Asean news headlines as at 10pm on Wednesday (March 25)

A jockey competing in Pacu Jawi, a traditional Minangkabau bull race held in harvested paddy fields, in Tanah Datar regency, West Sumatra province, Indonesia on March 25, 2026. - Reuters

Malaysia

* Anwar voices support for Qatar, condemns attack on Ras Laffan facility

* Malaysia steps up measures to safeguard energy security amid West Asia conflict

* Fuel prices March 26-April 1: RON97, unsubsidised RON95 up 60sen, diesel in peninsula up 80sen

* Malaysia rises to 13th in Global Peace Index 2025

* Iran war: Malaysia is safe but must remain vigilant, says Anwar

* Iranian, Malaysian foreign ministers discuss ties, latest war developments

* Govt to hold special economic meeting to address West Asia conflict impact today

* Malaysia targets top 10 spot in Global Peace Index, says Saifuddin

* South Lebanon blasts: All MalBatt 85013 personnel safe, says Defence Minister

* PKR leaves probe of alleged RM9.5mil payment to authorities

* Inter-monsoon season to begin on May 29, says MetMalaysia

* Three Kedah districts hit with Level 2 heatwave status

* 'Agak-agak', 'kaypoh' and 'boleh' added to Oxford English Dictionary

* Viral video of bloodied woman in Lahat leads to husband's arrest

* Johor cops nab another suspect in stabbing murder of Singaporean

* Rafizi ordered to file defence by April 9 in defamation suit brought by Caprice

* Authorities aware of businessman Victor Chin’s whereabouts, says Home Minister

* Stop making wild claims from abroad, come back to M'sia, Ramanan tells Victor Chin

* Corporate Mafia scandal: Ramanan denies being Mr R, says does not own any shares

'It was not me,' Rafizi denies receiving RM9.5mil linked to 'corporate mafia' scandal

* Four of 30 stolen urns found, say Negri cops

* China backs revitalised sister-city ties with Sabah

* Genting Highlands road charge system trial begins April 2

* Five Thai crew injured in cargo vessel fire off Tanjung Sedili

* 14 Malaysian universities break into QS World Top 50

* Sabah's Pulau Sebatik declared drought disaster zone

* PMR 2026 to kick off in Ipoh with focus on sustainable cities, quality housing

* 15 heat-related cases, one child death reported nationwide

* Former Sabah minister Peter Anthony reportedly out on parole

Singapore

* Coroner’s inquiry: Death of Indian singer Zubeen Garg in Singapore ruled an accidental drowning

* Two Singaporeans who volunteered with Israeli military-linked organisation in 2016 not involved in combat

* Singaporean actress Jeanette Aw reopens her patisserie in Geylang

* PM Wong arrives in Hainan for Boao Forum

* Singapore man sued by ex-colleague for alleged sexual assault in 2016 wins appeal

* Singapore teacher who exposed himself, told student to undress during video call gets five months’ jail

Thailand

* Thai tanker safely transits Strait of Hormuz after talks with Iran

* Phuket’s water supply will last till June if current dry weather persists, say authorities

* Chiang Mai’s Red Line tram aims to cut pollution and improve city transport

* Thai police raid luxury Pattaya villa, arrest 25 Indians over online gambling hub

* Bus trips home for Songkran delayed by lack of fuel? From Bangkok to Hanoi, fears over fuel

Indonesia

* Planned salary cuts for Indonesian public officials welcomed

* Indonesia maintains in-person learning in schools post-Aidilfitri

* Roblox to introduce new controls in Indonesia to comply with child social media block

* Swiss national arrested in Bali for Nyepi or day of silence hate speech

* Indonesia haj departures on track despite Middle East conflict

* Testing ideas, absorbing criticism: Prabowo defends policy decisions in six-hour roundtable discussion

A worker carrying cash before a cash assistance programme for jeepney drivers from the government to help in their livelihood as oil prices continue to rise, on March 25, 2026, in Quezon city, Philippines. - AP

Philippines

* Marcos signs law granting him powers to suspend Philippine fuel excise tax

* Philippines declares emergency as energy supplies run short

* Philippine House panel starts formal impeach hearings; Sara Duterte absent

* Philippines says working with Washington to obtain oil from US-sanctioned countries

* Philippines says working with Washington to obtain oil from US-sanctioned countries

Russian President Vladimir Putin and Vietnamese Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh during their meeting at the Kremlin in Moscow, Russia, on March 25, 2026. - AP

Vietnam

* Vietnam's Ho Chi Minh City records first three deaths from hand, foot and mouth disease

* Diesel price more than doubles in Vietnam since Mideast conflict: ministry

* Vietnam lowers fuel prices after diesel doubled since Middle East conflict

* Asean opens new export momentum for Vietnam

Cambodia

* Cambodian man deported by the US to Eswatini is being repatriated, his lawyer says

* Warning of long-term cluster bomb threat along Cambodia–Thailand border

* Cambodia raids see 15 Chinese scammers detained

Myanmar

* Myanmar's rice farmers scrounge for diesel as Iran conflict dries up supply

* Phone snatcher killed in motorcycle crash while fleeing in Yangon

* Myanmar marks World Tuberculosis Day 2026

* Myanmar orders Wednesday work-from-home for state officials

Laos

* Laos pushes rail link with Vietnam to access sea trade routes

* Hailstorm hits Laos, affecting over 2,000 families

Brunei

* Brunei to streamline labour data: Minister

* Brunei’s CPI down 0.3 per cent in February year-on-year

A woman in traditional dress walking past a cherry blossom tree at Ueno Park in Tokyo on March 25, 2026. - AFP

Aseanplus

* Pakistan conveys US proposal; Turkey, Pakistan may host talks, says top Iranian official

* China demands Japan punish military officer who breached embassy in Tokyo

* Are humans becoming data for robots? Questions remain as China makes advances in sector

* China yam with human ‘fingernails’, 260 free meals, lottery win after lifetime of playing

* India to invest around US$3bil to boost air connectivity

* China reports major discoveries of rare earths, fluorite and barite

* Takaichi: Any decision to send Japanese forces to Strait of Hormuz will be ‘in accordance with law’

* Japan says Chinese embassy break-in 'regrettable'

* A trendy twist on tea: Herbal infusions are all the rage in China

* Japan PM Takaichi asks IEA chief for further oil stockpile release

* Asia looks to COVID-era playbook to tackle fuel crisis

* Residents recount guilt, chaos in hearing on deadly Hong Kong fire

* N Korea's Kim welcomes fellow Putin ally Lukashenko with fanfare

* BMW recalls 180,000 cars in China over fire risk

* South Korea expresses ‘regret’ over Japan’s approval of history textbooks, urges rectification

* Australia's inflation slows slightly in February ahead of war-driven energy shock

* More Chinese automakers hit top global sales ranks

* Labubu maker Pop Mart meets 2025 revenue expectations

* Australia and EU seal trade deal, seek to cut reliance on China for critical minerals

* South Korean alleged 'drug lord' running ring from Philippines jail extradited

* Exotic pet trade thrives in China despite welfare concerns

* Australia public broadcaster staff strike over pay for first time in 20 years

* Chen Yixin says growing up as actress Xiang Yun’s daughter led to depression and anxiety as a child

* Mandopop star Jay Chou’s 2014 marriage proposal to feature in upcoming music video