Asean News Headlines at 9pm on Friday (May 12, 2023)

US Army Chief of Staff Gen. James McConville (right) and Indonesian Defence Minister Prabowo Subianto inspect an honour guards during their meeting in Jakarta, Indonesia, Friday, May 12, 2023. - AP

Malaysia:

* Senior cop charged with CBT involving over RM500K in Taiping

* 'GTA failed to get support from voters', says Dr M on his decision to quit

* 1MDB: Investigation on Jho Low goes on, says IGP

* Loke to meet Azam Baki on misconduct issues on May 16

* Leader of party that lost all its deposits in GE15 is 'bodoh sombong', says Zahid

* Rosmah's money laundering trial vacated after she seeks to have charges dropped

* 'Marriage' between PAS, Bersatu will not last long, claims Zahid

* Court sets Sept 22 to hear Terengganu Sultanah's appeal against Rewcastle-Brown case decision

* Malaysia is a free country, govt accepts all forms of criticism, says Azalina

* BNM governor denies OPR rise has resulted in bankruptcies going up

* Former Sabah rugby player charged with murdering younger sister

* Teenager claims trial to raping 15-year-old girl and recording act

Women's 100m final gold medallist Singapore's Veronica Shanti Pereira celebrates after winning the main athletics event at the Asean Games in the Morodok Techo National Stadium, Phnom Penh, Cambodia, on Friday, May 12, 2023. - AFP

Singapore:

* Three Zika virus cases detected in Singapore neighbourhood Kovan; doctors urged to test patients for Zika

* Singaporean brothers nabbed in Melaka over sexual abuse of boys in two religious schools

* Stronger collaboration with Singapore needed on environmental issues, says Hasni

* Man duped into paying US$40 online after using third-party app to scan QR code on recycling machine

* Singapore central bank chief Menon re-appointed for 2 more years

* Singapore’s new property tax won’t hurt these foreign buyers

* Asean must press on regional integration efforts amid troubled global environment, says Singapore PM

* Global finance chiefs to plot escape routes

* Oil prices fall, set for 4th weekly drop, as demand fears weigh

* Asian shares weaken on global growth concerns, Japan outperforms

Indonesia:

* Emerging markets - Stocks in Jakarta fall 0.5% and rupiah dips 0.2%; Asian FX, stocks dip on concerns of global slowdown

* Led by Chair Indonesia, Asean calls for 'self-restraint' in South China Sea activities

* Indonesia's April trade surplus seen increasing to US$3.38bil

* Farid Kamil, star of 'Anwar' biopic, considered moving to Indonesia if Anwar didn't become PM

* Pledge to crack down on human traffickers

* ‘Remain united in resolving crisis’, says Jokowi to Asean members

* Thai consumer confidence at three-year high

* BWF approve temporary ban on unplayable 'spin serve'

Pheu Thai Party’s prime ministerial candidates Paetongtarn Shinawatra (right), and Srettha Thavisin greet supporters at the party’s final campaign event in Bangkok, Friday, May 12, 2023, ahead of Thailand’s May 14 general election. - AFP

Thailand:

* Seven Buddhist monks accused of embezzling more than RM39.9mil donated to temple in Thailand

* Embattled Thai PM Prayuth fights to stay on in vote on Sunday

* Factbox-Election promises of Thailand's major parties

* Thai parties launch last push to woo voters

* Rise of Thailand’s youth party reflects still potent protest demands

* Raising stakes ahead of polls in Thailand / A guide to Thailand’s election

* Thailand tourism rising - Chinese visitors to hit a million each month by October

Philippines:

* Philippines nurse exodus leaves hospitals short-staffed; meagre pay and poor working conditions among issues for leaving

* Filipino priest on mission in Europe to halt fossil fuel financing

* Philippine court acquits top Duterte critic after 6 years in detention

* Developed countries urged to fulfil commitments, says Marcos

* Philippines GDP growth slows - current pace slowest in two years

A double delight. Women's 10000m gold medallist Vietnam's Thi Oanh Nguyen and silver medallist Vietnam's Thi Hong Le Pham celebrate during the medal ceremony of the ASEAN Games at the Morodok Techo National Stadium, Phnom Penh, Cambodia on Friday, May 12, 2023. - Reuters

Vietnam:

* Vietnam carries out sustainable prevention of Covid-19, says expert

* Vietnam's financial centre Ho Chi Minh City to revive manufacturing sector

* Vietnam's dong is one of most stable currencies in Asia, say experts

* Heatwaves to strain power supply, public warned

* Vietnam - Renewable investors voice grievances over price negotiation, delays

Myanmar:

* Hundreds of thousands to be evacuated as Bangladesh and Myanmar brace for severe cyclone

* Indonesian president Jokowi says no real progress on Myanmar peace plan at Asean Summit

* Spicy Chinese mala cuisine makes presence felt in Myanmar

* Cyclone to make landfall in Myanmar

Philippines' Patrick King Dela Cruz Perez reacts after winning gold in the men's Taekwondo's Recognized Poomsae individual final at the ASEAN Games in Chroy Changvar Convention Centre Hall F, Phnom Penh, Cambodia, on Friday, May 12, 2023. - Reuters

Cambodia:

* Japan football legend Honda leaves Cambodia post after five years

* World Bank approves US$60mil credit to Cambodia for solid waste, plastics management

* Cambodia’s golden warriors: Incredible Kun Khmer debut at the 32nd SEA Games

Laos:

* Lao govt to intensify school lunch programme for underprivileged children

* Laos seeks UNESCO intangible cultural heritage listing for Baci ceremony

* Lao army and China hold joint military drill in Laos

Brunei:

* Brunei takes on chairmanship of Asean civil service cooperation

* Asean summit concludes with pledge to enhance bloc centrality, economic integration

* Wushu exponent Hosea Wong Zheng Yu is Brunei's new sporting star as country wins second gold at 32nd SEA Games in Cambodia

Performers place a giant dragon puppet in the back of a truck after a parade marking the Tin Hau Festival, which celebrates the birthday of the Chinese goddess of the sea, at the Yuen Long district of Hong Kong on Friday, May 12, 2023. - AFP

AseanPlus:

* Report on Australian RM790mil heroin seizure sent to PM Anwar, says Customs

* SEA Games 2023: Malaysia defends cycling individual road race gold, this time through Amirul

* SEA Games: Cheong Min dazzles with another wushu gold

* Toyota says more than two million drivers face risk in vehicle data leak in Japan

* Pistol, bullets confiscated from foreigners near Chuping border post

* Chinese ministry takes down Bollywood-inspired brownface video after criticisms

* Malaysian palm oil firms say they are not hiring from Bangladesh over recruitment concerns

* United States and China look to move beyond balloon incident to stabilise ties

* Hong Kong to speed up development into International green and sustainable finance centre

* Asian markets struggle as easing inflation fails to boost optimism

* Foxconn, Sharp shares slide after Japan firm's surprise writedown

* Pakistan authorities gear for Imran Khan's supporters at his court hearing

* Toyota flags possible leak of more than 2 million users' vehicle data in Japan

* Elon Musk says he’s stepping down as Twitter’s CEO

* Binance.US explores ways to cut founder Zhao's majority stake - report

* Indian cricket's Mr Nice Guy makes history - Yuzvendra Chahal becomes leading IPL wicket-taker

* Slow consumer inflation, deepening factory gate deflation to test policy

* 10-year blueprint for chip supremacy - South Korea to go big on chip industry

* Toshiba flags drop in annual profit ahead of JIP buyout

* Exclusive-Wegovy, other weight loss drugs ‘no silver bullet’, says WHO amid obesity review

* Webtoons are South Korea’s latest viral cultural export