South Korea

Political turmoil raises support for Yoon’s rival

PRESIDENT Yoon Suk-yeol’s dramatic fall is building public support for his biggest political rival – Lee Jae-myung (pic) – to run as the nation’s next leader if fresh elections happen.

Pakistan

Defence or emerging threat?

A SENIOR White House official said nuclear-armed Pakistan is developing long-range ballistic missile capabilities that eventually could allow it to strike targets well beyond South Asia, making it an “emerging threat” to the United States.

Nation

Forging a steady path to progress

NEXT year heralds a pivotal chapter for Asean, with Malaysia assuming the chair.

Golf

Ervin is only Malaysian to make final round of Asian Tour Qualifying School

PETALING JAYA: Vietnam SEA Games gold medallist golfer Ervin Chang is the only Malaysian to make it to the final round of the Asian Tour Qualifying School in Hua Hin, Thailand.

Badminton

Indonesia go all local with Mulyo as the head

PETALING JAYA: Indonesia have unveiled their coaching set-up by naming Taufik Hidayat’s coach Mulyo Handoyo as their chief coach.

Commodities

Oil steady as markets weigh Fed rate-cut expectations

Oil prices were little changed at their settle on Friday as markets weighed Chinese demand and interest rate-cut expectations after data showed cooling US inflation.

AseanPlus News

Asean News Headlines at 10pm on Friday (Dec 20, 2024)

Here's a look at the news highlights from Asean countries in the Star-AseanPlus section for Friday (Dec 20, 2024)

Nation

Health Ministry welcomes Bank Negara's interim measures to regulate health insurance premiums

KUALA LUMPUR: The Health Ministry has welcomed Bank Negara Malaysia's move to regulate the rise in medical and health insurance/takaful (MHIT) premiums, calling it a timely short-term intervention to alleviate the burden of sudden inflation on the public.

Football

Malaysia out of AFF Cup after 0-0 draw with Singapore

PETALING JAYA: Malaysia's campaign in the AFF Cup has come to an end after a goalless draw against Singapore, which saw them knocked out of the competition on Friday (Dec 20).

India

India's rowdy parliament session ends in police probe

NEW DELHI: India's winter parliament session ended Friday (Dec 20) after chaotic arguments and allegations of violence by lawmakers across the board, earning a stiff rebuke from the vice president for "destructive disruptions".

Singapore

Singapore calls for end to violence against Myanmar civilians, Suu Kyi’s immediate release

BANGKOK: Singapore’s Foreign Minister Vivian Balakrishnan on Friday (Dec 20) called for an end to violence against civilians caught in a years-long civil war in Myanmar, and the immediate release of democracy icon Aung San Suu Kyi.

Myanmar

Asean will want inclusive Myanmar election in 2025, Thailand says

BANGKOK: Thailand has told Myanmar’s junta that Asean would want all stakeholders included in an election the military government plans to hold in 2025, even as the regional bloc seeks a common position on the polls, Thai officials said on Friday (Dec 20).

Indonesia

Police arrest three terrorist suspects in Central Sulawesi

JAKARTA: Operatives from the National Police's Counterterrorism Special Detachment 88 (Densus 88) and the Central Sulawesi Police’s Mobile Brigade (Brimob) apprehended three terrorist suspects in Palu city and Tojo Una-Una regency, Central Sulawesi, on Thursday (Dec 19).

Badminton

Choong Hann announces Bin Shen, Jeremy and Wei Sheng in HK coaching team

PETALING JAYA: Head coach Wong Choong Hann has lured three other Malaysians to join Hong Kong badminton, including Tan Bin Shen.

Nation

MH370: Families holding on to hope with new search

KUALA LUMPUR: The families of Malaysia Airlines Flight MH370 passengers are hopeful that a new search effort by Ocean Infinity in a 15,000 sq km area in the southern Indian Ocean will finally uncover the missing plane after 10 years.

Cambodia

Cambodia to grant Japan visitation rights to China-linked naval base

PHNOM PENH: Cambodia's influential former Prime Minister Hun Sen said on Friday (Dec 20) that Japan would be granted visitation rights to the country's Ream Naval Base, a facility the United States is concerned could become a military outpost for China.

Philippines

Manny Pacquiao, 1-Pacman ‘ready to rumble’ in 2025 elections

MANILA: Manny Pacquiao may be past his prime as a prizefighter, but the man they call Pacman believes he still has a lot of fight left in him.

Nation

Malaysia extends visa exemption for Indian nationals until 2026

PUTRAJAYA: The government has announced an extension of the visa exemption for Indian nationals until Dec 31, 2026.

Nation

Govt has not lost sight of reform agenda, says Anwar

IPOH: The government has not lost sight of effecting reforms and remains on the right track, says Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim.

Singapore

Singaporean man jailed for attacking his father, and molesting woman, in separate incidents

SINGAPORE: A man who rained blows on his father continued the assault despite knowing that police officers were waiting to be let into their flat at around 3am on May 10.