Asean News Headlines at 10pm on Saturday (March 1, 2025)

Indonesian Muslims break their fast at the Istiqlal Mosque during the Muslim holy month of Ramadan, in Jakarta, Indonesia, on Saturday, March 1, 2025. -- REUTERS/Ajeng Dinar Ulfiana

Malaysia:

* King conveys 92nd anniversary wishes to Malaysian Army

* MACC to summon Ismail Sabri again to assist in investigations

* EPF records RM74.46bil in investment income for 2024, 11% jump over previous year

* EPF: 6.3% dividend for both conventional and syariah savings for 2024

* Average monthly withdrawals under EPF's Account 3 amounts to RM400mil in total, says CEO

* PMO to launch daily briefing on Facebook to combat fake news

* Foreigner nabbed with ketum and machete at border

* Anwar reiterates appreciation for unity govt leaders’ commitment

* Party members should campaign on their own merit, says Anwar on PKR polls

* MCA 76th: Party gunning for seats in all upcoming elections, says Dr Wee

* EPF Act on foreign worker contributions to be tabled next week in Parliament

* MMA brawl: 11 released on police bail, says Dang Wangi OCPD

* Ringgit seen trading between RM4.45 and RM4.47 versus greenback amid US tariff uncertainty

* Umno Perak submits six names for Ayer Kuning by-election

* MACC: Journalist remanded until March 4 in bribery case/ * Geramm monitoring case of journalist arrested for alleged bribery

Charley Hull of England marks her ball on the green during round three of HSBC Women's Championship golf tournament at Sentosa Golf Club in Singapore on Saturday, March 1, 2025. --Photo by Roslan RAHMAN / AFP

Singapore:

* New Zealand's pride and Olympic champion Lydia Ko seizes control in Singapore's golf World Championship

* 2024 Dragon Year failed to boost Singapore’s total fertility rate, which remains at a low of 0.97

* Love scam victim with special needs waited in vain at Singapore's Tanah Merah Ferry Terminal for ‘girlfriend’

* Singapore's PM Wong gives assurance that HDB flats will remain affordable in the longer term

* Over 50 travellers nabbed for failing to declare cash, pay taxes at Singapore checkpoints

* Cops arrest Singaporean suspected of cyberattacks

* Oil falls on White House spat, tariffs and Iraq exports

* Korean star A Lim Kim retains lead at HSBC Women's Golf World Championship

* Singapore tries to boost capital market

Indonesia:

* Indonesia delivers 700 locally made Maung MV3 vehicles to military and police

* Ramadan begins for hundreds of millions of Muslims from this weekend

* Indonesia to lower airfares, toll fees for Ramadan, Eid homecoming

* 6.0-magnitude earthquake strikes eastern Indonesia, no tsunami alert issued

* Emerging Markets -South Korea and Indonesia weigh on Asian currencies, stocks as Trump tariffs loom

* Indonesia begins fasting on Saturday (March 1); Singapore, Thailand and Cambodia follow on Sunday

Spain's rider Marc Marquez celebrates after winning the MotoGP sprint race at the Chang International Circuit in Buriram, Thailand, Saturday, March 1, 2025. -- AP Photo/Kittinun Rodsupan

Thailand:

* Thailand has made big progress in combating scam syndicates along borders, says PM Paetongtarn

* Migrant workers’ health insurance cards in Thailand to be raised to 3,650 baht

* Lisa of Blackpink reveals her toughest moments as a global superstar

* Motorcycling-Marquez, on Ducati debut, wins sprint at Thailand MotoGP

* US issues Thailand security alert after Uyghur deportations

Philippines:

* Furious Philippine President Marcos promises heads will roll after Isabela bridge collapse

* Six injured as new bridge collapses in northern Philippines

* Philippine National Police anti-kidnap chief relieved amid questions on abducted Chinese’ rescue

* Five perpetrators of Korean’s abduction, slay 11 years ago given life terms: Philippine DOJ

* Late-night building blaze kills eight in under an hour

A worker sweeping dust amid air pollution in a village on the outskirts of Hanoi. In the last three months, the Vietnamese capital has regularly topped a list of the world's most polluted major cities, leaving its nine million residents struggling to breathe and even to see through a thick blanket of smog. -- Photo by Nhac NGUYEN / AFP

Vietnam:

* Vietnam PM pledges quick licensing for Musk's Starlink, more imports

* Vietnam to waive public school tuition fees

* Vietnam PM vows quick licensing for Musk's Starlink

* Looming Trump tariffs make US steel too expensive at home, Vietnam and Malaysian exporters among affected

* Vietnam drags feet over 'urgent' pollution problem

Myanmar:

* Japanese man taken into custody by Myanmar ethnic armed group

* Myanmar earns US$342mil from fish exports in 10 months

* Readers in Myanmar embrace timeless charm of physical books in digital age

* Myanmar scam traders: Scam victims return home

Three planes fly over Bataan province as the sun sets in Manila on Saturday, March 1, 2025.-- Photo by Ted ALJIBE / AFP

Cambodia:

* Cambodia hands over 119 Thais in scam crackdown

* China, Japan and South Korea reaffirm support for Asean's food security during natural disasters

* Cambodia respects, values religious diversity: PM Hun Manet

* Shattered dreams, empty pockets: Malaysian welder duped into scamming job in Cambodia

Laos:

* Laos added to financial grey list as concerns grow over money-crime activities

* Laos to improve healthcare quality for its nurses and midwives

* Laos focuses on improving teacher quality in remote areas

Brunei:

* Brunei proposes BND6.35 billion National Budget for 2025/2026 amid rising deficit

* Brunei highlights progress in downstream oil and gas sectors

* Envoy in Brunei honours legacy of talent, tradition in Chinese education

People walk along the decorated seaside corniche, on the first day of the Muslim holy fasting month of Ramadan, in Libya's second-largest city of Benghazi early on Saturday, March 1, 2025. -- Photo by Abdullah DOMA / AFP

AseanPlus:

* MCA 76th: Party to leverage strong ties with China to boost Malaysian economy, says Dr Wee

* Boats collide on river in southern China, killing at least 11 people

* Not many Japanese citizens today own a passport

* India’s economic growth picks up on rising government, consumer spending

* Chinese scientists build world’s first jet fuel-powered engine for Mach 16 flight

* South Korea's industry minister seeks exemption from Trump's tariffs

* Wildfire in Iwate Prefecture in Japan burns about 1,200 hectares; more than 3,000 forced to evacuate due to fire spreading

* South Korean appellate court halves serial child rapist's sentence, despite two previous offences

* Hong Kong govt to file WTO complaint against new US tariffs ‘as soon as possible'

* Hong Kong to raise airport departure tax by 67% to HK$200

* Pakistani astronaut to enter Chinese space station

* Hong Kong singer-songwriter Khalil Fong dies aged 41

* China could lose 35% of its cropland by 2100, scientists warn

* DeepSeek reveals theoretical 545% profit margins on its AI models

* Influencers call these medical tests lifesaving. Here’s what you may not know

* S. Korea's new lithium battery rules on planes highlight growing risk for aviation

* Donald Trump declines to say whether US would defend Taiwan in attack by mainland China

* DeepSeek focuses on AGI breakthroughs over quick profits a month after shocking the world

* Acting South Korean President Choi emphasises 'national unity' amid deepening political, ideological division

* Hong Kong office landlords in ‘defensive’ mode amid supply glut, relocation trend

* Meet the Type 055 destroyers steering China’s blue-water ambitions as far as Australia

* Chamoli: Indian Army rescues 14 civilians from avalanche-affected area in Mana

* Zelensky says he will not apologise to Trump after White House clash

* Hong Kong’s ‘soft power’ can give tourism sector a boost, experts say

* Olympics-North Jeolla chosen over Seoul to be South Korea's candidate to host 2036 Olympics

* Malaysia's German Open campaign ends with two remaining pairs crashing out in quarters

* Australia in cricket's Champions Trophy semis as rain hits Afghanistan's chances; yet another washout in Pakistan