Forex

Asian currencies subdued, stocks mixed as investors brace for Trump's tariff plans

Emerging Asian stock markets were mixed on Wednesday and currencies were on the defensive, as nervous investors awaited U.S. President Donald Trump's new reciprocal tariffs on trading partners that may intensify global trade tensions and hit economic growth.

Singapore

Singapore detains teen who wanted to carry out shootings like Christchurch massacre

SINGAPORE: Inspired by the shootings at two mosques in Christchurch, New Zealand, in March 2019 that saw 51 Muslims murdered, a Singaporean teenager aimed to double the body count here.

World

Turkey denounces opposition calls for a day of no shopping

ANKARA (Reuters) - Turkey's government denounced opposition calls for a mass commercial boycott following the arrest of Istanbul Mayor Ekrem Imamoglu that sparked nationwide protests, describing them on Wednesday as an economic "sabotage attempt".

Nation

Putra Heights inferno: PERKESO to compensate affected members

PETALING JAYA: Victims of the Putra Heights gas pipeline fire who are PERKESO members will receive compensation under the organisation's invalidity scheme.

AseanPlus News

Australia to stand up for national interests on US tariffs, says PM Albanese

SYDNEY: Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese (pic) and his rival in a May election, Liberal Party leader Peter Dutton, said they would stand up for the country's national interests in the face of looming US tariffs that could hit Australian beef.

Entertainment

Venice says it will host Jeff Bezos wedding, denies reports of possible disruptions for the city

Italian media have reported it will be between June 24-26, with a few days of celebrations.

Smartphones

The UK government wouldn’t ban phones in schools. These parents stepped up.

In Britain, amid growing evidence of harm to young people from extreme content online, a "Smartphone Free Childhood" campaign is going viral.

Thailand

Thai dad arrested for abandoning baby in forest to punish wife who denies him sex

BEIJING (SCMP): A drug-addicted father in Thailand has been accused of abandoning his two-week-old baby in the wild to get back at his wife who refused him sex right after she gave birth.

Nation

Takaful Malaysia donates RM100,000 to help victims of gas pipeline fire in Putra Heights

KUALA LUMPUR: Syarikat Takaful Malaysia Keluarga Bhd donates RM100,000 to aid victims of the gas pipeline fire incident in Putra Heights, supporting the government's call for immediate assistance.

India

Pakistan Army intrudes in Poonch Sector, violates ceasefire: Indian Army

NEW DELHI: The Pakistan Army has made an intrusion by crossing the Line of Control (LoC) into the Indian side and also violated the ceasefire agreement by opening unprovoked firing in the Poonch district of Jammu and Kashmir (J&K), a statement by the Indian Army said on Wednesday (April 2).

Energy

Putra Heights fire may cost PetGas up to RM25mil, says MIDF

KUALA LUMPUR: The Putra Heights fire on April 1 is expected to result in a one-off impairment of at least RM18mil to RM25mil for Petronas Gas Bhd (PetGas), according to MIDF Research.

Nation

Penang International Airport to introduce MyBorderPass, auto gate soon

GEORGE TOWN: Penang International Airport (PIA) will soon introduce the 'MyBorderPass' system and Auto Gate facilities for both locals and foreigners in the coming months to enhance immigration and clearance processes.

Nation

Putra Heights inferno: Selangor MCA to provide free legal advice to victims

PETALING JAYA: Selangor MCA will be providing free legal advice to victims of the burst pipeline inferno in Putra Heights and it has set up a special team of lawyers for that purpose, says Datuk Lawrence Low.

Rugby

Rugby-Blues lose All Blacks prop Tu'ungafasi for rest of Super Rugby season

(Reuters) -Auckland Blues prop Ofa Tu'ungafasi has been ruled out of the rest of the Super Rugby Pacific season with a neck injury in a further blow for the struggling defending champions.

Nation

Putra Heights inferno: Victims grateful for govt aid, appeal for temporary housing

KUALA LUMPUR: Families displaced by the gas pipeline fire in Putra Heights, Subang Jaya, on Wednesday are appealing to the government for temporary housing to tide them over until it is safe to return home.

Mobile apps

ByteDance founder Zhang Yiming denies Singaporean citizenship report as TikTok deal looms

Although Zhang has handed over corporate roles to Liang Rubo, he is widely seen as the real decision maker at the tech giant.

World

Vietnam to send deputy PM on US trip as tariffs loom, Bloomberg News reports

(Reuters) -Vietnam's Deputy Prime Minister Ho Duc Phoc and executives from companies including Vietnam Airlines JSC and Vietjet Aviation JSC will visit the United States this weekend as U.S. tariffs loom, Bloomberg News reported on Wednesday.

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.

Sabah & Sarawak

Flaws in Sabah’s education system affect national identity, says advocate

KOTA KINABALU: The root of Sabah's struggle with national identity lies not in missing flag badges but in a flawed education system that has long neglected the state's own history, says heritage advocate Lai King Hang.

Markets

Hedge funds rush to cut Asia exposure ahead of US tariff announcement

HONG KONG: Hedge funds dumped stocks and lowered leveraged positions in Asian markets last week, data from Morgan Stanley shows, pointing to their defensive stance before U.S. President Donald Trump's announcement of new reciprocal tariffs on April 2.