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Asean News Headlines at 10pm on Thursday (Aug 20, 2026)

Here's a look at the news highlights from Asean countries in the Star-AseanPlus section for Thursday (Aug 20, 2026)

North Korea

North Korea says South Korea's description of US drills move shows uneasiness and impatience

PYONGYANG: North Korea's Kim Yo Jong, sister of leader Kim Jong-un, on Thursday (Aug 20) said South Korean President Lee Jae Myung's reaction to the US move to reduce joint drills were "double-dealing remarks" that showed uneasiness and impatience, KCNA reported.

AseanPlus News

Mongolia to ban social media use in schools

ULAANBAATAR: (Bernama-Xinhua) Mongolia will ban the use of all types of social media in general education schools across the country starting from the 2026-2027 academic year. Education and Science Minister Luvsantseren Enkh-Amgalan said on Wednesday (Aug 19), reported Xinhua.

AseanPlus News

Over 1,000 birds found dead in suspected H5N1 outbreak in South Australia

CANBERRA: (Bernama-Xinhua) Authorities in South Australia (SA) said on Thursday (Aug 20) that more than 1,000 birds had died in three separate suspected H5N1 avian influenza mass mortality events on islands off the state's coast, reported Xinhua

Corporate News

Govt mulls takeover of NexG’s MyKad, passport supplier unit

PETALING JAYA: NexG Bhd says the Malaysian Government has requested an indicative price for the possible acquisition of its wholly-owned subsidiary Datasonic Technologies Sdn Bhd (DTSB), which the group regards as its core business and "crown jewel".

World

India's top court forms panel to probe allegations of violence during youth protests

NEW DELHI, ⁠Aug 20 (Reuters) - India's Supreme Court created a panel on Thursday to ⁠investigate allegations of police violence and of attacks on security ‌personnel by demonstrators during youth protests that forced the education minister to resign last month.

Nation

Scammers shifting to RCS, iMessage to spread phishing URLs, says MCMC

PETALING JAYA: Scammers are shifting to messaging services such as Rich Communication Services (RCS) and iMessage to spread phishing links following the enforcement of hyperlink restrictions on short messaging service (SMS).

India

Seven dead, 30 hospitalised after consuming spurious liquor in India's Gujarat state

HYDERABAD, (India): (Bernama) At least seven people have died and 30 others have been hospitalised after consuming spurious liquor in India's western state of Gujarat, local media reported on Thursday (Aug 20)

World

Exclusive-Former PM Imran Khan would not confront Pakistan army chief if freed, close aide says

KARACHI, Aug 20 (Reuters) - Jailed former Pakistani Prime Minister Imran ⁠Khan would not confront the military or army chief Asim Munir if freed, one of his closest aides told Reuters, portraying Munir as able to extend a "healing hand" after ⁠a legal breakthrough this week.

Entertainment

Former Miss HK Shirley Yeung live streams up to 10 hours a day to support family

Reports suggest that some sessions stretch from late at night into the early hours of the morning.

Business

Bursa Malaysia publicly reprimands Hua Yang

PETALING JAYA: Hua Yang Bhd has announced that the company has been reprimanded by Bursa Malaysia Securities Bhd for breach of paragraph 12.04 of the Bursa Malaysia Securities Main Market Listing Requirements (MAIN LR).

Singapore

Director of firms in case involving 400 unpaid workers declared bankrupt in Singapore

SINGAPORE: The director of several companies that owe wages to more than 400 migrant workers has been declared bankrupt.

Vietnam

Vietnam's public employees to have five consecutive days off on National Day

HANOI: Public employees will be granted five consecutive days off on the National Day, Sept 2 this year, according to an official announcement from the Ministry of Home Affairs (MoHA).

Indonesia

Sharia enforcers flog four Indonesians for sex out of marriage

BANDA ACEH, (Indonesia): Officials in Indonesia's staunchly Islamic Aceh province publicly caned two women and two men 100 strokes each for engaging in sex outside of marriage, an AFP reporter witnessed.

World

Bangladesh elects ruling party veteran Alamgir as president

DHAKA, Aug 20 (Reuters) - Bangladeshi lawmakers elected ⁠veteran Bangladesh Nationalist Party leader Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir as the country's new president ⁠on Thursday, making the longtime opposition figure the head of state after his party ‌came to power in a major political transition.

Laos

Luxembourg pledges additional 2.4 million euros to strengthen rule of law in Laos

VIENTIANE: The Government of Luxembourg has provided an additional 2.415 million euros (about 63 billion kip) to support Laos in strengthening the rule of law, access to justice and good governance.

Nation

Anwar to attend Annual Leaders' Consultation during two-day working visit to Brunei

BANDAR SERI BEGAWAN: Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim will be on a working visit to Brunei on Aug 21 and 22 to attend the 27th Annual Leaders' Consultation (ALC-27) between Malaysia and Brunei.

South Korea

Dog meat restaurants in South Korea's Daejeon seek damages over looming ban

SEOUL: Restaurants serving dog meat in Daejeon have filed lawsuits against local governments, seeking additional compensation as a nationwide ban on the breeding, slaughter, distribution and sale of dogs for food takes effect next February.

Nation

Melaka BN being courted like a 'maiden' ahead of state polls, says Ab Rauf

MELAKA: Melaka Barisan Nasional is being courted by both Pakatan Harapan and Perikatan Nasional ahead of the state election, placing the coalition in an enviable position as it considers its choice of electoral partner, says Datuk Seri Ab Rauf Yusoh.

Singapore

Man taken to hospital after fire in Singapore's Buangkok HDB flat

SINGAPORE: An elderly man was taken to hospital after a fire broke out in an HDB flat in Buangkok Crescent in the early hours of Thursday (Aug 20).