Asean News Headlines at 9pm on Sunday (March 17, 2023)

Balinese people prepare to take part in a traditional ceremony at a temple in Kesiman in Denpasar on the Indonesian resort island of Bali on Sunday, March 17, 2024. - AFP

Malaysia:

* Making Malaysian creative content for the world

* Hot weather above 35°C forecast in peninsula, Sabah over next seven days, says MetMalaysia

* Microsoft boss Nadella's visit to Malaysia postponed, says report

* 80 Malaysian companies record RM1.49bil in sales at Gulfood 2024

* Sabah Wildlife Dept urges caution due to consistent dugong sightings

* Cops raid 11 places in KL, arrest 47 in anti-vice operation

* Opposition requested postponement of allocation discussions, says Fadillah

* Four asked to give statement to cops over women's march

* Police deny allegations officers mistreated TV host

* Don't exploit KK Super Mart issue for political mileage, says MCA's Tan Teik Cheng

* Ringgit to stay steady and trade between 4.69 and 4.70 against the US dollar this week

* Bursa Malaysia likely to remain consistent and to trade within the range of 1,540- 1,570 from Monday (March 18)

Passengers queue at the check-in departure counter at Singapore Changi Airport in Singapore. - AFP

Singapore:

* Riots, stampedes at major events a concern if more not done to curb concert ticket scams, say experts

* Singapore’s third tranche of aid for Gaza arrives in Jordan, RSAF airdrops to commence soon

* One more deg C of warming will make outdoor labour more dangerous for 800 million people, says review paper

* At least 960 people in Singapore lost over RM1.89mil in 10 weeks to Taylor Swift concert ticket scams

* Singapore: Public enjoy the streets as car-free Sunday returns after four-year hiatus

* Singapore home sales fall on lack of projects in cooling market

* Singaporean man rescued after his MPV plunges into river in Johor

Indonesia:

* Indonesian weather dept says dry season in country to be less severe this year; forest fire easier to control

* Indonesia secures men's singles title at All England Open; first All-Indonesian final since 1994

* Japan and Asean to integrate QR code payments by 2025, confirms METI

* Arts as bridge of empathy: Lessons from Indonesian cross-cultural collaborations

* Two Indonesian nationals assisting in South Korea fighter jet probe

* Taiwanese man dies after boat capsizes in Indonesia

People take part in a St. Patrick's Day parade in Tokyo on Sunday, March 17, 2024. - AFP

Thailand:

* Thailand ranks third in the world for most number of top women executives; Malaysia ranked seventh

* Dissident Russian band returns to stage after Thai detention

* Thai PM vows to curb air pollution in tourist hotspot Chiang Mai

* Thailand - Lawmakers set to approve marriage equality Bill

* Thai PM vows to curb air pollution in Chiang Mai

Philippines:

* Philippines sets Guinness record for largest human image of an organ

* Chinese tourist arrivals in Philippines surge by 235 per cent in Jan-Feb

* Philippines gets US$5bil in investment pledges from German, US companies

* Philippines says it can overtake Singapore next year as Asia’s No. 2 casino hub

US Secretary of State Antony Blinken arrives at the Osan Air Base in Pyeongtaek on Sunday, March 17, 2024. - AFP

Vietnam:

* Vietnam faces RM14.1bil annual crop losses from rising saltwater levels

* Sustainable supply chains to help reinforce foothold of Vietnamese goods

* Vietnam PM meets top local businesses amid weak bank lending

* Fast fingers set two world records - Vietnamese srtist’s 30-year career sees over 1,500 paintings

Myanmar:

* Myanmar's famous Thingyan festival in Nay Pyi Taw toi feature top K-Pop stars, says govt

* Myanmar's junta takes steps toward enforcing draft law; collecting data for new recruits

* India recaptures ship MV Ruen from Somali pirates, rescues crew from hailing from Myanmar, Angola and Bulgaria

People walk through Omotesando shopping street in Tokyo on Sunday, March 17, 2024. - AFP

Cambodia:

* Youth key to driving national development and growth, says Cambodian PM Hun Manet

* Cambodia launches Visit Siem Reap 2024 campaign

* Seeped in history but collecting sap to make palm sugar is an arduous, and less appealing, job for Cambodians

Laos:

* Laos-China Railway handles over 30 million passenger trips; daily trips have even over 100,000 passengers

* Fifth Lao-Thai Mekong bridge on track for completion by year end

Brunei:

* Brunei Finance Minister Minister clears air on grievances over current excessive water and electricity bills

* Brunei seizes 550 cans of smuggled alcohol in special joint operation

Women in traditional sarees participate in a 'Saree Run' in Hyderabad, India, Sunday, March 17, 2024. - AP

AseanPlus:

* Sabah earned RM5mil in tourism revenue from just two large groups from China

* Malaysian movies: In pursuit of bouquets and box office

* Two injured in barbecue eatery blast in eastern China

* Only half of South Koreans willing to marry; even less want kids

* US Secretary of State Blinken arrives in South Korea to attend democracy summit

* South Korean man jailed for shooting stray dog with arrow to ‘avenge his chickens’

* India to hold world biggest parliamentary elections in seven phases starting from April 19

* Japan taking all measures to ensure safety of its famed Japanese seafood, says top official

* New generation of popular models from China are conquering the world's runways

* When kids go power! Pre-teen superteam Power Pack turns 40 this year

* India's 'lottery king' emerges as top political donor in opaque system

* Australia's north braces for Tropical Cyclone Megan

* Australia Foreign Minister Penny Wong marries longtime partner

* North Korean leader Kim ‘drops by’ paratrooper drills

* F1 - Hamilton looks for strong farewell season with Mercedes

* Byte down: TikTok scapegoated for failure to regulate Big Tech

* Focus: Sex differences could be key to treating long Covid

* Health ministry in Hamas-run Gaza says war death toll now at 31,645

* Gaza attack imminent - Israel PM says army will go into Gaza's Rafah despite international 'pressure'

* A silver lining for South-East Asia? The Red Sea attacks may offer the region a chance to reinvent

* Hong Kong’s waste problem demands opening market to investment, circular-economy models: China Everbright Environment

* China teacher turned influencer famous for cute kindergarten song caught up in US$7,000-for-sex rumours, calls in police

* China's top romance novelist, 29, dies after 3-year battle with rare disease, bids farewell with last words ‘eat healthy meals, sleep well’