Asean News Headlines as at 9pm on Wednesday (Aug 24)

Police block the road as protesters gather after the Constitutional Court suspended Prime Minister Prayut Chan-O-Cha from official duties, after deciding to hear a petition to review his legally mandated eight-year term limit, in Bangkok, Thailand on Aug 24, 2022. - Reuters

Malaysia:

* No VIP treatment for Najib, says Prisons Dept

* Najib must apply for royal pardon in 14 days or lose Pekan seat, says Speaker

* Zahid urges calm among Umno members over Najib’s imprisonment

* Federal Court decision offers ray of hope for graft-free nation, says Abim

* Khairy: No recreational use of cannabis in Malaysia

* Sabah retiree loses over RM350,000 to scammers

Singapore:

* Caltex, Shell raise pump prices in Singapore

* Singapore to drop most indoor mask requirements next week

* Body of Bangladeshi worker who fell into sea at Tuas shipyard found

* No masks required on some SIA flights and in Changi Airport

* No quarantine for non-fully vaccinated travellers entering S'pore from Aug 29

* Pub owner jailed over use of blue light to warn performers of police presence

Thailand:

* Thai PM Prayut to stop duties while awaiting court verdict on eight-year term limit: Reports

* Thai political vacuum may dent investor confidence: Analysts

* Thailand approves first instant noodle price rise in 14 years

* Almost eight hours a day: Thai Gen Y now the biggest net users

* Prawit will be accepted as Thai caretaker PM, says Foreign Minister

* Prayut: Thailand's survivor prime minister

* Thai Opposition MPs wear black to protest against Prayut continuing as PM

* Embattled Thai PM Prayut survives budget test in parliament

Indonesia:

* Egg prices break all-time high in Indonesia, bulk social aid purchases blamed

* Bali airport on alert following first monkeypox case

* Strong quake hits off coast of Indonesia's South Sumatra

Philippines:

* Pandemic sets back Asia-Pacific's poverty fight by two years: ADB

* Good intentions not enough: Inquirer

* Philippines declares 'war' against online child pornography

* Two dead, hundreds flee as Florita lashes Luzon

Vietnam:

* Vietnam reports rise in distribution of fake medicines

* Coffee lovers face rising prices as Vietnam bean reserves shrink

* Twelve earthquakes in two days jolt Central Highlands Province

* Vietnam's animal feed imports jump to US$3.1bil

Myanmar:

* Greater urgency from Asean needed to deal with Myanmar issue, says Saifuddin

* Myanmar reports 52 new Covid-19 cases

Cambodia:

* Cambodia keen to resume gas field talks

* Cambodia extends school year by one month

* Cambodia attracts construction investment projects worth US$1.2bil in first six months

Laos:

* Two dead after truck falls over precipice in Luang Prabang province

* Lao PM is all for judicial cooperation with Vietnam

Brunei:

* Lengthy sentence awaits thief with long list of convictions since 1999

* Singapore and Brunei to boost cooperation in energy, green economy, food and medical supply resilience

* Sultan and family arrive in Singapore for state visit

Aseanplus:

* Hong Kong man ‘kidnapped’ by South-East Asia scam ring pleads for help

* In a first, S. Korean general commands joint drills with US troops

* China faces more climate havoc despite cool-off in some regions

* Tropical storm Ma-on barrels towards HK, Guangdong province

* China's jobless turn to car boot sales as Covid-hit economy stalls

* City bordering Beijing locks down, stoking fears of Covid-19 spread

* Japan eases Covid-test requirement for vaccinated travellers

* South Korea shatters its own record for world's lowest fertility rate

* Japan to waive pre-departure COVID tests for vaccinated travellers

* China bans nationalist blogger who rallied against tech giant

* Gentle dugongs functionally extinct in Chinese waters: study

* Japan signals return to nuclear power to stabilise energy supply

* Asian markets drop as investors eye US Fed outlook