Asean News Headlines at 10pm on Friday (Oct 31, 2025)

Malaysian Defence Minister Datuk Seri Mohamed Khaled Nordin (centre) addresses a press conference on the sidelines of the 19th Asean Defence Ministers’ Meeting (ADMM) and the 12th ADMM-Plus at the Kuala Lumpur Convention Centre (KLCC). Also present are Defence Deputy Minister Adly Zahari (two left) and Chief of Defence Forces Gen Tan Sri Mohd Nizam Jaffar (two right). -- Photo: Bernama

Malaysia:

* Malaysia urges Asean to expand defense cooperation in cyberspace

* High Court sets Dec 26 for decision on Najib’s 1MDB case

* Court grants Rosmah three-month passport extension

* Malaysia, US sign defence MoU, renew accords following talks

* Kudos from Apec leaders underscore Malaysia's leadership capability, says Anwar

* Malaysia calls for stronger cyber defence at ADMM

* Labourer pleads guilty to raping minor in Lenggeng

* Malaysia remains committed to strengthening strategic ties with US, says Anwar

* Sibu welder gets 11 years' jail, four strokes of rotan for raping 19-year-old niece

* Asean will facilitate Timor-Leste's military in regional joint exercises, says Khaled

* Sabah PKR chief defends Madani efforts, rebuts US trade deal claims

* Female doctor becomes first Malaysian Indian professional bodybuilder

* Zayn Rayyan's murderer is still out there, lawyer tells court in urging leniency for boy's mum

* Zayn Rayyan's mother Ismanira gets five years' jail for neglecting autistic son / Mother of Zayn Rayyan found guilty of neglect

* Zayn Rayyan's dad blows his top at cops as wife gets sent to jail / Zayn Rayyan’s grandpa urges cops to continue murder probe

Indonesia's Defence Minister Sjafrie Sjamsoeddin (R) talks with Singapore's Coordinating Minister for Public Services and Minister for Defence Chan Chun Sing (left) during the Asean-India Defence Ministers' Informal Meeting as part of the Association of South-East Asian Nations (Asean) Defence Ministers' Meeting in Kuala Lumpur on Friday, October 31, 2025. -- Photo by FAZRY ISMAIL / AFP

Singapore:

* Singapore SEA Games squash gold medallist jailed for drink driving, crashing into car on opposite lane

* Apec leadership needed to reform WTO, keep it relevant: says Singapore PM

* Singapore police seize over S$150mil in assets tied to Cambodia scam syndicate Prince Group

* Freeze the claims, enter in peace: Ramos-Horta urges calm in South China Sea

* Singapore Armed Forces showcase air-land integration at Exercise Wallaby 2025

* Turning up the heat: New Zealand rolls out first all-women firefighter calendar

* Nvidia’s Jensen Huang, Samsung, Hyundai chiefs get chummy over fried chicken and beer in Seoul

* Asian shares poised for 7th month of gains; dollar climbs

Indonesia:

* Apec leaders summit kicks off in South Korea amid global trade uncertainties

* Indonesia and Malaysia join forces to strengthen higher education

* Hyundai Motor keen to take part in Indonesian national car plan, ministry says

* Child in coma after being trampled by an elephant in Indonesia

* Analysts downplay terrorism threat to South-East Asia amid Batam alert, Gaza peace deal

* Microplastic rain in Indonesia shows need for responsible producers and good governance: Comment

* Oil heads for third monthly decline as strong dollar, ample supply weigh

India's Defence Minister Raj Nath Singh reacts during the Asean India Defence Ministers' Informal Meeting as part of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (Asean) Defence Ministers' Meeting in Kuala Lumpur on October 31, 2025. (Photo by FAZRY ISMAIL / POOL / AFP)

Thailand:

* Thai ex-PM Thaksin's party elects new leader after daughter's exit

* Thai economy improves in September but slows in the third quarter

* Thailand steps up border security after discovery of fertiliser used in bomb-making 

* Thailand seizes 2mil herbal inhalers worth over 120 million baht from illegal factories

* Thailand says PM to meet China's Xi at APEC summit

Philippines:

* US, Philippines form military task force for areas including South China Sea, Pentagon says

* Philippines calls for deeper US Military ties to strengthen its presence in South China Sea

* Dead and drowned: Cemeteries vanish as seas, floods rise in the Philippines

* Philippines to maintain Asean engagement with Myanmar under chairmanship, says President Marcos

* Philippines invites Malaysian investors as Mindanao gears up for economic revival

Chinese President Xi Jinping (right) shakes hands with Japanese Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi ahead of their meeting in Gyeongju, South Korea, Friday, Oct. 31, 2025. --Photo: Kyodo News via AP

Vietnam:

* Trump-branded golf resort in Vietnam hits snag over land dispute

* Vietnamese gov't proposes assigning public security ministry to manage IP identification

* UK's Starmer raised case of BBC journalist with Vietnamese leader

* Vietnam flood death toll rises to 13, with 11 others missing

* Experts: Climate change, poor planning drive Vietnam flooding

Myanmar:

* Philippines' Marcos: Asean not sending observer to Myanmar election

* Myanmar's hot-air balloon festival blends heritage, unity with joy

* Three artists arrested for criticising pro-election propaganda in Myanmar

* Xinhua Commentary: US should work with China to ensure steady progress in bilateral ties

Jensen Huang, chief executive officer of Nvidia Corp., speaks to the media on the sidelines of the APEC CEO Summit in Gyeongju, South Korea, on Friday, Oct. 31, 2025. Huang still hopes to sell chips from the company’s Blackwell lineup to customers in China, though he has no current plans to do so, he told reporters Friday. -- Photographer: SeongJoon Cho/Bloomberg

Cambodia:

* US Secretary of War discusses South China Sea issues with Chinese Defence Minister 

* Cambodia and Thailand to disarm their border after Trump’s peace deal

* 27 Singaporeans and seven Malaysians among new suspects in Cambodia scam ring

* Cambodian deputy PM calls for collective action to build greener world

Laos:

* Laos intensifies drive to improve public health

* Laos in full swing to welcome golden glow of That Luang festival

* Judge's order blocking removal of man from US wasn't received until after he was deported, Department of Homeland Security sayskl

Brunei:

* Royal Brunei Airlines launches skyconnect, an in-flight connectivity service offering better journey

* Brunei highlights wetland conservation efforts

* Gold slips as Fed rate caution boosts dollar, but set for 3rd monthly rise

South Korean golfer Sei Young Kim in action during the Maybank Championship 2025 at the Kuala Lumpur Golf & Country Club (KLGCC) on Friday (Oct 31, 2025). The tournament, featuring top international golfers, continues to draw strong interest from golf fans across the region. - Photo: Bernama

AseanPlus:

* ADMM ends with strong call for regional peace and unity

* Matrade to strengthen Malaysia's presence in China via Mihas@Shanghai

* Asean sees China as a catalyst for shared growth, stability, says Khaled

* China backs drafting a code of conduct for South China Sea, says Khaled

* India seizes endangered primates found in checked bag' passenger travelled from Thailand and Malaysia

* Democrats urge Trump not to ease national security restrictions for a trade deal

* American lawmakers told US must learn from China to revive shipbuilding

* India gets six-month US sanctions waiver for Chabahar Port

* Japan A-bomb survivor groups protest Trump nuclear test order

* Why emboldened Kim had little need for photo-op with Trump

* Former HK actor Lawrence Yan dies at 59

* China factory activity shrinks for seventh month, PMI shows

* Japan's new PM in first talks with South Korean president

* Japan PM Sanae Takaichi and China's Xi Jinping hold first talks in South Korea

* Xi's S. Korea visit expected to consolidate economic cooperation, boost partnership

* Hong Kong customs seizes HK$9 million of ketamine hidden in buckets, arrests two

* Democrats urge Trump not to ease national security restrictions for a trade deal

* Chinese man still wed to US woman with PhD 20 years after massage parlour meeting

* ANZ flags US$721mil hit to second-half profit from restructuring, compliance costs

* 'Look delicate and demure,' but marriage tips for women backfire in Japan

* Court rules against K-pop group NewJeans in contractual dispute

* Woman found dead on remote Australian island after cruise ship left without her

* South Korea's Lee says global trade order at critical inflection point

* Japan's Nikkei climbs 2% to record high as tech shares rally

* Xi to meet Canadian, Japanese leaders after Trump trade truce

* US and India sign 10-year defence cooperation agreement, says Secretary of War Pete Hegseth

* South Korea investigates death of worker at London Bagel Museum over reported overwork

* Man in Japan gets life sentence for killing own mother, brother and grandmother with crossbow

* ‘Positive step’: cautious relief as China resumes US soybean purchases

* Trump-Putin summit cancelled after Moscow sent memo to Washington, FT reports

* Ascend Airways ready for ascent after obtaining certificate, permit - CEO

* Samsung Electronics in talks with Nvidia to supply next-generation HBM4 chips

* Manga is now a global pop culture phenomenon, and also a singular art form

* Hong Kong’s Scameter app gets upgrade, AI tools to tackle social media scams

* China gym offers Porsche for losing 50kg in 3 months, charges US$1,400 entry fee

* Football - Malaysia's FIFA appeal faces uphill battle after Argentine revelation

* Cricket - India savours 'greatest day' after Women's World Cup heroics / Rodrigues-powered India stun Australia to reach World Cup final

* Golf - 'Oh dear, it's really hot out there, ' but kudos to the players, they are so cool about it at the Maybank Championship / World No. 1 Jeeno seeks spark after stuttering start