Asean News Headlines at 10pm on Sunday (April 26, 2026)

A farmer harvests lotus fruits from a field in Kandal province. The flower is one of the most abundant species in the country, naturally taking root in lakes, rivers, ponds, and even roadside ditches. -- Photo by TANG CHHIN Sothy / AFP

Malaysia

* Malaysian Foreign Minister Mohamad to lead Malaysia's delegation to 25th Asean-EU Ministerial Meeting 

* Admissions into higher education institutions must remain merit-based, free from politics, says Zambry

* Police, MCMC must act on offensive image linked to Selangor Sultan, says state rep

* High Court dismisses RM3mil negligence suit against UUM over student's death

* Ipoh police launch probe into viral video of cop allegedly taking money from man

* Remand extended for preacher suspected of RM12.3mil NGO funds abuse

* Cops nab man linked to travel service scam

* Man gets 30 months' jail for kidnapping goldsmith

* MetMalaysia issues level 1 heat alert for 15 areas

* Sabah Railway to roll out cashless payment system by June

* Bersatu proposes Azmin Ali as Selangor Perikatan chairman

* More must be done to document Malaysia’s history, says Fadillah

* VTAR Institute signs skills training MOU with Indonesian Employers Association

* Kelantan cops investigate man for mocking cops conducting roadblocks in viral video

* Bursa Malaysia likely to trade sideways between 1,700 and 1,730 from Monday (April 27) 

* Ringgit expected to trade in a tight band within the RM3.94-RM3.96 range from Monday (April 27) onwards 

People walk during a Car Free Day (CFD) along the main road at the Renon district in Denpasar, Indonesia's resort island of Bali, on Sunday, April 26, 2026. -- Photo by SONNY TUMBELAKA / AFP

Singapore

* AirAsia posts videos of staff speaking Mandarin after clip of passenger scolding cabin crew draws attention

* Singapore and Japan strengthen collaboration as they mark 60 years of diplomatic ties

* More landed households in Singapore opting for solar panels amid the global energy crisis

* Singapore PM sends Takaichi congratulatory letter to mark 60 years of diplomatic ties with Japan

* Medicine, art and science converge at Singapore's ArtScience Museum

* More landed households in Singapore opting for solar amid global energy crisis

* Singapore inks CPF 2026-2031 with IAEA to advance nuclear capabilities

* South Korea's Ham seals British Open spot with maiden Asian Tour win in Singapore

* South-East Asia private equity deal value falls 10% in 2025 as exit values decline, Bain says

 

Indonesia

* Graft, girlfriends and government officials: Indonesia’s other corruption problem

* Acid attacks highlight growing danger for Indonesian activists

* Jakarta residents demand stable electricity after repeated outages

* Indonesia - Wikimedia reaches govt deal over blackout threat

* Bali trash issues raise concerns after landfill closure

* Indonesia condemns Israeli attack resulting in death of another peacekeeper

* Indonesia to import 150 million barrels of crude oil from Russia this year, deputy minister says

Sri Lankan monks arrive to appear before a court after their arrest in Negombo on April 26, 2026. Twenty-two Sri Lankan monks returning from Thailand were arrested on Sunday, April 26, 2026, at the main international airport with 110 kilograms (242 pounds) of powerful cannabis, officials said. -- Photo by Ishara S. KODIKARA / AFP

Thailand

* Thai police arrest Indonesian in Phuket wanted for US$10mil cyberfraud

* Sri Lanka detains 22 Buddhist monks returning from Thailand for drug smuggling

* Twelve injured as man crashes BMW into KFC outlet in Thai petrol station

* Coolcation trend heats up as travellers flee rising temperatures

* Injured pangolin rescued from Mae Hong Son park wildfire ordeal

* Thailand - Bangkok and Beijing agree to combat cyberscams

Philippines

* Rare jade vine found in Philippines' Cagayan highlands, push for conservation

* Philippines says two US citizens among 19 killed in raid on communist stronghold

* President Marcos assures uninterrupted government services amid energy emergency

* Taal Volcano logs two minor eruptions, 48 seismic events in 24 hours

* Anne De Mesa wins Philippines its second Miss Tourism Worldwide crown in Malaysia

* As US high court prepares ruling, Americans oppose ending birthright citizenship, Reuters/Ipsos poll finds

An official is trying to avoid a cow during the Rodeo Festival in the province of Masbate. While larger provinces boast more cattle, the Masbate rodeo -- begun in 1993 in a bid to boost tourism -- has become synonymous with the island province of fewer than one million. -- Photo by Jam STA ROSA / AFP

Vietnam

* Vietnam and Malaysia expand agriculture cooperation with an agreement to improve the agro-food segment

* As costs rise amid Iran war, rice farmers in Vietnam and Thailand feel the strain

* Vietnam-South Korean film on legendary warrior Tran Hung Dao unveiled in Seoul

* Danang to host Pickleball World Cup 2026

* Balance critical as Vietnam considers higher foreign ownership in aviation

Myanmar

* 'Shocked, to say the least' - World leaders react after shots are fired at White House press dinner

* China FM tells Myanmar leader Beijing will back its security, sovereignty

* China and Myanmar vow more trade and security cooperation

* Pope Leo says those who wage war are thieves stealing away our peaceful future

Vietnam's Prime Minister Le Minh Hung (left) shakes hands with South Korean President Lee Jae-myung at the Vietnam-South Korea business forum in Hanoi. -- Photo by Nhac NGUYEN / AFP

Cambodia

* Cambodia cracks down on more than 250 online scam centres in nine months, says the government

* Beijing's diplomatic handshakes reinforce South-East Asia' stability amid global tensions

* Cabinet approves draft law for men aged 18 to 25 in Cambodia

* Tick season seems to be off to a fast start, and some experts worry about future illnesses

Laos

* New Nong Khai bypass opens officially, cutting travel time for Thai-Lao trade

* Asean officials convene to address the Middle Asia crisis' impact on energy supplies 

* ‘Devil Wears Prada 2′ slammed over depiction of Asian: 'Blatant racial stereotype racism in 2026'

Brunei

* 13 suspects arrested in Brunei for cable theft cases nationwide

* 439kg of waste collected in Lumut beach clean-up

* Anzac Day observed with dawn service in Brunei

A Maum.AI humanoid robot at the World IT Show in Seoul, South Korea. -- Photographer: Cho Seong Joon / Bloomberg

Aseanplus

* Malaysia, Indonesia, Singapore, and Thailand must resist attempts to weaponise the Strait of Malacca, says expert

* Booze smugglers, illegal migrants nabbed near Semporna

* Global supply crisis presents opportunities, says Tengku Zafrul

* Immigration nabs 11 to foil migrant smuggling ops

* Sabah Ethnic Day showcases diversity, tourism potential, says state minister

* Ops Toyu : Immigration Dept nabs 10, including senior officer at Bukit Kayu Hitam ICQS

* Japan deploys 1,400 firefighters to battle raging wildfires in the north

* India's master photographer Raghu Rai dies aged 83

* Nepal - Everest route blocked by ice

* Five things to know about Chinese AI startup DeepSeek

* Japan inflation cools demand for vending machine drinks

* Pakistan races to save negotiations between US and Iran

* The top 5 AI commands to make your daily worklife easier

* China formalises labour rules for gig workers on online platforms

* How China is reinforcing its ‘legal shield’ against foreign pressure

* Pakistan, Iran leaders discuss regional peace efforts in phone call

* India - Gunfights plague Manipur, the latest unrest in troubled state

* Swiss International says five injured after flight aborts takeoff in India

* China ‘has to be involved’ in new nuclear arms control talks, US senator urges

* Six passengers injured evacuating from Swiss Air flight in India: Economic Times

* China condemns EU’s inclusion of Chinese entities in sanctions package against Russia

* China bought zero H200 chips ‘as of today’, says Lutnick as he cites ‘delicate balance’ with Xi

* Battle of sub-5,000 won deals: South Korean retailers go all out to rival Daiso Korea as inflation bites

* Top Entertainment stories of the week: Christy on baby No.4?; Fish's victory; Fat Gor's RM1.8mil profit

* Thuds, an eerie silence, then chaos at Trump dinner with White House journalists

* Trump's security again faces scrutiny after press dinner shooting

* Trump safe after shooting at White House Correspondents' dinner, suspect in custody

* Trump was likely target of shooting at White House correspondents' dinner, US official says

* Factbox - Who is Cole Allen, the suspect in the White House Correspondents' Dinner shooting?

* India's Mahesh Pratap steals the limelight winning the first-ever Paradarts title at the Selangor Open Darts Championships

* Squash -- Sivasangari stuns Amina to reach Grasshopper Cup final in Zurich

* Badminton -- Lee Chong Wei Cup leads switch to 15x3 new scoring format

* Badminton -- Letshanaa and Co end 16-year wait to reach Uber Cup quarter-finals

* Cycling -- Sprint bronze for Azizul in the World Cup

* Motorcycling - Alex Marquez wins Spanish Grand Prix while brother Marc crashes out

* Soccer -- Jaissle hails historic win after Al-Ahli retain Asian Champions League title