Muslims perform Friday prayers during the holy month of Ramadhan at the Istiqlal Grand Mosque in Jakarta on March 24, 2023. - AFP
Malaysia:
* No more Puspakom monopoly on vehicle inspections once concession ends, says Transport Minister
* Courts will have option of life imprisonment instead of mandatory death sentence, says Ramkarpal
* MACC confirms Rohana returned US$10mil in 1MDB-linked assets
* Malaysia calls for establishment of UN agency for water
* Court to hear Zahid's defamation suit against Dr M in November
* Open payment system at five highways for a start, says Nanta
* Sabahans make do as Ramadan arrives amid endless water cuts
* Malaysian Govt asked to study cause of school dropout at secondary level
* PSD sponsorships not extended for first degrees in medical, dental, pharmacy and education fields
* Sarawak to hold grand celebration to mark 60 years of independence within Malaysia
* Talks held to lift freeze on foreign worker recruitment for barber, goldsmith and textile shops, says HR Minister
* Special Aidilfitri aid to eligible civil servants, pensioners to be disbursed on April 17
The Vulcanology and Geological Hazard Mitigation Centre shows Mount Ili Lewotolok spewing ash into the air on Lembata island, in East Nusa Tenggara province. Indonesia's Mount Ili Lewotolok erupted on Friday, March 24, 2023 belching a tower of smoke and ash almost a kilometre into the sky and prompting authorities to impose a no-go zone in the area. - AFP
Singapore:
* The JB-Singapore RTS Link - 45% completed on Singapore side, service to start by end-2026, says Transport Minister
* More than six months’ jail for Singapore man who made 816 obscene videos for sale which included child pornography
* Co-founder of S’pore-based crypto firm behind Terra/Luna collapse charged with fraud by US
* Former NUS don Jeremy Fernando charged with molestation
* Asian shares slide on banking concerns, bonds bet on last rate hikes
* Oil markets at mercy of volatility but balanced fundamentals offer some hope
* S’pore fintech wins Asia’s largest fundraise since SVB’s fall
* Oil falls as US holds off refilling strategic reserve
Indonesia:
* Indonesia volcano Mount Ili Lewotolok erupts, spews tower of smoke and ash of 1km
* Asean sports officials and associations discuss joint bid for FIFA World Cup 2034
* Indonesia fuel depot fire death toll rises to 33
* 'Glorious', the official song of the 2023 FIFA Under-20 World Cup, unveiled by host Indonesia in Geneva
* Emerging market - Indonesian rupiah jumps on foreign inflows, most other Asian currencies subdued
* Only civil servants must comply with Iftar gathering ban: Minister
* Bali to deport two Polish nationals for flaunting Nyepi ban
People take pictures of sculptures by Japanese artist Yayoi Kusama in collaboration with Louis Vuitton outside of a shopping mall in Bangkok on Friday, March 24, 2023. - AFP
Thailand:
* Thai PM’s party vows to prioritise foreign investments ahead of May election
* Thai court jails Australian embassy ex-staffer over toilet spycams
* Prawit refuses to rule out possibility of future coup in Thailand
* Venus occultation: Planet of love has another hot date in night sky tonight
* Prachinburi locals raise white flags, make three demands over radiation fears
* Left behind by lack of ‘opportunity’ in Thailand
* Thai police bust call scammers who preyed on older Americans
Philippines:
* Philippines' creative economy exceeds US$29bil in 2022
* Philippines top official says maritime issues with China remain a 'serious concern'
* Rate hikes cloud debut of Philippines’ first IPO this year
* Philippines tells China to stop ‘coercion, intimidation’ in South China Sea dispute
* Filipinos urged to join in Earth Hour 2023
* 54,000 tons of premium durian to China by end of 2023
* Millions have no access to clean water in the Philippines
Farmers mixing straw to grow mushrooms in Can Tho, Vietnam. Rice -- Asia's principal staple -- is to blame for around 10 percent of global emissions of methane, a gas that over two decades traps about 80 times as much heat as carbon dioxide. - AFP
Vietnam:
* Vietnam may resist diplomatic upgrade with Washington as US-China tensions simmer
* Japan's top court acquits Vietnamese woman of abandoning stillborn twins
* How Vietnam is trying to stop rice warming the planet
* Vietnam rejects US human rights report as based on false information
* Experts warn of extra high UV radiation in heat wave in Vietnam
* Vietnam aims to eradicate malaria
* Vietnam: Association calls for pilot implementation of battery-powered taxis
Myanmar:
* US weighs energy sanctions on Myanmar that risk hurting allies
* Myanmar targets to expand four million acres of sunflower plantations to cover domestic oil consumption
* Myanmar arrests about 150 Rohingya fleeing to Malaysia
* Russian support for Myanmar junta 'destabilising' South-East Asia
* 58th Myanmar gems emporium concludes in Naypyidaw
The Philippine Coast Guard multi-role vessel BRP Capones (MRRV-4404) and French Navy frigate FS Prairial (F731) sailing side-by-side during a passing exercise (PASSEX) off Agno, Pangasinan province in the Philippines on Friday, March 24, 2023. - AFP
Cambodia:
* Cambodian man lands 'airplane' house in rice field
* Cambodian Foreign Minister to embark on two-nation tour to Morocco, Egypt next week
* Cambodia's vape ban ineffective as its freely available on social media
* 20 rare Royal Turtles freed into their natural habitat
* Two Cambodians charged with insulting king
Laos:
* From a village belle in Laos' Hmong town to Miss Universe: Payengxa Lor’s journey to stardom is an inspiration to all women
* Laos on alert with rising dengue fever cases
* Laos-China rail operator to start cross-border service in April
* Lao New Year celebration to resume in 2023
Brunei:
* Brunei sees 37.2 per cent increase in trade surplus in December 2022
* Brunei kick-starts month-long fasting of Ramadhan amid food price control efforts
* Man charged with outraging modesty of stepdaughter
Indian opposition leader Rahul Gandhi leaves parliament building in New Delhi, Friday, March 24, 2023. Gandhi has lost his parliamentary seat after he was disqualified following a court decision that found him guilty of defamation over his remarks about Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s last name, a parliamentary statement said on Friday, March 24, 2023. - AP
AseanPlus:
* Zakir Naik's lawyer denies reports of preacher's arrest in Oman
* Hong Kong firefighters battle warehouse blaze in densely packed Kowloon
* India's Congress party to launch street protests against Gandhi's conviction
* Rahul Gandhi, the 'prince' of Indian politics who lost his parliament seat
* China’s billionaire population drops: Super-rich suffer as stock losses, yuan depreciation knock 229 off Hurun Global Rich List
* I received death threats three times in 26 years, top HK microbiologist Yuen Kwok-yung says, calls for vigilance against future pandemics
* Russia hopes to sign major pipeline deal with China this year
* China travel rebound bets turn to airports, away from airlines
* Keanu Reeves on how he handles physical aspect of playing John Wick: 'Ice is your friend'
* S. Korea to seek extradition of crypto fugitive Do Kwon
* Malaysian screenwriter Adele Lim makes her directorial debut in Hollywood film 'Joy Ride'
* Twitter to begin culling legacy verified marks from April 1
* Japanese tailor scales Mount Kinabalu in a full suit, setting social media abuzz
* TikTok chief faces hostile US lawmakers over China ties
* Asian markets reverse after recent gains as bank fears linger
* Stop, there's a zebra crossing! Escaped beast roams Seoul streets
* Chinese influencer Grace Chow apologises for being rude to fan
* North Korea tests new nuclear-capable underwater drone
* South Korea's LGES to resume Arizona battery factory plan with $5.6 billion investment
* Do Kwon, wanted in US$40bil crypto crash, arrested in Montenegro
* China foreign trade to receive further tech, policy backing
