Nation

NSE widening suspended for Chinese New Year

KULAI: Construction work for the additional lane of the North-South Expressway (NSE) at the Sedenak-Kulai stretch in Johor will be suspended for 12 days from Jan 23 to Feb 3.

Singapore

Red Planet rising: Mars can be seen from Singapore on Jan 16, weather permitting

SINGAPORE: On Thursday (Jan 16), people in Singapore will have the opportunity to witness Mars at its closest, brightest, and most vivid this year.

Indonesia

Rescuers evacuate 3,000 residents near Indonesia's Mt Ibu after eruption

JAKARTA: Authorities have begun evacuating 3,000 residents near the Mount Ibu volcano on Indonesia's eastern island of Halmahera, the disaster agency said on Thursday (Jan 16), after an eruption this week sent a cloud of thick grey ash as high as four-km (2.5-mile) into the sky.

Mobile apps

TikTok allies close to Trump and Biden race to delay ban on app

With the ban on TikTok just days away, US politicians in both major parties are seeking ways to keep the Chinese-owned video-sharing app accessible for Americans.

Nation

Surge in dialysis demand expected as Socso expands facilities, says Sim

KUALA LUMPUR: A surge in kidney patients needing dialysis treatment is expected this year, following historical trends, according to Human Resources Minister Steven Sim Chee Keong.

Myanmar

Nearly 6kg of heroin seized in central Myanmar

YANGON: Myanmar authorities have seized 5.94 kg of heroin in Mandalay region of central Myanmar, the state-run daily The Mirror reported on Thursday (Jan 16).

Forex

Indonesian rupiah, Korean won hit by surprise central bank rate calls

The Indonesian rupiah stayed near six-month lows on Thursday, while the South Korean won snapped a three-day winning streak after both countries' central banks shocked investors by eschewing widely anticipated interest rate calls.

Nation

Gas leak at Kuala Nerus restaurant, three workers hospitalised

KUALA NERUS: Three workers have been rushed to the hospital after they fell unconscious from inhaling leaked gas at a restaurant here.

Philippines

Filipino mall guard sacked for destroying young girl’s sampaguita flowers for sale

MANILA: A security guard at a mall in Metro Manila was dismissed after a viral video showed him destroying a girl’s sampaguita flowers for sale just outside the mall premises.

World

French PM expected to survive latest no-confidence vote

PARIS (Reuters) -French Prime Minister Francois Bayrou was set to survive on Thursday a vote of no-confidence called by the hard left after the centre-left Socialist Party said it would not back the motion.

Operating systems

Microsoft is ending support for Office apps on Windows 10. Are you eligible for a free OS upgrade?

Office and Microsoft 365 apps will no longer receive native support for security updates, new features and more starting Oct 14.

Commodities

Gold holds near 1-month peak on further US rate-cut hopes

GOLD prices were steady on Thursday after hitting over one-month highs, as softer U.S. core inflation data lifted expectations that more rate cuts were still on the table, although news of a ceasefire accord between Israel and Hamas capped gains.

Laos

Laos' Xekong province gears up for economic growth, self-reliance in 2025

VIENTIANE: Xekong province is setting ambitious goals for 2025, aiming to transform its economy and reduce poverty while maintaining a strong commitment to environmental sustainability.

Cambodia

Two deminers killed in explosion in Cambodia's Oddar Meanchey province

PHNOM PENH: Two mine clearance personnel tragically lost their lives in an explosion on Thursday (Jan 16) morning.

Metro News

Jalan Pudu reopens after fallen tree cleared

JALAN Pudu in Kuala Lumpur, which was earlier closed due to a tree fall incident, has now been reopened.

Nation

Car washer fined RM7,000 for insulting PDRM

KUALA LUMPUR: A car washer was fined RM7,000 by the Ampang Magistrate's Court here Thursday (Jan 16) for insulting the Royal Malaysia Police (PDRM) on TikTok.

South Korea

South Korea's president arrest: what happens next?

SEOUL: Impeached leader Yoon Suk Yeol made history this week as the first sitting South Korean president to be arrested, ending a weeks-long standoff. But analysts say the country's political crisis is far from over.

Japan

Japan panel says 'megaquake' probability up to 82%

TOKYO: A Japanese government panel said Thursday (Jan 16) it has slightly raised its estimated probability of a "megaquake" to up to 82 percent in the next 30 years.

Energy

Oil rises as US inventory decline heightens supply concerns

SINGAPORE: Oil prices gained for a second session on Thursday, supported by worries over potential supply disruptions amid U.S. sanctions on Russia, a larger-than-forecast fall in U.S. crude oil stocks, and an improving global demand outlook.

Nation

Woman with lengthy criminal record nabbed for gems fraud

KUANTAN: Police have arrested two individuals, including a woman with 22 offences on her criminal record, in connection with a jewellery fraud case that recently gained attention on social media.