Asean News Headlines at 10pm on Saturday (Jan 24, 2026)

Malaysia's Pearly Tan (right) and M. Thinaah celebrate after defeating Indonesia's Lanny Tria Mayasari, Apriyani Rahayu in the women's doubles semifinal match at the Indonesia Masters badminton tournament in Jakarta, Indonesia, on Saturday, Jan 24, 2026. -- AP Photo/Achmad Ibrahim

Malaysia

* Year four assessments to spot learning gaps earlier, says Anwar

* Pros of six-year-olds entering Year One outweigh the cons, says Anwar

* PM Anwar calls for end to cartels that burden the people

* Govt’s medical, health scheme can help reform insurance industry, says Sim

* Govt to hasten construction of health clinics nationwide, says Dr Dzul

* Generic medicines and project monitoring to lower healthcare costs, says Dr Dzulkefly

* Political families united as Azmin Ali’s son weds Hishammuddin Hussein’s niece

* MACC investigating alleged RM300mil investment fraud involving Tan Sri

* Malaysia must break free from middle-income trap, says Anwar

* Perak ban on single-use plastic bags starts March 1

* Fresh produce likely to be included in updated Sara list

* Anwar undertakes one-day working visit to Penang, Kedah

* Man who claimed father hurt in falls at home probed for murder after victim dies in hospital

* MACC remands two people, including a senior Navy officer, in RM2mil corruption case

* Sarawak, Sabah launch historic power grid link to strengthen Borneo’s energy network

* Reserve Force must address challenges to boost readiness, says Defence Ministry sec-gen

A Reog Ponorogo dancer performs during an earth alms ceremony at a park in Surabaya on Saturday, January 24, 2026. -- Photo by JUNI KRISWANTO / AFP

Singapore

* Jail for two Singapore men involved in trading fake gold bars for Rolex watches worth RM93,000

* A real blessing indeed - Rare Sri Lankan leopard gives birth to three cubs in Singapore Zoo

* Singapore Airshow 2026 to feature aerial displays by six air forces and two jetmakers 

* Investigations ongoing over fake bomb threat against Paya Lebar Air Base, says Singapore

* Apple issues urgent warning, millions of iPhone users at risk; update ASAP

* Oil rises nearly 3% at week-ending as US sends armada to Iran, slaps new sanctions

* Sky’s the limit for SIA - Singapore Airlines (SIA) has long prided itself in excelling in its three core pillars: service, product and connectivity.

Indonesia

* Death toll rising - Eight people now confirmed dead and another 82 are feared missing in West Bandung landslide

* PM Anwar denies Malaysia ceding land to Indonesia

* Seven dead, 82 missing in Indonesian landslide, disaster agency says

* Prabowo sees Board of Peace as step towards lasting peace in Palestine

* Bodies of 10 passengers of crashed surveillance plane found in South Sulawesi

* Chen-Toh shock China pair to reach Indonesian Masters final, Letshanaa's out

* Pearly-Thinaah face Japan's Arisa-Miyu in Indonesian Masters final / Can pros Sze Fei-Izzuddin end title wait at Indonesian Masters?

Thailand's Panitchaphon Teeraratsakul celebrates after defeating Singapore's Kean Yew Loh during their men's singles semifinal at the Indonesia Masters badminton tournament in Jakarta, Indonesia, on Saturday, Jan. 24, 2026. -- AP Photo/Achmad Ibrahim

Thailand

* Billionaire Sarath, the power king of Thailand, deepens bet on AI tech in Google tie-up

* Thai voters in Malaysia cast ballots ahead of Feb 8 General Election and referendum

* ‘Not a gym’: Thai temple warns tourists not to do yoga, climb ancient rocks at place of worship

* Thailand is on high alert over the Nipah virus situation in India 

* Thai retail sector eyes modest gains

* Three Aussie men charged after 42kg of drugs were found in luggage from Thailand at Sydney Airport

Philippines

* China says two people are dead and four still missing after Philippine boat capsizes near disputed shoal; 15 sailors rescued

* The Mayon Volcano's fiery breath: A ticking time bomb, some say, but still a breathless beauty all the same

* China wants chips, US needs power: divergent AI growth paths emerge amid bubble concerns

* What Beijing’s drone flight over Pratas Island means for its Taiwan strategy

* A mother’s mind appears restored: might ultrasound be a cure for Alzheimer’s?

Vietnam's Communist Party General Secretary To Lam receives flowers from National Assembly Chairman Tran Thanh Man after he was elected as General Secretary of the 14th Party Central Committee during its first meeting in Hanoi, Vietnam. -- Photo: VNA/REUTERS

Vietnam

* South Korea's ex-PM Lee Hae-Chan in critical condition in Vietnam, receives heart procedure after collapse during visit

* Teenager in Vietnam loses most of left hand in improvised firework explosion

* Vietnam’s politburo signals key winners after party congress

* Still the boss - To Lam wins second term in charge in Vietnam

* WEF: Global leaders say world economy shows resilience

Myanmar

* Myanmar crisis tops agenda at Asean FM retreat in Cebu from Jan 28

* UN expert urges world to reject Myanmar 'sham' election

* US judge extends deportation protections for migrants from Myanmar

* Fire destroys refugee camp - 2,000 Myanmar Rohingya people lose home in Cox's Bazar

Debris from destroyed houses remains after a landslide struck in Pasirlangu village, Bandung, West Java, on January 24, 2026, as Indonesia's National Search and Rescue Agency (BASARNAS) said eight people were killed, and 82 remain missing. -- Photo by Timur Matahari / AFP

Cambodia

* 73 South Koreans repatriated from Cambodia to face investigations over online scams

* US warship makes first call at Cambodia's Chinese-renovated naval base

* Fees to be paid after scam boss’ scholarship axed in Cambodia

* Over 2,100 Indonesians seek embassy help in Phnom Penh after Cambodia scam centre raids

Laos

* Laos steps up preparation for national elections

* Laos tightens controls on burning activities to curb forest fires and poor air quality

* Spectacular 1,400-year-old tomb discovered in Mexico

Brunei

* Brunei issues commemorative coins for Sultan's 60th wedding anniversary

* Brunei sign pact with Interpol and form special squads to combat cross-border cybercrime

* Ryan Wedding, an ex-Olympic snowboarder and drug boss on FBI most-wanted list, has finally been captured

Sui Wenjing and Han Cong of China compete in the Pairs Free Skating of the ISU Four Continents Figure Skating Championships in Beijing, China, on Saturday, Jan. 24, 2026. -- AP Photo/Vincent Thian

Aseanplus

* Private Chinese Schools in Perak receive RM1.8mil boost, hundreds of students get financial aid

* Selangor targets nine million tourists in 2026, says exco man

* TikTok confirms deal to create new US venture, averting shutdown by a few hours

* Special edition stamps leap in to welcome the Year of the Horse worldwide

* Trump’s freewheeling Davos speech stirs unease among global audience

* European MPs debate actions to punish Hong Kong after Jimmy Lai conviction

* Chinese banks join the space race with satellite launches and rocket backing

* US and Canada drift apart on China as Ottawa rethinks Beijing ties

* 'Free solo' climb of Taiwan's tallest building postponed due to weather

* Punk rock lawyer leads climate justice fight in Japan

* AI stock surge an unlikely boon for Japan toilet maker 

* Australian boy dies after shark attack in Sydney Harbour

* Suicide bombing at Pakistan wedding kills 7, police say

* New Zealand authorities working to identify landslide victims

* Police probe child abuse report after man runs with baby in Hong Kong Marathon

* Design of ship in Lamma tragedy met safety standards of time, Hong Kong inquest finds

* China says top military official under probe for 'serious violations of discipline'

* Pakistan - Karachi mall inferno came after ignored warnings, delayed response

* China Govt rejects UN’s concerns for alleged forced labour in Xinjiang

* Hong Kong won’t pursue carbon-based taxes under bid to go green: Paul Chan

* Microsoft CEO warns AI needs to spread beyond Big Tech to avoid bubble

* Iran will treat any attack as 'all-out war against us,' says senior Iran official

* Police probe child abuse report after man runs with baby in Hong Kong Marathon

* South Korea PM, Vance discuss Coupang dispute and North Korea envoy, media report

* ‘Lonely’ Chinese woman, 59, becomes oldest in her city to give birth after IVF treatment

* Peru’s president refuses to step down as secret China meetings fuel ‘Chifagate’ scandal

* Hong Kong’s ICAC arrests 14, including three staff of listed company, for alleged bribery

* Trump lays out Greenland-Arctic deal framework, pauses February tariffs after Davos speech

* Bhutan’s mega farms emerge as training hubs with youth engagement and prisoner rehabilitation

* Heavy snow continues to fall on Sea of Japan coast; three people confirmed dead and another 12 reported injured

* Tennis - Survivor Sinner battles cramp, heat to reach fourth round / Play suspended at Australian Open due to extreme heat

* Tennis - Twice champion Osaka out of Australian Open with abdominal injury

* Tennis - Milestone man Djokovic reaches Australian Open fourth round

* Cricket - Bangladesh replaced by Scotland at T20 World Cup, reports say

* Truly dominant - Suryakumar and Kishan star as India thrash New Zealand in second T20 cricket series