Business

Airwallex secures regulatory approval to expand payment services in Malaysia

KUALA LUMPUR: Airwallex said on Wednesday it has received approval from Malaysia's central bank for licences to carry out e-money issuance, currency exchange and remittance services, allowing it to offer a full suite of payment services in the country.

Nation

Ban on foreign credit card use for RON95 purchase at pumps now in effect

KUALA LUMPUR: The restriction on the purchase of RON95 petrol using foreign credit and debit cards at self-service terminals at petrol stations is being enforced in stages nationwide from Wednesday (April 1).

Laos

Laos boosts economic inclusion for women, people with disabilities

VIENTIANE: Laos has launched a project to empower women and persons with disabilities through the development of One District One Product, improved packaging design and expanded access to e-commerce.

Commodities

Gold ticks up as dollar slips on Mideast de-escalation hopes

GOLD prices rose on Wednesday to their highest in nearly two weeks, supported by a weaker dollar following U.S. President Donald Trump's statement that the war with Iran could wind down in weeks.

Nation

Court sets May 14 to determine status of representation in case involving alleged attack on Sultan Nazrin

IPOH: The Magistrate's Court here has set May 14 to determine the status of a representation submitted by a woman seeking to have a charge of using criminal force against the Sultan of Perak, Sultan Nazrin Shah, dropped.

Myanmar

Myanmar closes 17 fuel stations, warns 24 for violating QR code rules

YANGON: Myanmar's Ministry of Energy has temporarily shut down 17 fuel stations across Yangon, Nay Pyi Taw, Mandalay and Mon State, while issuing strong warnings to 24 others for selling fuel without scanning Bar Code/QR Code systems.

Nation

Hutan Melintang: Body of drowned fisherman found

IPOH: The body of a fisherman who drowned after falling off his boat while trying to check on his propeller at Lot 125B (Pelantar 10) Hutan Melintang, near Bagan Datuk on Tuesday (March 31), has been found.

Entertainment

Malaysian actor Zhang Yaodong regrets not spending more time with his father, who dies at 81

Teoh Cheng Chua's death was announced on social media on March 31 by Zhang, who posted the obituary and an old photo of himself as a young boy with his fat

Nation

Penang to lower land tax rates for industrial land without planning approvals

GEORGE TOWN: Penang will lower land tax rates for certain first-grade land designated for business and industrial purposes which do not have planning approvals, says Chief Minister Chow Kon Yeow.

Philippines

Philippines LPG prices surge by P17 to P36 per kilo in April

MANILA: Filipino households, restaurants and food vendors will have to shell out more money to buy liquefied petroleum gas (LPG) as oil firms implement massive hikes of as much as P403 (US$6.70) per 11-kilogram cylinder.

True Or Not

QuickCheck: Were cable thieves caught in the act on camera in Ipoh?

STEALING cables in broad daylight is brazen enough, but doing it while being filmed takes a special kind of audacity.

World

Hungary election polls show opposition Tisza widening lead over Orban's Fidesz

BUDAPEST, April 1 (Reuters) - Hungary's centre-right Tisza ⁠party widened its lead over Prime Minister Viktor Orban's ruling Fidesz ahead of an April ⁠12 parliamentary election, two opinion polls showed on Wednesday, although a large share of ‌voters remained undecided.

Nation

Absolute ban on e-waste imports effective April 1, says Customs

PUTRAJAYA: The importation of e-waste into Malaysia has officially been gazetted as an absolutely prohibited item under the First Schedule of the Customs (Prohibition on Imports) Order 2023.

SME

CapBay wins Best Social Loan award, boosting SME financing access

CAPBAY, Malaysia's leading fintech specialising in supply chain finance, has been recognised with the Best Social Loan (SME) award, adding yet another feather to its cap.

Gadgets

Device startup Nothing Technology plans to release AI glasses next year

Nothing Technology Ltd is working on artificial intelligence-enhanced smart glasses, looking to expand its lineup beyond smartphones and audio gear.

Nation

Asean to be held virtually this year, physical meets only for leaders, says Fahmi

PUTRAJAYA: Physical Asean meetings this year will only include heads of government, said government spokesman Datuk Fahmi Fadzil.

Indonesia

Independent probe in Indonesia finds intelligence operation behind attack on activist

JAKARTA: Pressure has grown for a transparent investigation of the acid attack on Commission for Missing Persons and Victims of Violence (Kontras) activist Andrie Yunus amid allegations of a systemic operation behind the assault.

Nation

Fadillah to give daily briefing on measures to address global energy crisis, Middle East conflict

PUTRAJAYA: The government will be holding daily briefings to give updates on measures taken to address the global energy crisis and the ongoing Middle East conflict, said Datuk Fahmi Fadzil.

Energy

Oil slides as Middle East uncertainty keeps markets on edge

SINGAPORE: Oil tumbled more than 3% on Wednesday, reversing earlier gains as persistent Middle East volatility unnerved markets even amid reports the U.S.-Israeli war with Iran could be winding down.

Nation

Anwar pays tribute to JPJ on 80th anniversary, urges to enhance service quality

KUALA LUMPUR: Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim today paid tribute to the Road Transport Department (JPJ) on its 80th anniversary and called on the agency to further strengthen enforcement and enhance service quality to maintain public confidence.