Christian devotees hold candles during a midnight mass on Christmas Eve at the Bethany church in Surabaya on Saturday, December 24, 2023. - AFP
Malaysia:
* PM Anwar wishes Christian community in Malaysia a Merry Christmas
* Sarawak exemplifies unity in diversity, says Abang Johari in Christmas message
* Lam Thye lauds people-oriented police force, credits new leadership for transformation efforts
* Green wave due to fearmongering of 'ghost in the tree', says Mat Sabu
* Sabah govt website breached, 109 documents leaked
* Drop in number of Covid-19 cases expected in January, says Dr Dzul
* Dr Dzul panned for creating undue public alarm over Covid-19
* Fishermen rescued by MMEA after boat sinks in Sandakan
* Mat Sabu retains Amanah president post, Mujahid elected deputy
* Viral video of congestion at airport is an old one, says Immigration DG
* Bursa Malaysia likely to stage rebound after Christmas holidays
* Ringgit to trade slightly higher at RM4.62 and RM4.63 level amid quiet market due to holiday season
Christian devotees hold candles during a midnight mass on Christmas Eve at the Bethany church in Surabaya on Saturday, December 24, 2023. - AFP
Singapore:
* Singaporean woman dies after falling off 30m cliff at nature park in New York state
* Life Power List 2023: The most influential lifestyle players of the year - Malaysia's Michelle Yeoh and Singapore's Carolyn Choo included
* No indication of funds flowing into Singapore via charities to support terrorism: Commissioner of Charities
* Year-end rally in South-East Asia stocks is raising hope for 2024
* Keeping religious effigy art alive in Singapore
* ‘Sugar exports to Singapore won’t affect Johor supply’
Indonesia:
* Bank Indonesia holds its rate and signals that it’s in no rush to ease
* Indonesian govt confirms new Covid-19 subvariant ahead of year-end holidays
* Indonesia’s new capital Nusantara attracts over US$2.6bil of investment in 2023
* 12 dead, 39 injured in explosion at nickel plant in Indonesia
* Indonesia: Jokowi’s son fends off criticism from seasoned rivals
* Not backed by Jokowi? No, thanks - election nears in Indonesia
Teachers and students wait for gifts from elephants dressed in Santa Claus costumes ahead of Christmas celebrations at a primary school, in Ayutthaya, Thailand. - Reuters
Thailand:
* Pita and Move Forward still the most popular in year-end Thailand's Nida Poll survey
* 27 tourists and 3 crew members rescued after boat capsizes off Thailand's tourist haven Pattaya
* A country's gem and pride of all: Lisa — the rise and rise of an iconic Thai soft power
* Thailand attracts nearly RM13.5bil in foreign investment in 11 months; Japn the biggest foreign investor
* Pita: We may not win immediately, but eventually we will - Thailand's political scenario
* High waves sink night ferry to Koh Tao in Thailand
Philippines:
* Philippines suspends Duterte supporter’s media company
* Spread hope and help the needy, says Philippines President Marcos in his Christmas speech
* Coming home: Nearly 60,000 daily arrivals in Philippines as holidays approach
* Two dead after military truck plows through southern Philippines market on Christmas eve
* Philippine to establish 'strong alliances' for regional stability, says President Marcos
A woman watches a Christmas light show ahead of festivities at a park in Makati, Metro Manila. - AFP
Vietnam:
* Top K-pop boyband with Vietnamese member brings heat to Ho Chi Minh City festival
* Infants top priority in injection of 5-in-1 vaccine, says Vietnam health ministry
* Vietnam's export results in 2023 provide stepping stone for its blooming rice sector next year
* 'Beyond our borders': Vietnam tech firm VNG takes on world best
* Vietnam Airlines warns clients of online fraud
Myanmar:
* Myanmar's military should be investigated for war crimes, Amnesty International says
* UN urges rescue of 185 Myanmar Rohingya adrift in Indian Ocean
* Myanmar Rohingya flee kidnap and hunger from life's difficulties
A woman poses for a photo in front of a Christmas tree displayed in front of St. Joseph's Cathedral in Hanoi. - AFP
Cambodia:
* Cambodia's Angkor Thanksgiving event draws thousands of international visitors in big boosts to tourism
* Cambodia's central bank and UnionPay International launch cross-border QR code payment
* Cambodia: Nation defends temple rights
Laos:
* Jumbo crowd expected at Elephant Festival in Laos' Xayaboury
* Hong Kong stands ready to cooperate with Laos on yuan trading and green financing
Brunei:
* Malaysian in Brunei receives French Knights of the National Order of Merit award
* Brunei courts: Brothers sentenced to jail and get whipping for intruding homes, thefts
People take pictures with Christmas light installations in Tokyo. - AFP
AseanPlus:
* Toyota halts some South-East Asia exports on Daihatsu scandal, reports Yomiuri
* Three women electrocuted to death at public bathhouse in South Korea
* Tanker ship off India hit by attack drone 'fired from Iran': Pentagon
* China's Henan province hit by shortage of winter heating after cold wave
* Japan and Asean: Draw on trust cultivated over past 50 years
* Japan — still an irreplaceable partner for Asean
* Gently solving a big bear problem in Japan
* Israel-Palestine: A China-brokered peace?
* Sombre Bethlehem marks Christmas with vigil as bombs rain on Gaza
* Japan to beef up military - hefty rise in military spending in 2024
* Large parts of Australia endure heat wave, lifting bushfire risk
* India women beat Australia by eight wickets in historic Test
* Cricket-India chase history in test series in South Africa
* Highway service zone construction suspended after fossil discovery in southwest China
* How to cure China’s declining consumer prices divides opinion as deflation signs deepen
* How Chinese scientists are extracting uranium from seawater faster than ever
* Hong Kong pilot school hoping to work with banks, airline partners to ease tuition fee burden
* Chinese stocks set for record third year of losses as post-Covid recovery sputters, foreign funds flee
* China, Russia vow to press on with plans for widebodied passenger jet, Arctic shipping route
* US lawmakers urge Antony Blinken to slap sanctions on Hong Kong, Chinese officials for activists’ arrest warrants
* China-US relations: Can people-to-people cooperation resume if Trump decree still stymies student exchanges?
* Most Hong Kong employees believe their offices are not adequately equipped or designed for purpose, Cisco survey finds
* Sister of Hong Kong veteran unionist Elizabeth Tang jailed for 6 months for removing potential evidence in national security police investigation
