This aerial photo taken from a seaplane shows a tourist boat sailing on the waters of Ha Long Bay in Vietnam's northeastern province of Quang Ninh. Vietnam's Ha Long Bay is losing its famous turquoise hue as pollution and over-development threatens wildlife and its picture-perfect image. - AFP
Malaysia:
* M'sians in Japan not affected by quake, aircraft mishap, says Tok Mat
* Padu: Govt agencies bound by own data regulations, says Rafizi in slamming LFL
* Bursa Malaysia turnover surges to over a year's high of 6.37bil units
* Bukit Aman: RM14.3bil lost to commercial crimes between 2019-2023
* Padu under civil service to prevent data leaks by third-party vendors, says Rafizi
* The only 'move' on govt agenda is towards progress, says Loke
* Brothers charged with murder in JB
* Continuous heavy rain warning issued for Johor
* Iran blasts: M'sia conveys condolences, says Anwar
* Saifuddin: Home Ministry, HR Ministry committed to improving foreign worker management
* Apex court upholds death sentence for ex-guard over double murder
* Recruitment agencies should be fined if they fail to provide jobs for foreign workers, says Johari
People sit on the steps near the Merlion statue near the Marina Bay waterfront in Singapore. - AFP
Singapore:
* 177 people found with vapes at Singapore's Changi Airport during enforcement operation
* Singapore's National Environment Agency charged in 2021 fatal plant blast
* Truck driver found with contraband cigarettes arrested in Singapore for evading $180k in duties and taxes
* Ex-Singapore football deputy director duped sporting body into disbursing over RM2.13mil to firms linked to him
* Mobile phone users in S’pore to be given option to block overseas calls as part of new anti-scam measures
* Oil extends gains on Middle East supply worries
* Asian stock markets slip, echoing Wall Street's weak start to 2024
Indonesia:
* Indonesia vote watchdog says president Jokowi's son broke rules
* Booming business - RCEP boost trade cooperation between Indonesia and China
* Indonesia delays buying used fighter jets from Qatar, cites fiscal limits
* Indonesia records more than 110 per cent increase in foreign tourists arrivals in 2023
* Emerging Markets - Indonesia stocks hit highest since September 2022 but Asian currencies soft on Tuesday (Jan 4)
* Indonesia: Jokowi’s son under probe
Workers fold ballot papers for the presidential election, scheduled for February 14, at the General Election Commission (KPU) Yogyakarta warehouse in Bantul on Thursday, January 4, 2024. - AFP
Thailand:
* White whale spotted near Thailand's Phi Phi islands in a possible first ever
* Thai govt says it will conduct a major probe and measures after a wheel falls off a Yellow Line monorail MRT
* Thailand plans to launch more products and services to lure Malaysian travellers
* Govt urges stateless Thais to take DNA test to get citizenship
* Thai PM says policy rate decisions must factor in economic risks
* Central banks saved the world and will again
Philippines:
* Philippine central bank governor signals Less forex Intervention
* China joins the party with its own military drill to rival US-Philippines naval exercise in disputed South China Sea
* US and Philippines hold fresh South China Sea drills amid China tensions
* Jeepney drivers vow to continue protesting
* Thieves pull off big heist after digging into mall
An ice cream vendor crosses an intersection in Bangkok. - AFP
Vietnam:
* Another big gun caught - Vietnam detains ex-PetroVietnam chairman in power abuse probe
* Vietnam's VinFast to set up EV battery plant in India and aims for new market, say sources
* Vietnam explores protection fee for emissions
* Vietnam: Ex-health minister tried over Covid-19 test bribes
* Electricity prices highly unlikely to fall in Vietnam
Myanmar:
* China protests to Myanmar after stray artillery shells hurt five
* Ethnic armed group battling Myanmar's military claims to have shot down an army helicopter
* Myanmar junta to free 9,652 prisoners on humanitarian grounds - state media
Members of an honor guard march during a ceremony marking Myanmar's 76th anniversary of Independence Day in Naypyitaw, Myanmar, Thursday, Jan. 4, 2024. - AP
Cambodia:
* Cambodian PM Hun Manet will be first leader to meet with French President Macron in 2024
* New monthly minimum wage for Cambodia's garment industry in 2024 took effect on Jan 1
* Cambodia records two more cases of monkeypox; govt tells people to be cautious fearing outbreak
Laos:
* Laos' Luang Prabang among world's top beautiful places to visit in 2024, says report
* Laos social media users call for boost in safety measures amidst tourism growth
* Laos' special economic zones attract over US$520mil investment in 2023
Brunei:
* Brunei man receives three-year jail term, whipping for knife possession and stabbing
* Universiti Brunei Darussalam ranked among top 400 in the world and top 100 in Asia in QS ranking
Rescue workers search collapsed houses damaged by powerful earthquake in Anamizu in the Noto peninsula facing the Sea of Japan, northwest of Tokyo, Thursday, Jan. 4, 2024. More soldiers have been ordered to bolster the rescue operations Thursday, providing those in need with drinking water, hot meals and setting up bathing facilities after a magnitude 7.6 quake hit Ishikawa Prefecture and nearby regions Monday. - AP
AseanPlus:
* Malaysia's water tariff among lowest in Asean, says SPAN
* Three injured in stabbing on Tokyo train, woman in custody
* South Korea, US conduct week-long firing drills near North Korea border
* Japan Airlines counts losses expected to be above US$100mil from plane destroyed in runway collision
* As Japan's Wajima city digs out from quake, hopes fade for tourism recovery
* Japan quake rescuers race against time as survival limit nears / No relief for Japan quake survivors
* Police investigate possible negligence in Tokyo runway collision
* Taiwan spots more Chinese balloons, says one flew over island
* Taiwan elections: Mainland Chinese reporters on short-term permits can ‘only observe’ as island votes for new president
* 'Parasite' actress Cho Yeo-jeong pays tribute to on-screen husband Lee Sun-kyun
* Analysis-In threatening shift, North Korea moves to redefine relations with South
* South Korea opposition leader leaves ICU after knife attack - surgeon
* Communist Party diplomat Liu Jianchao steps up role in China’s foreign policy drive
* Kinetic energy weapon can break an American tank apart with a single shot: Chinese study
* K-pop idols set to return as solo artistes in January
* India's Gujarat in talks with chipmakers in Japan, US, South Korea
* Australia struggles to ditch SUV habit even as electric vehicle sales hit record
* New refund policies from Alibaba’s Taobao and JD.com spark fears of customer abuse among merchants
* Rowdy student events at Hong Kong universities led to 87 people being penalised or criminally charged over past decade
* Sanctioned Chinese companies, shunned by foreign funds, are top picks and winners at local funds
* ‘No one is safe’: China purges record number of senior officials in 2023, with more ‘tigers’ likely to fall
* India's Mohd Siraj blazes with six wickets but experts at Newlands perplexed after 23 wickets fall on second Test
* Has Hong Kong lost its way in the tourism business and is there a route back despite stiff competition from neighbouring cities?
