Members of Japanese brass band and cheerleaders, including those from Albirex Niigata Singapore, perform during the exhibition match between Indonesia and Japan at the Asia Koshien baseball tournament in the Gelora Bung Karno Stadium of Jakarta. - AFP
Malaysia:
* GISB leaders under heavy police guard at Selayang court
* Organised crime trial of 22 GISB leaders transferred to Shah Alam High Court
* Malaysia's 1MDB files legal claim against Amicorp Group alleging over US$7bil in fraud
* Airbus, Rolls-Royce step in to resolve Malaysia Airlines' grounded A330neo
* Two fishermen arrive home after six-day ordeal in open seas
* Malaysia continues to lead regional data centre index
* Malaysia Airlines cabin crew praised for professionalism during medical flights
* High Court dismisses Hannah Yeoh's defamation suit against former IGP Musa
* Organisers could face action for alleged provocative dancing at dinner, says K'tan exco
* Silat technique pique soldier Thamaraj's interest in world of martial arts
* Govt approval rating up slightly this year at 51%, survey finds
* Covid-19, influenza cases under control in Malaysia, says Health Ministry
People visit the Baiturrahman Grand Mosque in Banda Aceh, Aceh, Indonesia, on Monday, December 23, 2024. - Reuters
Singapore:
* Singaporean man killed in suspected gas explosion in Italy; Taiwanese partner still missing
* Bloomberg issued Pofma order over article on good class bungalow transactions in Singapore
* Coroner’s inquiry opens into death of stillborn baby buried by mum, 15, in her garden
* Former Mediacorp star Ivy Lee catches up with on-screen husband Xie Shaoguang in Singapore
* Two more ride-hailing operators to start in Singapore in 2025
* Singapore Nov core inflation at 1.9% y/y, lowest in almost 3 years
* Fired SingPost CEO, CFO to contest employment termination, say move ‘without merits and unfair’
* Singapore Post fires CEO, executives over whistleblowing report
* Singaporean actor Xie Shaoguang to play wealthy but lonely tycoon in first drama in 20 years
* Football fever returns: Asean Cup semi-final tickets for Singapore-Vietnam game sell out
Indonesia:
* Indonesia pursuing transboundary haze control centre plan; Asean to play main role
* Floods, landslides hit Indonesia ahead of year-end holidays; millions hampered as travel season begins
* Anwar wishes Prabowo a speedy recovery after meeting postponed
* Megawati, Jokowi feud intensifies after his dismissal
* Indonesia outlines five key priorities for AI utilisation
* Saving endangered animals with IVF in Indonesia
Shoppers pose for a selfie with their mobile phone as they ride an escalator past Christmas decorations in Bangkok on December 23, 2024. - AFP
Thailand:
* Thailand to raise daily minimum wage by 2.9% from Jan 1, official says
* Thai journalists dub Paetongtarn government ‘pampered by dad’
* Emerging Markets - Thai baht falls as much 0.5% but Asian stocks, FX advance after benign US inflation eases rate cut worries
* Thailand office demand reflects global future of work trends
* Trauma lingers on for survivors of the deadly tsunami that hit Thailand 20 years ago
* Upper Thailand remains very cold, with a minimum temperature of 12°C
Philippines:
* Philippines arrests over 57,000 people in anti-drug operations in 2024; drugs worth over US$250mil seized
* China says Philippine plan to deploy midrange missiles would be 'extremely irresponsible'
* Increased ash emission above 1km observed in Philippines' Kanlaon volcano
* Philippine military says will acquire US Typhon missile system
* Tremors continue in Philippines' Taal volcano
* Asia shares, risk assets cheer US inflation relief
Passengers hold handles in a train of the Line 1 of the HCMC Metro in Ho Chi Minh City. Thousands of selfie-taking Ho Chi Minh City residents crammed into train carriages since Sunday (Dec 22), as the traffic-clogged business hub celebrated the opening of its first-ever metro line after years of delays. - AFP
Vietnam:
* Vietnamese government calls for efforts to achieve 8 per cent of GDP growth in 2025
* Vietnam and Malaysia eye substantive cooperation in labour, conditions here are appreciated by Vietnamese workers
* Vietnamese products make waves at Malaysia's halal festival in Melaka
* Vietnam to start construction of new railway linking with China by end-2025
* 'Draconian' Vietnam internet law heightens free speech fears
Myanmar:
* Bangladesh will no longer allow Myanmar Rohingya to enter its territory, says official
* Murder and kidnapping gone wrong in Myanmar - Authorities arrest doctor and clinic assistant for murdering colleague in Mandalay
* More than 60,000 Rohingya flee to Bangladesh amid escalating conflict in Myanmar
* Chinese EVs dominate Myanmar's Christmas motor show
People take pictures at a Christmas-themed park in Pasig City, Metro Manila, Philippines. - Reuters
Cambodia:
* Cambodia records 54.5 per cent rise in Chinese tourist arrivals in first 11 months of 2024
* Cambodia launches measles-rubella vaccination campaign to combat resurgence
* Once poached sarus cranes give Cambodian farmers economic lifeline
* Brace! Risks stack up for the global economy in 2025
Laos:
* Laos capital Vientiane surpasses poverty reduction target, 99.43% progress achieved
* South Korea provides special funds for bridge upgrade and national road safety for Laos
* Lao district Meuangfeuang seeks to entice visitors with ethnic festival
Brunei:
* Brunei Sultan highlights responsible digital citizenship and mental health well-being
* Brunei cracks down on activities of international drug cartel
* Call for collaboration in preserving South-East Asian crafts
Performers clad in Santa Claus and Christmas-themed outfits take part in a promotional street event for an amusement park at a shopping district in Seoul on Monday, December 23, 2024. - AFP
AseanPlus:
* China-Asean Expo highlights shared commitment to prosperity and progress
* Sabah to host inaugural Asean tourism networking event in June
* Malaysians prioritise sustainability in travel, says digital travel platform
* Trump discusses Taiwan, end of war in Ukraine with Shinzo Abe’s widow
* Newfound ant species in Sabah named after UMS researcher
* No quitting: Bollywood's Aamir Khan wants to keep acting
* Driver in central China car ramming handed suspended death sentence
* James Gunn says his Superman will be 'the ultimate good guy'
* South Korean opposition threatens to impeach Han over martial law counsel
* Squid Games S2 features games that are 'each more unpredictable and deadly than the last', says director
* Indian police arrests woman for stealing cash, jewellery from rich men she marries
* South Korean team develops ‘Iron Man’ robot that helps paraplegics walk
* Honda and Nissan expected to begin merger talks today
* An iconic look fading with time - Architecture fans guard Mumbai’s Art Deco
* South Korean president snubs summons for second time
* Picturesque Japan hot spring town Ginzan Onsen limits day trippers
* Asian markets track Wall St rally as US inflation eases rate worries
* China property flare-ups resurface as crisis enters its fifth year
* Woman in Japan stabbed by former lover who leaps to his death while fleeing police
* South Korea detects signs of North Korea preparing more troops, drones for Russia
* Actor Chow Yun-fat, showing his photographs of Hong Kong, says ‘It works when it’s right’
* Dubai developers escalate efforts to sell properties to rich Chinese, seeing ‘huge potential’ in sales
* Disgraced top China banker Liu Liange married son’s girlfriend, causing his chronic depression
* Jeff Bezos says most people should take more risks. Here’s the science that proves he’s right
* Taking aim at K-pop merchandise waste - More than 115 million CDs were sold in 2023, prompting fans to question environmental impact
