KUALA LUMPUR, April 17 — Malaysia’s inflation increased modestly to 1.7 per cent in March 2026, with the consumer price index (CPI) climbing to 136.4 from 134.1 a year earlier, the Department of Statistics Malaysia (DOSM) said.In a statement today, chief statistician Datuk Seri Dr Mohd Uzir Mahidin said Malaysia’s inflation in March 2026 was mainly driven by an increase in the transport group to 1.6 per cent from -0.7 per cent in February 2026.Inflation was also driven by increases in the personal care, social protection and miscellaneous goods and services group, which rose by seven per cent (February 2026:…
Author: Isla
Sa’Cha, Dubai Creek HarbourA Latin-Asian concept rooted in authenticity rather than trends, Sa’Cha brings together South American inspiration and refined Asian techniques. Led by Chef Pang and Chef Nicolas Badran, the restaurant reflects their shared philosophy of freedom in cooking, where flavour, memory, and creativity take precedence. The menu showcases vibrant dishes including grilled avocado guacamole with leche de tigre, Argentinian prawns, king crab cazuela, and slow-braised wagyu beef cheek, alongside indulgent desserts like churros and chocolate mousse.Location: Dubai Creek Harbour, Promenade Level, Unit 7Timings: Open daily from 12pmOffer: Weekday lunch menu from Monday to Friday, 12pm to 3pm, with…
Burj Al Arab, Dubai | Image credit: Mylo Kaye/Pexels Highlights The closure is expected to last over a year, with the hotel likely to reopen in October 2027. French interior architect Tristan Auer will be responsible for the renovation. The iconic Burj Al Arab in Dubai recently closed its doors for 18 months for restoration and renovation work. This is the first time that the luxury hotel has closed for a major renovation since it opened for business in December 1999. Although the exact date when the property closed is unclear, it is expected to reopen in October 2027 with…
Japan has announced a USD 10 billion energy support initiative for Asian countries as tensions in the Middle East continue to threaten global oil supply routes. Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi announced the plan during the Asia Zero-Emission Community (AZEC) Plus online summit on energy resilience held on 15 April. It forms part of a new cooperation framework called Partnership on Wide Energy and Resources Resilience (POWERR Asia). The support will include financing for the procurement of crude oil and petroleum products, efforts to maintain supply chains, and investment in storage facilities to expand oil reserves across the region. The framework…
By Ellen Zhang, Xihao Jiang and David Kirton GUANGZHOU, China, April 17 (Reuters) – Shao Haixia’s plastics factory in China has seen raw material costs jump 20% since the Iran war started and has not been able to fully pass those extra costs onto its foreign customers. Xiatao Plastic Industry mainly sources from local refiners and makes components for electrical appliances, which it sells exclusively abroad. Like many others attending this year’s Canton Fair, China’s largest trade exhibition, Shao is worried about rising input costs and the impact a prolonged conflict could have on global demand. “We’ve had to re-quote…
A former pro-democracy lawmaker has been struck off Hong Kong’s medical register following his conviction for conspiracy to subvert state power in the landmark “Hong Kong 47” national security case. Former Civic Party legislator Kwok Ka-ki. Photo: Legislative Council, via Flickr. The Medical Council of Hong Kong ordered on Thursday that urologist Dr Kwok Ka-ki, 64, be removed from the General Register “indefinitely,” after a disciplinary panel found that his national security conviction had caused “damage” to the profession and that he “showed no remorse.” The ruling is the first removal order by the council against a doctor convicted under…
Tourists take a shine to traditional craftsmanship and designsA shop assistant arranges jewelry at a Lao Feng Xiang Jewelry store in Shanghai on April 9, 2026. (GAO ERQIANG / CHINA DAILY)A video of Maye Musk, mother of Tesla CEO Elon Musk, purchasing handcrafted gold jewelry in Shanghai earlier this year sparked an online buzz.But long before Maye Musk’s trending post, the Chinese-style gold jewelry — carrying thousands of years of craftsmanship — was already on the shopping lists of many overseas tourists, along with tea, silk and other cultural souvenirs.Shanghai Yuyuan Tourist Mart, a key check-in for foreign visitors, is…
The USD/IDR pair catches aggressive bids during the Asian session on Friday and advances to a fresh all-time peak, around 17,1885-17,190 region in the lar hour. Spot prices remain on track to register strong weekly gains and seem poised to appreciate further.The Indonesian Rupiah (IDR) continues to underperform on the back of economic risks stemming from the ongoing conflict in the Middle East. As Indonesia is a net Oil importer, the war-driven surge in energy prices has increased the country’s import and subsidy costs. Adding to this, geopolitical tensions led to capital outflows from Indonesia’s bond and equity markets as…
An employee dispatches hot-rolled steel coils at a hot rolling mill in Ma”anshan, Anhui province, on Feb 28. ZHANG MINGWEI/FOR CHINA DAILY China will step up efforts to address the “involution-style” competition in its steel sector by implementing strict controls on crude steel output, exploring new mechanisms for capacity governance and promoting coordinated efforts among the government, industry and enterprises, said Xia Nong, vice-president of the China Iron and Steel Association. “It is essential to strictly prohibit new capacity additions, open up channels for capacity exit and phase out outdated equipment with backward technology, heavy pollution and low efficiency, and…
When Iran first attacked the UAE with missiles and drones, the strikes disrupted nurseries, schools and universities across the country as classes were swiftly taken online to ensure the safety of young people and staff alike.Confronted by this abrupt change, working mother Yogitta Chakrabortty was one of many UAE residents who stepped up to help her community by opening her townhouse in Dubai’s Jumeirah Village Circle for eight children aged three and four years old.“When the school suggested that parents can be hosts, not many people said yes because it’s a lot of work,” she told The National. “It is…