TOP NEWS Record-high 42.7mil visitors travelled to Japan in 2025Weak domestic demand continues to blight China’s economy as growth slows in Q4Philippines’ new gas find to power 5.7M households a yearMORE HEADLINES ARTIFICIAL INTELLIGENCE The Straits TimesSingapore in talks with X after its AI bot Grok creates sexually explicit deepfakes of women and children The Korea HeraldSouth Korea to set up AI-assisted fire response system Viet Nam NewsAI cameras power Hanoi’s delayed fines on urban disorder The Straits Times‘Tiger Tiger, burning bright’: The scourge of AI-generated wildlife videos in India China DailySaving Chinese heritage with smart tech China DailyShift in intelligent Chinese EVs piques interest of consumers The Daily StarBangladesh launches first shared GPU cloud facility to boost AI, research The Korea HeraldSouth Korean creator, copyright groups oppose ‘use first, pay later’ stance in government AI plan The Jakarta PostIndonesia takes hard line against Elon Musk over deepfakes KuenselBhutan, Canada partner to strengthen AI policy and governance The Korea HeraldNearly all Seoul students use generative AI, teachers warn of over-reliance The Jakarta PostIndonesia blocks Elon Musk’s Grok over AI-generated sexualised images The Korea HeraldWhy South Korea is vying to be first to regulate AI The Yomiuri ShimbunNew AI service in Japan will keep ads away from inappropriate posts Philippine Daily InquirerPhilippine national insurance eyes AI-powered system to detect fraud in health claims The Straits TimesWorld’s tallest indoor vertical farm, costing US$62 million, opens in SingaporeVIEW ALL COMBATING INFLATION The Daily StarNo rent hike in 2 years in Dhaka, tenants must have access to roof and main gate DawnGrid issues behind costly power in Pakistan The Daily StarGold prices in Bangladesh break all records Borneo BulletinWhy everything costs more The Straits TimesSingapore diners unfazed if budget meal options shrink, many prefer regular coffee shop fare The Korea HeraldDubai chewy cookie frenzy in South Korea sends pistachio prices soaring threefold KuenselOver 1,900 commodities set to become cheaper as Bhutan adopts GST Vientiane TimesStandard of living improving in Laos amid signs of economic recovery The StarRetirement benchmark feels like distant goal for most Malaysians The StatesmanIndia’s retail inflation stays below central bank’s lower band for fourth straight month The Daily StarElectric cooker sales soar as Bangladesh’s gas crisis worsens KuenselBhutanese consumers foot the bill as double taxation bites during GST transition The Daily StarLPG prices in Bangladesh soar on artificial scarcity The StarMalaysians enjoy a holiday and tax relief at the same time Philippine Daily InquirerPhilippine 2025 inflation slows to 1.7%, a 9-year low The StarRM100 government and school aid a timely relief for MalaysiansVIEW ALL TECHNOLOGY VIEW MORE Advanced driver assistance systems evolve from 'luxury feature' on select models to 'must-have' across entire new energy vehicle lineup. Artificial Intelligence, BUSINESS, Entertainment & the arts, Lifestyle, Technology, Technology RightSouth Korean creator, copyright groups oppose ‘use first, pay later’ stance in government AI plan ... Artificial Intelligence, Asia On Screen, BUSINESS, Technology, Technology Right, TransportationA look at Hanoi’s AI traffic camera system ... Around Asia, BUSINESS, Daily Digest, Home Page, SOCIETY, Technology, Technology RightHow IP cameras become South Korea’s quiet privacy risk ...ECONOMIC AFFAIRS VIEW MORE Dhaka North City Corporation (DNCC) has drafted house rent guidelines for the capital, incorporating 16 directives. In a detailed review of the national grid system, the National Electric Power Regulatory Authority (NEPRA) pointed out that the backbone of the transmission network — 500kV and 220kV lines — remained “mostly overloaded” at the close of FY2024-25.CORPORATE BUZZ VIEW MORE The deal was valued at no more than $395 million, based on the aggregate enterprise value of $400 million. The acquisition will be “funded by internal resources, and settled in cash." This comes days after Indonesia and Malaysia became the first countries to block its local users from accessing Grok, which is developed by US firm xAI. SPECIAL REPORTSVIEW ALL MORE HEADLINESSingapore invited to join US President Trump’s Board of Peace; is assessing invitation: MFA ...Public urged not to be alarmed as Royal Brunei Land Forces conducts nationwide exercise ...Fire destroys 400-500 shelters at Rohingya camp in Bangladesh ...Thai PM hails massive narcotics bust as 330 million meth pills seized ...China’s ‘hard-won’ 5% GDP rise shows firm footing ...Vote ‘Yes’ to build a new Bangladesh: Chief Adviser Yunus urges nation ...CHINA AND ASEAN DawnAI deepfakes: The latest weapon in Pakistan’s disinformation wars The Phnom Penh PostCambodia, China planning sixth military drills The Straits TimesSingapore, Shanghai ink record 15 MOUs as bilateral trade grows The Japan NewsU.S., Australia to counter China’s ‘destabilizing military activities’ China DailyAsean-Plus defence ministers agree to improve defence collaboration The Jakarta PostChina and Asean join hands to bring the ‘Asian moment’ in global governance China DailyRCEP shows strength and resilience of regional trade liberalization The NationThailand and China ink 5 agreements to boost trade, regional security The Jakarta PostIndonesia, China to resume joint-military training exercises, strengthen military cooperation China DailyXi, Widodo vow to take ties to new level The Jakarta PostIndonesia-China ink $2.6 billion crude palm oil, fishery trade deals The Straits TimesOutcome of China’s application to join CPTPP trade pact not yet known: S’pore PM The Phnom Penh PostCambodia, China sign $1.6 billion deal for second expressway The Jakarta PostAs Xi visit draws near, delays haunt Jakarta-Bandung rail project The Jakarta PostWhat does the 20th CCP National Congress mean for Indonesia? Viet Nam NewsVietnamese, Chinese Party leaders stress peace at sea, resumption of flights in talksVIEW ALL BIG PICTURE VIEW MORE Exports surged, increasing 5.5% annually due to trade war shifts; however, domestic demand remained weak due to the property slump and cautious consumers. The Malaysian government estimates its domestic rare earth reserves at about 16.1 million tonnes.POLICY MATTERSVIEW MORE Dhaka North City Corporation (DNCC) has drafted house rent guidelines for the capital, incorporating 16 directives. Sweeping measures aim to empower businesses and boost consumption.MORE HEADLINESNepal’s federalism on a bumpy road ...40 litterbugs caught in Brunei ...Indonesia should be more active in foreign policy, former ministers say President Moon meets BTS, officially appoints them as special diplomatic envoy Russia’s Putin, PM Imran discuss Afghanistan, bilateral ties in 2nd call in a month Asean is China’s largest trading partner with US$685b trade CLIMATE AND ENVIRONMENT DawnWater crisis in Pakistan’s Quetta worsens as groundwater depletes and public supply fails The Korea HeraldEven in bitter cold, these Korean runners keep going, thanks to one clear innovation The Straits TimesSingapore reviewing laws, policies to fulfil obligations under UN High Seas Treaty The Jakarta PostForest conversion threatens Indonesia’s endemic Javan langur population The Straits TimesSaving gentle giants: 7 species of marine mammals spotted in Singapore China DailySchools, public venues across China shut as cold wave intensifies DawnExperts warn elite capture, unchecked development eroding Islamabad’s green spaces The StatesmanSevere cold, dense fog trigger multiple road accidents across India’s Uttar Pradesh; 12 dead, 75 injured The Kathmandu PostSmog alert! Nearly 1,200 brick kilns in Nepal start firing Go Go MongoliaMongolia’s disaster-management plan revised and approved The Jakarta PostHeavy rain, coastal erosion compound flooding threats in Indonesia’s Java The NationSevere PM2.5 pollution hits Bangkok, with air quality in critical zones worsening The Jakarta PostJakarta sinks deeper as subsidence worsens flood risks The Straits TimesSingapore authorities considering sterilising otters for long-term population control measures DawnOver 29,000 trees removed in Islamabad; minister says more to be planted The Daily StarBrick kilns ravage land, waterbodies in Bangladesh’s Chattogram VIEW ALL AGRICULTUREVIEW MORE The introduction of hydrogen-powered roasting is set to add significant value while opening doors to premium international markets. The Maritime Affairs and Fisheries Ministry is in the process of drafting a circular letter to ratify the agreement and outline registration procedures for accessing the zero-percent tariff.TRANSPORTATIONVIEW MORE Hong Kong is adding 16 new destinations to its cross-border high-speed rail (HSR) service from Jan 26. India and Pakistan have closed their airspaces to each other’s airlines since tensions between them escalated in late April in the wake of an attack in Kashmir’s Pahalgam that killed 26 people.ENERGYVIEW MORE In a detailed review of the national grid system, the National Electric Power Regulatory Authority (NEPRA) pointed out that the backbone of the transmission network — 500kV and 220kV lines — remained “mostly overloaded” at the close of FY2024-25. The well called Malampaya East-1 (MAE-1) is estimated to contain around 98 billion cubic feet (2.8 billion cubic meters) of gas in place.MORE HEADLINESJapan to establish ¥500 billion fund to reinforce economic security ...China to include sex education in primary school text books ...Indonesian migrant worker’s ‘7 conditions’ for job search sparks debate ...Livelihoods hinge on green recovery ...Energy minister tells petroleum dealers ‘legitimate’ demands will be met, urges them to reconsider strike ...Japan cultural agency to earmark ¥6.5 billion to preserve local festivals ...Marijuana legal in Thailand from Dec 9, but ‘doobies’ still not allowed ...Covid-19 shots alone don’t ensure 100 percent safety, continued caution needed, experts say ...SPOTLIGHT ON ASIA The Straits TimesCaught littering in Malaysia? This is what community service punishment will look like KuenselBhutanese diaspora gifts sacred ornamental needlework The StarGreat-granny deftly keeps alive Malaysian mat-weaving heritage The Jakarta PostBeyond cleanup: A Sunday with Trash Hero Jakarta The Daily StarJourney to the roof of the world: A Bangladeshi’s Tibet travelogue China DailyAncient Chinese script gets upgrade for digital age The Straits TimesArchitect Liu Thai Ker, Singapore’s first master planner, dies at 87 DawnWhy do so many people in Pakistan suddenly have a button phone? (It’s not for the vibes) The Jakarta PostIndosalto: Urban acrobatics leaping into Jakarta’s narrow spaces Viet Nam NewsWater puppetry art in Vietnam’s Ninh Binh thrives The Korea HeraldKorean food wasn’t always this spicy. The rise of heat explained The Kathmandu PostIn Nepal, wildlife drove farmers away, lemons bring them back The StarMatchmade couples in Malaysia come together for Hindu harvest festival Ponggal China DailyIconic Chinese chili sauce resonates with diverse appetites China DailyVinyl exhibition puts fresh spin on China’s musical past DawnFrom reading rooms to commercial centres: The lost libraries of Pakistan’s LyariVIEW ALL GO DEEPER WITH ANNANN NewsletterSign up hereTHE ANN DISPATCHANN LIFETHE ANN DISPATCHANN LIFEFollow us: