Asean News Headlines at 10pm on Saturday (Dec 14, 2024)

World chess champion Gukesh Dommaraju (right) poses for a photo with a young fan during a meet and greet session in Singapore. Indian teen prodigy Gukesh became the youngest undisputed world chess champion on December 12 after beating China's Ding Liren in the final match of their series in Singapore. - Photo by Simon Lim / AFP

Malaysia:

* MetMalaysia Issues thunderstorm warning for four states until 9pm

* Sarawak to provide free finance, accounting education from 2026

* Ringgit seen trading in cautious mode ahead of US rate decision next week

* Papagomo released on police bail after giving statement in fraud probe

* No application received from Tengku Zafrul to join PKR, says Fahmi

* Zii Jia's jersey error ‘critical’, let authorities take appropriate action, says Fahmi

* Govt mulls Good Samaritan law to protect those who help in emergencies, says Dzulkefly

* Involvement of M'sian scientists in global climate research crucial to enhancing local policies, says Nik Nazmi

* Being Chinese - How my Malaysian Chinese education is paying off

* Just tell the public whether it exists or not, says Dr Wee on 'royal addendum'

* Perikatan's election readiness unaffected by SAPP leaving, says Kiandee

* Debutants Sze Fei-Izzuddin storm into final in Hangzhou in style

Goh Sze Fei and Nur Izzuddin of Malaysia celebrate after defeating Fajar Alfian and Muhammad Rian Ardianto of Indonesia in the men's doubles badminton semifinals match at the World Tour Finals in Hangzhou in east China's Zhejiang province, Saturday, Dec. 14, 2024. - AP Photo/Andy Wong

Singapore:

* Complain nation: What fuels Singapore’s online complaint culture?

* Feeling stressed? Singaporean Shanna Tan translates 'healing' Korean books

* Gigantic durians and colossal noodles - Singapore neighbourhoods serve up a feast with art installations

* Singapore authority Acra disables search function for NRIC numbers on portal for now

* Shell-ebrating life: Over 100 hawksbill turtle hatchlings emerge from East Coast Park nest

* Diving into undersea cable plan in Singapore

* Oil up 2%, settles at three-week high as more sanctions loom on Russia, Iran

Indonesia:

* Indonesia to announce economic policy package, VAT rate on Monday (Dec 16)

* Indonesian govt prepares cybersecurity system to support digital transformation

* Indonesian deputy higher education minister under scrutiny after session advocating foreign varsities

* Indonesia launches new commercial, residential zones in Batang for investors

* Indonesia to pardon tens of thousands of prisoners including Papua activists

* Indonesian President Prabowo seeks to end regional polls

This photo provided by Umphang Rescue shows the site where an explosive device was thrown into a crowd during an annual festival Umphang, Tak province Thailand, Friday, Dec. 13, 2024. - Umphang Rescue via AP

Thailand:

* Thai Prime Minister outlines 2025 vision and promises better welfare for people in time to come

* Four women held in Bangkok for allegedly running illegal surrogacy services

* Thailand bids to be HQ of UN investment dispute resolution centre

* Thailand among top 10 high-risk nations under Trump’s 2.0 govt

* 14-year-old boy stabs schoolmate to death in a fight in Thailand

* Thai police detain two suspects after bomb in a border province killed three and injured scores at Thai festival held near Myanmar's border

Philippines:

* China says Philippines has 'provoked trouble' in South China Sea with US backing

* More foreign brands seen coming to Philippine shores in 2025

* Planned transfer a miracle, says Filipina on death row

* More ‘green lanes’ sought for Philippines' Northern Samar region

* Philippine House panel: Ex-president Duterte centre of grand criminal enterprise

TOPSHOT - -- AFP PICTURES OF THE YEAR 2024 -- This aerial photo shows a fisherman collecting dead fish, caused by renovation works and ongoing hot weather conditions, from a reservoir in southern Vietnam's Dong Nai province. Hundreds of thousands of fish have died in a reservoir in southern Vietnam's Dong Nai province, with locals and media reports suggesting the brutal heatwave and lake's management are to blame. - AFP

Vietnam:

* Vietnam to spend US$14bil to develop EV charging stations and ensure change to green transport system

* Vietnam's e-commerce revenue to surpass a record US$25bil in 2025

* Deputy PM urges extra efforts to remove Vietnam from money laundering grey list

* Vietnam issues disciplinary ‘warning’ to ex-president over graft

* New trade policies of the UK government to ease Vietnam exports

Myanmar:

* World falls short of drought deal at Saudi-hosted talks

* 'Huge disappointment' at ICJ climate hearings: global south representative

* Thai Embassy in Yangon to accept only e-Visa applications starting Jan 1

* UN concerned over increased fighting in Myanmar; violence at border also sees three Thais dead during festival

This handout from USAID Wonders of the Mekong shows people carrying a Mekong giant catfish in Cambodia's Tboung Khmum Province. Conservationists in Cambodia on December 13 celebrated the discovery of six highly endangered Mekong giant catfish in the critical South-East Asian waterway plagued by illegal fishing, habitat loss and plastic waste. - AFP

Cambodia:

* Asean economy on steady growth in 2024 amid challenges, say economic experts

* Former monk ‘influencer’ arrested for rape, production of child porn

* Cambodia attracts six million international tourists in 11 months

* Rare Mekong catfish make appearance in Cambodia

Laos:

* Lao government introduces digital border fees for tourists but at only RM2.20 per entry

* Laos eyes pomelo exports to improve rural livelihood

* Laos aims to improve business environment

Brunei:

* Four Indonesians detained for immigration violation in Brunei; served jail term for breaking law

* Brunei bank urges travellers to Malaysia to stay vigilant over website scams

* Indian businesses eye investment opportunities in Brunei

Protesters calling for the ouster of South Korea President Yoon Suk Yeol react after the result of the second martial law impeachment vote outside the National Assembly in Seoul on Saturday, December 14, 2024. South Korean lawmakers on Saturday voted to remove President Yoon Suk Yeol from office for his failed attempt to impose martial law last week. - AFP

AseanPlus:

* Asian pop diva G.E.M returns to Malaysia after six year for groundbreaking 'I am GLORIA' World Tour

* Teacher's simple act of kindness warms Malaysian hearts

* Immigration Dept rescues human trafficking victims in Cheras raid

* Tang Jie-Ee Wei one step away from World Tour Finals title, first M'sian mixed pair to make it to final

* Chinese official praises Trump invitation but does not say if Xi will attend inauguration

* Yoon fans steadfast as S. Korean leader faces impeachment

* China woman in labour unable to start car due to software update, undergoes emergency C-section

* Australian immigration falls for first time in two years

* Once taboo, more Japanese women are brewing sake

* Hong Kong cinema closures will have knock-on effect for industry, experts say

* China's Xi to attend Macau 25th handover anniversary next week

* 10 ‘dangerous’ Christmas songs drivers must steer clear of to avoid risky actions

* Crime surges in Japan as ‘shady part-time work’ ensnares youth as disposable runners

* Hong Kong spent HK$700,000 on panda naming contest. Was it a waste of money?

* Japan’s winter Covid-19, influenza cases rise; cough etiquette, mask-wearing reminder issued

* South Korea's Yoon impeached: Embittered survivor buckles under martial law backlash

* Who is Han Duck-soo, South Korea's acting president after Yoon impeachment?

* South Korea's Yoon says will 'step aside' after impeachment vote but promises to continue to fight the 'good fight'

* Fresh fin whale meat auctioned for the first time in decades

* Japan space firm postpones second attempt at orbit

* K-pop star IU supplies hot food for fans attending anti-Yoon rallies

* US court rejects Tiktok request to temporarily halt pending US ban

* British brothers amass world's largest collection of Pokemon cards

* Emmanuel Macron plans China visit amid talk of Beijing helping end Ukraine war

* US hits China with new tariffs on solar wafers, polysilicon and tungsten products