Asean News Headlines at 9pm on Monday (Jan 2, 2023)

A passenger bound for a flight to Japan waits for her delayed flight at the Ninoy Aquino International Airport, in Pasay City, Metro Manila, Philippines, on Monday, January 2, 2023. - Reuters

Malaysia:

* Covid-19: Variants seen in China also detected in Malaysia, WHO data shows

* Covid-19: Virus detected in 96.5% of sewage water samples at entry points, says Health DG

* Covid-19: Monitoring of asymptomatic patients to be done totally via MySejahtera, says Health DG

* Education Ministry to meet parents of volleyball players in slapping incident

* Other volleyball players should come out if abused, says Wanita PKR

* Youth ministry probe to determine if slapping incident part of a pattern

* Mental state of the nation and Malaysians

* A stronger, more positive comeback for Malaysia's medical tourism

* Covid-19 Watch: 420 new cases, says Health Ministry

* Keep it civil over travellers from China, says Tiong

* Maybank confirms data leak allegations are false

Fireworks are set off before midnight at the New Year countdown at Marina Bay, in Singapore. - AFP

Singapore:

* Titan of Singapore science education retires after 50 years

* Singapore national water agency explores underground space to protect island against rising sea levels

* Polytechnics in Singapore expecting thousands back on campuses as physical open house events resume

* Singapore construction sector hard pressed for labour as of September 2022, says Ministry of Manpower data

* Global economy faces tougher year in 2023, IMF's Georgieva warns

Indonesia:

* Indonesia govt urge people to be cautious after lifting of all Covid-19 restrictions

* Indonesia November foreign arrivals dip slightly from October but recovery continues

* Indonesia’s inflation beats highest economists forecast in challenge to rate outlook

* Zambry: Malaysia values Indonesian media's commitment to maintaining ties

* Indonesia's Dec inflation inches up to 5.51% y/y

A man walks next to a screen at the Indonesia Stock Exchange or Bursa Efek Indonesia (BEI) in Jakarta on Monday, January 2, 2023. - AFP

Thailand:

* Tourists flood holiday haven Phi Phi on Jan 1 as Thailand confident of reaching 2023 tourism target

* Thai PM Prayut loses his cool minutes after Supreme Patriarch urges him to calm down

* Thailand set to woo at least 25 million tourists in 2023 as China relaxes Covid-19 rules

* Thais urged to boost social and national development

* Approval for sale of US fighter jets by mid-year

Philippines:

* More chaos as Floods in Philippines leave 51 dead, over a dozen missing; 600,000 people affected

* Three days needed for Manila airport operations to return to normal, says Philippines

* Metro Manila cops under ‘one-strike’ policy

* Air traffic system glitch diverts all flights in Manila

* Monitoring of Covid-19 to be tightened

Revellers gather to take part in New Year celebrations at a public park in Yangon. - AFP

Vietnam:

* Vietnam records best-ever performance in digital economic development

* Vietnam: Efforts continue as hundreds of rescuers battle to save boy from 35-metre hole

* International arrivals to Vietnam hike in 2022

* Rescuers in Vietnam try to save boy trapped in concrete pile

* Trade pact not enough for Vietnam pepper to conquer European market

Myanmar:

* Time zone by time zone, another new year sweeps into view

* Myanmar's exports up 15.09 per cent in over eight months

* Judge ‘did not respect law’

* Myanmar military extends ceasefire period until end of 2023

A woman checks her smartphone at the 747 cafe, designed inside a decommissioned Boeing 747-400 airplane on the outskirts of Bangkok on Monday, January 2, 2023. - AFP

Cambodia:

* Cambodian leader Hun Sen orders Mekong safe zones to save rare dolphins

* Cambodian students back to school on Tuesday (Jan 2), in post-Covid ‘new normal’ setting

* Search ended after 27 confirmed dead in Cambodia hotel fire

* Cambodia to build bridge across Mekong River; project partnership with China

Laos:

* Laos and South Korea to expand job opportunities for Lao nationals

* Morocco and Mekong River Comission to establish Educational Visitor Centre and exchange expertise

Brunei:

* Brunei court: Bangladeshi man gets jail, whipping for outraging modesty of 10-year-old

* Brunei children all ready and set for school reopening

Revellers gather to take part in New Year celebrations at a public park in Yangon. - AFP

AseanPlus:

* Four killed, three injured after choppers collide mid-air in Australia

* Japan says it scrambled jets to monitor Chinese aircraft carrier operations

* Malaysia looks to Chinese companies to grow EV sector: official

* Landmark law boosts China's appeal for foreign investors

* China's air incursions into Taiwan zone doubled in 2022

* Djokovic given hero's welcome in Adelaide

* Canada and Australia impose Covid-19 rules on travellers from China

* From swatting shuttlecocks to the silver screen

* Yoon says South Korea, U.S. discussing exercises using nuclear assets

* Potential breeding ground for new Covid-19 viral variants

* South Korean shares start 2023 on a high as EV stocks jump

* Taiwan to plough US$12bil in excess tax revenue back into economy

* Chinese manufacturing contracts sharply as Covid infections soar

* Moody’s: Asia-Pacific likely to avoid recession

* High-level opening-up will drive recovery in China

* India's Supreme Court upholds legality of 2016 note ban decision

* South Korean singer IU and actor Lee Jong-suk are dating

* Japan emperor makes first public new year's appearance since 2020

* North Korea's Kim sacks No. 2 military official

* Brazilian city of Santos bids farewell to 'king of soccer' Pele