Asean News Headlines at 10pm on Tuesday (Jan 21, 2025)

A tourist poses in front of incense sticks drying in a courtyard in Quang Phu Cau village on the outskirts of Hanoi on Tuesday,January 21, 2025, ahead of Lunar New Year celebrations, known in Vietnam as Tet. Families living and working in the "incense village" of Quang Phu Cau now also make sticks in yellow, blue and green, catering to visitors eager to snap shots for Instagram. - AFP

Malaysia:

* 1MDB task force was illegal, says Najib / Najib clarifies termination of Abdul Gani Patail's service

* Najib maintains 1MDB benefitted the country despite its debts

* Najib used Jho low to receive 1MDB funds, says prosecution

* PM Anwar: No need to put Najib through 'hell' but must give back stolen funds

* No time frame set to conclude Malaysia-EU free trade talks, says PM Anwar

* Comedian lodged report against Harith Iskander, confirm cops

* Trump's second inauguration attended by ambassadors, not world leaders

* Beastly beauty scheme: JB man loses RM550,000 to fake investment

* Chemical plant explosion: 32 were injured in Klang, say cops

* Science Ministry to lead regional space economy mega project

* Section 2 of West Coast Expressway opens at midnight, toll-free for a month

* MACC gets go-ahead to charge duo in highway projects graft probe

* Businessman faces 17 charges of cheating Socso of over RM800,000

* Cabinet to decide on doctors' on-call allowances on Jan 24, says Health Minister

* Implementation of on-call shift system for doctors depends on MAAC decision, says Health Minister

People buy decorations ahead of the upcoming Lunar New Year at a Mall in Surabaya on Tuesday, January 21, 2025. - AFP

Singapore:

* Jail for Myanmar maid who hit and punched one-year-old boy, lied to parents that he fell

* Ang Mo Kio murder in Singapore: Man accused of killing woman, 67, taken back to crime scene

* Instagram to restrict features for Singapore users suspected to be underage

* Jail for elderly Singapore man who molested two teen boys on public transport

* No devices for kids at meals and turn off the TV: Singapore issues stricter screen use guidelines

* ‘I was in shock’: Six Singaporeans taken to hospital after bus accident in Norway

* Singaporean actress Jeanette Aw returns to Japan for a string of patisserie pop-ups

* Signs of social cohesion coming under strain in Singapore: IPS director

* S’pore dollar to weaken, MAS pivot comes into focus

* Oil swings as Trump signals Canada tariffs, domestic energy push

Indonesia:

* Fire destroys over 500 houses in Jakarta; over 600 families forced to evacuate

* Indonesia and France likely to sign agreement over repatriation of death row convict

* Sixteen dead, five missing in Central Java landslide

* Search continues for victims of Glodok Plaza fire in Jakarta

* Companies, individuals hold land permits ashore from illegal sea fence in Banten

* Landslide in Bali kills at least five

* Nation mulls repatriation bid for Bali bomb plotter

* Indonesian Govt’s carbon market expansion targets global buyers

People go shopping at a plant market in Bangkok on Tuesday,m January 21, 2025. - AFP

Thailand:

* Thai Cabinet to discuss air pollution mitigation measures; cost govt RM394mil last year, says Health Ministry

* Thailand's visa waiver for Chinese tourists under fire after string of crimes

* Thai govt confirms third phase of digital wallet to take place in March or April

* Thai horror films: creativity that captivates the world

* Hot Issue: 'Casinos' stir protests against Thaksin

* Thai cabinet approves collection of carbon tax

* New ‘tide’ sweeps up plastic waste in Thailand

Philippines:

* ‘Foreign Power’ attempting to map out Philippines, military says

* Philippines to host Asean Tourism Forum 2026 in Cebu, Boracay; one of the biggest event in South-East Asia's calendar

* South Korea's ultimate water festival is coming to Waterbomb Manila

* Philippine finance chief sees slower rate cuts on global risks

* Kanlaon Volcano unrest in Philippines: 5 ash emissions, 12 quakes in 24 hrs

* Magnitude 3.7 tremor hits Quezon town in Philippines

Philippine President Ferdinand Marcos (right) speaks with Isabel Fan, president of Tesla Philippines, during the launch of the Tesla center in Manila. - AFP

Vietnam:

* Asia looks to buy more US fossil fuels to make Trump happy

* COMAC jets for Vietnam show China's push for international market

* Ministry proposes cross-border e-commerce businesses in Vietnam must own licence

* 'Too hard': Vietnam's factory workers return to country life

* Vietnam debt pressure weighs on market / Country sets global financial centre targets

* Asian currencies edge higher, Mexican peso slips on Trump's tariff plans

Myanmar:

* Yangon Zoo, South-East Asia's oldest, marks its 119th anniversary

* Myanmar junta says it deported over 50,000 scam centre workers to China

* Nearly 50 Myanmar Rohingya found on popular Thai island, confirms police

* Thousands displaced in Shan State as fighting intensifies in Myanmar

A man fishes at a lake near Koh Rongeang village, outskirts of Phnom Penh, Cambodia. - AP

Cambodia:

* Cooperation in combating telecom fraud bears fruit in Lancang-Mekong countries

* Senior anti-drug official charged with corruption in Cambodia; facing seven to 15 years in prison

* Cambodian government US$150 million credit guarantee to protect rice farmers

* Cambodia's trade with Asean rises to US$15.69bil 2024, up 12.4%

Laos:

* Laos welcomes over five million tourists in 2024, generating over US$1bil in revenue

* Laos focuses on strengthening mining sector and improve projects in 2025

* Mines ministry evaluates investment projects in Laos for 2025

Brunei:

* Brunei police investigating viral bullying video that shows young boy assaulted by many others

* Lessons on flag etiquette in Brunei's Belait District

* Brunei to continue experiencing heavy rain and thundery conditions due to northeast monsoon, say weatherman

An aerial view shows smoke rising from a fire site at a commercial building near a famous tourist landmark Tsutenkaku Tower, in Osaka, Japan on Tuesday, January 21, 2025. - Kyodo via REUTERS

AseanPlus:

* Local singer Shila Amzah reveals she was once sexually harassed in her teen years

* Cross-intelligence sharing vital for Asean peace and security, says Saifuddin

* Knocking opportunities from Southeast Asia amid geopolitical realignments

* 12 new airlines, 16 resumptions and 24 destinations boost airports connectivity in 2024 - MAHB

* Indian state contests life sentence of murder, rape convict, seeks death, source says

* South Korea's Yoon attends impeachment trial over bid to impose martial law

* Lonesome sunfish in Japan aquarium finds comfort in cardboard faces

* Unvaccinated Hong Kong girl, 14, in critical condition after contracting flu

* Australian childcare centre torched in anti-Semitic attack

* South Korea acting president hopes for reciprocal ties with Trump administration

* Japan PM wants 'relationship of trust' with Trump / Trump seen sparing China targeted tariffs on Day One of new term

* Immigration crackdown, withdrawal from WHO and Paris Agreement among Trump’s first acts

* Donald Trump goes light on China on Day One, except where the Panama Canal is concerned

* Donald Trump returns to tariffs, Panama Canal, theme of ‘winning’ in inaugural address

* Trump signs TikTok executive order delaying app ban, threatens tariffs

* TikTok got a reprieve, but Americans and Chinese are still on RedNote

* Asian markets swing as Trump revives tariff fears on taking office

* Hong Kong urged to launch all-in-one app to improve tourist experience

* Installed renewables in China achieved another record in 2024

* Apple’s iPhone sales in China plunged 18% in holiday quarter

* New pair of giant pandas debut at Adelaide Zoo

* China's solar, wind power installed capacity soars in 2024

* Tourism, student housing to give Hong Kong’s hotel assets a bump, experts say

* China's frugal young adults spending less and saving more, raising economic risks

* Saif Ali Khan attack case: Mumbai police take accused to residence to recreate crime scene

* Kindergarten kids in China who played husband and wife at school tie knot 20 years later

* TSMC says all its sites operating following Taiwan quake / 6.0-magnitude earthquake shakes Taiwan, chipmaker TSMC evacuates factories