Brunei

Sincerity, the foundation of strong ties with Brunei: Singapore minister

BANDAR SERI BEGAWAN: Minister in the Prime Minister's Office, Second Minister for Education and Second Minister for Foreign Affairs of Singapore Dr Mohamad Maliki Osman (pic) said the long-standing close and unique relationship between Brunei Darussalam and Singapore is built on sincerity.

Thailand

Over 3,000 govt buildings in Thailand affected by earthquake, 34 severely damaged

BANGKOK: A total of 3,375 government buildings have been impacted by the 8.2-magnitude earthquake near Mandalay, Myanmar, on Friday (March 28), the Interior Ministry's Department of Public Works and Town and Country Planning (DPT) reported on Wednesday.

World

Latest North Korean ship can carry dozens of missiles, analysts say

SINGAPORE (Reuters) - North Korea's new class of warship can accommodate dozens of vertical launch cells to carry missiles its military has already developed, analysis of a satellite image showed, a step that would give its navy more punch and create an export opportunity.

Philippines

Sara Duterte thanks Marcos for letting her mend bond with jailed father

MANILA: Vice President Sara Duterte thanked President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. for allowing her and her father, former President Rodrigo Duterte, to mend their relationship.

Vietnam

Singapore officially opens market for poultry products from Vietnam

HANOI: The Singapore Food Agency (SFA) has officially approved the imports of a number of poultry meat and eggs products from Vietnam, the Vietnam Trade Office in Singapore announced on Tuesday (April 1).

South Korea

2024 was hottest year in half a century for South Korea

SEOUL: South Korea's nationwide average temperature was 14.5 deg C in 2024, making it the warmest year since 1973 in the country, according to the annual climate report from Korea Meteorological Administration (KMA) released on April 1.

China

China urges firms to follow laws after Bangkok building collapse

BANGKOK: China's embassy in Bangkok called on Chinese companies operating abroad to comply with local laws after a Chinese construction firm came under scrutiny for a deadly building collapse in last week's earthquake.

China

Chinese woman stages 20 fake marriages to help clients navigate social pressures

CHENGDU: An unmarried woman from China has staged 20 fictitious marriages, acting as a bride, and claims to assist clients in navigating societal pressures.

Japan

Japan ready to provide US$6mil in grant aid to quake-hit Myanmar

TOKYO: Japan is ready to provide around US$6 million in emergency grant aid for victims of the devastating earthquake in Myanmar, the government said on Wednesday (April 2), Kyodo News Agency reported.

Singapore

Over 30 arrested, close to S$1mil seized in islandwide blitz on impersonation scams

SINGAPORE: More than 30 people were arrested and over 240 bank accounts frozen following an islandwide police operation against government official impersonation scams.

Thailand

Thailand threatens to scrap Narathiwat airport terminal contract, blacklist joint venture including China Railway

BANGKOK: Thailand's Ministry of Transport has issued a stark warning to a joint venture responsible for the construction of a new passenger terminal at Narathiwat Airport, threatening to terminate their contract and blacklist them from future government projects due to significant delays.

Cambodia

Cambodian one-star brigadier-general disciplined for inappropriate TikTok content

PHNOM PENH: The Ministry of National Defence will establish a disciplinary council to review and evaluate the actions of Chheav Monen, for what the ministry described as behaviour unbecoming an officer.

Nation

Putra Heights inferno: SAFM launches aid mission for affected animals

KUALA LUMPUR: The Stray Animal Association of Malaysia (SAFM), in collaboration with several veterinary clinics, has mobilised its volunteers for a rescue mission to assist pets and stray animals affected by the gas pipeline fire in Putra Heights on Tuesday.

Nation

Putra Heights inferno: Police to identify, investigate contractor

KUALA LUMPUR: The police will call in the contractor believed to have carried out development work near the site of the gas pipeline fire at Jalan Putra Harmoni at Putra Heights, Subang Jaya soon after confirming their identity.

World

South Korea parliament introduces motion to impeach finance minister

SEOUL (Reuters) - South Korea's parliament on Wednesday formally introduced a motion to impeach Finance Minister Choi Sang-mok.

Nation

Putra Heights inferno: 111 still receiving treatment, 13 in red zone

KUALA LUMPUR: A total of 111 victims are still receiving treatment at hospitals following the gas pipeline fire in Jalan Putra Harmoni, Putra Heights, Subang Jaya on Tuesday (April 1), with 13 of them in critical condition (red zone).

Indonesia

Visit by Prabowo's son to Jokowi, Megawati crucial to maintaining political balance: Expert

JAKARTA: President Prabowo Subianto's only son, Ragowo 'Didit' Hediprasetyo, visited former president Joko 'Jokowi' Widodo at his private residence in Solo, Central Java, on Monday (March 31) afternoon, shortly after he paid a visit to Democratic Party of Struggle (PDI-P) chairwoman Megawati Soekarnoputri.

Driverless vehicle

Assisted driving tech in focus after fatal electric car crash in China

A popular electric vehicle made by the Chinese consumer electronics giant Xiaomi crashed into a concrete guardrail while deploying its autonomous driving feature. Three people died.

AseanPlus News

NZ girl, 11, drugged and put on psychiatric ward in identity mix-up

SYDNEY: An 11-year-old girl was restrained, injected with anti-psychotic drugs, and placed on a mental health ward after New Zealand police mistook her for a missing woman, a report found Wednesday (April 2).

Markets

FBM KLCI edges up amid cautious market ahead of U.S. tariffs

KUALA LUMPUR: The FBM KLCI edged up at midday, while the overall market remained cautious as investors awaited U.S. President Donald Trump's new reciprocal tariffs on global trading partners.