Asean news headlines as of 10pm on Tuesday (Dec 23)

Volunteers clad in Santa Claus costumes throwing their hats in the air for a photo during a Christmas charity event before they deliver gifts for the underprivileged in Seoul on Dec 23. - AP

Malaysia

* Sultan Ibrahim visits high-tech defence facilities in Abu Dhabi

* Pressuring judiciary for political gain erodes democracy, say analysts

* Ringgit climbs to strongest level against US dollar since early March 2021

* MACC uncovers high-profile cases, recovers assets worth over RM8.4bil as of Nov 30

* Anwar calls for respect, patience after Najib's house arrest bid denied

* Rulers' powers not diminished with dismissal of Najib's house arrest bid, says AGC

* High Court grants govt more time to block PetroSaudi from RM1.61bil linked to 1MDB

* Dr Zaliha's ex-aide lodges MACC report, clears air over 'bribe attempt'

* Global airline system disruption affects check-in, boarding at Malaysia Airports

* Check-in and boarding at airports back to normal, says MAHB

* Zayn's mother remains in prison until appeal resolves

* Najib has every right to appeal dismissal of house arrest bid, says PAS sec-gen

* Woman who allegedly lived at KLIA for a year suffers from mental health issues, say cops

* Over 2.2 million vehicles expected to enter Penang during Christmas, school holidays

* Malaysia’s strong digital infrastructure attracts investments, says Fahmi

* Customs foils RM3mil e-waste smuggling attempt in Ops Demeter

* Malaysian students win gold at International Robot Olympiad with Mars-exploration robot concept

* Man arrested, drugs worth RM2.4mil seized in Alor Setar

* OCBC, Bank of Ningbo partner with Johor Govt, agencies to promote JS-SEZ in Beijing

* China likely to remain Malaysia’s largest trading partner

* 29,000 Auxiliary Police positions yet to be filled, says Bukit Aman

* MACC launches investigation into alleged corruption involving senior military officer

* Mutual respect among diverse communities the bedrock of Sabah’s political stability, says Hajiji in Christmas message

* Sabah MACC proposes governance improvements for state rural housing programme

Singapore

* Married Singaporean man convicted of obtaining sexual services from 13-year-old girl

* Nearly five years’ jail for Singapore man who used different schemes to cheat 37 victims of over S$1.4mil

* Beefed-up security, crowd control measures, road closures in Singapore's Orchard Road for Christmas Eve

* More jail time for man linked to case involving husbands who had their wives drugged and raped

* Man dies after Woodlands eatery scuffle; suspect faces charge of voluntarily causing grievous hurt

* Singapore core inflation stays at year’s high of 1.2% in November

* Singaporeans visiting S. Korea can skip immigration lines with expansion of auto-gate system

Thailand

* Thai PM pledges support for Laos’ ‘Land-Locked to Land-Linked’ policy

* Thailand-Cambodia border meeting in doubt over venue row

* Thailand's Second Army Area targets 18 Cambodian military positions

* Myanmar nationals caught with 10 drones in Bangkok: Police

* Thai authorities rescue two lions, three bears found caged at Cambodian casino near border

Philippines

* Caution urged as Kanlaon Volcano in Philippines spews ash multiple times

* Six-year-old girl rescued from hostage-taking in Marawi City, Philippines

* Five suspected rebels killed in clash with troops in Philippines

* Philippine live births fall to around 1.36 million in 2024

* Peso undervalued by 50%, but makes remittances stretch further this Christmas

People singing Christmas carols in Jakarta on Dec 23, 2025. - AP

Indonesia

* Mob burns police office in north Sumatra following release of alleged drug dealer

* Indonesia denies sovereignty risk in US trade deal expected in January

* Indonesia expects normal wet season in 2026, weather agency says

* Indonesian agency faces criticism over free meal programme during school break

Vietnam

* To Lam, reformist risk-taker, seeks to extend his hold on Vietnam

* Christmas spirit lights up HCM City streets

* Vietnam a rising star in Asia: Indian professor

Pedestrians waiting to cross a road under national flags displayed ahead of Myanmar's general election in Yangon on Dec 23, 2025. Myanmar junta has touted polls starting Dec 28 as a path to peace, but the vote will be blocked from rebel-held enclaves and monitors are dismissing it as a ploy to disguise continuing military rule.- AFP

Myanmar

* Disputed Myanmar election wins China's vote of confidence

* Myanmar junta stages election after five years of civil war

* Sequestered Suu Kyi overshadows military-run Myanmar election

* Ex-junta prisoner runs for Suu Kyi's seat in Myanmar election

Cambodia

* Cambodia asks Thailand to move border talks to Malaysia

* Chinese national in Cambodia wounded in Cambodia-Thailand border conflict

* ‘What we want is to stop the fighting and end the suffering of the people’: Cambodia FM

* Cambodia earns US$14.83bil from exports of garments, footwear in Jan-Nov

Laos

* Lao government pledges to strengthen response to natural disasters

* Economy stabilises as reforms take hold in Laos: World Bank

Brunei

* Royal Brunei Air Force officers join Hawaii defence summit

* Heavy congestion expected at Brunei's border during holiday period

* Sidecar globetrotter ‘Robby 3 Wheels’ makes stop in Brunei

People taking part in a protest organised by cultural organisation Chhayanaut against arson and vandalism of cultural institutions in Dhaka on Dec 23, 2025. The killing of popular student leader Sharif Osman Hadi in Dhaka set off protests on Dec 18 as angry mobs torched several buildings, including two major newspapers Prothom Alo and the Daily Star deemed to favour India as well as a prominent cultural institution. - AFP

AseanPlus

* IndiGo crisis reveals why India’s new air safety rules are vital

* Chinese woman resembles actress Joey Wong after losing 20kg, plans dance career

* Taiwan metro attack suspect's parents apologise after deadly stabbing

* Families want answers a year after South Korea's deadliest plane crash

* China boy accidentally breaks US$280,000 gold crown on display; owner will not pursue damages

* Japan eyes capping foreign workers at 426,000 under new training system

* China delays plans for mass production of self-driving cars after accident

* North Korea's Kim tours hot tubs, barbecue joints at lavish new mountain resort

* K-Pop concert to be held in Hong Kong and aired in mainland China, say organisers

* Child dragged from classroom in second bear attack at same school in India

* Bag charms become new "emotional currency" for Chinese youth

* Amazon says blocked 1,800 North Koreans from applying for jobs

* Hundreds protest in New Delhi over killing of Hindu man in Bangladesh

* Nine Japanese police officers suspected of online casino gambling

* Bangladesh leader vows to hold general elections on schedule

* No white Christmas in South Korea? Brace for a cold snap

* Bangladesh summons Indian envoy as protest erupts in New Delhi

* Nankai Trough earthquake: Not all evacuation towers in Japan ready for major tsunami

* India to provide US$450mil to cyclone-ravaged Sri Lanka

* Five Pakistani police personnel killed in 'gun and bomb' attack

* HK actor Ray Lui makes rare public appearance with 24YO son in China

* Mayday’s Ashin falls 2m from stage during ‘F3 reunion’ show in Shanghai

* Stolen Bruce Lee statue 'returns' to Bosnia town

* HK actor Chow Yun Fat hosts simple dinner for nearly 100 former colleagues