Asean News Headlines at 10pm on Monday (Sept 21, 2026)

Firefighters extinguish forest and land fires in Banjar, South Kalimantan, on September 21, 2026. Toxic haze has shrouded parts of Indonesia, Malaysia, and Singapore for weeks as Jakarta struggles to contain fires that have scorched large tracts of Borneo and Sumatra, with the smoke drifting across the region. -- Photo by MUDA SAGALA / AFP

Malaysia

* Najib yet to pay RM50mil fine, says AG

* Najib's residence inspected ahead of house arrest

* Najib’s other criminal and civil cases not affected

* Anwar warns against exploiting race for political survival

* Two N.Sembilan state reps confirm receiving letters revoking appointment

* Negri royal row: PM Anwar leaves Istana Hinggap after hour-long meet

* Malaysia’s exports jump 31.2% to RM1.36 trillion in first eight months

* Flying Doctor Service to resume once heli crash probe complete

* When a Ruler dismisses his entire Exco

* Nation: Former technician charged with wife's murder

* Protect sanctity of Makkah, Madinah, says Ahmad Zahid

* Nation: Former TH Properties deputy GM charged with abetting CBT

* Ringgit ends higher against US dollar on improved market sentiment

* AirAsia Malaysia renews air operator certificate, valid until Sept 2029

* 'PH Plus' more of an electoral understanding than formal pact, says Amirudin

* Four-day cloud seeding operation launched across Johor, Melaka, Negri Sembilan

* Do not negotiate collaboration for state election on social media, says Ab Rauf

* Malaysian regulator to ask publicly-traded firms for El Nino plans, eyes deeper Middle East ties

* Education Ministry removes bumiputra equity requirement for certain private education institutions

Firefighters extinguish forest and land fires in Banjar, South Kalimantan, on Monday, September 21, 2026. Toxic haze has shrouded parts of Indonesia, Malaysia, and Singapore for weeks as Jakarta struggles to contain fires that have scorched large tracts of Borneo and Sumatra, with the smoke drifting across the region. (Photo by MUDA SAGALA / AFP)

Singapore

* 'Behave or be fined': Singapore introduces new bus conduct rules, fines up to RM1,600 for disruptive behaviour

* New Tuas recycling facility collects 27.5 million bottles and cans in under two months

* Singapore's retrenchment rate at highest level since 2020 in Q2 this year, ministry says

* Katseye unfollows collaborator Ed Sheeran amid Macklemore fallout

* Phishing scams using Singapore police logo re-emerging, public warned

* Youth gets 14 years jail, caning over sexual assault of multiple young girls

* Singapore's labour market expands in 2Q 2026, driven by non-resident employment

* Bessent proposes US-China AI safety notifications in talks with Chinese vice premier

* Singapore labour market expands in Q2 even as retrenchments rise and job vacancies fall

* Trump warns he has entered 'deciding mode' on Iran, says 'big things' are in store

* Singapore bus commuters playing music loudly, putting feet on seats face fines of up to S$500 from Sept 23

Indonesia

* Prabowo’s latest swipe at experts draws backlash

* Indonesia doing 'everything' but still struggling to curb fires

* Indonesia continues search for hundreds missing in capsized ship

* Indonesia press council calls missing Anak Krakatau journalists 'Heroes of the Press'

* Bank Indonesia to intervene in forex, bond markets to stabilise rupiah, official says

* Indonesia sunken Virgo 8 ferry tragedy: Rescuers find three more bodies, but 122 people remain missing

* Indonesia prepares for new era of naval power with aircraft carrier

* Indigenous Kalimantan people sue Indonesian govt over wildfire negligence

* Badminton: Rexy wants shuttlers to adopt 'never-say-die' spirit against Indonesia

* Timor-Leste debuts at 23rd China-Asean Expo and co-hosts

Thailand's Pitchamon Opatniputh was sent home from the Nagoya Asian Games on Monday (Sept 21, 2026) after failing a drug test. - AP Photo/Achmad Ibrahim

Thailand

* Malaysia and Japan drive rise in Thailand's weekly foreign tourist arrivals

* Thai shuttler Pitchamon first doping case at Asian Games

* Anutin says Japanese firms will keep investing in Thailand

* Thailand healthcare reform: State funding nears breaking point

* Thai PM begins three-country mission for UNGA81 and trade promotion

* Thailand’s reservoirs 72% full as six provinces face flood risk until Sept 21

* Global renewable deployment must double to hit 2030 climate target, report says

Philippines

* Philippines coastal cleanup collects 466,000 kg of trash nationwide

* Schools in Philippines' Iloilo City mull transparent bags for campus safety

* Pope Leo XIV receives personal pectoral cross from Filipino bishop

* Philippine police on alert as protests commemorate martial law

* Thunderstorms to bring heavy rain, strong winds to Metro Manila, Luzon

* Philippines: Teen told group chat he wanted to attack school on Sept 3

A young girl plays with bubbles in front of a toy stall selling items ahead of the Mid-Autumn Festival in Hanoi's old quarters on Monday, September 21, 2026. (Photo by Nhac NGUYEN / AFP)

Vietnam

* Durian offers new growth to Vietnam's coffee heartland

* Russian woman deported after performing dangerous motorcycle stunts in Khanh Hoa

* Vietnam schools short of over 100,000 teachers: education minister

* Sixty artistes set to perform at 14-hour music festival in Ho Chi Minh City

* Tanker hit by projectile as it enters the Strait of Hormuz, says British military

* War, runaway AI and climate shocks to take center stage as world leaders meet at UN

Myanmar

* Myanmar: Khin Yi re-elected as USDP chairman at Fourth Party Congress

* Oil prices slide on hopes of diplomacy in Iran war

* Tofu vendor delivers more than healthy food in eastern Tokyo

* Economy: US firms eye deeper ties amid trade talks

* Google to report child abuse content directly to Indian authorities

* Giant boulder rolls down mountain in Myanmar's Shan State, damaging building and two vehicles

An aerial view shows a closed cyber scam centre compound in Cambodia's Prey Veng province on September 21, 2026. Cambodia this week hosts officials from more than 20 countries for a conference on combating online scams, seeking to highlight its own credentials as it comes under increasing international pressure. Southeast Asia has emerged as a hub for crime syndicates running centres filled with scammers -- many trafficked, others there by choice -- who defraud internet users through fake romantic relationships or cryptocurrency investment schemes. -- Photo by Suy Se / AFP

Cambodia

* Foreign investment crucial for Cambodia's socio-economic growth, poverty alleviation: officials and experts

* Fujian aquaculture model offers lessons for Cambodia, Asean

* AMD joins $1 trillion club as chipmakers rally on AI-driven demand

* Electric cars to play future role in power supply

* Traditional safeguards for AI agents are unravelling, said UN panel

Laos

* Laos launches digital tourism platform to modernise travel services

* Zero-dollar tours and wildlife trade face tighter scrutiny in Laos

* Cluster munitions conference in Laos adopts plan to accelerate response

Brunei

* Belait air quality turns unhealthy as haze worsens in Brunei

* Asian tech stocks rise on AI optimism; Trump-Xi meeting in focus

* Markets: Tech leads shares higher in Asia, oil eases

Asian Games - Aichi-Nagoya 2026 - Basketball - Women's - Group A - China v Indonesia - Aichi International Arena, Nagoya, Japan - Monday, September 21, 2026: China's Ziyu Zhang and teammates shake hands with Indonesian players after winning the match. Photo: REUTERS/Anushree Fadnavis

Aseanplus

* Hong Kong socialite Abby Choi’s murder: Trial of ex-hubby, in-laws opens on Sept 21

* Fighting back: Major US news outlets sue white House over revoked press credentials

* Malaysia condemns Houthi attacks, affirms solidarity with Saudi Arabia

* Sabah minister orders resort fully investigated after assault on tourist

* HK actor Bosco Wong spotted in Sabah, reportedly filming a travel variety show

* Australian vaccine platform targets emerging mosquito-borne disease threats

* How will China’s Pinglu Canal reshape trade and economic ties with Asean

* 2 climbers die in avalanche on Mount Manaslu in Nepal

* Takaichi to announce plan to aid Gulf nations at UN

* Australia to seek UN security council seat from 2029

* Japan to battle invasive beetles with US$43mil budget

* S. Korea troops among three injured in DMZ blast: Yonhap TV

* South Korea reopens military service alternative for AI talent

* Textile factory fire in southern Chinese city of Foshan kills 8

* Macau, Hong Kong delegates attend Beijing flag-raising ceremony

* Imran Khan’s sisters’ detention challenged in Lahore High Court

* South Korea ex-commanders jailed up to 18 years over martial law

* Sri Lanka flies monks over drought-hit areas to seek divine help

* Australia warns of risks from ageing population, falling birth rates

* New Zealand says naval ships made ‘routine’ transit of Taiwan Strait

* Nepal stock market halted after ransomware attack disrupts 72 brokers

* Typhoon approaches eastern Japan, prompting flood and landslide warnings

* 'I live in fear': 1.5 million Pakistani children sexually exploited online

* Yuan hits fresh multi-year peak as PBOC eases curb ahead of Trump-Xi summit

* Chinese woman in her 70s wakes up in coffin before dying for good two days later

* Hong Kong socialite Abby Choi’s murder: Trial of ex-hubby, in-laws opens on Sept 21

* Giant hand sculpture in Incheon, South Korea, draws complaints for looking ‘offensive’

* Pakistani forces kill five militants and free 23 hostages in operation in the south-west

* All Iranian Airlines to shut down worldwide by wednesday (Sept 23), US treasury chief says

* Australian regulator sues retailer's ex-CEO for misleading market over alleged office romance

* China expels two top generals from the party and military, alleging disloyalty and corruption

* Nepal floods: Small lab in Kathmandu holds hope of identifying missing victims from 30 nations

* It's confirmed: China leader Xi Jinping to pay state visit to the US from Wednesday to Friday (Sept 23-25)

* Sports: From refugee camp to Asian Games, Syrian taekwondo duo fight for their dreams

* Badminton: Our boys cruise past Mongolia into Asian Games quarter-finals

* Family: Despite all odds, Afghan women are finding ways to make a living for themselves

* Lifestyle: 9 Malaysian filmmakers selected for 2026 Global Media Makers residency in Los Angeles

* Entertainment: Hit erotic film 'Untold Scandal' returns as K-drama starring Son Ye-jin, Ji Chang-wook

* Entertainment: Woman in her 50s booked over alleged eavesdropping on Cha Eun-woo's private conversations