Asean News Headlines at 10pm on Friday (Feb 21, 2025)

Protesters hold candles during a rally against the recent budget efficiency and other policies by Indonesia President Prabowo Subianto, in Jakarta, Indonesia, Friday, Feb. 21, 2025.-- AP Photo/Tatan Syuflana

Malaysia:

* Najib's 1MDB trial: Riyadh trip was just 'to cut and paste statement, eat and go home', witness tells court

* Anwar rubbishes Dr M’s claim govt blocked foreign leaders from meeting him

* Sarawak exceeds 2024 tourist arrival target by 20%, rakes in RM12.45bil

* Gummy candy violates labelling requirements under Food Act, says Health Ministry

* Malaysia's January CPI rises 1.7% y-o-y, in line with forecast'

* Sabah Health director urges seniors 60 and above to take advantage of free flu jabs

* GISB case: 185 children handed over to families, says Selangor exco man

* Norshamira Zainal murder: Suspect's remand extended by a week

* MOT: MAHB share sale will not affect national security

* 'Man Tiger' charged with attempted murder of Simpang Renggam couple

* Lorry driver under multiple investigations after crashing into house

* Ku Li calls for investigation into EPF sale and repurchase of MAHB shares

* Mosque child rape attempt: Suspect's disabled status unconfirmed, say cops

* Ringgit strengthens to a near 3-week high as optimism grows over Trump's tariff approach

* Over two million PTPTN borrowers are repaying their loans as of Dec 31, 2024, says Higher Education Ministry

A container ship passes a car cargo ship at a port terminal in Singapore. -- REUTERS/Edgar Su

Singapore:

* Jail, caning for man in Singapore who had over 3,300 videos, 943 pictures of child pornography

* Traffic deaths, injuries hit five-year high in Singapore; motorcyclists account for over 55% of accidents and most fatal accidents linked to speeding

* Well-known anti-vaccine group founder Iris Koh gets new bailor; husband discharged of role due to his own criminal charges

* Girl, 7, killed by minibus at Sengkang condo was waiting for her school bus with helper

* Singaporean Audrey Fang killed in Spain: Suspect should be charged with murder, says prosecution

* TikTok live streamer did sex act at Singapore HDB void deck while husband was a lookout; both jailed

* SingPost to lay off workers as part of restructuring

* Oil heads for weekly gain amid supply jitters, improving demand

* Chinese shares lift Asia, gold heads for eighth straight weekly gain

Indonesia:

* Some 46 trafficked Indonesians repatriated from Myanmar, including ex-legislator

* Indonesia’s student protests heats up in Jakarta, testing Prabowo’s leadership, say analysts

* Seven Indonesians arrested for trespassing on unmanned oil platform off Kuala T'ganu

* Indonesian man jailed 18 months for possessing ID with false info

* Deep spending cuts in Indonesia trigger protests against Prabowo

* Indonesia’s plan to export solar power to Singapore spurs investment amid low green energy adoption

* Civil servants left in the dark as Prabowo starts nationwide budget cuts

* Decarbonisation goals at risk of being stalled in Indonesia

The Moei River flows between no man's land, Myanmar and Thai border, amid a mounting crackdown on scam centres operating along a porous border, in Mae Sot District, Tak province, Thailand on Friday, February 21, 2025. -- REUTERS/Chalinee Thirasupa

Thailand:

* Phuket forest fire contained but air quality concerns persist nationwide

* Thai govt plans flat 1,000 baht allowance for all seniors

* Blackpink's Lisa reveals five alter-egos in comic book debut

* Thailand, China, and Myanmar unite to crack down on call center gangs

* Call-centre scams: China praises repatriation of 200 suspects

* Upper Thailand to experience 43°C heat this summer

* 12-year-old Thai girl in critical condition after vaping for two years

Philippines:

* China says Philippine aircraft 'illegally' flew over disputed sea

* Philippines, NZ closer to signing deal on visiting forces

* ‘Neglected and forgotten’ Marcos wealth case junked

* Philippines makes first frozen durian shipment to China

* Philippine police arrest over 450 in 'Chinese-run' scam centre raid

* China's military says it drove away Philippine aircraft near Spratly Islands

Vietnamese 100,000 dong and 200,000 dong banknotes arranged inside a Vietnam Prosperity Joint Stock Commercial Bank (VPBank) branch in Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam. Vietnam's parliament raised the economic growth target to at least 8% for 2025, setting the stage for Asia's growth star to achieve another stellar year even as the threat of US tariffs looms. -- Photographer: Maika Elan/Bloomberg

Vietnam:

* Vietnamese rapper's song goes viral with over one billion views

* Vietnam decides to impose temporary anti-dumping tariff on China steel products

* Harvesting fog could combat water shortages in world’s driest regions

* 11 Vietnamese citizens rescued from kidnapping gang in Mexico in stable condition

* Chinese shares lift Asia, gold heads for eighth straight weekly gain

* Ringgit, rupiah lead Asian currencies higher; equities mixed

Myanmar:

* Myanmar returns 300 more Chinese scam centre workers; affected people will be sent from Thailand

* India-Myanmar-Thailand trilateral highway connecting Asean paralysed by conflict

* Myanmar traditional chinlone sport to be submitted for Unesco recognition in 2026

* Tough times indeed - Endless ordeal for the Rohingya

A migrant worker from Myanmar with thanaka paste on her face walks while shopping at a local market, in Mae Sot District, Tak province, Thailand on Friday, February 21, 2025. -- REUTERS/Chalinee Thirasupa

Cambodia:

* Cambodia to resume demining after US aid waiver

* How Asean should prepare for a unilateral-acting United States: Comment

* Cambodia launches national social protection policy framework

* Alibaba Cloud AI model Animate Anyone 2 simplifies making of lifelike character animation

Laos:

* Laos seeks to strengthen protection of conservation areas

* Lao PM shines spotlight on need for skilled workforce

* Laos, Thailand vow joint effort to broaden economic ties, combat call centre scams and drug trade

Brunei:

* Brunei to sight Ramadan moon on Feb 28

* Brunei delegates join regional anti-trafficking workshop in Thailand

* Russia and Asean working on comprehensive cooperation plan for next five year, says Moscow

A woman dressed up in a Chinese traditional costume poses for pictures at the Forbidden City in Beijing, China on Friday, February 21, 2025. -- REUTERS/Tingshu WangA

AseanPlus:

* Herry rates Aaron-Wooi Yik as favourites for All-England title

* Give ex-cons a chance at a better life outside prison walls, Sabah board urges

* Pop duo M2M to hold comeback concert in Genting Highlands on April 27

* Why has there been a rise in China-based food concepts in Malaysia?

* Actor Vic Chou says speaking about ex-girlfriend Barbie Hsu's death would be too painful

* China’s to get first official 'Harry Potter Studio Tour' in 2027

* Alibaba leads Asian stocks higher after earnings

* China faces talent shortage amid DeepSeek-fuelled AI jobs surge

* Born in Pyongyang, Kim Jong-un anointed heir to father at 8 years old, say relatives

* 8,500 tickets for Hong Kong’s Kai Tak Sports Park opening show gone in 30 minutes

* ChatGPT's OpenAI reports surge to 400 million weekly users

* AI dilemma for India: Comment

* Fifth death from melioidosis in Queensland, Australia

* New China guidelines to tackle crimes involving kids

* Japan firm offers ‘hangover leave’ and other unique perks to attract new talent

* Chinese bubble tea chain Mixue aims to raise $443 million in Hong Kong IPO

* Meet Wang Xingxing, the young Chinese robotics star from Unitree at Xi Jinping’s symposium

* AI tech cannot predict winning lottery numbers: China Sports Lottery

* Hong Kong homes lost US$61.7 billion in value after removal of curbs: Centaline

* South Korean President Yoon booked on suspicion of obstruction of arrest warrant

* China backs Trump's Ukraine peace bid at G20 as US allies rally behind Zelenskiy

* US military commander meets Panama Canal administrator to discuss countering China

* Chinese team finds new bat coronavirus that could infect humans via same route as Covid-19

* Just 17% of Japan citizens hold passport, data shows/ Northern Japan snowed under after two-week whiteout

* Delhi gets fourth female CM - Rekha Gupta from Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s Bha­ratiya Janata Party (BJP)

* The rise of the ‘total killer’ - Once shunned and now eagerly courted by the West: Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi

* Alibaba Cloud AI model Animate Anyone 2 simplifies making of lifelike character animation