Asean News Headlines at 9pm on Sunday (Apr 9, 2023)

A statue of Jesus Christ and Virgin Mary stand beside devotees during Easter Sunday rites at the Antipolo Cathedral, Antipolo city, Philippines on Sunday April 9, 2023. The event culminates the observance of Holy Week in the predominantly Roman Catholic nation as life slowly turns to normalcy after strict Covid restrictions the past years. - AP

Malaysia:

* Teenage girl allegedly raped by stepdad, couple nabbed at KLIA2

* Anwar: No conflict of interest, ultimately King decides Najib's fate

* HR Ministry denies discussing new foreign worker recruitment system with any party

* Double-decker bus goes up in flames, no casualties reported

* Jealous husband allegedly stabs, murders wife in broad daylight at KK market

* Bursa Malaysia seen range-bound with upward bias from Monday (April 10) onwards

* Ringgit to experience technical correction, trading at 4.40-4.41 vs US dollar this week

* Sabah Umno will be ‘good boys’ till next state polls, says Bung

* Once gutted and scaled, hard to tell if it is pufferfish, says expert

* Former Perlis MB to be charged with corruption on April 10

* Allow employees to work till 65 to ease financial strain, says association

* Umno exerting ‘political pressure’ to seek royal pardon for Najib, says Muhyiddin

Dylan Collier of New Zealand (left) and Santiago Alvarez of Argentina reach for the ball during the HSBC Rugby Sevens final cup match between New Zealand and Argentina in Singapore on Sunday, April 9, 2023. New Zealand won 19-17. - AFP

Singapore:

* Singapore's Changi ranks ninth among world’s busiest airports in 2022 for international passengers

* ‘Parmesan’ is translation of ‘Parmigiano Reggiano’, Singapore High Court rules in cheese dispute

* Samoa shocks favourites Fiji as powerhouse New Zealand shine at Singapore Rugby Sevens

* The Singapore On-screen Fund fund aims to showcase Singapore and boost local businesses

* The secret to a long and happy life in Singapore

* Singapore: Man dies a week after he was ‘pushed’ down stairs

* ‘Revenge spenders’ may befuelling inflation

Indonesia:

* Indonesia now aims to host the host-less FIFA U-17 World Cup in November, but hurdles are high

* Indonesia: West Kalimantan’s Singkawang most tolerant city, Banten’s Cilegon most intolerant, reports Setara Institute

* Indonesia discovers three human trafficking rings in border areas

* Third massive whale in a month beaches itself, dies in Bali

* Indonesia has met more stakeholders from Myanmar, progress to resolve crisis has been made, says Minister

* Flexing crazy rich Indonesians

* Tesla now to build Shanghai factory to make Megapack batteries

Tourists ride elephants on a beach on Thailand’s island of Koh Chang, on Sunday, April 9, 2023. - AFP

Thailand:

* Thai army apologises to mother forced to take comatose son to conscription site to prove he is unfit

* Thailand General Elections: More than 4,700 candidates eyeing for 400 seats

* Thailand’s tourism recovery puts four marine species back on extinction watchlist

* Hot and sweaty in Thailand - Krabi, Bangkok’s heat index rise above 50 deg C on Sunday

* No to Pheu Thai handout, says Prayut

* Thailand Rail service added for durian exports to China

* Thai pollution issue - Dark clouds over Songkran

Philippines:

* Heartbreaking scene as seven dead, including two children found ‘hugging each other’, in fire near Manila

* Philippine tycoon - Edgar "Injap” Sia - seeks up to US$125mil to expand hotel foray

* Philippine residential fire kills seven, including two kids, more than 60 families homeless

* Cops dismiss restaurant robberies as ‘fake news’ in Philippines

* Philippines: Drugs seized from village councillor

* Several drownings over Holy Week - Celebrating Easter in Philippines

Filipino girls dressed as angels smile during Easter Sunday rites at the Antipolo Cathedral, Antipolo city, Philippines on Sunday, April 9, 2023. The event culminates the observance of Holy Week in this predominantly Roman Catholic nation as life slowly returns to normal after strict COVID restrictions in the past years. - AP

Vietnam:

* Artwork by Vietnamese million-dollar painter sets new record in Hong Kong

* Vietnam PM host newly appointed Malaysian ambassador; both countries confident of good bilateral relationships

* Digital payments grow in Vietnam amid changing consumer habits

* Road accident deaths drop 15 per cent in Vietnam in Q1

* Keeping an eye on the weather in Thailand and Vietnam

Myanmar:

* Pope appeals to Russians on Ukraine, decries Middle East violence, hopes Rohingya people see justice in Easter message

* Myanmar attracts over US$1.64bil in FDI for 2022-23 fiscal year

* Myanmar's total export up 6.9 per cent in 2022-23 fiscal year

A street artist constructs a model of a rabbit made of bamboo for the Sangkanta festival, which will mark the Year of the Rabbit, at Wat Phnom in Phnom Penh. - AFP

Cambodia:

* Cambodia has achieved significant achievements in health development in past decades, says WHO

* The 32nd SEA Games in Cambodia: First tickets and now broadcast of region's top event of free of charge

* Japanese cybercrime scam suspects to be deported

Laos:

* Laos to see better economic growth in 2023, 2024

* China-Laos Railway cross-border passenger service to boost Laos' economic recovery

Brunei:

* Major drug bust in Brunei - ‘Operasi Jackal’ main suspect charged

* Indonesian duo jailed for immigration violations and overstaying in Brunei

Indian Christians attend a mass at a church on Easter Sunday in Jammu, India, Sunday, April 9, 2023. - AP

AseanPlus:

* Malaysia's Tang Jie-Ee Wei win Orleans Masters title

* Malaysian PM: Asean should remain neutral amid US-China rivalry

* Flashlight shocker - China jails man for scaring 1,100 chickens to death

* China in second day of 'Joint Sword' military drills encircling Taiwan

* China simulated strikes against 'key targets on Taiwan': state media

* Chinese fishing crews navigate troubled waters as tensions with Taiwan flare

* Universities in Japan restrict students’ use of ChatGPT

* Asean members must take necessary steps to secure its critical infrastructure

* Son Heung-min is first Asian to score 100 Premier League goals

* The Russia-Ukraine conflict: Xi commits to peace talks

* Macron mobbed by varsity students in China

* Six jailed over confining and chaining of woman in Nanjing

* Why school bullying hits a raw nerve in South Korea

* The chatbot revolution risks becoming a race of the reckless

* Love replica -AI, artificial emotion and the illusion of human connection: Does anyone care?

* Personal matters like enticement shouldn’t be part of Penal Code, say women NGOs

* Taiwan’s next move - The republic first needs to strengthen unity with the world’s democracies.

* ‘Dumb phones’ are back as Gen Z looks to limit screen time

* Taiwan's badminton ace Tai Tzu-ying plans to retire after the 2024 Paris Olympics

* Korean heartthrob Lee Seung-gi marries actress Lee Da-in in star-studded ceremony

* Oh dear, yet another scare as golf superstar Woods withdraws before completing third round of US Masters