Asean News Headlines at 10pm on Monday (Jan 20, 2025)

A woman pushes a baby stroller under lanterns hung outside Maha Vihara Maitrea temple in preparation for the celebration of the Chinese Lunar New Year in Medan, North Sumatra, Indonesia, Monday, Jan. 20, 2025. - AP Photo/Binsar Bakkara

Malaysia:

* Anwar meets De Croo in Brussels

* Najib directly involved in handing out cheques to Umno, SRC's lawyer tells court

* Najib denies pressuring 1MDB to ally with PetroSaudi through phone call

* Malaysians abroad must have same voting rights as those at home, says Anwar

* 1MDB: US Justice Dept recovers another US$20mil

* Male hairstylist remanded seven days over sexual assault of college student in Melaka

* Malaysia records trade value of RM2.879 trillion in 2024

* Malaysia trade seen growing in line with WTO outlook, says Miti

* Malaysia on track for developed nation status by 2028-2029, says Rafizi

* Asean countries agree to partner with Australia to strengthen tourism ties

* Miti: Modern, dynamic free trade agreement will bring mutual benefits

* Facebook, TikTok, WhatsApp, Telegram are online platforms preferred by scammers, says Fahmi

* Appeals court upholds night market trader's jail term, whipping for sodomising stepdaughter

* No issue over 70pc of halal cert holders are non-bumiputra companies as all meet Jakim standards, says HDC

* Saudi Arabia has set Feb 14 as deadline for Haj services contracts

Workers do maintenance on the roof of the Esplanade theatre in Singapore on January 20, 2025. - Photo by Roslan RAHMAN / AFP

Singapore:

* Dewan Rakyat speaker discusses Asean cooperation with Singapore counterpart

* Controlled drug Ketamine a lifeline for patients with severe depression in Singapore

* Singapore dollar set to weaken as MAS pivot comes into focus

* ‘Very heavy’ traffic expected at Singapore land checkpoints during Chinese New Year period

* Singaporean who told ex-girlfriend he raped her ‘for her own good’ gets more than 10 years’ jail, caning

* Dollar strong, stocks creep higher as second Trump term dawns

* Singapore’s December exports rise 9% as Trump tariffs pose risks

* Oil slips as investors eye Trump move on Russian export curbs

* 'I was never married': Singaporean singer Kit Chan on keeping her 'divorce' a secret

Indonesia:

* Indonesia mulls repatriation bid for accused Bali bomb plotter Hambali, report says

* China's BYD to complete US$1bil Indonesia plant by year-end, top executive says

* Indonesia’s plan to restrict children from social media lauded, but some concerns raised

* Malaysia invites Indonesia's participation at Lima 2025

* Indonesian navy taking down ‘mysterious’ sea fence that sparked reclamation debate

* Indonesia president gets 81% approval rating after first 100 days, poll shows

* Asian currencies, equities rise ahead of Trump's new term

A view of the city amid air pollution during sunrise as Bangkok announces request for cooperation from government and private sector workers to stay or work from home (WFH) due to the PM2.5 dust situation, in Bangkok, Thailand, on Monday, January 20, 2025.- Reuters

Thailand:

* Thailand steps up border security and migration measures with aims of combating illicit activities

* Historic Thai law recognises same-sex marriages - but not all families are equal

* Cops seeking public help after bloody Thai woman's body found in shopping mall restroom

* Thailand extradites China man suspected of defrauding public of US$15.3mil

* Thailand hunts for Central Bank chief with ‘modern ideas’

* Bangkok remains cool, while Upper Thailand experiences freezing cold weather

* Phumtham to announce Thailand's stepped-up drug suppression measures on Jan 30

Philippines:

* Singapore actor Laurence Pang loses RM116,000 to pretty face in online scam in Philippines

* Philippines' president accuses predecessor Duterte of peddling lies over budget barb

* Philippines arrests Chinese man for 'spying' on military camps, heating up tensions

* Philippines and the US hold joint maritime exercises in South China Sea

* Marcos ‘shocked, appalled’ by contents of anti-adolescent pregnancy Bill

* Recto: Philippine govt might have missed 2024 growth target

A view shows the city amid air pollution in Hanoi, Vietnam, on Monday, January 20, 2025. - Reuters

Vietnam:

* Vietnam plans tax breaks, fee cuts to lure overseas investors

* Aseanapol focuses on eliminating scam call centres and trafficking links

* Vietnam ex-cabinet spokesman handed suspended jail term for graft charges

* Vietnams Cat Ba revives with new look after Typhoon Yagi

* ‘Darth Vader’ of the sea: Giant sea bug found off Vietnam coast, study shows

* Vietnam’s pepper prices to keep rising

Myanmar:

* Asean tells Myanmar to prioritise ceasefire over elections

* Myanmar military and minority armed group agree ceasefire, China says

* Sanctuary brings hope to stray animals in Myanmar

* Two Myanmar nationals get six months' in jail for possession of LPG without licence

* Myanmar junta air strike kills 28, including children: ethnic armed group

Protesters gather during an anti-US demonstration in Manila on Monday, January 20, 2025, ahead of the inauguration of US President-elect Donald Trump. - AFP

Cambodia:

* Former Cambodian PM Hun Sen pledges diplomatic support for the 46th AIPA in Kuala Lumpur

* Cambodian PM Hun Manet assures all that his father and the govt not behind killing of former opposition leader

* Cambodia extends mine-free goal to 2030

* Cambodian villagers celebrate upcoming Chinese New Year

Laos:

* Lao government aims for fifth year of budget surplus

* Sustainable rice farming project in Laos introduces new technology to boost organic rice production

* Constitutional amendments outline key changes in Lao

Brunei:

* Brunei ranks 13th globally in Islamic finance development; Malaysia and Saudi Arabia maintain their top two positions

* Brunei launches online haj registration system

* Brunei deputy minister highlights role of hafiz, hafizah

Czech Prime Minister Petr Fiala (R) and his Vietnamese counterpart Pham Minh Chinh review an honour guard during a welcome ceremony on January 20, 2025 in Prague. - AP

AseanPlus:

* Japanese company to fund RM1mil Sabah elephant food corridor

* Malaysia aims to become leading cocoa hub in Asia

* Khazanah-led consortium lowers MAHB takeover condition to 85%

* Zahid calls for Asean cybercrime task force to be considered

* China executes man who killed 35 in car rampage

* Bread, soup, soy milk: South Korean leader’s life in jail

* Factbox - Mugshot, khaki uniform and solitary cell for South Korea's detained President Yoon

* Singer Jay Chou celebrates 10th wedding anniversary with couple dance

* South Korea braces for Trump's policies with biggest-ever export finance support

* Young Chinese turn to AI pets for emotional relief

* Bank of Japan poised to raise rates to highest in 17 years

* China’s women esports players defy sexism for love of the game

* India: Volunteer cop convicted of violence against trainee doctor

* First three Israeli hostages released in Gaza under ceasefire

* Soha Ali Khan: “Saif recovering well after stabbing incident”

* Buddha-inspired Donald Trump sculptures by Chinese artist are hot property again

* South Korea's Yoon shuns questioning as security tightened after court rampage

* New products, new stores: China goes for novelty factor to boost consumption, but will it work?

* How TikTok grew from a fun app for teens into a potential national security threat

* China live-streamer calls woman ‘mum’, uses emotional content to scam her out of US$76,000

* Chinese Vice President meets Musk before Trump takes office

* Hit by wave of cyber attacks, Japan shifts to ‘active cyber defence’

* Playful China cat sends resignation letter, loses owner job, Thai dog brings home bomb

* Taliban deputy tells leader there is no excuse for education bans on Afghan women and girls

* China urges US to listen to 'rational voices' over TikTok ban

* TikTok restores service in US, thanking Trump / * TikTok, RedNote and the crushed promise of the Chinese Internet

* China firms give employees bizarre Lunar New Year gifts including red underwear, livestock, sugar cane and wigs for luck

* Asian markets track Wall St and Europe rally after Trump-Xi talks / China, HK stocks rally as Trump-Xi call calms nerves