Laos

International tourism in Laos surges 13 per cent in the first 10 months of 2025

Laos welcomed nearly 3.8 million international tourists in the first ten months of 2025, a 13 percent increase compared to the same period in 2024.

Other Sports

M'sia sepak takraw team beat hosts Thais to regain glory after 34 years

BANGKOK: The national men's sepak takraw team ended their 34-year wait for gold in the team regu event by defeating long-time rivals Thailand 2-1 in the final on Sunday (Dec 14).

Other Sports

SEA Games: Mohd Aznil delivers first weighlifting medal

BANGKOK: Mohd Aznil Bidin has delivered Malaysia's first medal in weightlifting after claiming silver in the men's 65kg final in the SEA Games.

Nation

RXZ motorcycle gathering in Melaka a success, says Ab Rauf

MELAKA: The gathering of thousands of classic Yamaha RXZ motorcycle enthusiasts has been a success, said Datuk Seri Ab Rauf Yusoh.

AseanPlus News

Why ‘Hong Kong model’ combining Chinese and Western medicine could go global

German facility says it is exploring potential areas of collaboration and possible joint projects with the city's new hospital

World

Australia police responding after gunshots reported at Bondi beach

SYDNEY, Dec 14 (Reuters) - Australian police said on Sunday they were responding to a developing incident at Sydney's Bondi Beach and were urging the public to avoid the area.

China

Why South Korea poses a major challenge to China’s Middle East arms sales drive

Both neighbours hope to expand exports to the region, but the Koreans may be better placed due to systems integration and political concerns

World

Iran's foreign minister to visit Russia and Belarus, foreign ministry says

DUBAI, Dec 14 (Reuters) - Iran's Foreign Minister, Abbas Araqchi, will visit Russia and Belarus in the next two to three days, foreign ministry spokesperson Esmail Baghaei said on Sunday.

Nation

Stop-work order issued over fatal crane accident at Tanjung Bin Complex

PONTIAN: A stop-work order has been issued to Tanjung Bin Complex, where two workers were killed and three others injured in an accident on Saturday (Dec 13), says the Johor Occupational Safety and Health Department (DOSH)

AseanPlus News

China’s Huawei ramps up foldable smartphone battle with global launch of slim Mate X7

Huawei held nearly 70 per cent of China's foldable smartphone market in the first three quarters, according to research firm IDC

Nation

Myanmar man dies in Jalan Istana road accident

KUALA LUMPUR: A man was killed near Jalan Istana after a car accidentally crashed into his bike.

Focus

Ten years after the Paris Agreement, let’s redouble efforts

In 2015 in Paris, 195 member states made a historic commitment to work together to keep the long-term rise in global temperatures well below 2°C above pre-industrial levels.

Indonesia

Indonesia flood death toll exceeds 1,000 as rescue, recovery efforts continue

JAKARTA: The death toll from floods and landslides that struck three provinces on Indonesia's Sumatra Island has exceeded 1,000, with 218 people still missing, according to the latest data released Saturday (dEC 13) by the National Disaster Management Agency (BNPB).

Thailand

Thai PM Anutin's support declines as election looms: Survey

BANGKOK: Thai Prime Minister Anutin Charnvirakul's popularity has dropped further behind the leader of an opposition party, an opinion poll shows, with general elections less than two months away.

Shooting

Sharp-shooter Johnathan fires gold again

BANGKOK: National pistol shooter Johnathan Wong successfully defended his SEA Games gold medal after winning in the men's 10m air pistol event on Sunday (Dec 14).

Vietnam

Vietnam emerges as attractive destination for technology capital in South-East Asia

HANOI: Vietnam has emerged as an appealing destination for technology investment in Southeast Asia, according to the Vietnam Innovation Startup Ecosystem Report 2025 announced by the Ministry of Science and Technology on Friday (Dec 12) on the sidelines of TECHFEST Vietnam 2025.

Nation

Rewcastle-Brown's trial in absentia declared as mistrial

KUALA TERENGGANU: The Kuala Terengganu High Court has declared the Magistrate's Court's trial in absentia of Sarawak Report editor Clare Rewcastle-Brown as a mistrial.

Badminton

SEA Games: Smashing Pearly-Thinaah win Malaysia's first badminton gold

BANGKOK: Women's doubles shuttlers Pearly Tan-M. Thinaah delivered badminton's first gold in the SEA Games after beating Indonesia's Febriana Dwipuji-Meilysa Puspitasari.

Japan

Japan looks to India for caregivers as domestic labour crunch deepens

TOKYO: Indian health care workers are being eyed by Japan as a promising source of caregivers, with hopes that accessing labour from the world's most populous nation could help address personnel shortages in the sector, Kyodo News reported.

Nation

BN to engage GRS, other parties on Kinabatangan, Lamag polls

SEMENYIH: Barisan Nasional will hold discussions with all parties, particularly those forming the Sabah government, on the selection of candidates for the Kinabatangan parliamentary and Lamag state by-elections following the death of incumbent Datuk Seri Bung Moktar Radin.