Asean News Headlines at 10pm on Monday (Jan 12, 2026)

Malaysia aims to attract 4.6 million Indonesian tourists this year as part of the Visit Malaysia Year 2026 (VM2026) campaign. Malaysian Ambassador to Indonesia, Datuk Syed Mohamad Hasrin Tengku Hussin, said the projection is based on the upward trend of Indonesian tourists visiting Malaysia in recent years, as well as the robust, year-long promotional activities planned for 2026. -- fotoBERNAMA

Malaysia

* Don't judge all Armed Forces personnel based on immoral acts of a few, Khaled urges

* Armed Forces cannot remain in denial, needs to restore credibility, says Khaled

* Defence Ministry to focus on modernisation, readiness in 2026, says Khaled

* Ex-Army chief opts for early retirement to allow selection of new Armed Forces chief, says Khaled

* Step up or step down, CJ warns judges who delay grounds of judgment

* Defence Minister unveils comprehensive reforms to combat corruption, restore confidence

* Zahid's NFA: Multiple money trails 'diluted' case, despite prima facie finding, says AG

* Niosh to offer basic occupational safety courses for tourism industry players

* Explosion at a private university in KL results in one fatality, numerous Injuries

* Education remains a national priority, says Anwar

* PETRONAS wants Federal Court to clarify regulatory framework in Sarawak operations

* KL cops seize nearly RM1mil worth of drug-laced drinks with arrest of dealer

* Sabah temporarily close schools affected by floods, landslides

* Bursa Malaysia launches BMQ and BMQ-S indexes for financially strong companies

* Ministry to step up anti-bullying measures in new school session, says Education sec-gen

* AKPS apologises for autogate crash at BSI JB, says assets still under other agencies / * Johor autogate glitch rectified, eGates back in operation, says exco rep

Malaysia aims to attract 4.6 million Indonesian tourists this year as part of the Visit Malaysia Year 2026 (VM2026) campaign. Malaysian Ambassador to Indonesia, Datuk Syed Mohamad Hasrin Tengku Hussin, said the projection is based on the upward trend of Indonesian tourists visiting Malaysia in recent years, as well as the robust, year-long promotional activities planned for 2026. -- -- fotoBERNAMA

Singapore

* Malaysian PM Anwar urges border agency to ensure no more technical glitches at country's entry points

* Man in Singapore jailed over 23 months for repeatedly hitting wife, flinging her to the ground after disagreement

* Singapore Airshow 2026: Expect road closures, changes to public transport from Jan 26 to Feb 12

* Catfished Singapore teen made to perform lewd acts; offender gets 21 months’ probation

* Singapore will measure GIC, Temasek performance against mandates, not other funds, minister says

* Doctor convicted of performing negligent act that led to patient’s death after aesthetic treatment

* ‘Silent pickleball’: Residents in Singapore condo try playing with foam balls to reduce noise

* Ringgit’s rise unlikely to hit M’sia-S’pore bilateral trade, says economist

* A tragedy people will never foreget - DJ, footballers, heroes: The victims of the Swiss New Year fire

* Singapore’s Nasdaq link draws interest / * Singapore defends GIC, Temasek returns as reasonable

* Singaporean singer WhyLucas says he has no regrets pausing his studies to focus on music

Indonesia

* Indonesian president Prabowo inaugurates Pertamina's Balikpapan refinery upgrade worth US$7.4bil

* Indonesian man jailed three months for misusing another person’s MyKad for 12 years

* Mount Semeru erupts, sending pyroclastic flow five km from peak

* Support mounts for comedian after Netflix special reported to police

* Indonesia temporarily bans Grok amid efforts to bolster child protection

* Musk’s Grok AI blocked in Indonesia, Malaysia over sexual images

* Stocks wobble, dollar tips as Trump-Fed feud deepens

* Oil edge up as Iran supply risk counters Venezuela export resumption

Pheu Thai Party's prime ministerial candidate Yodchanan Wongsawat greets supporters as People's Party's prime ministerial candidate and party leader Natthaphong Ruengpanyawut is seen at the back, at the Global Dynamics and Thailand's Future event at Queen Sirikit National Convention Centre in Bangkok on Monday, January 12, 2026. -- Photo by Lillian SUWANRUMPHA / AFP

Thailand

* Thai official links Narathiwat petrol-station bomb attacks to gold heist network

* Thailand's liberal opposition tops polls as election looms

* Flooding disrupts traffic, public transit in Greater Jakarta

* Thai reformist People’s Party unveils ‘people’s government’ team, outlines 12 missions

* Malaysians in Narathiwat urged to obey curfew order / * Thai government lifts curfew in Narathiwat

* 70-year-old British-Australian found dead on yacht in Phuket

* Thai opposition candidate Abhisit reaffirms stance against 'grey capital' and Thaksin regime

Philippines

* Death toll from landfill collapse in the Philippines rises to eight

* Singapore-bound United Airlines flight from San Francisco diverted to Manila owing to medical emergency

* Philippines records 256 rockfalls as lava continues at Mayon volcano

* Cebu landfill landslide: Death toll rises to six

* Flood control scandal: Most Filipinos say culprits will be jailed, finds poll

* Philippine fast-food giant Jollibee eyes global expansion with planned US listing

* S.Korea, Taiwan stocks rally on AI optimism; Trump-Powell feud clouds outlook

A baker is seen looking at his phone while waiting for customers at a bakery in Hanoi on Monday, January 12, 2026. -- Photo by Nhac NGUYEN / AFP

Vietnam

* Vietnam's central bank sets 2026 credit growth target at 15 per cent

* Vietnam's air passenger traffic hits record 83.5 million in 2025

* Yoshine Music Festival 2026 to nurture, honour young talent

* Vietnam's Communist Party chief Lam seeks presidency in China-style expanded power mandate

* US bans seafood imports from Vietnam, opening door for Thai exporters

* Largest oil well in South-East Asia of last two decades found offshore of Vietnam

Myanmar

* Rohingya 'targeted for destruction' by Myanmar, Gambia tells ICJ

* Myanmar pro-military party wins Suu Kyi's seat in junta-run poll: Party official

* Landmark Myanmar Rohingya genocide case to open at UN's top court

* For all Myanmar junta has promised -- Suu Kyi looms large over election

* Financing the future: China’s influence on green finance

Women dressed in kimonos pose for a photo using their mobile phone as they arrive to attend a ceremony at Todoroki Arena to mark the festival of - Coming of Age Day -, which is to honour people who turn 20 this year to signify adulthood, in Kawasaki, Kanagawa prefecture on Monday, January 12, 2026. -- Photo by Yuichi YAMAZAKI / AFP

Cambodia

* South Korean and Cambodian police nab 26 people over alleged sexual exploitation scam 

* Cambodia and Malaysia aim to surpass US$1bil in trade in 2026

* Continued scam crackdowns sweep Cambodia

* Extensive damage to Preah Vihear Temple: Cambodia submits findings to Unesco

* Cambodian, South Korean police arrest 26 for alleged scams, sex crimes, Blue House says

Laos

* Laos-China Railway enables record-breaking journey from Singapore to Portugal

* Laos targets 22 million foreign tourists over next five years

* Earnings season, inflation data pose test for resilient US stocks

Brunei

* Bangladeshi sentenced for immigration offence in Brunei

* Brunei carries out disaster relief operations nationwide

* Dollar reels on criminal probe into Powell, gold hits record high

Kimono-clad young women getures as they walk on their way to a venue during their Coming of Age Day celebration ceremony in Yokohama, Japan, on Monday, January 12, 2026. -- Photo: REUTERS/Manami Yamada

Aseanplus

* Sabah politician convicted for molesting Unduk Ngadau contestant

* Malaysia: Building costs rise in Dec 2025 on higher cement, sand - DoSM

* Ringgit likely to trade within the 4.04 to 4.07 range this week

* China to scrap export tax rebates for solar energy products

* North Korea says 'shameless' US making mockery of UN

* Ex-king voices concern over state of Nepal after protests

* Bangladesh's powerful Islamists prepare for elections

* Australian firefighters warn of 'high-risk' bushfire season

* Hong Kong court hears sentencing arguments for Jimmy Lai

* Japan sets sail on rare earth hunt as China tightens supplies

* 2025 rice exports surge to near record as curbs lifted in India

* Students’ AI reliance a big concern in South Korea, say experts

* South Korea to probe drones North Korea says violated its airspace

* Meta takes down 540,000 accounts due to Australian social media ban

* Australia PM Albanese recalls parliament early in wake of Bondi attack

* Taiwan: TSMC Q4 profit poised to soar 27% as AI demand drives growth

* Heavy snow strikes Japan, leading major airlines like ANA to cancel flights

* City’s spellbinding bookstores drawing selfie snappers in northern Tianjin, China

* Deluge of foreign visitors in Japan’s remote areas brings inconvenience for locals

* India proposes forcing smartphone makers to give source code in security overhaul

* Hong Kong high-speed rail to expand mainland China links with 16 new destinations

* Production error at Chinese factory catapults ‘cry-cry’ toy horse to unexpected fame

* South Korean heartthrob Ji Chang-wook says he's getting too old for action projects

* Bride and groom among eight killed in gas cylinder blast at wedding in Pakistan’s capital

* China focuses anti-corruption drive on misconduct, highlighting former minister's conviction

* Taiwanese singer Jolin Tsai sues influencer for calling Pleasure World Tour a ‘cult’ event

* Sri Lanka's tourism earnings rise only marginally in 2025 despite higher arrivals

* Swiss court keeps bar owner in custody after deadly fire, SRF reports

* South Korean researchers find way to remove nanoplastics from water in 10 minutes

* HK actor Lee Lung Kei, 75, denies giving properties to 39YO ex, says they went to ex-wife

* 'One Battle,' 'Hamnet' claim top trophies at Hollywood's Golden Globes ceremony

* Golden Globes 2026: ‘The Studio,’ ‘The Pitt,’ and ‘Adolescence’ win top TV honours

* Asia continues to fly high in Hollywood;  Chloe Zhao's Hamnet takes home the top prize for Best Film – Drama at Golden Globes

* Football -- Perfect start for Pan-gon with Selangor but Korean keeping feet on ground

* Badminton -- South Korean Se-young joins other greats as Malaysian Open hattrick winner

* Cricket - King Kohli leads the way as India beat New Zealand in the first ODI in Vadodara