Nation

Twelve men and Vietnamese woman arrested over armed restaurant fight in JB

JOHOR BARU: A fight believed to have been triggered by a personal debt dispute led to the arrest of 12 local men and a foreign woman following an armed attack at a restaurant in Taman Mount Austin.

Sabah & Sarawak

Community leader calls for investigation into public indecency at Likas Bay

KOTA KINABALU: A viral social media video of a couple allegedly involved in a sex act in a public place along the city's popular Likas Bay here should be investigated, says Sayang Sabah Community Club deputy president Steve Johnny Mositun.

AseanPlus News

3D printed hands, tools co-created by Singapore non-profit group plug assistive-tech gaps

SINGAPORE: Living independently became a challenge for 38-year-old Irene Lim after part of her forearms and legs were amputated in 2023 due to sepsis triggered by an unknown bacterial infection.

Thailand

'Make emitters responsible': Thailand's clean air activists

BANGKOK: A finance specialist who struggled after running in smog and a doctor who fears for the health of his children are among the activists spearheading landmark air pollution legislation in Thailand despite political uncertainty.

South Korea

One year after Jeju Air disaster, questions remain unanswered

SEOUL: For Ko Jae-seoung, the year since his parents died in a Jeju Air plane crash has been marked less by mourning than by waiting for answers, accountability and an explanation the government has yet to provide.

Nation

Residents advised to report tremor experiences as agencies assess situation

MUAR: Security authorities and relevant agencies are continuing to monitor the tremor situation to ensure the safety and well-being of the public and surrounding areas, says Muar district officer Zainal Eran.

Laos

Laos' 12th National Party Congress slated for Jan 6–8

VIENTIANE: The Lao People's Revolutionary Party (LPRP) will hold its 12th National Congress from Jan 6-8, electing a new Party leadership for the next five-year term and outlining directions guiding the nation's development from 2026-2030.

Nation

Caretaker arrested for alleged child abuse at Cheras nursery

KUALA LUMPUR: Investigations into alleged child abuse at a nursery in Cheras have resulted in the arrest of one suspect.

Brunei

Brunei releases course list for study abroad scholarships

BANDAR SERI BEGAWAN: Local students interested in furthering their studies under the Sultan and Yang Di-Pertuan of Brunei Darussalam Government Scholarship Scheme to Study Abroad (General) for the 2026/2027 academic session can now view the list of offered courses, which was released on Saturday (Dec 27).

Vietnam

Hanoi residents in a pickle over noise from pickleball courts

HANOI: The piercing pop-pop of pickleball paddles starts before sunrise and ends after midnight at dozens of newly built courts across Hanoi, as residents relish one of Vietnam's fastest-growing sports -- or rage at the noise it makes

Nation

Istana Arau draws media ahead of new MB swearing-in ceremony

ARAU: Istana Arau has drawn media attention, reportedly to cover the swearing-in ceremony of the new Perlis Menteri Besar.

Cambodia

Cambodia expects Thais to honour statement and free its soldiers after 72 hours

PHNOM PENH: Minister of National Defence Tea Seiha expects the Thai side to act in accordance with the spirit of the special General Border Committee (GBC) meeting, in which both sides agreed to a ceasefire starting at noon on Dec 26 and to release 18 captured Cambodian soldiers 72 hours after the implementation of the ceasefire.

Technology

Coupang founder Kim Bom apologises for data leak, pledges compensation

SEOUL, ‌Dec 28 (Reuters) - ‌Coupang chairman ‌and founder Kim Bom ‍said he "sincerely ‍apologises" ‌for the data ‍leak ​of ⁠customer information and pledged ‌to unveil ⁠a ‍compensation plan ‍as soon as ‌possible, according to a statement posted on the company's ‌website.

Japan

Wolf escapes enclosure at Japan zoo, visitors flee to safety

TOKYO: A wolf was found to be missing at Tama Zoological Park in Hino, Tokyo, on Sunday (Dec 28) morning

Forex

Ringgit to trade in narrow range against US dollar in holiday-shortened week ahead

KUALA LUMPUR: The ringgit is expected to trade in a narrow range next week, hovering between 4.03 and 4.05 against the US dollar amid a holiday-shortened week.

Japan

Japan's rice policy at crossroads amid output shift

TOKYO: Japan's rice policy is at a crossroads as prices of the country's staple food stay around record highs, squeezing households, Jiji Press reported.

Thailand

Anutin says Bhumjaithai party will not touch on lese-majeste law, to decide on coalition partner only after polls

BANGKOK: Thai Prime Minister Anutin Charnvirakul, the leader of the Bhumjaithai Party, spoke about the prospects of teaming up with the People's Party in Bangkok on Sunday (Dec 28).

Football

Soccer-Valencia coach Fernando Martin dies in Indonesia boat accident

JAKARTA, Dec 28 (Reuters) - ‌Fernando Martin, a coach with Valencia CF, ‌has died with three members of his ‌family after their boat capsized in Indonesia, Spanish football clubs said.

TV

Actor Simu Liu exercises his creative vision with 'The Copenhagen Test'

The 36-year-old China-born Canadian star flexes his creative muscles with new show 'The Copenhagen Test', a science-fiction spy thriller he headlines and co-produces.

Philippines

81 Filipinos still trapped in shelter after Myanmar scam hub rescue

MANILA: In a Border Guard Force (BGF) shelter in Myawaddy, Myanmar, Jun (not his real name) spent Christmas with 80 other Filipinos and an undetermined number of other foreign nationals. Most probably, they will also welcome the New Year there, waiting for the Friendship Bridge between Myanmar and Thailand to reopen.