Malaysia:
* Budget 2023 among focus of second session of 15th Parliament
* Govt considering tightening laws to fight work scams, says PM
* Envoy: Be fair, prosecute unlawful migrant employers too
* Strong 8.7% GDP growth for 2022 shows restored confidence in national economy: Anwar
* Housewives are workers too, says Anwar
* Turkiye earthquake: Anwar conveys condolences to Erdogan
* Some hotels in Melaka faced with requests for refunds due to ‘ghostly encounters’
* Anwar: US govt took six months to confirm Nazri’s appointment as ambassador
* Students free to express views, criticise govt, says Anwar
* Malay domination in civil service not an issue, says Anwar
* Malaysian Govt targets half a million housewives to be covered under insurance scheme this year
* Pay your debts even if it is difficult, says Dr M
Singapore:
* Muslim pilgrims from Singapore to pay more for the haj in 2023
* Singapore MP backtracks on major job at Grab’s after public outcry and backlash
* Singapore becomes second country to support global agreement ending harmful fisheries subsidies
* South Korea’s Wang and Spanish golfer Del Ray fires ahead at Singapore Classic
* Dentist’s book wins top prize in Singapore
* A good week for traders as oil prices rise about 2% on Russian plan to cut output
* Corruption endangers world’s shrinking fisheries and Indonesia among worst hit; other Asean countries also face issues
Indonesia:
* Prostitution ring led by Indonesian ‘Mummy’ busted in Klang Valley
* Magnitude 6.0 quake hits off Indonesia’s Talaud islands
* ‘Lato-lato’ craze continues to grip Indonesia amid crackdowns on toy
* Plastic in paradise: Bali is struggling with mountains of rubbish
* Indonesian domestic worker wins compensation for HK abuse
* Law to allow media firms to be paid for content soon in Indonesia
* CVC leads bidding for stake in Indonesia’s Samator Gas
Thailand:
* Thailand’s consumer confidence hits 26-month high
* Thai baht strength a risk to economy, says finance minister; 20 million foreign tourists expected in 2023
* Anwar’s visit to Thailand renews move to solving issues affecting restive southern province, Myanmar
* Thailand and Malaysia unite to restore peace in deep South
* Olympics row deepens as 35 countries demand ban for Russia and Belarus
Philippines:
* No more Covid-19 issues – International cruise ships return in Philippines after three years
* Soldier goes amok in army camp in southern Philippines and kills four sleeping men and critically injures another
* Philippines: Marcos agrees to boost defence ties with Japan
Vietnam:
* Vietnam aims to have 30 airports by 2030
* Covid-19 recognised as occupational disease in Vietnam
* No Vietnamese casualties in Turkiye and Syria
Myanmar:
* Myanmar receives 233,487 international tourists in 2022
* Eight killed, 13 injured in Myanmar highway crashes in January
* Malaysian PM Anwar says Asean should ‘carve’ Myanmar out for now
Cambodia:
* Cambodian Tourism Ministry aims to improve tourist info centres, main task after Covid-19 pandemic
* China’s Xi announces US$44mil grant to Cambodia in support of its railway dreams
* Cambodian PM Hun Sen receives support pledges from China
* Angkor Wat protection plan gets villagers evicted
Laos:
* Laos central bank seeks ways to tackle country’s financial problems and inflation issues
* This is a real mess: Laos to bury tangled overhead cables across the country
Brunei:
* Brunei and Vietnam step up collaboration in oil and gas exploitation and processing
* Brunei records 41.1-per cent trade growth in November last year
AseanPlus:
* Quake survivors wait on for news of missing in Turkiye and Syria, but hopes fade; death toll almost 25,000
* Kitten ruse costs woman RM3.36mil in Hong Kong crypto scam
* Malaysia committed to Asean telco agenda, says Communications Minister
* Joy and sadness: Bornean conservation centre releases sun bear Sika into the wild
* Pasir Gudang World Kite Festival in Johor set to attract 350,000 visitors
* Let’s work to keep peace, China tells visiting Taiwan KMT official
* ‘What’s wrong with being hairy?’: Beauty salon ad in China comparing women with body hair to orangutans enrages mainland social media
* An almost perfect camouflage – Jungle settlement was safely hidden until the day their luck ran out
* ‘Someone to talk to’: Struggling elderly HK man shuns proper government flat for cramped ‘coffin home’ because it offers human company
* Victory by transgender people over Hong Kong ID documents sparks confusion over rules and timetable
* South Korean students’ exchange visit to US thwarted over dog meat issue
* MTR Corp’s Oyster Bay site in North Lantau gets three bids, with large developers in the frame
* John Lee jetting off to Middle East, Southeast Asia a stopgap measure, not a solution for Hong Kong’s economic woes, experts say
* ChatGPT drives crazy Chinese tech stock runs in Hong Kong, Shanghai as investors chase Zhihu, Baidu and Cloudwalk
* Turkish woman dies day after her rescue following 104 hours under quake rubble
* Woman scientist uses bodily fluids to detect cancer biomarkers, wins prestigious award
* HK private hospital to make deal with govt to serve public patients in return for HK$4 billion loan repayment postponement
* Figure skating-South Korea’s Lee wins gold at Four Continents
* Battle of the giants: India 400 all out, takes big lead of 223 runs in first Australia Test in Nagpur
* Fit again and impressive Ravindra Jadeja leads the way as spinners shine as India crush Australia by an innings
* Moscow says calls to ban Russian athletes from Olympics ‘unacceptable’
