Asean News Headlines at 10pm on Monday (May 18, 2026)


Indonesian President Prabowo Subianto (front, 3rd from right) poses for a photo with high-ranking officials during a ceremony to hand over six new Rafale jet fighters, four Dassault Falcon 8X aircraft, and one Airbus A400M Atlas aircraft to the Indonesian Air Force at Halim Perdanakusuma Air Force Base in Jakarta on Monday, May 18, 2026. -- Photo by BAY ISMOYO / AFP

Malaysia

* Malaysia condemns Israel's detention of GSF activists, says Anwar

* King grants audience to Anwar

* Melaka CM hints at state polls within four months

* Court to decide on Zizie Izette’s graft case on July 20

* Has PMX stepped on a melting iceberg?

* Rafizi and Nik Nazmi make bold exit for Parti Bersama Malaysia

* Cops nab suspect in teen's wrongful confinement and sexual assault

* Cop linked to Langkawi drug syndicate transferred pending probe

* Man likely stabbed woman in neck because he was jilted, say Kedah cops

* Semiconductor supply chains stable despite disruptions, says Amir Hamzah

* Malaysia-Turkiye ties key to expanding strategic cooperation, says PM Anwar

* MIC's entry into Perikatan now void after no confirmation, says Takiyuddin

* AG, Public Prosecutor separation Bill to be re-tabled June 22, says Azalina

* Speaker’s Office confirms receipt of Rafizi's, Nik Nazmi's resignation letters

* Nothing earthshaking about UEC 'recognition' in current form, says ex-MCA chief

* PKR can prove Rafizi and Nik Nazmi joined Bersama before vacating seats, says sec-gen

* Love, longing and distress: Inquest hears recorded conversations between Zara Qairina and mum

* Job placement for registered refugees to help ease critical workforce issues, says Saifuddin

A member of staff cleans a display box of Audemars Piguet and Swatch's Royal Pop watches on launch day at Orchard ION mall in Singapore. -- Photo: REUTERS/Edgar Su
A member of staff cleans a display box of Audemars Piguet and Swatch's Royal Pop watches on launch day at Orchard ION mall in Singapore. -- Photo: REUTERS/Edgar Su

Singapore:

* Three Singapore retailers caught using misleading website features such as fake visitor counts, countdown timers

* Singaporean man gets 18 years’ jail, 24 strokes of the cane for raping and sexually assaulting younger sister

* Singapore telecom regulator suspends review of M1, Simba merger

* Singaporean man hospitalised in Taiwan after falling from Dragon Caves rock climbing area

* Singaporean actress Rebecca Lim gives birth to second child, a girl, after 12-hour labour

* No train service on Singapore's Bukit Panjang LRT between Senja and Bukit Panjang after man falls onto track

* Why Singapore's fertility crisis is partly an education crisis - and how to fix it

Indonesia:

* Indonesia rupiah hits new record low despite currency intervention, President Prabowo downplays fall

* Indonesian President Prabowo says new fighter jets herald new age for his country's defensive abilities

* Indonesia mulls mandatory phone number verification for social media accounts

* Indonesia to build up defence capabilities with new aircraft

* Indonesia tightens Ebola surveillance after WHO calls the outbreak in Africa as a global emergency 

* Indonesia's free meals programme faces mounting governance concerns as Prabowo vows to fix problems

Philippine senators take their oath as jurors in the impeachment trial of Vice President Sara Duterte at the plenary hall of the Senate in Manila. Philippine lawmakers were sworn in on May 18 to serve as judges in the trial of impeached Vice President Sara Duterte, the second attempt since last year to force her from office. -- Photo by Ted ALJIBE / AFP
Philippine senators take their oath as jurors in the impeachment trial of Vice President Sara Duterte at the plenary hall of the Senate in Manila. Philippine lawmakers were sworn in on May 18 to serve as judges in the trial of impeached Vice President Sara Duterte, the second attempt since last year to force her from office. -- Photo by Ted ALJIBE / AFP

Thailand:

* Bangkok train-bus collision: Train driver tested positive for drugs

* Thailand ransom raid: Four police officers detained in Chinese abduction case

* Chinese supermarkets expand in Thailand on low prices and viral buzz

* Siranudh Scott’s sexual allegation against brother sparks online debate

* Thai actress Mild Lapassalan distances self from businessman husband amid sexual abuse claims

* Thai PM gathers tycoons for talks as group hold rare discussion on ways to improve the economy

Philippines:

* Philippines swears in senators for VP Duterte's impeachment trial

* Philippines to convene court for VP impeachment amid political turmoil

* Philippine police brace for protests as Senate starts Sara Duterte impeachment trial

* Top court asked to allow arrest of ICC-wanted lawmaker

* South Korea and Asean discuss deeper economic cooperation in Seoul

Workers (centre) collect scrap metal from the rubble of residential buildings as excavators are seen at a demolition site to make way for an expanded road network in Hanoi on Monday, May 18, 2026. -- Photo by Nhac NGUYEN / AFP
Workers (centre) collect scrap metal from the rubble of residential buildings as excavators are seen at a demolition site to make way for an expanded road network in Hanoi on Monday, May 18, 2026. -- Photo by Nhac NGUYEN / AFP

Vietnam:

* 'We want the king of fruit, too': India to ease export requirements for Vietnamese durian 

* Vietnam's southern hub, Ho Chi Minh City, approves master plan outline with 100-year vision

* Vietnam receives first cargo of Congo Djeno crude for Nghi Son refinery

* Supertanker with Iraqi oil heads for Vietnam after hold-up in US blockade

* Samsung Electronics and union extend talks to avert strike threatening global supply chains

Myanmar:

* 'Our proud heritage': Museum visitors rediscover Myanmar's history through ancient treasures

* Three Ethiopians arrested in Myanmar telecom fraud crackdown

* Moderate magnitude earthquake hits Myanmar

* Hantavirus-hit liner reaches Rotterdam, crew being quarantined and ship disinfected

Prison guards escort detained Chinese nationals suspected of running cyber scam centres to a prison after their arrest in Colombo. A surge in arrests of suspected foreign scammers in Sri Lanka has authorities concerned that the island is fast becoming a hub for online crime, following sweeping crackdowns in hotspots Cambodia and Myanmar. -- Photo by Ishara S. KODIKARA / AFP
Prison guards escort detained Chinese nationals suspected of running cyber scam centres to a prison after their arrest in Colombo. A surge in arrests of suspected foreign scammers in Sri Lanka has authorities concerned that the island is fast becoming a hub for online crime, following sweeping crackdowns in hotspots Cambodia and Myanmar. -- Photo by Ishara S. KODIKARA / AFP

Cambodia:

* Cambodia-China caravan tour begins to boost and promote regional tourism

* US aggregate site ranks Cambodia first in world for ‘Natural Environment’

* Cambodia urges people to be vigilant over Ebola

* It's shining - Gold rises as dollar, oil weaken; eyes on Middle East developments

Laos:

* Laos promotes vocational education to build skilled workforce

* Laos, New Zealand strengthen partnership as foreign ministers hold talks

* Laos begins national campaign to boost interest in vocational skills development

Brunei:

* Indonesian woman sentenced to a five-month jail term for overstaying offence in Brunei

* Bruneian paddlers claim podium finish in Sabah regatta

* Brunei’s biodiversity celebrated through art

South Korean actress Ho-yeon Jung poses during a photocall of the film, Hope, at the 79th edition of the Cannes Film Festival in Cannes, southern France, on May 18, 2026. -- Photo by Olivier CHASSIGNOLE / AFP
South Korean actress Ho-yeon Jung poses during a photocall of the film, Hope, at the 79th edition of the Cannes Film Festival in Cannes, southern France, on May 18, 2026. -- Photo by Olivier CHASSIGNOLE / AFP

AseanPlus:

* Eight Malaysians in GSF 2.0 detained by Israeli forces

* Malaysia beckons aspiring students from India's southern region 

* Three South Koreans plead not guilty to kidnapping, demanding nearly RM40mil ransom

* Expand 'KDMR' or adopt 'Momogun' – debate over term for Sabah native groups goes on

* Chinese national held for trespassing at KLIA

* Trump returns from China, Hormuz talks stall

* South Korea's bond yields seen gaining on chip boom

* Mohd Khafiz latest Malaysian to conquer Mount Everest

* Nepal: Sherpa scales Mt Everest for a record 32nd time

* China says talks with US yielded agreement to reduce levies 

* New Zealand population growth improves as Kiwi exodus slows

* Japan arrests Americans over stunt at baby monkey Punch's zoo

* Trump and South Korea's Lee discuss outcome of US-China summit

* 3 missing after 5.2-magnitude earthquake hits south China's Guangxi

* Australia's property tax overhaul unpopular with voters, polls show

* Spotify 20 is like Wrapped – but it includes all your messy years, too

* India directs state-run banks, insurance firms to cut costs, shift to EVs

* Australia orders China-linked investors to sell stakes in rare earths firm

* 5.2-magnitude quake kills two in south China's Guangxi region: state media 

* Modi allies push for bigger families despite India’s 1.4-billion population

* Japan to use social media to prevent illegal employment of foreign nationals

*‘Heavy’ hearts as residents of Wang Fuk Court’s only spared block return again

* Couple who took children storm chasing during typhoon spared criminal sentence 

* What Hong Kong’s planned ride-hailing regime could mean for your next Uber trip

* North Korea's Kim calls to make border with South Korea an 'impregnable fortress'

* Hong Kong may broaden at-risk elderly support after recent deaths, minister says

* Panda power: Pakistan to tap China debt market with first sale of yuan-priced notes

* Shanghai Film Festival will not screen Japanese movies this year amid diplomatic row

* Wealth shift: Chinese heirs take control sooner as US$11 trillion set to change hands

* Samsung Electronics and union extend talks to avert strike threatening global supply chains

* ‘He gave it his everything’: The Wonderfools’ director on why he didn’t cut Cha Eun-woo’s scenes

* ‘Are you still hiring?’: K-pop king G-Dragon gifts flats to long-serving staff, sparks online buzz

* Jet Li, 63, says hyperthyroidism battle left him insecure about his looks: 'Hardest period of my life'

* Badminton: Big blow as Pearly still sidelined, misses home Masters with Thinaah

* One determined guy: Selangor FC captain Faisal Halim shares his thoughts for the Asean Club Championship Shopee Cup final

 

 

 

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