Southeast Asian businesses face 400 ransomware attacks daily HO CHI MINH: Organisations across Southeast Asia, including Vietnam, are facing a concerning rise in ransomware attacks, with businesses in the region experiencing an average of 400 attempted attacks per day in 2024, according to cybersecurity firm Kaspersky. Ransomware, as the name suggests, is malicious software designed to block access to a computer system or encrypt its data until a sum of money (a ransom) is paid. These attacks ..

TOKYO: These days, I often hear the term _hitori shuppansha_ (one-person publisher), which means that one person edits and launches a book that they feel only they can present to the world, even if only with a small number of copies. I visited some one-person publishers to hear about the joys and difficulties of working alone. Masako Nishiyama runs her one-person publisher, Moon & Compass, from her home office in a residential area of Hachioji, Tokyo. After graduating from university, Nishiyama ..

Vietnamese real estate tycoons life sentence reduced but death sentence stands for embezzlement HO CHI MINH: The High Peoples Court in HCM City has reduced Vietnamese real estate tycoon Truong My Lans life sentence to 20 years for fraud, but due to a concurrent death sentence from a separate trial, she faces execution. The court on Monday also upheld her sentences of 12 years for money laundering and eight years for illegal currency transport. Last year, the 69-year-old former chairwoman of Vn ..

Authentic Chinese eateries increasing near Kyoto University; students flock for taste of home KYOTO: The area around Kyoto University in Sakyo Ward, Kyoto, is seeing more restaurants that serve Chinese cuisine like that available in China. These _gachi chuka_ restaurants are frequented by many foreign exchange students at the university. _Gachi_ means serious or for real in casual Japanese while _chuka_ means China. Japanese students also visit these restaurants. Whats behind this surging ..

A Miri volunteers gift of life offers a kidney patient new lease of life MIRI: A Miri marathon volunteer fell off from a vehicle while he was on duty to check the road condition for the run at 8 p.m. on 12 April. Yee Wai Shi, 43, who suffered severe head injuries, was rushed to Miri Hospital where he slipped into coma and was diagnosed as brain dead the following day. The family of Yee Wai Shi decided to fulfil his wish of donating his organs to save other peoples lives when doctors told the ..

GEORGE TOWN: The fish population around Penang island will soon be living in flat units and bungalows as specially designed artificial reefs have been deployed in the sea to create a safe and thriving marine habitat. A total of 20 of these reef structures, resembling miniature unfinished condominiums, are being placed off Pulau Kendi as part of a biodiversity township, an initiative aimed at restoring marine life and ecosystems in the southern waters of Penang. Each reef weighs between nine and ..

Myanmar earthquake has left 3,735 dead, 5,108 injured, and 120 missing to date **NAYPYIDAW** As of April 20, the earthquake has claimed 3,735 lives, injured 5,108 people, and left 120 people missing, said Maj. Gen. Zaw Min Tun, spokesman for the State Planning Council. Speaking about the death toll, injuries, missing persons and international relief efforts due to the Mandalay earthquake as of today (April 20), Major General Zaw Min Tun made the following statement. As of today (April 20), the ..

JAKARTA: PresidentPrabowo Subiantois in the Middle East to rally support for his plan to evacuate 1,000 vulnerable individuals, including injured patients and orphans, from war-torn Gaza to Indonesia for medical care or education. Prabowo tabled the initiative for the first time as president-elect last year, intending to assist Palestinians amid the on-going war with Israel, which has now killed over 50,000 people and injured 114,000 others. While his evacuation plan might stem from genuine ..

Two more Indonesian geoparks get UNESCO recognition JAKARTA: The United Nations cultural body has recognised two geoparks in Central Java and South Kalimantan, namely Kebumen and Meratus, as UNESCO global geoparks, the Foreign Ministry said on Tuesday. They are among the 16 new global geoparks that have just been approved by the UNESCO executive board in a session in Paris, France, the ministry said in the press release. This followed their nominations by the Global Geoparks Council late last ..

A crescent moon has stirred up the most intense public storm I've ever faced in my journalism career. With regards to the missing crescent moon on the national flag on the front page of Sin Chew Daily, one can say that our checks lacked professionalism. Why wasnt the missing crescent spotted immediately? You can also say this is an unacceptable mistake. How can such an oversight occur on a national symbol? Weve heard these criticisms and we humbly accept them. However, when some accuse us of ..

Do not over-interpret Jalur Gemilang blunder, say groups in support of Sin Chew Daily PETALING JAYA: An unintentional error on the illustration of Jalur Gemilang should not be over-interpreted, says the Federation of Chinese Associations Malaysia president Tan Sri T.C. Goh. In a statement, Goh said the unintentional error should not be exploited by some with vested interest to claim that the flag blunder was done with motive. Goh, who is also the president of Sabah Chinese Assembly Hall, said ..

Editors Association backs Sin Chew Daily for being accountable KUALA LUMPUR: The editorial team of Sin Chew Daily is credited for rectifying the error of a missing crescent moon on Jalur Gemilang on its digital version and tendering an apology immediately after detecting the blunder on 15 April. The swift action shows that the newspaper is responsible and accountable. In a statement, the Editors' Association of Chinese Medium of Malaysia (PACM) called on all parties to be rational over an ..

Lets not be excessive, allow Sin Chew to explain, says Anwar (Bangkok) Sin Chew Daily should be given a chance to explain and apologise over the incomplete Jalur Gemilang on its frontpage, says Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim. While the matter should not be taken lightly, let the legal process take its course, he said. For a country, the flag is a very important symbol. So, I advise everyone to be careful, but of course, Sin Chew Daily should be given the opportunity to explain the ..

ByYoon Min-sik / The Korea Herald / Asia News Network South Koreas gender equality index falls to all-time low ByYoon Min-sik / The Korea Herald / Asia News Network SEOUL: The South Korean government announced Thursday that the National Gender Equality Index in 2023 was 65.4, down 0.8 from the previous year and marking the lowest figure in 13 years, since the inaugural survey in 2010. The Ministry of Gender Equality and Family tallies the nations overall gender equality by quantifying the ..

Two top editors of Sin Chew Daily suspended over Jalur Gemilang blunder PETALING JAYA: Two top editors of Sin Chew Daily have been suspended pending investigation into the frontpage on 15 April over a Jalur Gemilang without the crescent moon. The Editor-in-Chief of Sin Chew Daily Chan Aun Kuang and Deputy Chief Sub-Editor Tsai Shwu San were suspended with immediate effect based on the principle of accountability, said the management of Sin Chew Daily in a statement.

ByMoon Joon-hyun / The Korea Herald / Asia News Network Koreans in their late 20s face worst job market in 12 years ByMoon Joon-hyun / The Korea Herald / Asia News Network SEOUL: South Koreas young jobseekers are facing the harshest labour market in over 12 years, with the number of employed people in their late 20s dropping even more sharply than during the Covid-19 pandemic. The downturn driven by a shrinking economy, a plunge in job openings, and a growing preference for experienced hires is ..

PM Anwar refers to Xi Jinping as a true friend of Malaysia PUTRAJAYA: Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim refers to Chinese President Xi Jinping as a true friend of Malaysia. He also said Xi is a friend and partner of our country, and an important leader in establishing a comprehensive strategic partnership with us. Anwar said this in his welcoming speech at the Prime Ministers official residence on Wednesday. During his last visit to China, Anwar had said Xi represents a new kind of ..

Sin Chew Daily dengan sepenuh hati menerima titah Yang di-Pertuan Agong Sultan Ibrahim berkenaan kekhilafan yang berlaku pada ilustrasi Jalur Gemilang yang dicetak pada muka hadapan akhbar kami baru-baru ini. Yang di-Pertuan Agong bertitah bahawa pihak media seharusnya lebih peka serta menyemak sesuatu bahan siaran terlebih dahulu sebelum dicetak untuk siaran. Pihak kami telah melakukan siasatan dalaman terhadap isu tersebut dan staf yang bertanggungjawab atas kekhilafan tersebut akan dikenakan ..

The King, who remarked that the Jalur Gemilang is a symbol of Malaysia, issued a reminder that the media must be careful and thorough in checking the contents before publication. The daily has conducted a thorough internal review on the matter and the staff responsible for the error will be subjected to disciplinary action, said the daily in a statement. The editorial department of Sin Chew Daily has enhanced its review procedures especially in the use of artificial intelligence, it said. "We ..

More foreign tourists flock to real-life anime sites across Japan TOKYO: A growing number of foreign tourists are visiting locations featured in anime. The generation who grew up watching anime are visiting real-life anime locations nationwide that had not received much attention before. The trend has excited local residents with an expectation of regional development. Kakkoii, so cool, 41-year-old Anqi Wang from Australia said as she gazed intently at the basketball clubs practice at Noshiro ..

What Singapores breeding programmes mean for conservation of Southeast Asias biodiversity SINGAPORE: From Philippine pigeons with bleeding hearts to majestic Malayan tigers, Singapore has been helping the numbers of Southeast Asian species on the brink of extinction recover through breeding programmes. On April 3, _The Straits Times_ reported that the Mandai Wildlife Group (MWG) will be sending one of the three Malayan tigers at Rainforest Wild Asia to Taipei Zoo to be paired with a young ..

Singapore downgrades 2025 GDP forecast to 0%-2% as US-China tariff war weighs on global growth SINGAPORE: The Ministry of Trade and Industry (MTI) has cut Singapores growth forecast for 2025 to zero per cent to 2 per cent in the face of a US-China tariff war, with some economists warning of a possible technical recession in 2025. MTI also said Singapores economy grew 3.8 per cent year on year in the first quarter of 2025, in advance estimates. This is slower than the 5 per cent growth in the ..

As President Xi Jinping starts a three-nation visit to Southeast Asia on Monday, observers at home and abroad said the latest move of head-of-state diplomacy is a testament to China's long-term commitment to deepening all- around cooperation with neighbouring countries in order to safeguard peace and stability in the region and beyond. The five-day trip, during which Xi will visit Vietnam, Malaysia and Cambodia, is also a timely and critical one for boosting the confidence of countries in the ..

BEIJING/SHANGHAI: As more Chinese industry titans enter the realm of AI, their intensified scramble for talent by offering generous salary packages may prove the predictions by experts and industry insiders correct that AI is reshaping the domestic employment landscape over the spring recruitment season while also incubating more new job opportunities. Alibaba started its spring internship hiring campaign in February by offering over 3,000 openings to fresh graduates, and nearly 50 per cent of ..

US tariff a wake-up call, Malaysia must reform its economic structure, says former Bank Negara Governor (KUALA LUMPUR) The new tariff policy introduced by the United States serves as wake-up call for Malaysia to carry out structural economic reform, says former Bank Negara Governor Tan Sri Muhammad Ibrahim. Trade partners and industries in Malaysia should be more diversified and set up a defensive mechanism early to respond to external impacts that may hinder the economic growth of Malaysia, he ..

Toys, story books for children at Putra Heights relief centre SUBANG: A toy and mini library was set up at the temporary relief centre where some of the Putra Heights residents affected by the gas pipeline blast are staying. Seri Serdang state assemblyman Abbas Salimmi Che Adzmi handed over used toys donated by Kiwanis International, some individuals and non-governmental organisations for the children at the relief centre. The toys have been carefully selected and disinfected before they were ..

Free temporary shelter for residents affected by Putra Heights gas blast PETALING JAYA: An insurance agent is offering a two-month stay free-of-charge for Putra Heights residents whose homes were damaged in last Tuesday's gas pipe blast. Izzkandar Nordin posted on TikTok offering his double-storey home in Cyberjaya for Putra Heights residents who need a temporary shelter while repairing their homes or waiting for compensation. If your house is damaged during the blast or if you know of any ..

Young Malaysians fall prey to illegal Taiwan cash-collecting jobs PETALING JAYA: Young Chinese Malaysians have been a target of Taiwanese scam syndicates recruiting them to collect cash, offering good salaries, paid accommodation, lodging and air tickets since 2023. Responding to job advertisements posted on social media, these youngsters are willing to travel to Taiwan for such jobs with RM5,000 promised for each completed task working as runners or customer service representatives while being ..

UM invites Chinese nationals to study at the university through RedNote KUALA LUMPUR: Universiti Malaya is inviting Chinese nationals to study at the university through RedNote, a social media app popular among Chinese-speaking young people The university introduces the campus with Vice Chancellor Prof Datuk Seri Dr Noor Azuan Abu Osman featured in a video in which he greets viewers in Chinese _nihao_ and _xiexie_ (thank you). In the video, Dr Noor Azuan said Universiti Malaysia has an official ..

From Lululemon to AirPods, Southeast Asias role in global supply chains put at risk by Trump tariffs Vietnam produces about half of sporting giant Nikes shoes, hosts an Intel chip assembly plant, and is a major hub for the production of Apples watches and AirPods. Major apparel retailers Abercrombie & Fitch and Lululemon rely heavily on both Vietnam and Cambodia for their production. And electric carmaker Tesla signed a US$5 billion (RM22.2 billion) deal in 2022 to source nickel from Indonesia ..

Former minister Khairy Jamaluddin learns Mandarin, sitting for proficiency test soon PETALING JAYA: Former minister Khairy Jamaluddin finds time to learn Mandarin for the past eight months. He is on his way to sit for HSK test, a proficiency test for non-native speakers soon after delivering an impressive result in the mock test. Khairys Chinese teacher Kent Ng Kun Kwan, founder of the KunKwan International Mandarin Training Centre, could not help but utter a Wow" when he saw Khairys scores in ..

High-value guests may be key to sustainable tourism TOKYO: The number of visitors to Japan in 2024 was 36.87 million, nearly 5 million more than the 31.88 million who visited in 2019. Spending by tourists also reached a record high of 8.1 trillion (RM245 billion), up from 4.8 trillion in 2019. While the strong performance of the tourism sector is clear, issues that have existed since before the pandemic, such as over-tourism at popular destinations and sluggish growth in visitor numbers in ..

Selangor Sultan orders aid for affected students regardless of religious background in gas pipeline explosion (Petaling Jaya) The Sultan of Selangor, Sultan Sharafuddin Idris Shah has directed the Selangor Islamic Religious Council (Mais) to assist students affected by the gas pipeline explosion in Putra Heights regardless of their religious background. Mais chairman Datuk Salehuddin Saidin, in a statement, said the Sultan instructed Mais to support students whose education have been disrupted ..

Musk could be headed for a Washington exit after turbulent times at Trumps DOGE Elon Muskrecently suggested that he will be done with his work in the near future. PresidentDonald Trumptold reporters this week that at some point, hes going to be going back to running his companies. As far as the Department of Government Efficiency, Trump said it will end. The White House has not disclosed any clear timeline for closing down DOGE, and the government cost- cutting organisation was never supposed to ..

US reciprocal tariffs against dozens of nations draw dismay, calls for negotiations But responses were measured, highlighting a lack of appetite among key trading partners for an outright trade war with the worlds biggest economy. Trump said the import taxes, ranging from 10 per cent to 49 per cent, would do to US trading partners what they have long done to the US He maintains they will draw factories and jobs back to the United States. Taxpayers have been ripped off for more than 50 years, he ..

Putra Heights gas blast site now turns into a small pond SUBANG JAYA: Firefighters are looking into the gas blast site in Putra Heights which has now transformed into a small pond. Firefighters, working with technical experts, are attempting to trace the source of water at the site. Assist Commissioner Khairul Azuwan Ibrahim, the operations commander of Fire and Rescue Department, confirmed that the water-filled crater is the exact location of the natural gas explosion epicentre, where the ..

ByBhagyashree Garekar / The Straits Times / Asia News Network US President Trumps kind tariffs: Harshest burden falls on Asia ByBhagyashree Garekar / The Straits Times / Asia News Network WASHINGTON: Framing it as a declaration of economic independence, United States President Donald Trump announced sweeping tariffs on April 2 in an attempt to replace free trade with fair trade. In his most ambitious economic policy that he said will make America wealthy again, he announced a tariff of 10 per ..

Chinese school education has shaped a top ministry official to be a strict and disciplined person As a high-ranking government official who once studied at a Chinese primary school, Datuk Wria M Noor Azman Taib is strict and disciplined. The Housing and Local Government Ministry secretary-general who joined the public service in 1996 maintains a similar approach when dealing with colleagues at work. The four years spent at a Chinese primary school SJKC Lam Min, Ayer Hitam, Kedah, provided him a ..