This aerial handout photograph taken and released by India's Uttar Pradesh State Information Department on January 13, 2025 shows Hindu pilgrims taking a holy dip in the sacred waters of Sangam, the confluence of Ganges, Yamuna and mythical Saraswati rivers, during the Maha Kumbh Mela festival in Prayagraj. Vast crowds of Hindu pilgrims in India bathed in sacred waters as the Kumbh Mela festival opened on Monday, January 13, with organisers expecting 400 million people -- the world's largest gathering of humanity -- to assemble over six weeks. - AFP
Malaysia:
* Najib's 1MDB trial: Saudi letters are 'bogus', prosecution claims
* Donation from King Abdullah did not violate Ethics Code, says Najib
* Health Ministry rubbishes viral claim of top official's ruckus over no 'VVIP' treatment
* Dr M fails in bid to attend Batu Puteh RCI proceedings
* Govt seeks gag order on Najib's review application
* KJ to be questioned by police over royal addendum comments
* Senior citizen claims trial to sexually assaulting six-year-old girl
* PM Anwar to meet UAE Prime Minister in Dubai
* First segment of Penang LRT contract could cost up to RM8.31bil
* Digital Ministry awaits report on SME digitalisation, says Gobind
* 1MDB’s US$700mil could have been recovered from Jho Low, says Arul Kanda
* Preparations to implement National Service 3.0 at best level, says Mohamed Khaled
* Jakim directed to work with Domestic Trade Ministry to take action over misuse of halal logo
* ADIA to increase investments, create greater value in investments in Malaysia
* Nhaveen murder: Appeals Court overturns acquittal of four men, orders them to enter defence
A vegetables vendor waits for costumers at a traditional market in Denpasar, on Indonesia resort island of Bali on Monday, January 13, 2025. - AFP
Singapore:
* Singapore’s PAP and PSP walkabout clash marks rising pre-election temperature
* Fans wait 7 hours in the rain for (G)I-dle’s Minnie at opening of popular tea shop in Singapore
* Pepper crab for Taiwanese singer Cyndi Wang on her whirlwind Singapore trip
* With huge landbank UEMS is a key beneficiary of the JS-SEZ initiative
* Singapore, South Korea mark 50 years of relations with new logo
* 18 flights bound for Changi, Seletar airports diverted due to persistent rain
* Eligible lower-income Singapore households can apply for public transport vouchers from Jan 14
* Stocks slide, dollar strong as markets wonder if Fed is done
* Oil jumps as new US sanctions to curb Russian supply to China, India
Indonesia:
* 'It's definitely going to us' Indonesia intensifies disaster preparedness amid volcanic threats at three volcanoes
* Indonesian police and military launch large-scale patrols in Papua's Yalimo after deadly shooting; two civilians dead
* Indonesia’s fact-checkers slam Meta’s decision to end US fact-checking programme
* Indonesia receives 211 migrant workers deported from Saudi Arabia
* Singapore: Woman loses a fortune to bogus WeChat scheme
* WTO favours EU over Indonesia’s palm oil restrictions
* Emerging Markets - Rupiah slips as much as 0.7%, equities fall as traders slash Fed rate cut bets
A passenger aircraft flies by kites during the International Kite Festival in Ahmedabad, India, Monday, January 13, 2025. - Reuters
Thailand:
* Thai police confirms one Malaysian tourist hurt but safe; nine other locals and cops injured in daylight bomb attack in Pattani
* Thailand's cabinet approves draft law to legalise casinos and gambling
* Belgian kitesurfer dies after being swept onto rocks in Pran Buri
* Thai police identify person who hired alleged assassin of Cambodian lawmaker
* Bangkok ranks 34th most attractive city for investment
* Thailand’s ‘dual prime minister’ model is a delicate tight-rope walk
* Cooler weather for much of Thailand, rain for the South/Seaside villages in Surat Thani hit by rising sea and giant waves
Philippines:
* More than one million protesters in Philippine church rally over impeachment cases against V-P Duterte
* Philippines files protest over Beijing's 'escalatory actions' in South China Sea
* Church rally backing Philippine V-P Sara Duterte draws more than one million
* Mt Kanlaon showing signs of another eruption, warns Philippines
* Japan, Philippines, US vow to deepen cooperation, Manila says
* Dutertes: The great ‘destabilisers’? - Philippine President Bongbong Marcos has kicked off the year with a bang
Fruit vendors wait for customers on a street in Hanoi on Monday, January 13, 2024. - AFP
Vietnam:
* China exports more to Vietnam than Japan for first time as supply chains shift
* HSBC forecasts Vietnam 2025 GDP growth at 6.5%, inflation at 3.0%
* Vietnamese products gain market share in Asean countries
* Truck crashes into grocery store in central Vietnam, killing six, including four children
* Vietnam banks allow paying by QR code in Laos
Myanmar:
* Army arrests 31 Myanmar nationals trying to enter M'sia illegally
* Cops nab four Myanmar nationals for operating unlicensed entertainment centre in Skudai
* Unicef Myanmar to provide monthly financial support for children with disabilities
* Abducted actor’s scam centre rescue spurs families of missing to act
Girls perform Punjabi folk dance 'Giddha' as they celebrate 'Lohri', an Indian harvest festival, in Amritsar on Monday, January 13, 2025.- AFP
Cambodia:
* RCEP, FTAs key to attracting FDI to Cambodia in 2024, says top official
* Restoration work on millennium-old brick tower in Cambodia's famous Angkor Park completed
* Chinese firm starts to build car tyre plant in south-east Cambodia
Laos:
* Laos and Vietnam launch new cross-currency transaction, retail payment systems
* Exploring an ancient Khmer temple mountain in southern Laos
Brunei:
* 'No such thing as water cut in Brunei' as govt urge public to dismiss water disruption rumours
* Brunei lion dance troupe makes regional debut
Zheng Qinwen of China signs autographs after defeating Anca Todoni of Romania in their first round match at the Australian Open tennis championship in Melbourne, Australia. - AP
AseanPlus:
* Actress and top singer Amira Othman break grounds with new single on an age-old question 'Bila Nak Kahwin'
* Malaysia pursues strong Asean leadership through strategic engagements
* Malaysia imposes anti-dumping duties on iron, steel imports from 4 countries
* Sarawak completes takeover of MASwings
* Hong Kong woman arrested over selling fake Andy Lau concert ticket for HK$7,500
* India opens Kumbh Mella festival for 400 million Hindu pilgrims
* India won't reduce troops along China border in winter, army chief says
* Song Hye-kyo, Jeon Yeo-been face down demonic shadows in 'Dark Nuns'
* Seoul says 300 North Korean soldiers killed fighting Ukraine
* Chinese artist cashes in on Buddha-like Trump statues
* iPhone loses global market share with Apple AI absent in China
* China overcapacity claim by US 'a pure fallacy', says Chinese official
* South Korea plans to overhaul airport structures after fatal Jeju Air crash
* North Korean troop fatalities and injuries exceed 3,000 in Ukraine, Seoul says
* Australian PM Albanese promises funding injection to boost Internet speeds
* Asian markets track Wall St losses after blockbuster US jobs report
* South Korea and Japan foreign ministers stress security ties amid political turmoil
* Japan PM tells Biden of 'strong' concerns over blocked steel deal
* Suspended South Korean leader Yoon gets annual salary raise
* Lee Byung-hun on playing the conniving villain in ‘Squid Game 2'
* Taiwanese actress-host Gemma Wu gives birth, identity of father unknown
* Japan issues tsunami advisory after strong 6.9 magnitude quake hits Kyushu region
* German firms in China hire private detectives to investigate if sick staff are genuinely unwell
* China's foreign trade reaches record high / China’s trade surplus hits US$992 billion with surge of pre-Trump exports
* Playing with BRICS fire - the official acceptance of Indonesia as a full member of the economic grouping BRICS
* India's cricket board elects Devajit Saikia, an official with close ties with BJP, to top job
* China tennis superstar and Olympic champion Zheng Qinwen gets off to a flier in Australian Open
