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ASEAN+

Probe on officer seen kicking e-scooter rider off PMD in Singapore

SINGAPORE (ANN): The Land Transport Authority (LTA) has said it is looking into an incident in which one of its officers was caught on camera kicking an e-scooter rider at a traffic junction, sending the rider flying onto the pavement.

Markets

KLCI bounces higher, investors await US trade decision

KUALA LUMPUR: The FBM KLCI retraced its earlier losses to end the morning in positive territory amid heightened anxieties over the looming deadline for fresh US tariffs on Chinese imports.

World

Australia's Adelaide Airport evacuated due to security alert - ABC

SYDNEY (Reuters) - Australia's Adelaide airport was evacuated on Wednesday due to a security alert, the Australian Broadcasting Corp reported.

World

Bougainville votes for independence from Papua New Guinea

SYDNEY (Reuters) - The South Pacific islands of Bougainville have overwhelmingly voted to be independent from Papua New Guinea, the referendum commission said on Wednesday, in a historic poll that will trigger separation negotiations between the two governments.

World

New Zealand GeoNet says tremor activity increases at White Island volcano

Wellington (Reuters) - Tremor activity at New Zealand's White Island volcano increased on Wednesday, geological agency GeoNet said, two days after an eruption that killed six people, left eight missing and presumed dead, and seriously injured 30.

World

New Zealand says more eruptions on volcanic island likely

WELLINGTON (Reuters) - New Zealand authorities said monitoring equipment on the volcanic island that erupted two days ago has picked up increasing tremors on Wednesday, delaying any attempt to access the island to retrieve bodies.

China

Internet is key to improved health services in Xinjiang

BEIJING: Health authorities in the Xinjiang Uygur autonomous region will intensify efforts to promote the integration of the internet and healthcare to improve services across the vast area.

Football

Klopp hails Salah's 'sensational finish'

(Reuters) - Liverpool manager Juergen Klopp praised Mohamed Salah for showing self-belief after he spurned several straightforward chances before scoring from a tight angle to help the defending champions reach the Champions League knockout stages on Tuesday.

Vietnam

Asean to take immediate steps to combat drought in SE Asia

CAN THO (ANN): Asean-member countries have vowed to take immediate action to resolve problems caused by worsening drought in South-east Asia, especially in Vietnam's Mekong Delta region, which is especially susceptible to global warming.

Rugby

Big challenges lie ahead for new All Blacks coach Foster

WELLINGTON (Reuters) - Ian Foster will face a string of challenges his predecessor as All Blacks coach Steve Hansen did not when he takes the reins of the most successful national team in rugby's professional era next year.

Property

Tourists surging to Singapore help push hotel deals to record

SINGAPORE: Hotel deals in Singapore are set for a record amid a surge in tourist arrivals buoyed by people wanting to avoid the protests in Hong Kong.

World

Buttigieg opens fundraisers to media after tension over donor influence

NEW YORK (Reuters) - U.S. Democratic presidential contender Pete Buttigieg held his first fundraiser open to press coverage on Tuesday after facing pressure from rival Elizabeth Warren to be more transparent.

World

Suicide bomber detonates explosives outside main U.S. base in Afghanistan

KABUL (Reuters) - A suicide bomber detonated explosives outside the United States' main Bagram military base in Afghanistan on Wednesday, Afghan and NATO officials said.

ASEAN+

Entrepreneur finds creative way to bring together HK and mainland youth

GUANGZHOU (Xinhua): Young entrepreneur Jason Choi's dream of bringing together the youth of Hong Kong and the mainland is coming true with the launch of the creative advertising festival for youth.

Nation

Rape of disabled girl shows need for greater sex education in schools, says NGO

PETALING JAYA: Protect and Save The Children (PS The Children) has urged for comprehensive sexuality education in all schools in light of a case where three teenagers had allegedly raped a disabled girl.

Football

Mourinho bans Spurs players from watching Bayern thrashing

(Reuters) - Tottenham Hotspur manager Jose Mourinho has banned his players from watching replays of their 7-2 Champions League home defeat by Bayern Munich earlier in the campaign as they prepare to face the Germans in the reverse fixture later on Wednesday.

World

Hazardous Sydney smoke turns up heat in Australia's climate politics

SYDNEY (Reuters) - Devastating bushfires that blanketed Australia's largest city with hazardous smoke this week have heightened public anger and raised political pressure on the government to do more to tackle climate change.

World

Australian mother and daughter named as volcano victims - media

SYDNEY (Reuters) - A mother and daughter have become the first Australians to be named as victims of New Zealand's volcano disaster after the family was informed by authorities early on Wednesday, media said.

Indonesia

Indonesians pen messages of change to safeguard human rights

JAKARTA (ANN): Dozens of people wearing black clothes from rights group Amnesty International Indonesia marched to the State Secretary office in Central Jakarta on Tuesday (Dec 10) to deliver thousands of letters and postcards from the public concerning their hopes on human rights.

China

Wildlife protection efforts in China's Qinling Mountains reach a fresh peak

XI'AN (Xinhua): The Qinling Mountains, a natural boundary between the country's north and south, have witnessed huge improvements in wildlife protection in recent years.