India

India court sentences nine police to death for Covid custody killings

NEW DELHI: An Indian court has sentenced nine policemen to death for the torture and killing of a father and son in 2020 who were detained for allegedly breaching Covid lockdown rules.

Japan

Japan arranging summit talks with Iran: PM Takaichi

TOKYO: The Japanese government is working to arrange summit talks over the phone between Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi (pic) and an Iranian leader, in an effort to help ease tensions in the Middle East at an early time, Takaichi said Monday (April 6).

Singapore

Singapore to charge driver over death of six-year-old girl from Indonesia

SINGAPORE: The driver involved in an accident in Chinatown that killed a six-year-old girl and injured the girl's mother will be charged on Wednesday (April 8).

Cambodia

UN, Cambodia to work together on boosting tourism

PHNOM PENH: The UN in Cambodia and the kingdom's government have reached a formal agreement to strengthen cooperation in the tourism sector, with the goal of enhancing governance and accelerating progress toward sustainable development goals in the kingdom.

AseanPlus News

Former Australian soldier charged with committing five war crime murders in Afghanistan

MELBOURNE: Australia's most decorated living veteran, Ben Roberts-Smith, faces war crime charges on allegations that he killed five unarmed Afghans while serving in Afghanistan from 2009 and 2012, police and media reported on Tuesday (April 7).

Nation

Heatwave: Critical hotspots under control with continuous monitoring, says DPM

SUBANG JAYA: Critical hotspots nationwide during the current heatwave remain under control, with continuous monitoring carried out by the Malaysian Meteorological Department (MetMalaysia), says Datuk Seri Dr Ahmad Zahid Hamidi.

AseanPlus News

Blending ritual with rave: Buddhism Expo in South Korea draws 250,000 visitors

SEOUL: In front of Bongeunsa, a temple in southern Seoul, at 6pm on a Friday, a line began to form.

Indonesia

Part of Jakarta airport terminal’s ceiling caves in after heavy rain

JAKARTA: A section of Jakarta's Soekarno-Hatta International Airport collapsed after days of heavy rain on April 6, sending a torrent of water crashing into a departure lounge and ripples of panic among some travellers.

Nation

Dramatic protest disrupts Azam Baki keynote at WTC

KUALA LUMPUR: A keynote address by Tan Sri Azam Baki was briefly disrupted when two men stormed into a hall carrying banners during an event at the World Trade Centre (WTC) here.

Nation

Malaysia urged to be proactive in developing biodiesel to soften fuel crisis impact

KUALA LUMPUR: The Malaysian Biodiesel Association (MBA) has urged the government to follow proactive measures taken by other Asean counterparts and expedite the nationwide implementation of higher biodiesel blends under the national biodiesel programme for both the transport and industrial sectors.

Cambodia

Cambodian casino scam bust sees over 100 captured; Phnom Penh raid unearths Japanese police uniforms

VIENTIANE: The past two days have seen continued pressure brought to bear on illegal scam operations in the Kingdom, with the revocation of the licence of a Preah Sihanouk casino after an investigation led to the detention of 108 suspects.

Brunei

Cross-sectoral cooperation boosts disaster readiness in Brunei

BANDAR SERI BEGAWAN: The ability to transform weather and climate information into timely and actionable decisions is not optional, it is essential. It is the key to safeguarding lives, protecting livelihoods, and building resilience across communities in the region

Laos

Laos seeks Unesco recognition of cultural traditions, national park

VIENTIANE: The government is moving forward with efforts to secure Unesco recognition for additional outstanding features of Laos, with plans to nominate the iconic larb dish (a spicy meat salad) and the Baci ceremony, along with a request for listing of the Nakai Nam Theun National Park as a World Heritage Site.

Singapore

Nearly S$1bil in extra help for Singaporeans amid rising costs, govt to do more if needed: Minister

SINGAPORE: Singaporeans will get S$500 in CDC Vouchers half a year early - in June 2026 - to help them manage cost increases expected to result from the Middle East conflict.

Sabah & Sarawak

Immigrant jailed three years for possessing 570 turtle scales in Semporna

KOTA KINABALU: An immigrant was sentenced to three years' jail after pleading guilty to possessing 570 pieces of turtle scales at the Tawau Sessions Court on Tuesday (April 7).

Thailand

Thai Cabinet clears talks with refineries in bid to bring oil prices down

BANGKOK: Thailand's Cabinet has approved a plan empowering the Energy Ministry to open negotiations with oil refineries over excess refining margins, in the latest government attempt to ease the burden of rising fuel prices on households and businesses.

South Korea

Untimely cold snap to grip South Korea with heavy rain forecast

SEOUL: South Korea was plunged into a brief spring cold snap on April 7, with temperatures expected to remain below seasonal norms through April 9, the state weather agency said.

Entertainment

Ex-TVB star Marine Lee Yee-man holds betrothal ceremony, to marry fiance in Japan on May 23

The celebration featured an impressive array of gifts from her partner, including gold, fine wine, an assortment of pastries and expensive seafood like fish maw.

Vietnam

Hanoi targets 30 per cent public transport use to ease congestion

HANOI: Surging private vehicle use, combined with heavy inflows from neighbouring provinces, is pushing Hanoi's roads to breaking point, with congestion increasingly threatening the capital's economic growth and quality of life.

Indonesia

Indonesia charges 19 over alleged baby trafficking ring that sent infants to Singapore

BANDUNG: Indonesian prosecutors on Tuesday (April 7) charged 19 people – 18 of them women – accused of sending infants to cities across Indonesia and overseas, including to Singapore, in what authorities described as one of the country's largest trafficking cases in recent years