Asean News Headlines at 10pm on Tuesday (April 21, 2026)

This picture shows vessels anchored as a drone flies along the Singapore Strait's eastern anchorage in Singapore on Tuesday, April 21, 2026. -- Photo by Roslan RAHMAN / AFP

Malaysia

* Five Malaysia-bound tankers turn back after US warns against Iranian oil shipments, says report

* Malaysia remains resilient, thanks to focus on fiscal discipline, economic reform

* Economy Minister: Over 70% of blending depots ready for B15 biodiesel mandate

* MACC detains NGO leader and two others over RM230mil zakat fund probe

* Govt will not remain idle in face of global crisis, says Anwar

* No damage or casualties in Kundasang earthquake, says Fire Dept

* Sabah backbenchers push for swift decision on 40% special grant

* Govt intensifies price, supply controls to tackle global supply crisis

* High Court jails 33 men for 10 months over KTV attack in Taman Shamelin

* Malaysia must shift from 'cheap' to 'safe' premium destination, says Sim

* High Court commutes jail term, frees couple caught in lewd act at cemetery

* Home Ministry yet to decide on Turap foreign worker system, says Saifuddin

* Wait for full probe into viral video of Kulim police officer, says Saifuddin

* Guan Eng graft trial: Court allows defence to cross-examine prosecution witness

* High Court raises jail term to three months for driver who went against traffic

* Update tax details regularly, don't just wait for e-filing, LHDN reminds taxpayers

* Anwar: Banking institutions must act as strategic partners to sustain domestic economy

* Govt preparing long-term measures to mitigate Strait of Hormuz crisis impact, says Economy Ministry

* Umno sees surge of nearly 4,000 new members within 24 hours of launching online registration dashboard

A worker refuels the truck with biodiesel 50% during a B50 testing event, as Indonesia plans to raise the mandatory blending rate for palm-based biodiesel from 40% to 50%, a standard known as B50, that is part of the government's wider plan to mitigate risks arising from the Iran war, in Cirebon, West Java province, Indonesia, on Tuesday, April 21, 2026. -- Photo: REUTERS/Ajeng Dinar Ulfiana

Singapore

* Malaysia joins roundtable session on Straits of Malacca issues at Singapore Maritime Week 2026

* Maritime hubs like Singapore critical amid worldwide disruptions, says DPM Gan

* Man who thought his Rolex was fake tried to cheat retailer in deal; S$89.8k watch was genuine

* UN agency preparing Hormuz evacuation plan for hundreds of ships

* Singapore to invest more than S$100m in maritime research over next five years: Jeffrey Siow

* ‘I wasn’t afraid’: Singaporean singer in Taiwan temple chases down knife-wielding masked suspect

* Singapore massage centres set for stricter rules; no rooms, partitions or cubicles in open-concept outlets

* Prosecution calls for up to two years’ jail for Singapore doctor over negligent act that led to patient’s death

* Two Malaysian wild cards get tickets to take part in regional finals of the Red Bull Dance Your Style Asia Tour

* Martial arts star Sammo Hung makes rare public appearance with wife at Hong Kong Film Awards

Indonesia

* Indonesia court throws out case against minister over 1998 mass rape denial

* Earthquake of 6 magnitude hits off Indonesia's Timor island, geophysics agency says

* Indonesia passes law to protect millions of domestic workers

* 'Major' Indonesian natural gas find announced

* Govt proposes criminal charges for waste violations in Bali

* Indonesia says 15 killed during military operation in Papua

* Indonesian lawmakers press universities over handling of sexual harassment

* Indonesian agency to refine free meals programme to focus on undernourished children

A cat walks past a monk sitting down after being offered a hot drink from a vendor while collecting alms at Mahanak Market in Bangkok. -- Photo by ANTHONY WALLACE / AFP

Thailand

* Trump says he does not want to extend ceasefire with Iran

* Thailand's foreign tourist arrivals down 3.34% on year so far in 2026

* Thailand says domestic oil conditions are starting to stabilise

* Thailand's data watchdog sounds top alert over Booking.com booking scams

* Thai finance minister says government reviewing if emergency borrowing decree needed

* Toyota to cut global vehicle production by 38,000 due to the ongoing Middle East crisis 

* Thailand: ‘Death Fest’ signals shift in attitudes towards mortality

Philippines

* Philippines' food giant Jollibee acquires Korean hot pot chain operator 'All Day Fresh' for US$88mil

* China flexes energy leverage as the Philippines, US start annual war games

* Marcos admin guarantees Zaldy Co’s safe return to Philippines: Palace

* Two Filipina workers held hostage, killed by employer in Lebanon

* Two dead, 35 hurt as passenger bus falls into ravine in Quezon

* Philippines says US access to bases limited by land issues

* 'Military is raring to go': Trump says he does not want to extend ceasefire with Iran

South Korea's President Lee Jae Myung (centre L) and his wife Kim Hea Kyung (centre) disembark from the plane upon their arrival at Noi Bai International Airport in Hanoi on April 21, 2026. -- Photo by YONHAP / AFP

Vietnam

* Top oil traders, including those from South-East Asia, warn worst of demand hit from the war is yet to come

* New cave with unusually tall waterfall discovered in central Vietnam

* Asia stocks advance on Iran peace talks hopes, AI-driven flows

* Vietnam BirdRace 2026 to attract hundreds of photographers worldwide

* Half a century on, fallen Vietnam soldier identified through wartime artefacts

Myanmar

* 'Real horror' - Some 7,900 people died or disappeared on migration routes in 2025: UN

* Myanmar president seeks peace talks within 100 days, rebels reject offer

* Rising fuel prices squeeze livelihoods across Myanmar

* Scarce food, bleak futures spur Rohingya refugees to gamble with death at sea

* US ceasefire violation, threats main obstacles to progress in talks, Iran tells Pakistan

A Filipino boy makes origami cranes during an event supporting calls for peace and an end to war by Pope Leo XIV, inside a Catholic church in Quezon City, Philippines, Tuesday, April 21, 2026. -- AP Photo/Aaron Favila

Cambodia

* Selamat malam! Indonesian Night Market returns to Phnom Penh

* Cambodia sends 30-member delegation to 2026 Asian Beach Games

* Almost 1,200 foreigners deported from Cambodia in past week

* Cambodia: King has ‘successful’ surgery after cancer diagnosis

Laos

* Laos, China launch first 500-kV cross-border AC power link

* Lao govt moves to create investment fund to strengthen economic stability

* The sea is higher than we thought and millions more are at risk, study finds

Brunei

* Brunei showcases diverse tourism experiences

* Gold falls as investors await clarity on US-Iran talks, dollar edges up

* Greens are missing now - Forests employ 42 million worldwide but 15 years ago, it was twice that

Pakistani army soldiers patrol at D Chowk near the President's House, as Pakistan prepares to host the US and Iran for the second phase of peace talks in Islamabad, Pakistan, on Tuesday, April 21, 2026. -- Photo: REUTERS/Akhtar Soomro

Aseanplus

* Migrant smuggling syndicate busted with 10 people nabbed in Johor

* Immigration busts fake document syndicate, three foreigners nabbed

* IJN achieves international recognition as Asia’s only EAPC-accredited Sports Cardiology Centre

* M'sia pursuing trade deals with Australia and China for raw materials, says Economy Minister

* Matrade: RM5bil guarantee initiative to help sustain MSMEs export momentum

* Ringgit outlook firm, set to retest 3.88 level amid strong inflows

* Ringgit strengthens against US dollar and major currencies

* Japan to ban use of portable chargers on flights from April 24

* China to ease people's burden by cutting retail prices of petrol and diesel

* War in Iran is causing biggest energy crisis in history, IEA says

* Mongolia’s calving reaches 4.2 million

* New Zealand PM Luxon survives vote of confidence

* Russian interior minister arrives in North Korea for talks

* Pilot killed in helicopter crash in Australia's Queensland

* Trump accuses Iran of violating ceasefire 'numerous times'

* Five arrested over alleged violent kidnapping in western Sydney

* Tourists trickle back to Kashmir, one year after deadly attack

* Taking a leap of faith at an urban zipline attraction in Macao

* India and South Korea plan US$50bil trade push with new deals

* Six people hurt but no serious damage from powerful Japan quake

* Outrage in China after streaming site debuts AI actor 'database'

* Bangladesh faces telecom shutdowns from Middle East fuel crisis

* Gaza death toll from Israel's deadly aggression surpasses 72,560

* Pakistan, Egypt conclude two-week-long counter-terrorism exercise

* K-pop agency Hybe denies seeking US help to lift chairman’s travel ban

* South Korea police seek detention warrant for BTS agency founder Bang

* Parainfluenza cases rising in China, with young children most affected

* Police to enter Nepal colleges to remove student union offices, banners

* Worker dies after being trapped in equipment at Tokyo Dome amusement park

* HK superstar Aaron Kwok celebrates 9th wedding anniversary with wife Moka Fang

* South Korea's Lee says claim that minister leaked classified intel is 'absurd'

* South Korea’s escaped wolf becomes local sensation, inspiring merch and zoo vlog

* Japan opens door to global arms market with biggest export rule change in decades

* Africa calling - Tanzania secures right to host the 74th Miss World Pageant in 2027 

* Japan’s fishermen feel impact of diesel supply disruption; higher fish prices expected

* 'It's yummy and it's mine' German kebab chain challenges KFC over 'Krispy Kebab' name

* China's Xi, in call with Saudi crown prince, calls for Strait of Hormuz to remain open

* China ‘Superdad’ uses salary, loans to build ‘marathon Dream Home’ for 300 deprived kids

* Climate cooperation key to countering global heating and fossil-fuel coast chaos, says UN climate chief