Thailand

Sakaeo Border tense, Cambodia launches heavy artillery attack on three key areas, evacuation preparations underway

BANGKOK: Tensions rose at the Thai-Cambodian border in Sakaeo as Cambodia launched over 100 rounds of heavy artillery and BM-21 rockets.

AseanPlus News

Hong Kong court’s verdict in Jimmy Lai trial sheds light on law, experts say

Judges stress that Lai's actions before enactment of national security law were not the subject of any charges, serving only as background

Nation

Johor floods: New relief centre opens in Mersing, total now at three

JOHOR BARU: A new temporary flood relief centre (PPS) has been opened in Mersing bringing the total number of PPS in the district to three on Wednesday (Dec 17).

South Korea

South Koreans hunt for old LG air conditioners after logos turn out to be pure gold

SEOUL: An old LG air conditioner from more than two decades ago is suddenly the hottest commodity in South Korea right now, after a viral video showed its brand logo is made of pure gold.

Singapore

Singapore community in Hong Kong raises over S$304,000 to support victims of Tai Po fire

SINGAPORE: The Singapore community in Hong Kong has raised over S$304,000 to support victims of Hong Kong's deadliest blaze in seven decades, which claimed the lives of 160 people and left thousands homeless.

Technology

Factbox-By the numbers: How the Netflix and Paramount bids for Warner Bros stack up

Dec 17 (Reuters) - Warner Bros Discovery's board rejected Paramount Skydance's $108.4 billion hostile bid, saying it failed to provide adequate financing assurances, in a blow to the David Ellison-run company's ambitions to grow its media empire.

Laos

Laos strengthens finance to drive growth, maintain financial stability

VIENTIANE: Laos is reinforcing its efforts to maintain fiscal and monetary stability to support economic growth and improve people's wellbeing while expanding access to modern financial services.

AseanPlus News

Rising local singer Malik Choo completes his love-song trilogy with the soulful 'Move On'

First it was 'Suka Kamu', then came 'Apa Saja', and now it's time for 'Move On'. Rising local singer Malik Choo has completed his love song trilogy splendidly.

Technology

Warner Bros Discovery board rejects rival bid from Paramount

LOS ANGELES, Dec 17 (Reuters) - Warner Bros Discovery's board spurned Paramount Skydance's $108.4 billion hostile takeover bid on Wednesday, calling the offer "illusory" as it accused the studio giant of misleading shareholders about its financing.

Brunei

Bruneian novelist wins prestigious SEA Write Award in Bangkok

BANDAR SERI BEGAWAN: Brunei Darussalam writer Dayang Nur Hamizah Samihon, popularly known as Nur Hamizah Samihon, was honoured with the prestigious Southeast Asian Writers Award (SEA Write Award) 2024 at a ceremony held at Sukhothai Palace, Bangkok, on Tuesday (Dec 16).

Entertainment

HK star Natalis Chan, 75, on why he supports euthanasia: 'Your life is in your hands'

The TVB star shares his reflections on life and death, expressing a calm and positive outlook on ageing.

Mind

‘Sniffing out’ consciousness in unresponsive patients

Researchers are trying to determine if patients who do not appear to be aware of their surroundings are actually 'covertly' conscious.

Nation

VTAR Institute CEO receives Outstanding Chinese Social Dedication Award

PETALING JAYA: VTAR Institute chief executive officer Tan Cheng Liang has received the Outstanding Chinese Social Dedication Award from the Malaysia Chinese Assembly Hall (MCAH).

Books

Our favourite Malaysia-inspired reads of 2025

Craving Malaysian literary flavour? Bookmark these year-end reads — local spice guaranteed.

Nation

Floods: Evacuees increase in Johor, Pahang; drop in Terengganu

KUALA LUMPUR: The number of flood evacuees housed at temporary relief centres in Johor and Pahang increased as of this afternoon, while Terengganu recorded a decline with the closure of three centres.

Singapore

Singaporean man hurls glass bottle towards bus passenger he quarrelled with, breaks window and injures woman

SINGAPORE: Unhappy with a male bus passenger who had flashed him an obscene hand gesture, a man flung a glass bottle at the vehicle from the side of a road.

Nation

Kajang babysitter gets five years' jail for abusing boy, causing right leg fracture

KUALA LUMPUR: The Kajang Sessions Court on Tuesday (Dec 16) sentenced a babysitter to five years in prison for abusing a young boy by kicking his right thigh and causing a fracture two years ago.

Nation

Zero tolerance for corruption in Sabah GLCs, says Hajiji

KOTA KINABALU: Sabah will tighten integrity oversight across all government-linked companies (GLCs), including mandatory quarterly performance reporting and enhanced anti-corruption supervision, says Datuk Seri Hajiji Noor.

Sabah & Sarawak

Sabah to use 'cold mix' for road pothole repairs

KOTA KINABALU: Sabah Ministry of Works and Utilities plans to use cold mix materials for repairs and maintenance, particularly for filling potholes on major roads across the state.

Nation

JB cops investigating after man found dead, believed to have fallen from hotel

JOHOR BARU: A 50-year-old man was found dead after he is believed to have fallen from the highest floor of a hotel at Jalan Dato Sulaiman on Wednesday (Dec 17) near here.