Asean News Headlines at 9pm on Friday (Feb 16, 2024)

Indonesian Defense Minister and presidential frontrunner Prabowo Subianto greets supporters before visited the grave of Habib Ali bin Abdurrahman Al-Habsyi at the Al Riyadh Mosque in Jakarta, Indonesia, Friday, Feb. 16, 2024. Prabowo Subianto’s rise as Indonesia’s apparent next president is a dramatic comeback from a notorious past, which saw the United States banning his entry over human rights and the Indonesian army, where he led the special forces, expelling him. - AP

Malaysia:

* Syariah laws: Special committee open to discussions with all parties, says PM

* Elly Arifin says she receives sexually explicit messages every time she posts a photo

* Dr M's son given 30 more days to declare assets to MACC

* Bukit Aman cops busts forex scam ring that targeted European victims

* Defamation suits against Kepala Batas MP to be heard in September

* Incidence of poverty unacceptable in states with large zakat collections, says PM

* Man who assaulted and robbed woman in Kota Kinabalu nabbed within seven hours

* Digital transformation needed for Malaysian healthcare, says Dr Dzul

* Madani govt confident of achieving stronger GDP growth of 4-5% in 2024

* 1MDB Trial: Charges against Najib not defective, witness tells court

* Daim's wife seeks High Court order for return of passport

* Ratu Naga arrested by MACC and not merely 'summoned', says lawyer

People cycle along Marina Bay East Park, past the Marina Bay Sands resort, in Singapore on Friday, February 16, 2024. - AFP

Singapore:

* Louis Vuitton opens first ultra-exclusive Singapore boutique for top spenders

* Singapore expects 1% to 3% economic growth in 2024 as DPM presents 2024 budget bill in Parliament

* Vape users in Singapore's HPB smoking cessation programme can be prosecuted if caught using vape products

* TikTok CEO Chew Shou Zi’s Senate grilling on China ties could ‘undermine’ US image, says Singapore envoy

* RM5 or one-way ticket on KTM's Shuttle Tebrau for M'sians from Aug 1

* Singapore's Jan exports up 16.8% y/y, steeper rise than forecast

* Rare fish thought extinct rediscovered in city-state

* Startups hope for support in Singapore's Budget 2024 for digitalisation

* Oil goes flat as weaker IEA outlook weighs on US rate cut hopes

Indonesia:

* Rivals claim voter fraud as Prabowo stays on track to be Indonesia’s next president

* Indonesian president's son also rises, but what will his role as new VP be?

* Families of Indonesian activists tortured by soldiers 25 years ago shocked at general's election win

* Indonesia's Prabowo has made no decision on energy subsidies, says aide

* Malaysian horror flick 'Waruga' is inspired by ancient beliefs of Indonesia's Minahasa people

* VI Old Boy poised to lead Indonesia

* Strategic campaigning the foundation for victory

Commuter boats cross the Chao Praya River amid high air pollution levels in Bangkok over the last few days. - AFP

Thailand:

* Residents of the Thai capital Bangkok enjoyed just 31 days of good air in 2023, says World Index report

* Thailand plans to offer visa-free travel to citizens of more countries

* Thailand warns of continuing high pollution in capital, officials to work from home

* Thailand: Phuket police, wildlife officials seize lion cub, charge Chinese woman

* Thailand: Kingdom to offer medical coverage for tourists

* Haze forces employees to stay home / Authorities urge remote work as toxic air chokes Bangkok

Philippines:

* Philippines govt struggling to lower rice price despite ample supply in country

* MYEG Philippines to partner with social insurance programme

* Emerging Markets - Asian currencies set for weekly declines but stocks rise on Fed rate cut hopes

* Philippines picks San Miguel-led group to upgrade main airport in US$3bil contract

* Manila committed to SCS code of conduct

Farmers burned sticky rice in bamboos are called kralan for a rite in a post rice harvest festival in Tang Bampong near Aoral mountain in Kampong Speu province, southwest of Phnom Penh, Cambodia, Friday, Feb. 16, 2024. - AP

Vietnam:

* Vietnam's exports in January highest in almost two years

* Vietnam's central bank urges credit growth acceleration

* ‘Help me find love, Buddha’ - Say young people in Vietnam

* Surge in tourist arrivals recorded during CNY

* Concern raised for activist on hunger strike in Vietnam

Myanmar:

* Thousands seek to quit Myanmar after military service announcement

* One dead, eight injured in bus accident in southern Myanmar

* Bangladesh repatriates 330 Myanmar nationals who fled border clashes

* Junta to start drafting 5,000 people a month into the military soon

Photo shows an aerial view of an China Coast Guard vessel (upper) and China Coast Guard personnel on a rubber boat at Scarborough Shoal in the disputed South China Sea. - AFP

Cambodia:

* Cambodia 'upcycler' turns tonnes of plastic bottles into brooms

* Cambodia jails two Taiwanese men for faking kidnap

* Taiwanese influencer arrested in Cambodia for faking livestreams of own abduction in scam mill

* F&N in Cambodian land deal

Laos:

* Laos vows to graduate from least developed country by 2026

* Laos continues to raise tourism standards to attract more visitors during its visit year campaign

Brunei:

* Royal Brunei Air Force expands operational capabilities with new aircraft

* Brunei's Ministry of Education seeks and explores further cooperation with Malaysia

Naoki Nakamura of Japan takes part in a training run before the start of the qualifying round on the first day of the men's FIS Ski Jumping World Cup competition in Sapporo on Friday, February 16, 2024. - AFP

AseanPlus:

* Malaysia's 2023 moderate economic growth in sync with other Asean countries - DoSM

* Malaysian tourists wave national flag at Taj Mahal and told to write apology letter, says report

* Hong Kong authorities arrest seven in whopping RM8.6bil money laundering case

* Malaysian singer Ernie Zakri shares ghostly encounter at hotel room in Kuching

* Seoul hopes egg freezing can help S. Korea baby crisis, experts disagree

* Osaka man lands in prison for unhygienic prank at Yoshinoya outlet to amuse his online fans

* School principal in Japan fired for coffee theft, denied retirement pay

* China calls for developers in Chang’e 8 mission to make and assemble moon bricks

* Indian farmers to postpone protest march to Delhi as talks with govt continue

* Nikkei races to fresh 34-year high, all-time peak in sight

* 30% of Hong Kong international schools expect expat applications to fall over next 5 years, as some predict surge in local demand

* US still seeks delayed Pacific islands funds amid China’s lobbying push in region, says senior diplomat

* Man dies after sampan boat rips off leg in Hong Kong waters

* South Korean president's office says handling of heckler within law

* Value of Chinese businesses listed on US stock exchanges dropped significantly in 2023

* Germany overtakes Japan as third-biggest economy

* US sees no 'imminent' war with N. Korea despite Asian country's confrontational attitude

* Sydney parks cordoned off, Mardi Gras event cancelled after asbestos concerns

* Beijing condemns deaths of two mainland Chinese fishermen after Taiwan coastguard chase

* China wants to build a ‘silver economy’ for its ageing society – but who will keep it running?

* Soccer: KFA dismiss South Korea coach Klinsmann after Asian Cup disappointment

* Australian PM announces engagement after Valentine's Day proposal

* Hong Kong’s corruption-busters to take the world to school with new academy designed to train fraud fighters using hi-tech virtual reality