JAKARTA: (Bernama) Mass layoffs have affected more than 60,000 workers across 50 companies in Indonesia between January and February 2025, according to the Labour Party and the Indonesian Workers’ Confederation (KSPI). KSPI President Said Iqbal said its research has indicated that 30 per cent of these companies, including the renowned textile firm Sritex, have gone bankrupt, emphasising the...
JAKARTA (Bloomberg): Indonesia posted an unlikely budget deficit as of February due to a double-digit drop in state revenues, adding to concerns about the health of government finances this year. The shortfall stood at 31.2 trillion rupiah in the first two months of 2025, equivalent to 0.13% of gross domestic product, Finance Minister Sri Mulyani Indrawati...
If Ben Affleck can’t rekindle his romance with Jennifer Garner, the actor, director and production company head could at least show his regard for his ex-wife by casting her in a movie that would finally show her “true talents,” according to a new report. Affleck’s reported professional ideas for Garner come amid reports that he would...
MANILA: Former president Rodrigo Duterte said on Tuesday (March 11) said that Vice President Sara Duterte would win if she decides to run for President, citing his arrest by the International Criminal Court (ICC) as a factor. Duterte made the prediction while held at the Villamor Airbase amid an arrest warrant issued by the ICC for...
SINGAPORE: Nicole Lim was at home on the afternoon of March 10, going through her son’s homework with him, when she received an alarming text message from a neighbour: A large snake had been spotted just outside her house in Jurong West. The text message came with a photo of the snake’s head emerging from a...
TOKYO: The man who allegedly killed a woman livestreaming on the streets of Tokyo reportedly said he came to Tokyo to search for her whereabouts while she was streaming. The Metropolitan Police Department is investigating the details of the murder. The man, 42, is from Oyama City, Tochigi Prefecture and allegedly killed the 22-year-old woman on...
VIENTIANE: Prime Minister Sonexay Siphandone has emphasised the importance of sustainable industrial development, and urged business owners to uphold environmental responsibility, improve production standards and strengthen the local economy. He made the call while touring Xekong province on March 9, and also highlighted the need for continuous research and innovation in food processing to ensure high-quality...
SHANNON, Ireland (Reuters) - U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio on Wednesday said the issue of how the United States is going to "take over Canada" will not be discussed at a gathering of G7 foreign ministers due to take place in Canada on Thursday. The foreign ministers of the Group of Seven major democracies -...
The Johor government is spending over RM5 billion (S$1.5 billion) on building infrastructure to decrease Malaysia's reliance on Singapore for treated water within five years. Three reservoirs will be built around the basins of three rivers and will be paired with a trio of water treatment plants which are expected to have a total capacity of 890...
HONG KONG: Hong Kong customs have uncovered the largest gold bullion-smuggling case ever recorded by the department, after officers found HK$46 million (US$5.9 million) worth of the precious metal in an air cargo shipment bound for Japan. Officers from the Customs and Excise Department’s air cargo division made the discovery when they acted on a risk...
