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President's proposal to subsidise hair loss treatment splits South Korea
Experts say Lee Jae Myung's bid to insure hair loss treatment is a "strategic gesture targeting young male voters".
Seized buildings, other assets linked to Marcos dictatorship corruption fall into neglect
The assets are deteriorating, sit unsecured, or have no updated valuations at the central bank.
Violence erupts in Bangladesh after wounded youth leader dies in Singapore hospital
Mr Sharif Osman Hadi, 32, was airlifted to S'pore after he was shot by masked gunmen a week ago.
Crunch time for former Malaysia PM Najib ahead of two crucial court rulings
Malaysia’s High Court will deliver two pivotal rulings in the coming days in the protracted legal battles of jailed former premier Najib Razak.
Commentary: Why Japan-China tensions won’t resolve anytime soon
Amid heated rhetoric and economic retaliation, there are three points about Taiwan and Japan we should not conflate, says NUS political scientist Chong Ja Ian.
As cultural confidence grows, Chinese brands highlight China’s heritage in storytelling
Younger Chinese people tend to prioritise emotional resonance when choosing how to spend their money, analysts say.
'Golden springboard': A decade-old Sino-Singapore project links western China with Southeast and Central Asia
As the Singapore-China Chongqing Connectivity Initiative (CCI) marks its 10th anniversary, CNA visits businesses on the ground to examine the gains - and the bottlenecks that remain.
Commentary: Philippines is in for a perilous year as ASEAN chair
Manila is likely to focus on managing China, but the string of problems it inherits will make its turn as ASEAN chair tricky, says former foreign correspondent Nirmal Ghosh.
Violence breaks out in Bangladesh after death of youth protest leader
Sharif Osman Hadi was a prominent figure in the movement that ousted former prime minister Sheik Hasina.
New EU draft text on Russian assets offers uncapped guarantees for Belgium
BRUSSELS, Dec 18 - A new draft text discussed by European Union leaders on Thursday offers Belgium and other countries holding frozen Russian assets unlimited guarantees for potential damages, should Moscow successfully sue them for an EU plan to lend them to Ukraine.
How Trump's Venezuela embargo could put Taiwan at risk
WASHINGTON, Dec 18 - Donald Trump's decision to impose a partial blockade on Venezuela marks a dramatic escalation in U.S. pressure on Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro, but it also risks undermining a top U.S. policy goal: deterring a potential Chinese naval encirclement of
India’s Parliament passes Bill to open nuclear power to private firms
India is the third-biggest emitter of the greenhouse gases linked to climate change.
Venezuela authorizes two unsanctioned loaded oil supertankers to depart, sources say
Dec 18 - Venezuela on Thursday authorized two very large crude carriers (VLCC) to set sail for China, according to two sources familiar with Venezuela's oil export operations. They would be only the second and third supertankers to depart the country since the U.S. seized
Bondi bravery: A 'superhero' mother and a couple who died fighting
A father tells the BBC he owes the life of his child to a stranger forced into an impossible decision.
Finland's far-right party reprimands two MPs over racism scandal
HELSINKI, Dec 18 - Finland's far-right Finns Party said on Thursday it had reprimanded two of its lawmakers who posted derogatory images widely seen as offensive to Asians.
ECB's Lagarde 'fully confident' EU will agree reparation loan plan for Ukraine
LONDON, Dec 18 - European Central Bank President Christine Lagarde said on Thursday she was \"fully confident\" European Union leaders would agree a way to support Ukraine given the vital importance of the issue.
Pickup driver killed after overpass collapses in Thai province near Bangkok
An 18-wheel dump truck had raised its bed while driving before colliding with the overpass structure.
China’s Hainan island takes steps towards goal of becoming a leading free trade port
It has launched islandwide Customs operations that allow 74 per cent of imported goods to be tariff-free.
Malaysian police officer bends car door open to nab suspected thieves
One netizen compared the officer to Captain America.
EU leaders to propose Ukraine reparations loan using Russia's frozen assets under conditions - draft document
BRUSSELS, Dec 18 - According to a draft document seen by Reuters, which could still change, European Union leaders will ask EU institutions to urgently adopt instruments to establish a reparations loan backed by cash balances linked to Russia's frozen assets.
North Korea stole $2.57b of crypto in 2025, report says
A sharp jump from 2024 underscores North Korea’s growing ability to pull off massive heists.
Sri Lankan police arrest three men for burning elephant alive
Wildlife officials said the animal had first been shot and wounded before being set alight.
China says arms trade with Cambodia, Thailand unrelated to border conflict
China’s Foreign Minister Wang Yi also called for an immediate ceasefire.
Thailand bombs near Cambodia's Poipet border crossing
The bombings come as renewed border clashes show no sign of letting up between the two countries.
Azerbaijan seeks life sentence for billionaire former Karabakh official Vardanyan
BAKU/TBILISI, Dec 18 - Azerbaijani prosecutors on Thursday asked a Baku court for a life sentence for Ruben Vardanyan, a billionaire banker who served as a senior official in the breakaway Armenian administration of Nagorno-Karabakh before its collapse in 2023, state news
Overseas attacks highlight a quieter but more complex terror risk for S-E Asia
Terrorism is evolving amid online radicalisation towards lone-wolf violence, which is harder to detect, analysts warn.
Taiwan rattled by 5.1-magnitude earthquake; no immediate reports of damage
The quake briefly shook buildings in the capital, Taipei.
Taiwan rattled by 5.1 magnitude quake, no immediate reports of damage
TAIPEI, Dec 18 - A 5.1 magnitude earthquake struck 18 km (11 miles) off eastern Taiwan's Hualien city on Thursday, the island's weather administration said, with no immediate reports of damage.
S. Korean President’s remarks on hair loss treatment open up debate about health insurance
Mr Lee had suggested expanding public health insurance coverage for hair loss treatment.
Cambodia border fight is also a war on scammers, says Thailand
Thailand said some of the targets its military has hit were scam compounds used by Cambodian troops.
India signs trade pact with Oman as it expands Middle East ties
DUBAI/NEW DELHI, Dec 18 - India signed an economic partnership agreement with Oman on Thursday to boost bilateral trade and investment as it seeks to expand Middle East ties and diversify trade to beat steep U.S. tariffs.
Prabowo says Indonesia should appoint, not elect local leaders - what are the implications?
President Prabowo Subianto has suggested scrapping the direct election of governors, mayors and regents in Indonesia, citing high costs. Critics say it will not address corruption and bribery risks.
Russia is preparing for contacts with the United States on Ukraine, the Kremlin says
MOSCOW, Dec 18 - The Kremlin said on Thursday that Russia was preparing for contacts with the United States to get details about U.S. talks with European powers and Ukraine on a possible peace settlement to end the Ukraine conflict.
Australia police arrest 7 men in Sydney after tip on possible ‘violent act’
A police sport utility vehicle rammed head-on into a small white hatchback driven by the suspects.
EU targets 41 additional vessels in Russia's shadow fleet
BRUSSELS, Dec 18 - The European Union on Thursday imposed sanctions on 41 more ships in Russia's shadow fleet, taking the total of designated vessels to almost 600.
Japan eyes adding Japanese proficiency to permanent residency requirements
The revised law also allows for permanent residency to be revoked if the holder intentionally neglects public obligations.
In pictures: Toxic haze covers Delhi as air quality worsens
Exposure to this level of pollution can cause serious health problems, experts say.
Hainan now has a new customs regime. What does it signal for China’s trade openness?
Hainan is now a distinct customs zone from the rest of mainland China. The tropical island province is being positioned as a testbed for policy and trade openness amid mounting external headwinds, say analysts.
Russia says it hopes Trump does not make a 'fatal mistake' on Venezuela
MOSCOW, Dec 18 - Russia's Foreign Ministry said on Thursday it hoped that U.S. President Donald Trump's administration would not make a fatal mistake over Venezuela and said Moscow was concerned about U.S. decisions that threatened international shipping.
Australian PM announces crackdown on hate speech after Bondi shooting
Measures include fresh penalties for 'those who spread hate' as well as new powers to cancel or refuse visas.
The EU’s great frozen Russian asset holdup
You do not invade Russia in winter. Napoleon learned that from the comfort of the Louvre’s heated salons, long before anyone could swipe the empress’s jewels from beneath the museum’s nose. Anyone convinced that the great European jackpot of 2025 is the glitter stolen from a
Floods in Malaysia force thousands across six states to evacuate
The authorities have opened 75 temporary shelters to aid affected families.
At Tokyo zoo, visitors fear a spat with China will cost Japan its pandas
The last day to view pandas Xiao Xiao and Lei Lei at Ueno Zoo is Jan 25.
Beauty and wellness giant Mannings closes all stores in mainland China
Also known as Guardian in Southeast Asia, Mannings’ physical stores in mainland China will cease operations after Jan 15, 2026.
Thailand strikes building in Cambodia's border casino hub
Thai forces dropped three bombs in an area of Poipet city, says the Cambodian interior ministry.
Thailand strikes building in Cambodia’s border casino hub
Poipet is a major land crossing between the two nations that are engaged in renewed border clashes.
Manila teacher probed by education department for forcing student to eat cockroach
The student had reportedly caught the teacher molesting a girl in a restroom.