Malaysian Sudha Devi re-appointed as chair of Commonwealth Foundation

PUTRAJAYA (Malaysia), Jan 10 (NNN-Bernama) — The former Malaysian High Commissioner to Australia, Sudha Devi KR Vasudevan, has been re-appointed as Chair of the Commonwealth Foundation for another term of two years beginning Jan 1, 2023. The Foreign Ministry in a statement Tuesday said her reappointment received the consensus support from…

Malaysia gets full 31,600 hajj quota this year

KUALA LUMPUR, Jan 10 (NNN-Bernama) — Malaysia has received a full quota for this year’s hajj season, at 31,600 pilgrims, said Minister in the Prime Minister’s Department (Religious Affairs) Dr Mohd Na’im Mokhtar. He said that the matter was relayed to him by Saudi Arabia’s Hajj and Umrah Minister Dr Tawfiq Fawzan…

Total air traffic in November 2022 rises 41.3 pct – IATA

KUALA LUMPUR, Jan 10 (NNN-Bernama) — Total air traffic in November 2022, measured in revenue passenger kilometres (RPKs), rose 41.3 per cent compared to November 2021, said the International Air Transport Association (IATA). Globally, traffic is now at 75.3 per cent of November 2019 levels, signalling a continued recovery in the…

Bursa Malaysia retreats after Monday’s gains to open lower

By S. Kisho Kumari KUALA LUMPUR, Jan 10 (NNN-Bernama) — Bursa Malaysia, the stock exchange of Malaysia, retreated from Monday’s gains to open lower on Tuesday amid mixed sentiments on Wall Street overnight following the United States (US) Federal Reserve’s projection that interest rates may exceed five per cent this…

Islamic Development Bank pledges US$4.2 billion to help Pakistan’s post-flood recovery

NEW DELHI, Jan 10 (NNN-Bernama) — The Islamic Development Bank (IDB) has committed US$4.2 billion to help Pakistan in its post-flood recovery efforts. The pledge came at the International Conference on Climate Resilient Pakistan in Geneva on Monday. The Jeddah-based IDB Group said it will provide US$4.2 billion in financing…

Singapore: ASEAN continues to urge Tatmadaw to implement Five-Point Consensus “swiftly and fully”

SINGAPORE, Jan 10 (NNN-Bernama) —  ASEAN continues to urge the Myanmar military or Tatmadaw to implement the Five-Point Consensus “swiftly and fully”, said Singapore’s Minister For Foreign Affairs Dr Vivian Balakrishnan. The minister said the military is also urged to cooperate with ASEAN and the next ASEAN Chair’s Special Envoy…

Thai PM Prayuth seeks re-election to continue work to improve country

BANGKOK, Jan 10 (NNN-Bernama) — Thai Prime Minister Prayuth Chan o-cha is seeking another term in office and will continue his work improving the country – under a new party banner.  The 68-year-old junta leader, who has been in power since a coup in 2014 and  later elected as Prime Minister in 2019, formally joined Ruam…

Malaysian ringgit opens higher versus US dollar backed by solid economic data

By Rosemarie Khoo Mohd Sani KUALA LUMPUR, Jan 10 (NNN-Bernama) — The Malaysian ringgit opened firmer versus the US dollar on improved demand for the local note backed by solid economic data that show a good recovery from the Covid-19 crisis, including a falling unemployment rate in recent months, said ActivTrades.  At 9 am, the…

Vietnam march into AFF Cup final after beating Indonesia 2-0

KUALA LUMPUR, Jan 10 (NNN-Bernama) — Pre-match favourites Vietnam lived up to expectations by moving into the final of the 2022 ASEAN Football Federation (AFF Cup) after beating Indonesia 2-0 in their second leg semifinal at the My Dinh National Stadium in Hanoi, Monday night. With the win tonight, Vietnam moved into…

Media must play a role to resolve Malaysia-Indonesia conflicts

KUALA LUMPUR, Jan 10 (Bernama) — The media must play an important role in easing any conflict between Malaysia and Indonesia to ensure the relationship between the countries remains close, says Malaysian-Indonesian Journalists Alliance (ISWAMI). Its president Mokhtar Hussain said if the media from both countries were able to cooperate in providing the…