SINGAPORE
1.SCAM-RELATED CLAIMS RISE 63%, MORE THAN A THIRD OF ALL CLAIMS: SINGAPORE’S DISPUTE RESOLUTION BODY -- THE STRAITS TIMES
Scammers show no sign of letting up here with claims from victims continuing to pile up.
2.SINGAPORE CONSUMER WATCHDOG SEES DOUBLING OF COMPLAINTS ABOUT LINES ON PHONE SCREENS -- CNA
Complaints about lines appearing on mobile phone screens have more than doubled, according to statistics from the Consumer Association of Singapore (CASE).
THAILAND
1. FOREIGN ARRIVALS CROSS 30 MILLION, GENERATING 1.43 TRILLION BAHT -- THE NATION
Thailand’s popular Loy Krathong festivities saw a 4.5% increase in visitors from China, Japan and South Korea
2. CYANIDE KILLER GETS DEATH SENTENCE -- BANGKOK POST
‘Aem cyanide’ convicted of one murder, suspected of 14 others.
CAMBODIA
1.SOKHONN RETURNS TO OLD POST AS FOREIGN MINISTER -- FRESH NEWS
The National Assembly unanimously elected 70-year-old Prak Sokhonn as Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs, with all 112 votes in his favour. He replaces Sok Chenda Sophea who will now serve as deputy prime minister.
2.NEW GECKO SPECIES FOUND IN CAMBODIA -- AGENCE KAMPUCHEA PRESSE
Wildlife experts discovered three slender gecko species in Cambodia’s Cardamom Mountains — a new record for Cambodia. The species were found in the Preah Monivong Bokor National Park and Phnom Samkos Wildlife Sanctuary — both located at opposite ends of the mountains.
MYANMAR
1.NEW BUDGET TARGETS SOCIO-ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT -- THE GLOBAL NEW LIGHT OF MYANMAR
Next year’s national budget will raise allocations for the development of socioeconomic structure, defence and security, agriculture and livestock, transportation, energy generation, education, and health sectors. Priority will be given to developing a skilled workforce and addressing damages caused by Typhoon Yagi.
2.GRAPES PRICE JUMP DUE TO SHORTAGE IN MARKET -- THE GLOBAL NEW LIGHT OF MYANMAR
The year-end shortage of supply has caused prices of grapes to rise in the local market. Despite the shortage and high prices, the demand for the fruit continues to rise. When grape production peaks from January to May, prices will dip slightly.
VIETNAM
1.VIETNAM LEADER’S VISIT TO MALAYSIA ADDS NEW MOMENTUM -- VIETNAM NEWS
General Secretary of the Communist Party of Vietnam Central Committee To Lam and his spouse Ngo Phuong Ly, left Hanoi on Thursday for a three-day official visit to Malaysia. The high-level visit will strengthen political relations between the two countries.
2.SHRIMP EXPORTS RISE TO RM13 BILLION IN THE FIRST 10 MONTHS - VIETNAM NEWS
Shrimp exports reached RM13.8 billion in the first 10 months of this year, mostly to China, Hong Kong, Japan, and South Korea. The white-leg shrimp is a popular export variety, and shrimp exports are expected to reach RM17.2 billion by the end of 2024.
INDONESIA
1.2025 PRIORITY BILLS REFLECT PRABOWO’S AGENDA -- THE JAKARTA POST
The House of Representatives and government unanimously agreed to include 41 draft bills in the National Legislation Program (Prolegnas) priority list for next year, with observers seeing the prioritized legislation as reflecting the key agenda of President Prabowo Subianto.
2.GOV’T CAN POSTPONE VAT HIKE WITHOUT AMENDING LAW -- JAKARTA GLOBE
The government has the authority to delay the planned increase in value-added tax (VAT) without needing to amend the existing taxation law, House of Representatives member Dolfie Othniel Frederic Palit said on Wednesday. Finance Minister Sri Mulyani Indrawati previously announced that the VAT rate would increase to 12 percent -- up from the current 11 percent -- starting January 1, as stipulated by the 2021 Tax Harmonization Law.
-- BERNAMA
