Asean News Headlines at 9pm on Tuesday (Feb 7, 2023)

Visitors look at art works next to a sculpture entitled "Keep The Spirit" by Adi Gunawan at the Art Jakarta Garden 2023 exhibition in Jakarta on Tuesday, February 7, 2023. - AFP

Malaysia:

* Anwar to chair first meeting at Umno HQ in 25 years, for Unity Govt forum

* Cabinet is united despite differences, says PM

* Malaysia's IPI grew at 6.9% in 2022 driven by manufacturing, mining indices

* Joint efforts needed to support preservation of heritage sites in Melaka, says CM

* No talks yet on sacked Umno members joining Pakatan parties, says Zahid

* Covid-19 Watch: 175 new infections bring total to 5,038,170

* Turkiye earthquake: Malaysia sends 70 search and rescue personnel

* Malaysia's IPI grew at 6.9% in 2022 driven by manufacturing, mining indices

* PM Anwar wants cabinet, civil servants to work as a team

* Six GROs nabbed for allegedly supplying drugs at KL night club

* 1MDB trial: Ex-banker says never struck her someone would use Najib's account for money laundering

* Dr Wee meets tourism players to develop tourism industry in Malaysia and China

People walk along the promenade at Marina bay in Singapore. - AFP

Singapore:

* Singapore inflation expected to stay high in first half of 2023, says Trade and Industry Minister

* More Singaporean firms seeking to expand into Indonesia market

* Singapore’s soaring rents narrow the gap with pricey Hong Kong

* Cryptoverse: Is bitcoin out of the woods? Consider the options

* Singapore govt defends lack of charges in bribery case

* ADB predicts tourism in Asia-Pacific to rebound to pre-pandemic level by 2024

* Oil rises on China outlook, supply worries after Turkey earthquake

Indonesia:

* Indonesia's Pertamina targets 5% increase in 2023 oil and gas lifting

* Separatist rebels release passengers but take New Zealand pilot hostage drama in Papua

* New Zealand pilot taken hostage in Indonesia - Papuan rebel group

* Thin line between art and respect

* Phase two of Pan Borneo highway to start soon

* Indonesia GDP growth races to nine-year high spurred by removal of pandemic-related restrictions

A fisherman navigates his boat on a waterway in Thailand's southern province of Narathiwat on February 7, 2023. - AFP

Thailand:

* Thai transgender actress Poyd Treechada is engaged to wealthy businessman

* Concern rises for lives of two Thai activists on hunger strike

* Thai rescuers dig through the night to reach 19-month baby girl trapped down well

* Thailand’s headline CPI up 5% in January

* China tourists in Thailand: Returning with much fanfare

* Protesters weak after nearly month-long hunger strike

Philippines:

* Emerging markets - Philippine peso at more than two-week low as resilient dollar pressures Asian forex

* 'Luffy' criminal suspects deported from Philippines, allegedly masterminded Japan robberies via Telegram

* Philippine inflation beats expectations, lifts chance of bigger rate hike

* Love of sea turtles turns Philippine poachers into protectors

* UN expert to help boost forensic probe skills of Philippines

Vietnamese woman Nguyen Thi Thanh is seen on a laptop screen as she speaks to reporters via video call at the Seoul Central District Court in Seoul on Tuesday, February 7, 2023.A Seoul court delivered a landmark ruling on February 7, holding the South Korean government accountable for a massacre committed by its soldiers in the Vietnam War, ordering it to pay compensation. - AFP

Vietnam:

* Seoul court rules South Korea responsible for Vietnam War massacre

* Vietnam sees 20 per cent growth of e-commerce markets in 2022

* Vietnam's digital wallet users forecast to reach 50 million by 2024

* Vietnam's EV startup Vinfast says cutting US jobs amid restructuring

* Bribery case not related to ex-president’s resignation in Vietnam

Myanmar:

* UN chief fears world is heading toward a wider war; calls for peace efforts in military-ruled Myanmar

* On the water with Myanmar's 'river cleaners'

Passengers from China's Beijing, arrive at Phnom Penh International airport after China reopens its borders amid the coronavirus disease (Covid-19) pandemic, in Cambodia, on Tuesday, February 7, 2023. - Reuters

Cambodia:

* High hopes for Cambodia's tourism boom after comeback of Chinese tourists

* Cambodian PM Hun Sen to visit China; further improve high-level bilateral ties between two countries

Laos:

* Laos sees an increase in electric vehicle imports across the country

* Laos and Thailand discuss reopening of four borders checkpoints

Brunei:

* Brunei govt says that Covid-19 press conferences no longer will be held weekly

* Brunei's 2022 inflation rate surges to 3.7 per cent; only 1.7 per cent in 2021

Emergency team members search for people in a destroyed building in Adana, Turkey, Tuesday, Feb. 7, 2023. Rescuers raced Tuesday to find survivors in the rubble of thousands of buildings brought down by a powerful earthquake and multiple aftershocks that struck eastern Turkey and neighbouring Syria. - AP

AseanPlus:

* Malaysia among earliest to send SAR team to Turkiye following earthquake, says minister

* Quake deaths pass 5,000 as Turkey, Syria rescuers continue desperate search for survivors

* Silent phones, freezing rain and anguish after Turkiye quake

* Syrian opposition rescuers say hundreds of families still under quake rubble

* Record-breaking 2022 for North Korea crypto theft, says UN report

* China issues heavy fog warnings, some shipping suspended

* India push for digital sovereignty risks more online surveillance

* Indian food memories: Go on an epic culinary journey in this lovely food memoir

* Australia central bank raises rates to decade-high, warns more to come

* Cricket-Australia T20 skipper Finch retires from internationals after "amazing ride"

* S&P Global Ratings: Asia-Pacific banks will battle to stay on track

* Marvel superheroes return to Chinese cinemas after nearly four years

* Renault, Nissan agree on landmark deal to reshape alliance

* Chinese scientists build hypersonic generator for power-hungry weapons of the future

* Hong Kong transgender men win appeal over status change

* Sri Lanka tea sector stuck in colonial-era model

* ‘Youngest ever’ Alzheimer’s patient diagnosed in China

* Tens of thousands throng HK as borders reopen between both countries

* Dozens in the dock as HK’s largest national security trial begins

* Beijing confirms balloon over Latin America is Chinese

* Google unveils ChatGPT rival Bard, AI search plans in battle with Microsoft

* Cricket-Bullish Australia take on dominant India seeking rare away series win