challenge to its own ambitions as the South Asian regional hegemon and a global player.

Corporate News

Maersk says US-Iran ceasefire may create Strait of Hormuz transit opportunities

COPENHAGEN: Danish shipping group Maersk said on Wednesday that the ceasefire between the U.S. and Iran may create transit opportunities for vessels in the Strait of Hormuz, but that it did not yet provide full maritime certainty.

Nation

Border Control detains 11 Thai nationals for migrant smuggling at Bukit Kayu Hitam

BUKIT KAYU HITAM: The Malaysian Border Control and Protection Agency detained 11 Thai nationals for migrant smuggling and lacking valid travel documents at the Bukit Kayu Hitam Immigration, Customs, Quarantine and Security Complex (ICQS) here on Saturday (April 7). Its commander, SAC Fauzi Mohd Yusof, said all of them in three Thai-registered motorvans, were detected when they behaved suspiciously at the bus lane, Block D, Bukit Kayu Hitam ICQS Complex at 11.30pm

World

'Screams of delight': Artemis crew flying home to thrilled NASA scientists

HOUSTON, United States (AFP): The Artemis II astronauts are jetting towards Earth and sharing their lunar flyby souvenirs, delighting colleagues both at home and in space with captivating tales of their historic journey.

Indonesia

‘We are loved’: Family of Indonesian girl killed in Chinatown car accident thanks Singapore public

JAKARTA: "We are seen. We are held. We are loved." With these words, the family of an Indonesian girl who died in an accident in Singapore's Chinatown thanked members of the public, medical staff and officials in Singapore and Indonesia for their support.

Energy

China's deepest offshore wind farm begins full operation

CHINA's deepest offshore wind power project began operation on Tuesday after connecting to the grid, marking a breakthrough in the country's ability to develop wind farms in complex and deep-sea environments.

Nation

UTAR pledges to carry on Dr Ling’s legacy of education for the underprivileged

KUALA LUMPUR: Universiti Tunku Abdul Rahman (UTAR) has pledged to continue the legacy of its late chancellor, Tun Dr Ling Liong Sik, by ensuring that children from underprivileged families continue to have access to higher education.

India

India orders major airports to cut some charges by 25%, in relief to airlines

NEW DELHI: India's airport tariff regulator has ordered major airports to cut landing and parking charges by 25 per cent for three months for domestic flights, offering relief to the country's airlines that are under financial pressure due to the Iran conflict.