Asean News Headlines at 10pm on Sunday (Jan 18, 2026)

Gold medallists Thailand's Dechapol Puavaranukroh (back right) and Supissara Paewsampran (front R) alongside silver medallists Denmark's Mathias Christiansen and Alexandra Boje pose during the awards ceremony for their mixed doubles final match at the India Open 2026 badminton tournament in New Delhi on Sunday, January 18, 2026. -- Photo by Sajjad HUSSAIN / AFP

Malaysia

* PM Anwar calls on MPs to focus on duties ahead of Parliament sitting

* Defence Ministry launches probe into ‘Yeye’ culture across all service branches

* Anwar given clean bill of health after routine check-up

* PPP rejoins Barisan as component party, says Zahid

* “No Team A, B or C, but only Team DAP,” Loke denies Zahid’s claims

* Kg Jalan Papan residents press DAP to deliver housing promises before GE16

* All seats to be contested in Melaka if no alliance with Barisan, says Loke

* Umno veeps: Focus on Malay unity, not fear of other parties 

* No talks with Umno on 'grand collaboration' yet, says Bersatu's Muhyiddin

* Non-compliance, not system, to blame for procurement flaws, says Shamsul

* Sabah's 40% revenue share: Drop appeal if sincere, Upko tells Putrajaya

* Leaking confidential info about Armed Forces will lead to legal action, says Defence Ministry

* Understanding reached on Batu Caves escalator project, technical issues to be resolved, says Gobind

* Expect hot weather, less rain in many places until Jan 25, says MetMalaysia

* Ringgit likely to trade within narrow range next week ahead of BNM OPR decision

* Bursa Malaysia likely to trade in modest and range-bound trend from Monday (Jan 19)

Joint search and rescue teams climb towards the suspected crash site of an Indonesia Air Transport turboprop plane that lost contact a day earlier while flying from Yogyakarta to Makassar, in the Bulusaraung Mountains, South Sulawesi, Indonesia, on Sunday, January 18, 2026. Indonesian authorities have found one body so far from the plane that carried 10 people. -- Photo by Muchtamir / AFP

Singapore

* Singapore diners unfazed if budget meal options shrink, many prefer regular coffee shop fare

* At 90, she still knocks on doors and looks out for her elderly neighbours in Toa Payoh

* Architect Liu Thai Ker, Singapore’s first master planner, dies at 87

* After sending one audition video, Singaporean Nicole Bacon is now in rookie K-pop girl group NWH:I

* LO or no? Singapore's Workers' Party faces tough trade-offs in decision over Leader of the Opposition role

* Long-awaited UN biodiversity treaty enters into force

* The World Economic Forum: Trump heads into Davos storm, with an eye on home

Indonesia

* Indonesia says one body found at the wreckage site of missing surveillance plane carrying 10 people

* Badminton: Jun Hao eyes reset in Jakarta after Indian Open setback

* Indonesian authorities find wreckage of missing surveillance plane with 11 on board

* Debris believed to be missing ATR 42-500 found on Bulusaraung Hill - Makassar

* Scrapping direct regional elections in Indonesia shifts power to elites, analysts warn

* ‘Funny is funny’: Indonesian comedians keep calm and carry on despite police report against Netflix show

Mananchaya Sawangkaew of Thailand gestures after first round loss to Emma Raducanu of Britain at the Australian Open tennis championship in Melbourne, Australia, on Sunday, Jan 18, 2026. -- AP Photo/Asanka Brendon Ratnayake

Thailand

* Thailand celebrates: Singing sensation Lisa makes history as first Thai and K-pop Golden Globes presenter

* Thailand tightens inspections of illegal migrant workers and workplaces

* Trans Asean Madani Convoy member dies in Pattaya hospital

* Why Thailand's deadly construction accidents are sparking outrage and scrutiny

* Road collapse causes traffic snag after pickup falls into sinkhole

Philippines

* Philippine landfill death rises to 36 as authorities end search after 10 days

* The Philippines moves to shore up investor sentiment hit by major corruption scandal

* Two killed in landslide as tropical storm Nokaen batters Philippines

* Death toll rises to 35 in Philippine dumpsite collapse

A general view shows buildings amid air pollution in Hanoi. -- Photo by Nhac NGUYEN / AFP

Vietnam

* As Vietnam ruling party gears up for congress, party chief To Lam looks to retain job

* A State of Trance to celebrate 25th anniversary with Vietnam debut

* What to know about Vietnam's Communist Party congress

* Ninh Binh water puppetry art thrives in Vietnam

Myanmar

* Drug manufacturing equipment seized in Myanmar's Northern Shan State

* Myanmar Foreign Ministry summons Timor-Leste's chargé d'affaires, issues stern warning

* Rohingya campaign not genocide, Myanmar insists to ICJ

* Swiss fire fatalities not given routine autopsies: lawyers

People eat next to street food stalls in Sihanoukville, Cambodia. -- Photo by TANG CHHIN Sothy / AFP

Cambodia

* China urges Cambodia to protect nationals amid ‘missing’ cases tied to scam compounds

* Cambodian authorities announce fresh scam crackdown, seek cooperation of landlords, casino owners

* China offers leniency if cronies of accused Cambodian scam boss surrender

* China tells Cambodia scam hub disappearances threaten ties

Laos

* Laos welcomes nearly 4.6 million tourists in 2025, surpassing annual target

* Value of Laos-Vietnam trade soars to almost US$3bil; Lao govt hoping for more business with neighbours in 2026

* From soil to cup: Laos earns its place on the world coffee map

Brunei

* Brunei king's National total knee replacement surgery a success, says Prime Minister's office 

* Brunei Crown Prince: Prayer central to building excellent human capital

* Brunei take commanding lead with 2–0 win over Kelantan in Malaysia Cup

Gold medalist Taiwan's Lin Chun-Yi poses on the podium after defeating Indonesia's Jonatan Christie in the men's singles final match at the India Open badminton tournament in New Delhi, India, on Sunday, Jan 18, 2026. - AP Photo/Param Singh

Aseanplus

* Nadia Kesuma to be laid to rest in Jeddah, says husband / Missing actress Nadia Kesuma confirmed to have passed away

* PJ man arrested after video of child abuse goes viral

* Immigration smashes human trafficking syndicate following 'safe house' raid in Kelantan

* ‘Tiger Tiger, burning bright’: The scourge of AI-generated wildlife videos in India

* Record-breaking Hong Kong powerlifter and dietitian now battles bad online health advice

* China-linked hackers targeted US agencies with Venezuela-themed phishing: report

* South Korea reports first African swine fever case in two months

* Smog alert: Nearly 1,200 brick kilns in Nepal start firing

* 12-year-old boy bitten by shark at Sydney Harbour beach 

* As world burns, Indian author Amitav Ghosh writes for the future

* Heavy rains in eastern Australia spark flash floods, 20 rescued

* Hotel cancellation uproar hits Busan ahead of BTS tour

* Latest high-tech Japanese toilets can check health via stool analysis 

* US bill approving US$300 million for Taiwan’s military passed in House

* Registered births in Hong Kong hit record low in 2025, ending two-year uptick

* Second-hand shopping in China has evolved into a trendy, eco-friendly lifestyle

* Smoke alert! Early detection cameras can prevent deadly bushfires in Australia

* Foreign maids under South Korea’s pilot project overworked, underpaid: Poll

* Lutnick warns Taipei to keep Trump ‘happy’ as US chip deal draws Beijing rebuke

* Japan’s ‘rabbit island’ considers introducing tourist tax following increased littering

* Coming-of-Age Day in Japan: The country’s youth face new challenges

* Authorities summon civilian over alleged drone flights to North Korea

* Pakistan: Massive fire kills 6 in Karachi, destroys shopping centre

* India fines IndiGo record US$2.45mil over mass flight cancellations

* China’s supercooling tech packs 40% more punch into chips used in military radar

* Trump's Greenland tariffs prompt calls for unprecedented EU counter-measures

* South Korea to negotiate with the US for favourable chip tariff terms, official says

* Author Min Jin Lee's 'Pachinko' follow-up explores Korean education obsession

* As China’s US exports plunge in 2025, Beijing banks on diversification for 2026 growth

* BTS back with new album in March -- After a nearly four-year musical hiatus, K-pop giants BTS are back. Well, almost.

* No love for K-pop stars -- The return of global K-pop megastars BTS is receiving a lot of hate from some superfans

* Tennis - Fans frustrated by long queues, ticket sales halt on day one of Australian Open

* Tennis - Sonmez becomes fan favourite in Melbourne after coming to aid of ball girl

* Badminton - Coach Wan Wah fuels Japanese rise but Aaron-Wooi Yik out to halt the surge

* Badminton: Taiwan's Lin wins India Open meet marred by 'dirty and unhealthy' conditions