A repatriated statue of Brahma, the four-headed deity, is displayed during the reopening ceremony ahead of the public opening at the National Museum of Indonesia in Jakarta. As of mid-December, 828 cultural items have been returned to Indonesia from the Netherlands, according to the Indonesian Heritage Agency. The Netherlands government has pledged to return cultural artefacts stolen during more than three centuries of Dutch control, based on a 2020 recommendation from a government advisory committee. - AFP
Malaysia:
* Trump is pragmatic and pro-business, says Anwar on M’sia-US ties
* Govt to continue Special Recognition for Retirees, says Anwar
* Ringgit expected to trade within narrow range next week amid holiday calm
* Anwar says some prosecutions rushed post-14th General Election
* Malaysia's food security assured even with floods, says Mat Sabu
* Over 21kg of wagyu beef from Japan seized by Maqis in Johor
* Fight against corruption, pursuit of good governance top priorities in 2025, says PM
* Visa-free entry boosts Indian tourist arrivals by 223%, says Immigration DG
* Official probe into harassment claims against UM professor underway, says ministry
* PETRONAS a national oil company, not a peninsula one, says Anwar
* Footbrawl: Ministry yet to get full report on Friday night incident, says Adam Adli
* Draft Cabinet paper on the separation of AG's powers ready by mid-2025, says Anwar
Jewelly artifacts from the repatriated Lombok collection are displayed during the reopening ceremony ahead of the public opening at the National Museum of Indonesia in Jakarta. As of mid-December, 828 cultural items have been returned to Indonesia from the Netherlands, according to the Indonesian Heritage Agency. The Netherlands government has pledged to return cultural artefacts stolen during more than three centuries of Dutch control, based on a 2020 recommendation from a government advisory committee. - AFP
Singapore:
* Man in Singapore jailed for assaulting his father and molesting a woman in separate incidents
* Fans rejoice despite travelling woes to KL as Lions secure Asean Championship semifinal spot
* Singapore urges progress on Asean 5PC and call for urgent dialogue on Myanmar
* More than 1,800 people hauled up, 610 arrested so far in Singapore's year-end anti-crime blitz
* Jail for man over assault on rival gang member, who died in fatal Orchard Road brawl
* Police probing case of bicycles parked across road in Queenstown, Singapore
* Artists with disabilities light up Marina Bay in Singapore
* Seven Chinese nationals tried to illegally enter Guam as US tested missile, authorities say
Indonesia:
* Indonesians embrace return of plundered treasure from the Dutch
* Arahmaiani: the Indonesian artist with a thousand lives
* Indonesian Ulema Council urges government to regulate social media use for children
* Organisers working with authorities to address claims at Jakarta music festival
* Prabowo's D-8 address earns Malaysia's full support
* In clutches of scam syndicates for many Indonesians
* Badminton: Indonesia go all local with Mulyo as the head
A 12 meter-tall statue of Young-hee, the iconic doll from Netflixs South Korean TV series 'Squid Game', is seen on a barge in front of Wat Arun temple ahead of the launch of Season 2, in Bangkok. - AFP
Thailand:
* Pregnant Thai star’s robust performance defended by fans – ‘women can shine at any stage’
* We won’t be deterred, says Malaysian IGP on threats over M’sia-Thailand cross-border ban
* Traffic crawl at border checkpoints as Malaysians head north to Thailand for the holidays
* Thai court delivers death penalty, life sentences for German's murder
* Thailand’s property boom attracts Chinese investors, but fraud risks loom
* Thailand Military probes alleged sexual abuse of 18 cadets
* Thailand's new e-visa service effective Jan 1, 2025 / * Most of Thailand to get cooler with morning fog
Philippines:
* Numbers down as registered live births in Philippines decrease by 17.2 per cent in past decade
* The future of gaming is Gen-Z on smartphones earnings millions
* China coast guard says it 'drove away' Philippine aircraft over Scarborough Shoal
* Korean national shoots self, leaves suicide note in Cebu City
* Forced child labour uncovered in Senai factory, two Filipino kids rescued
* Oil steady as markets weigh Fed rate-cut expectations
A general view of the rush hour traffic as people shop ahead of Christmas, at a market in Manila, Philippines. - Reuters
Vietnam:
* Vietnam distinguishes itself as one of fastest-growing economies in East Asia-Pacific, says World Bank
* Indochina region of Vietnam, Laos and Cambodia - rising from shadows to shine as Asean's premier tourist destination
* Hanoi banquet leaves two dead, 15 hospitalised
* Vietnam's decade of excellence in United Nations Peacekeeping
* Unesco will study risks to conservation at Vietnam's Ha Long Bay
Myanmar:
* Southeast Asian nations vow to ramp up Myanmar crisis efforts
* No let-up in efforts to repatriate job scam victims from Myanmar, says Tok Mat
* An ethnic armed group in western Myanmar claims to have captured a major regional army headquarters
* Woman killed by husband in US a refugee of violence
Women look on as they pose for photos in downtown Ho Chi Minh City on Saturday, December 21, 2024. - AFP
Cambodia:
* Cambodia's trade with Asean up 12.8 per cent in first 11 months of 2024
* Creating breakthroughs in economic diplomacy to contribute to double-digit growth: Cambodia PM
* Dara Sakor airport in southwest Cambodia to begin operation for domestic charter flights
* Abusive fathers added to Cambodia's clemency ‘blacklist’ as requests considered
Laos:
* Laos capital Vientiane's economy hits 5.85 per cent growth, beating expectations
* 56 foreigners among 67 nabbed in anti-vice raids in KL, Pahang
* Over 1,800 HIV cases reported in Laos in first 11 months of 2024
Brunei:
* Brunei police seize contraband in suspicious vehicle; 75 cartons cigarettes and 10 cartons alcohol seized
* Contributions of Japanese, Australian envoys to Brunei celebrated
* ‘Genuinely popular’: how Africa’s positive opinion of China goes beyond the elite
A young woman poses for pictures as she holds balloons on a street in Wuhan in China's central Hubei province on Saturday, December 21, 2024, ahead of the fifth anniversary of China confirming its first death from the Covid-19 coronavirus. - AFP
AseanPlus:
* Anwar to meet Prabowo, Thaksin in Langkawi to discuss regional issues, Asean
* MMEA nabs nine men, seizes two boats off Lahad Datu
* GDA stands firm on RM11 offer for MAHB despite directors' rejection
* Panda Watch: Twin cubs start crawling ahead of first Christmas at Hong Kong’s Ocean Park
* South Korea government decides to accept 207,000 non-professional foreign workers in 2025
* US investigates China’s TP-Link, maker of Wi-fi routers, after cyberattacks
* International students urged to return to US before Trump inauguration
* Chinese astronauts complete world record-breaking spacewalk at nine hours
* Ex-Hong Kong beauty queen fears for third pet dog after two die by poisoning
* Woman in China criticised for dumping rice into river for luck, says just ‘feeding fish’
* Longevity ‘elixir’: Have Chinese scientists found a way to extend life, boost health?
* Paralysed Hong Kong Mirror dancer makes first Instagram post since accident
* China table tennis Olympic champion Wang Chuqin sidelined at event, sparks fan outrage, boycott calls
* World's largest ice-and-snow theme park opens in China's northeastern city of Harbin
* Indian denies hospital rape and murder of doctor
* Rival protests over South Korea's impeached President Yoon held in Seoul
* Thousands told to evacuate as bushfire west of Melbourne triples in size and gets out of control
* Driver kills at least two after ramming into crowd at German Christmas market
* Indian PM Modi embarks on historic visit to Kuwait; to focus on labour, bilateral ties
* Childhood sexual assault is a common occurrence for children in 193 countries
* US investigates China’s TP-Link, maker of Wi-fi routers, after cyberattacks
* Hong Kong police arrest 39 who allegedly staged accidents to claim funds
* Macau youth ‘happy to stay’, but will economic revamp create the right jobs?
* Champions Trophy tug of war shows India's 'stranglehold' on cricket
* Badminton - Choong Hann announces Bin Shen, Jeremy and Wei Sheng in HK coaching team
