AseanPlus News

Asean news headlines as at 10pm on Thursday (April 2)

Here's a look at the news highlights from Asean countries in the Star-AseanPlus section for Thursday (April 2)

Vietnam

227 charged in Vietnam Airlines drug smuggling case

HCM CITY: Prosecutors in Ho Chí Minh City have charged 227 people in connection with the VN10 drug case, uncovered after narcotics were found hidden in the luggage of four Vietnam Airlines flight attendants at Tan Son Nhat International Airport in March 2023.

Nation

Zara 'expressed hatred' for her mum in diary, inquest hears

KOTA KINABALU: A forensic psychiatrist has told the Coroner's Court here that the diary of the late Zara Qairina Mahathir indicated she had strong feelings, including hatred, against her mother and no longer wanted to live with her family.

Cambodia

Battambang 'supercar driver' faces two charges over fatal crash

PHNOM PENH: Siv Cheyseth, who handed himself into authorities and admitted his part in a Battambang traffic accident that killed five people, including a pregnant woman, and left a seven-year-old girl fighting for her life, has been charged with two offences by the Battambang Provincial Court

Philippines

Two pilots killed in air cargo plane crash in Philippines

MANILA: Two pilots were killed on Thursday (April 2) when their air cargo plane crashed outside the perimeter of an airport in Barangay Decalacho in Coron, Palawan, in the Philippines, according to the Philippine National Police Aviation Security Group (PNP-ASG).

Thailand

Thai Songkran holiday spending set for biggest drop since 2022

BANGKOK: Thailand's Songkran festival - the country's biggest annual celebration of water fights, homecomings and holiday spending - will be more subdued this year as rising costs weigh on consumers.

Singapore

Almost all children with road injuries in Singapore were not buckled up: Trauma data

SINGAPORE: Doctors have found that almost all children who suffered injuries in road accidents were not restrained by seat belts or child seats while travelling in a vehicle.

Nation

Religious school in JB partially destroyed in fire

JOHOR BARU: Fifteen students and three teachers of Maahad Tahfiz Sains Al Insyirah in Taman Tampoi Utama near here escaped a fire that destroyed the dormitory and multipurpose hall of the religious school on Thursday (April 2) afternoon.

Cambodia

Cambodia bans contents offensive to nation's culture, tradition, women's dignity

PHNOM PENH: Cambodia on Thursday (April 2) prohibited the production, broadcasting, and distribution of any content that affects the nation's culture, tradition, customs, and women's honor and dignity.

China

From Wagyu to joss paper: rise of pet spirit money, luxury farewell ceremonies take China by storm

BEIJING: "Pet spirit money" in various currencies has emerged as a burgeoning trend, with many promoting "luxury dog funerals" that include paper servants and companion pets, as well as unique paper offerings such as salmon, tuna, steak, Wagyu beef and dried chicken.

Nation

Three killed in accident near Segamat

SEGAMAT: Three people have been killed on the spot in an accident involving three vehicles at KM212 Jalan Johor Baru-Seremban.

Philippines

Manila says Iran to allow Philippine oil shipments through Strait of Hormuz

MANILA: The Philippines said Thursday (April 2) that Iran has pledged to allow safe passage for shipments of oil to the import-dependent archipelago through the Strait of Hormuz.

AseanPlus News

Nepal charges 32 over fake helicopter rescue scam

KATHMANDU: Nepal has charged 32 people over a multi-million-dollar insurance scam involving fake helicopter rescues of trekkers, police said Thursday (April 2), a long-running racket that has cast a shadow over the country's vital tourism industry.

Myanmar

Myanmar announces temporary tax exemption on high-speed diesel to stabilise prices

YANGON: Myanmar's Ministry of Finance and Revenue has announced a temporary tax exemption on imports of high-speed diesel in a bid to stabilise and lower commodity prices. The state-owned daily The Global New Light of Myanmar reported on Thursday (April 2)

Brunei

Brunei to host headquarters of proposed South-East Asia Fertilizer Association

BANDAR SERI BEGAWAN: Brunei Darussalam is set to host the headquarters of the proposed South-East Asia Fertilizer Association (SEAFA), following a joint declaration signed by key regional industry players, according to a press release from Brunei Fertilizer Industries Sdn Bhd (BFI).

Energy

Oil leaps back towards US$110, stocks tumble as Trump vows to keep hitting Iran

LONDON: Oil prices surged and global equity and bond markets recoiled again on Thursday after U.S. President Donald Trump dashed hopes of a swift resolution to the Middle East war.

Singapore

Two new cases of mpox strain confirmed in Singapore; risk to public low, say authorities

SINGAPORE: Two men in Singapore have been infected with the mpox variant clade Ib but are in stable condition, the Communicable Diseases Agency (CDA) said on April 2, adding that both were likely infected through sexual activities.

Arts

In Mumbai, an iconic Indian painting sells for record US$17.9mil

Raja Ravi Varma, born in 1848, is known for his use of European technique in the context of Indian narratives

Nation

Anwar chairs global energy crisis special meeting with MB, CMs

KUALA LUMPUR: Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim has chaired a special meeting of mentris besar and chief ministers to review developments in the global energy crisis following the conflict in the Middle East.

Entertainment

HK singer Sally Yeh on why she married George Lam: 'He gives me freedom'

Yeh praises Lam for always respecting her independence and allowing her the space to enjoy the things she loves.