Asean News Headlines at 10pm on Monday (March 30, 2024)

Indonesia's President Prabowo Subianto (left) is greeted by Japan's Emperor Naruhito at the Imperial Palace in Tokyo on Monday, March 30, 2026. -- Photo by Kazuhiro NOGI / AFP

Malaysia:

* Middle East Conflict: PM to chair National Economic Action Council meeting on March 31

* Papagomo fined RM4,000 for sedition against King

* Strict enforcement of vape ban to continue, says JB mayor

* Police arrest five, seize RM25.5mil worth of meth in Perlis

* Two charged over KLCC assault involving ‘photo touts’

* Sarawak brings bushfires under control after eight days

* Politicians call for death penalty in fatal drunk driving cases

* Photos of melted toll payment cards go viral as heatwave continues

* Govt drafts amendments against drink-driving after fatal Klang crash

* Saravanan calls for tougher enforcement on road safety, not just laws

* Ministry installing CCTVs at high-risk petrol stations to curb RON95 leakage

* Alleged illegal temple construction on campus land referred to Limas, says UKM

* Public universities allowed to decide on online classes to escape hot weather, says Zambry

* Court increases ex-student’s sentence to 30 years, caning for murdering former girlfriend

* Proposed 3R rules in Parliament meant to safeguard harmony not curb free speech, says Dr Zaliha

Coach Tan Shie Boon (right) is taking a group selfie with Singaporean elders after attending a parkour training session in Singapore. This is geriatric parkour, where around 20 retirees learned to tackle a series of relatively demanding exercises, building their agility and enjoying a sense of camaraderie. -- Photo by Roslan RAHMAN / AFP

Singapore:

* Heavy traffic expected at Woodlands, Tuas checkpoints over long weekend from April 3

* Singapore faces tough Singdollar policy decision in April amid risks of higher inflation, slower growth

* Chongqing surpassed Shanghai in consumer spending. Singaporeans played a part

* Singapore expects ‘very heavy traffic’ at land checkpoints during Good Friday, Qing Ming weekend

* Efforts to salvage sunken pleasure craft off Singapore's Southern Islands under way amid search for missing man

* Brent oil heads for record month, stocks in limbo

* Singapore taps two managers for new US$1.16bil Anchor Fund tranche

* Singaporean actress Yvonne Lim opens up about loneliness and depression after move to Taiwan

Indonesia:

* Prabowo entices deeper Japanese investments and offers 'real partnerships'

* Indonesia to go ahead with B50 biodiesel mix this year, Prabowo says

* Indonesian President Parobowo pays a courtesy call on Japan's Emperor Naruhito

* Jakarta condemns death of Indonesian Unifil peacekeeper in southern Lebanon

* Indonesia to loan endangered Komodo dragons to Japan for breeding programme

* Indonesia urges apps to comply as social media ban comes into force

* Big or small, Indonesia's cities are worth visiting

* Indonesia: 24 umrah pilgrims escape unhurt in bus fire in Madinah, Saudi Arabia

The Wat Arun Buddhist temple is pictured after its lights are turned off to mark Earth Hour in Bangkok. -- Photo by Chanakarn LAOSARAKHAM / AFP

Thailand:

* Canadian tourist dies during Krabi’s Tiger Cave Temple climb; second fatal incident there in days

* Anutin leads the way as new Thai cabinet line-up cleared for Royal endorsement

* 'Acts of desperation': Thai undertaker reveals corpse to justify fuel buy

* Thailand closes parks with high fire risk, warns of 20 years jail for those who burn illegally

* Only Malaysia, Thailand recorded net foreign inflows last week - MBSB

* Thai Customs to abolish tax loophole and impose 40% duty on imported parcels

Philippines:

* Philippines' fertility rate continues to decline over the past three decades

* The Philippines boosts fuel stocks as it looks to the Americas for supply

* Philippine peso hits record low on fears of prolonged Middle East war

* PETRONAS denies involvement in reported Philippine fuel supply deal

* Philippines and Malaysia can collaborate to boost regional energy stability, says its envoy

* Philippine petrol station closures down to 365, but hoarding cases continue to rise across the country 

Girls join a procession during rites outside the Antipolo Cathedral in Antipolo city, Rizal province, Philippines, as they observe Palm Sunday, March 29, 2026. -- AP Photo/Aaron Favila

Vietnam:

* Hanoi proposes timeline for full transition to green bus fleet

* Stink of crime hangs over Vietnam chemical plant

* Vietnam’s guard up against oil shocks

* Football: Vietnam's Doan and Co plot Malaysia downfall, Peter backs Harimau's spirit

* Hail and thunderstorms in Vietnam leave three dead and seven injured, more than 5,400 homes damaged

* Farmers all over are feeling the squeeze - Iran war sparks a global fertiliser shortage and threatens food prices

Myanmar:

* As expected, despite so many criticism, Myanmar paves way for junta chief to become civilian president

* Myanmar junta chief in line for presidency as military seeks to maintain power

* Myanmar junta leader nominated for presidential vote by MP

* Stocks slide in Asia, Brent crude heads for record monthly rise

* 'Eyes and ears' of junta boss: From torture chambers head to army chief,  Myanmar general Ye Win Oo now set to be defence main man

Tuk-tuk drivers line up to fill up with gas at a gas station in Phnom Penh, Cambodia, on Monday, March 30, 2026. -- AP Photo/Heng Sinith

Cambodia:

* China-backed Mekong children's heart care project launched in the Cambodian capital Phnom Penh

* Over 300 Vietnamese arrested after Cambodia scam bust: Police

* Cambodia's parliament adopts law on combating online scams, with life imprisonment for scam bosses

* Cambodia eases tariffs on green energy products amid oil and gas crisis

Laos:

* Laos alerts public to hailstorm risk; nationwide weather warning has been issued on Monday (March 30)

* Lao President, PM visit Sikhottabong to provide support to storm victims

* Lao-Korean fusion food contest strengthens cultural, culinary ties

Brunei:

* Various initiatives to increase Brunei's self-sufficiency in rice production underway

* Brunei exports value slips despite stronger volumes in Q4 2025

* Strict measures: Curbing extramarital births in Brunei

People gather for cherry blossom viewing, also known as Hanami, at Kinshi Park in Tokyo on Monday, March 30, 2026. -- Photo by Philip FONG / AFP

AseanPlus:

* Peeping Tom charged for recording woman in supermarket toilet

* Bursa Malaysia ends lower on caution over rising oil prices, West Asia tensions

* One International Group acquires Malaysian International Food & Beverage Trade Fair

* Bella Astillah's 9YO son congratulates 'daddy' Syed Saddiq

* Baby Syifaa's sitter jailed a year, fined RM15,000 for negligence

* Malaysia selected as ideal filming location for Netherlands production

* Ban on foreign credit, debit cards at pumps strengthens Ron95 subsidy system

* Local actor Sharnaaz Ahmad's 8YO son receives gold bars and RM18k in duit Raya

* AirAsia expects modest fare hikes but maintains low-cost positioning

* Seven dead in China building collapse

* Trump again warns Iran to open Strait of Hormuz

* China tech groups call for boycott of top AI conference

* Japan seeks to ease concerns over medical-product supplies

* Australia halves fuel tax as Middle East war drives prices

* One man, his dog, and ChatGPT: Australia's AI vaccine saga

* Seoul seeks to calm rush to buy rubbish bags over Mideast war

* Air China resumes flights to North Korea after six-year pause

* Nepal court extends ex-PM detention in protest crackdown case

* South Korea weighs first driving curbs in 35 years on oil crunch

* South Korea proposes free transit to tackle war-driven cost surge

* ‘Why wait for a bus that won’t come?’: India has more graduates than jobs

* Gen Z social media trend pokes fun at Japan's 'perfect' and 'kawaii' image

* Australian police believe fugitive accused of killing two officers shot dead

* Drive slower, WFH, cut air travel: How to save energy amid rising fuel costs

* India's JioStar terminates Bangladesh IPL cricket broadcast deal, letter shows

* Dissident artist on trial in China for satirical Mao sculptures, says rights group

* China woman uses old photo to find brother who was lured away with bread 33 years ago

* Pakistan says it will host US-Iran talks, while Iran warns US ground troops would be 'set on fire'

* Residents affected by Hong Kong fire at Tai Po district get window for retrieval of their belongings

* Cricket -- After Kohli, Rohit proves old is gold in IPL

* Soccer-French court dismisses Cardiff City's 120m euro claim over Sala's death

* Cycling -- Sawda Hasbullah smashes own record to retain title at Asian Cycling Championships