Heavy snow returns as Seoul braces itself for possible disruption
The new snowfall follows last week’s heavy snow, which caused widespread traffic problems.
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EU open to accommodate Belgian concerns on guarantees in Russian asset plan
BRUSSELS, Dec 12 - The European Commission is open to include guarantees that Belgium wants in the plan to use immobilised Russian central bank assets for a loan to Ukraine, European Economic Commissioner Valdis Dombrovskis said on Friday.
Euroclear can offset its assets seized by Russia with Russia's assets -EU
BRUSSELS, Dec 12 - Belgian central securities depository Euroclear, which holds most of the Russian central bank assets frozen in Europe, can offset any seizure of its assets in Russia as a result of lawsuits with the Russian assets it holds in Belgium, a senior EU
5 takeaways from China’s Central Economic Work Conference as Beijing maps its 2026 growth path
Analysts say the key meeting offers fresh clues about where China sees its biggest pressures as it faces up to domestic and external headwinds.
Berlin summons Russian ambassador over increase in hybrid attacks
BERLIN, Dec 12 - Berlin has summoned Russia's ambassador over what it said was a huge increase in threatening hybrid activities including disinformation campaigns, espionage, cyberattacks and attempted sabotage, a German foreign ministry spokesperson said on Friday.
Beijing says it expelled Philippine aircraft, vessels near disputed South China Sea atolls
China had in September approved the creation of a national nature reserve there.
Finland to procure AMRAAM missiles from the US
STOCKHOLM, Dec 12 - Finland said on Friday it would procure Advanced Medium Range Air-to-Air Missiles (AMRAAM) from the United States.
Ukraine says it retakes parts of Kupiansk, encircling Russian troops
KYIV, Dec 12 - Ukrainian forces have retaken parts of the northeastern town of Kupiansk and several villages around it in an operation that encircled Russian troops, a Ukrainian military commander said on Friday.
Adult content creator Bonnie Blue to be deported from Bali
The adult film actress was cleared of breaking the country's strict anti-pornography laws.
Explainer-Thailand's snap election: How will it play out?
BANGKOK, Dec 12 - Thailand is set for an earlier-than-expected election after Prime Minister Anutin Charnvirakul dissolved parliament amid a fierce border conflict with Cambodia and political turmoil that risked the collapse of his fragile minority government.
Ukraine says it hit two Russian ships transporting military equipment in Caspian Sea
KYIV, Dec 12 - Ukraine's special forces said on Friday they had conducted an operation alongside what they described as a local resistance movement to hit two Russian ships transporting weapons and military equipment in the Caspian sea.
India, France seal treaty revamp giving Paris dividend relief, Delhi tax rights
NEW DELHI, Dec 12 - India and France have struck a deal to revise their 1992 treaty which will halve the tax on dividends paid by Indian units to French parents, potentially saving millions for companies with major operations in the South Asian nation, documents show.
JB and KL hit by flash floods after heavy downpour
Traffic came to a standstill in Danga Bay and a stage set up for an event in Johor collapsed.
China Politburo member misses two key meetings as mystery builds
It has fuelled speculation about the fate of Mr Ma Xingrui amid President Xi’s anti-corruption purge.
As jobs dry up, China’s migrant workers are returning to their villages and staying put
Despite government concerns about economic stagnation in the villages, some think there are job opportunities there.
Prada to launch $930 'Made in India' Kolhapuri sandals after backlash
The deal comes months after Prada faced backlash for allegedly appropriating a sandal design made by Indian artisans.
Operations of 30% firms in north-eastern Japan disrupted by bears: Survey
About 67 per cent of bear attacks between April and November occurred in north-western Japan.
British porn star to be deported from Bali after small fine
Police said, however, they found no evidence of adult material.
Kremlin suggests it may not like new Ukraine peace proposals after recent U.S.-Ukraine talks
MOSCOW, Dec 12 - Kremlin foreign policy aide Yuri Ushakov said on Friday that Moscow has not seen revised U.S. proposals made after the most recent talks with Ukraine, but that it may not like parts of them.
Thailand’s snap poll set to boost odds for PM Anutin, but risks loom
His Bhumjaithai party stands to gain, but a hung Parliament looms, analysts say.
Japan picks ‘bear’ as kanji of 2025 amid surge in bear sightings, attacks
The choice was also influenced by heightened attention on another kind of bear: the giant panda.
Pricier than buses, cheaper than flights: How does Malaysia's JB-KL electric train compare to other options?
CNA’s Amir Yusof boarded the first northbound electric train from JB Sentral to Kuala Lumpur to find out.
A first look at Malaysia’s new electric train service between JB and KL
CNA’s Amir Yusof boarded the first northbound electric train from JB Sentral to Kuala Lumpur to see how it compares to other transport options.
Famed Japanese novelist Haruki Murakami receives US award for bilateral ties
The 76-year-old Murakami lived in the United States in the early 1990s.
Continuous rain expected across multiple states in Malaysia
The country's meteorological department expects a monsoon surge from Dec 14 to 18.
Man in China jailed 4 years for poisoning and killing 9 pet dogs
The man, surnamed Zhang, had scattered toxic substances in a residential compound in Beijing.
South Korea exam chief resigns after complaints that English test was too hard
One question asked students to consider the nature of time and clocks.
Bear spotted at Japan ski resort in latest incident
A snowboarder described how one of the animals chased him on the piste.
Hong Kong leader says probe into deadly blaze expected to conclude in 9 months
An independent committee is investigating malpractices that bedevil the city’s construction industry.
Rising forest loss puts Kalimantan at higher disaster risk
Environmentalists have blamed deforestation in some provinces for causing flood disasters.
Gurney Bridge linking Penang to Andaman Island township officially opens
The 1.2km-long bridge is part of major integrated development plans on Penang’s northern coast.
Indonesian floods were 'extinction level' for rare orang utans
Tapanulis are incredibly rare, with fewer than 800 left in the wild in part of Indonesia’s Sumatra.
Lots of clicks online, but few arrivals as Indonesia’s ‘New Balis’ dream hits snag
Although online searches for new spots have surged, the buzz has not translated into more traffic.
Famous crocodile wrangler jailed for evidence tampering
Former Netflix star Matt Wright was found guilty of lying to police over a fatal chopper crash in 2022.
Thai PM sets course for early election amid border and parliamentary unrest
The move paves the way for an election to be held as early as February.
DPM Gan to visit China on Dec 15 for top-level bilateral meeting
Deputy Prime Minister Gan Kim Yong and China’s Vice Premier Ding Xuexiang will co-chair the 21st Joint Council for Bilateral Cooperation meeting (JCBC).
Thai military rejects Cambodian claims of strikes on civilians, confirms AI images among fake news
It presented evidence that photographs circulating on social media have been fabricated.
Hong Kong's legal clampdown on tycoon and China critic Jimmy Lai
HONG KONG, Dec 12 - Hong Kong's High Court will hand down a verdict in the trial of media tycoon and China critic Jimmy Lai on Monday.
Google to build subsea cables in Papua New Guinea under Australia defence treaty
SYDNEY, Dec 12 - Papua New Guinea said on Friday that Alphabet's Google will build three subsea cables, funded by Australia under a mutual defence treaty, in a key upgrade to the digital backbone of the biggest Pacific Island nation.
Nepal says economy suffered $756 million hit from ‘Gen Z’ protests
The youth-led protests and the unrest that followed killed 77 people and injured more than 2,000 others.
DPM Gan to head to Chongqing for high-level Singapore-China talks
He will co-chair the Joint Council for Bilateral Cooperation with Chinese Vice-Premier Ding Xuexiang.
Anutin, Trump set to speak as Thailand-Cambodia clashes continue for fifth day
US President Donald Trump is keen to intervene again to stop the fighting and salvage the truce he brokered in October.
Thai teacher finds 'peace amidst chaos' painting bunker murals
Renewed fighting has displaced around half a million people on both sides.
Malaysia seeks ex-Goldman banker Leissner’s extradition to face 1MDB trial
The US is weighing the application, said Malaysia's attorney general's chambers.