Thailand Prime Minister Paetongtarn Shinawatra (centre) and her husband Pidok Sooksawas along with other officials sit before the start of the 2024 Asean Championship Electric Cup final second leg football match between Thailand and Vietnam at the Rajamangala National Stadium in Bangkok on Sunday, January 5, 2025. - AFP
Malaysia:
* Roadblocks, extra screenings to be conducted ahead of solidarity rally, say Putrajaya cops
* Barisan condemns use of Najib's situation for political gains
* Police recover trailer wheel rim linked to Ayer Keroh crash from landfill
* Court of Appeal to hear Najib's house arrest appeal tomorrow
* MOH monitoring rise in acute respiratory infections
* Cops to question Pinkfish concert organisers
* Zahid warns Umno members against joining Putrajaya rally
* Community mourns 15-year-old Yap Xin Yuan at heartfelt memorial
* Palestine Embassy working with authorities to resolve Wisma Transit incident, says envoy
* One local has been shortlisted together with a foreigner as Bin Shen's replacement
* Bursa Malaysia likely to remain cautious this week; all eyes on US President Inauguration Day on Jan 20
* Ringgit likely to trade on softer note this week, may be pressured to go above RM4.5 against the dollar
Buildings are seen during sunset in Jakarta on Sunday, January 5, 2025. - AFP
Singapore:
* Singapore businessman and ex-wife cooked up sham to reduce assets for his second divorce, says Judge
* Drink-driving suspect arrested after chain collision near Ikea Alexandra in Singapore on New Year’s Day
* 35 people evacuated after fire breaks out in East Coast house in Singapore
* We will continue to provide more help for Singaporeans, says PM Wong
* Singapore PM Lawrence Wong to visit Malaysia for leaders' retreat
* Mum didn’t know son was married: More sham marriages in Singapore in 2024
Indonesia:
* Indonesia cancels VAT hike on basic goods as such items are very essential for people, says govt
* Three Indonesian teens arrested after allegedly harassing S’porean couple vlogging in Indonesia’s Bandung
* Indonesia provides free health check-ups for locals; Prabowo says 60 million will benefit from project this year
* Wider slate of presidential hopefuls seen for 2029 polls after Indonesian court ruling
* Probe into central bank shows ‘chronic’ corruption
Supporters of Vietnam wave flags during the 2024 Asean Electric Cup final second leg football match between Thailand and Vietnam at the Rajamangala National Stadium in Bangkok on Sunday, January 5, 2025. - AFP
Thailand:
* 39 Chinese tourists test positive for drugs following Pattaya pub raid; but no drugs found at premises
* 151 Thais convicted and imprisoned in Myanmar return home; released in conjunction with country's Independence Day
* 'She has our support' - Thais are confident Paetongtarn will remain the PM in 2025
* Malaysian man held over drugs worth RM120,000 in Sungai Golok
* National paragliding athlete Nurniqmat dies during training in Thailand
Philippines:
* Meet Sofronio Vasquez - Philippines's pride after singer becomes first male Asian and first Filipino winner in 'The Voice USA'
* Philippine Armed Forces pledge loyalty to flag and country after political issues in National Security Council
* Philippines' Mt Kanlaon spews ash of more than 500m , 23 quakes recorded on Saturday (Jan 4), says Phivolcs
* South-East Asian economies face challenging year ahead in 2025
* Marcos removes VP Duterte from national security council
This photo shows an aerial view a fishermen's boat at Lhoong beach, Aceh province on Sunday, January 5, 2025. - AFP
Vietnam:
* Vietnamese culinary dishes make impact around the world; receives top marks from food lovers around the world
* Vietnam aims of becoming major regional and international financial centre; move creates new driving forces for development, says PM
* Coffee drinkers have to adapt to surging prices amid global supply shortage
* Vietnam offers up to 50% of initial investment costs for semiconductor and AI investors
* Hanoi declared world’s most polluted city
Myanmar:
* Myanmar's ruling junta grants amnesty to thousands of prisoners; many political detainees also freed
* Malaysia turns back boats carrying 300 Myanmar migrants
* 6,000 prisoners to be freed on Independence Day
A tourist boat sail along the Mekong River as the sun sets in Phnom Penh. - AFP
Cambodia
* Shocker in Cambodia: Military police officers including a deputy commander arrested for drug-related offences
* Famous Cambodian fermented fish paste 'prahok' season returns in January
* Cambodia's Techo International Airport listed among 11 architecture projects set to shape the world in 2025, reports CNN
Laos:
* Bokeo authorities in Laos continue crackdown on scam call centres; rampant cases have been identified
* Lao police crack down on over 7,000 criminal cases in 2024
Brunei:
* Massive Brunei police op smashes drug syndicate, 18 suspects detained
* South-East Asian nations celebrate third anniversary of RCEP programme with its partners
A 276-kilogram bluefin tuna that was auctioned for 207 million Japanese yen (US$1.3 million), which was bought jointly by sushi restaurant operator Onodera Group and wholesaler Yamayuki, is carried into an Onodera sushi restaurant after the first tuna auction of the New Year in Tokyo, Japan, on Sunday, January 5, 2025. - Reuters
AseanPlus:
* Hong Kong police arrest 31 who used deepfakes to scam victims in Singapore, Malaysia
* Rafflesia blooms at Gunung Gading, drawing crowds
* Incident involving Palestinians at Wisma Transit resolved without injuries, says Armed Forces
* 'Don’t associate all concerts with drugs, onus on concertgoers to behave properly' says Karyawan Malaysia
* Tuna fetching a whopping RM5.85mil in New Year auction fuels Japan economy hopes
* South Korean protesters brave cold to demand Yoon's ouster as detention deadline looms
* Five arrested over sale of fake tickets for Hong Kong star Andy Lau’s concerts
* Chinese traders and students master Malay to attract South-East Asian including Malaysian tourists
* Cat owners feed Covid pills to pets to beat deadly virus
* Two people killed in light plane crash off Australia's east coast
* Blinken wades into political crisis with stop in South Korea
* Japanese dad quits job to honour late daughter’s memory by opening café with family
* Street in Osaka painted yellow to curb prostitution
* Cosplay thrives, inspiring businesses and boosting Japan's pop culture scene
* Bird flu outbreaks strike Japan farms; about 50,000 chickens being culled
* South Korean authorities conclude week-long search operations at site of Jeju Air plane crash
* A volatile world in 2025 - The year ahead will see rising geopolitical tensions
* Asean woman on top - In 2028, it will be Indonesia’s turn to nominate the next candidate for Asean secretary general
* Eyeing stronger economic ties - India and the United States
* Australia's southeast braces for extreme fire danger amid intense heatwave
* Cricket - Australia beat India by six wickets to win series 3-1; wins Border-Gavaskar Trophy
* Vanishing heritage: Morocco’s women rug weavers battle to save age-old craft
* AI robots are coming, and they will be made in Asia / * Next AI powerhouse: South-East Asia
* Syrian foreign minister in Doha to meet senior Qatari officials
* It’s been a harsh winter for Palestinians in Gaza - residents largely entered the new year on Wednesday shivering in tent camps
