Asean News Headlines at 9pm on Saturday (June 25, 2022)

Volunteers and patients, in a drugs rehabilitation programme, shows their writen slogans to mark the International Day Against Drug Abuse and Illicit Trafficking Day at a non-governmental organization (NGO) place in Banda Aceh on Saturday, June 25, 2022. - AFP

Malaysia:

* Covid-19 Watch: 2,512 new cases, three deaths recorded on June 24

* 2030 Agenda: Malaysia forwards three proposals to boost international cooperation

* HR and Home Ministries to meet with stakeholders on labour shortage issue, says Dr Wee

* MMEA nabs three men in connection with human trafficking

* Two M'sian teens finally arrive home after being duped into foreign job scam

* Radzi: Densely populated areas to get priority for new schools

* Robotics in M'sia can be expanded, says Dr Adham

* Govt in discussion with poultry industry players to set new chicken ceiling price

* Women represent 3.2% of Malaysian seafarers, says Deputy Minister

* Perlis first state to successfully implement 'Agenda Nasional Malaysia Sihat', says Khairy

* Korean arrivals helping Sabah's tourism recovery

* Over RM5.2bil lost to commercial crime in 2020 to 2022, says IGP

Singapore's Jonathan Eu Jin Tan, Singapore's Ardi Azman, Singapore's Jing Wen Quah and Singapore's Amanda Lim pose for a photograph following a heat for the mixed 4x100m freestyle relay event during the Budapest 2022 World Aquatics Championships at Duna Arena in Budapest. - AFP

Singapore:

* Singapore: More than 300 suspects rounded up this week under police investigation for scamming victims of RM19 million

* Countries should do much more together to prepare for next pandemic, says Singapore PM at Commonwealth leaders' meeting

* Giant Australia-to-Singapore solar project targets 2024 build

* Singapore widens tuberculosis checks after large cluster emerges; first monkeypox case also confirmed earlier in the week

* Oceans saved us, now we can return the favour, says United Nations ahead of climate conference on Monday (June 27)

* Singapore's Yishun knife attack: Man charged over allegedly using 26cm knife on couple

* Singapore govt imports clean power from Laos

* Singapore’s CapitaLand offers ‘buy now, pay later’ plan for Vietnamese residential project to entice Hong Kong investors

* More freedom for migrants in Singapore

From left: King of Brunei Darussalam,Sultan Hassanal Bolkiah, Eswatini, King Mswati III and Prime Minister of Singapore Lee Hsien Loong, attend the opening ceremony on June 24, 2022, during the opening of the Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting at Kigali Convention Centre in Rwanda. - AFP

Indonesia

* Indonesian palm oil farmers call for removal of local sales rules

* Indonesia to buy 29 million foot and mouth disease vaccine doses as outbreak worsens

* Major ship crash in Indonesia adds to global paper-product disruptions and that includes toilet papers and diapers

* Indonesian police arrest six for 'blasphemy' over bar's religious-named drink promotion

* Indonesian bar sparks uproar with religon-named drink promotion

* Designer’s wheels behind leaders’ bamboo bike bromance

* Reimpose stricter curbs, govt urged

Transgender beauty pageant contestant Canada's Patricia Jane Bustillo takes part in the national costume segment of the 2022 Miss International Queen competition in Pattaya on Saturday,June 25, 2022. - AFP

Thailand:

* Thailand records 2,236 new Covid-19 cases and 16 deaths on Saturday (June 25)

* New laws on cannabis, liquor, same-sex marriage ‘go against Islam’, says Thailand Islamic Council

* More Customs checks at M'sia-Thai border to weed out cannabis smuggling

* Cannabis and currency may help lure travellers back to Thailand; govt also assures all famous nightlife will now be back on track

* Thai inflation seen back to target in Q2 2023, says central bank

* All about the policy for Asia's top sport - Badminton federation begins research process for transgender policy

* Govt relaxes mask rule in bid to boost tourism in Thailand

Philippines:

* Duterte ends China oil talks, leaving big task ahead for new Philippines' president Marcos

* ICC prosecutor seeks to resume Philippines probe od deadly drug war

* Fin-tastic! Growing 'mermaiding' subculture makes a splash

* Duterte slams ICC prosecutor's plan to reopen Philippines drug war probe

* 'Deepest shipwreck': US WWII ship found off Philippines

* World Bank to help tackle malnutrition in Philippines and approves US$178mil loan for programme

Members of the LGBT community pose for a photo as they hold a rainbow flag during a Pride March in Pasay City, Metro Manila, Philippines, on SaturdayJune 25, 2022. - Reuters

Vietnam:

* Vietnam reports 657 new Covid-19 cases on Saturday (June 25)

* South-East Asian champions Vietnam remains in Fifa's top 100 and the highest ranked in region

* Australia launches plastics innovation hub in Vietnam

* Energy-efficient buildings on the rise in Vietnam

* Sabah-born Aussie FM Penny Wong to visit M'sia, Vietnam to strengthen ties

* Vietnam schools firm said to mull stake sale at US$1bil value

Myanmar:

* Ousted Myanmar leader Suu Kyi's solitary confinement: what the world need to know

* Myanmar’s Suu Kyi now moved to solitary confinement in jail, confirms military

* United Nations urges international community to step up pressure on Myanmar junta, engage with NUG

Children run along a railway track in Hanoi. - AFP

Cambodia:

* Korean firm eyes team-up with Cambodian on animal production and health

* Cambodian lawmaker calls for ramped-up efforts, mechanisms for drug-free Asean

* Asian Insider - China-born businessman behind one of Cambodia's fastest-growing conglomerates

Laos:

* Laos govt to provide credit to importers for purchase of fuel

* Laos records single Covid-19 case nationwide; govt confident pandemic now fully under control

* Massive 1.44 tonnes of meth worth hundreds of millions seized in joint operation by Chinese and Lao police

Brunei:

* South-East Asia region is most vulnerable to climate change impacts, says Climate Outlook Survey report

* Alleged rapist arraigned in court in Bandar Seri Begawan; faces 30 years in jail for raping his niece repeatedly

* Rising sea level can threaten food security in Brunei, says top govt official

Volunteers inflate an air balloon with a message about drug awareness at the Marina beach on International Day against Drug Abuse and Illicit Trafficking in Chennai on Saturday (June 25, 2022). - AFP

AseanPlus:

* South-East Asian fabrics should be treasured, which include Malaysia's tenun

* China's Xi to visit Hong Kong for 25th anniversary of handover

* In the absence of the elegant Russians, China reigns supreme with fourth gold at artistic swimming at FINA worlds

* Veterans they may be but Ledecky and Sjostrom extend their reigns in world swimming championships

* Chinese military says United States plane in Taiwan Strait endangered peace

* Hong Kong's floating restaurant mystery deepens

* Hong Kong child abuse scandal: First of 27 defendants to plead guilty in care home case gets four months’ jail

* Coronavirus: Hong Kong tour group heads to Japan for the first time in more than two years after Covid-19 rules eased

* China’s Mars mission on track to lead the world in retrieving Martian rocks by 2031, says programme veteran

* When will China’s Fujian aircraft carrier be ready for active duty?

* Boris Johnson’s father Stanley hopes UK parliament removes ban on Chinese ambassador

* Beijing sends 29 warplanes into Taiwan’s air defence zone in one of largest fly-bys of 2022

* Oil price settles up but posts weekly decline on recession fears

* Japan records hottest June day amid energy squeeze

* Macau locks down some buildings as Covid-19 infections creep up

* Goodbye Expo, hello 'Expo City': Dubai to reopen world fair site

* Tokyo Gas begins synthetic methane trial using green hydrogen

* Yellen to visit South Korea, discuss sanctions on North, say sources