Asean News Headlines at 9pm on Saturday (Sept 24 2022)

Malaysia:

* Covid-19 Watch: 2,070 new cases detected, total now at 4,828,290

* ‘Fat Leonard’ may be Venezuela’s bargaining chip in seeking US recognition, experts say

* Rangers guiding elephant herd to safer areas after fatal attack on woman in Sabah

* Malaysia, Palestine ink four MoUs to further strengthen ties

* Covid-19: No change to mandatory quarantine rules till end of the year, says Khairy

* Khairy: Fighting cancer back in focus after Covid-19 pandemic under control

* GE15: I still have no seat to contest in, Khairy jokes about his ‘concerns’

* Ahmad Zahid has a ‘freer hand’ now in advising PM on GE15 date, say analysts

* PM must get Cabinet consent to dissolve Parliament, says Muhyiddin

* Early morning tremors reported in Penang island after Aceh quake

* System to trace school dropouts being set up, says Education Minister

* Protest against plans to hold GE15 during monsoon season ends peacefully

A man cycles on the track next to the stands installed for the upcoming Formula One Singapore Grand Prix night race at the Marina Bay Street Circuit in Singapore. – AP

Singapore:

* Singapore: Ex-lawyer on the run for 15 years arrested and charged over RM282,000 misappropriated from client

* Singapore inflation near 14-Year high boosts tightening bets

* Singapore’s MAS core inflation rises to 5.1 per cent in August

* The South China Sea dispute – Philippines’ Marcos Eyes China Compromise on issue

* Singapore warns of ‘Escalatory Spiral’ as US-China trust erodes

* Asia’s new financial centre – Singapore

* Oil plunges to eight-month low on strong dollar, recession fears

Indonesia:

* Tremors felt everywhere but govt confirms no casualties reported as powerful quake shakes Indonesia on Saturday morning (Sept 24)

* Indonesia anti-graft body arrests Supreme Court judge over bribery scandal

* Indonesia hikes rates for second straight month to stem inflation

* Magnitude 6.1 earthquake strikes near northern coast of Indonesia’s Sumatra island, confirms EMSC

* Indonesian among three arrested over Pandan Indah copper cable theft

* A side of Bali that’s perfect for Malaysians looking for some peace and quiet

Tourists arrive at the Koh Rong island pier near where Chinese nationals were rescued from a sinking boat the night before in Preah Sihanouk Province, southwestern Cambodia on Saturday, Sept. 24, 2022. Two Cambodian crew members abandoned their boat with 41 Chinese nationals on board as it sank in the Gulf of Thailand, leaving at least one person dead and 19 missing, authorities said Friday. – AP

Thailand:

* Thailand to boost per capita income near US$10,000 in five years

* Thai police arrest Myanmar junta chief’s associate in major drug raid

* Thailand to further ease Covid-19 restrictions and end pandemic emergency as scheduled

* Thai govt revenue exceeds forecast in 2022 amid economic recovery after Covid-19 battering

* Thailand records 5.2 million tourists from Jan to late Sept, says official

* Thailand: Covid-19 emergency lifted as virus declared ‘not dangerous’

Philippines:

* Philippines logs 2,691 new Covid-19 cases and 29 deaths on Saturday (Sept 24)

* Philippines’ Marcos seeks Russian fuel as inflation bites

* The AP Interview: Marcos wants to ‘reintroduce’ Philippines

* Over 200 Filipinos deported in Sandakan Immigration exercise

* Court rejects govt petition

* Putting the past behind -the Philipines-US relationship

A man is washing a ox at oxen breeder Nguyen Van Liet’s house in Vietnam’s An Giang province. The bovines and their owners gathered for the annual Bay Nui ox race as part of the Sene Dolta festival, where the Khmer community remember their ancestors and a clutch of sports and art activities are held. – AFP

Vietnam:

* Vietnam reports 1,176 new Covid-19 cases and no new deaths on Saturday (Sept 24)

* Vietnam seeks low market lending rates after rare rate hike

* Vietnam plans cuts in fuel taxes as inflation rises

* Vietnam says not in deal with Thailand to raise rice prices

* Hanoi closes Instagram hotspot ‘Train Street’ over safety concerns

Myanmar:

* Over 37 million people vaccinated for Covid-19 in Myanmar

* All countries should take in more Rohingya refugees, says PM

* Beauty queen in limbo, fears arrest in Myanmar

* US seeks to apply more pressure on junta

A tour guide shares the history of San Sebastian Church to tourists at Calle Hidalgo in Metro Manila on Saturday, September 24, 2022, as the cultural organization works towards the cultural rebirth of the Philippines’ historic landmark for its old infrastructures and rich culture, prompting a Manila lawmaker to file a bill declaring the area a “national heritage zone”. – AFP

Cambodia:

* Three Chinese dead after Cambodia boat sinking; further nine people have been rescued on Saturday (Sept 24) evening

* Cambodia’s Hun Sen urges balanced approach to conflicts in address to UNGA

* Cambodia still searching for at least 10 Chinese missing from sunken boat

* One dead and 19 missing as boat capsizes off Cambodia

Laos:

* ADB lowers Laos’ economic growth forecast to 2.5 per cent in 2022

* Laos gears up for heavy rains and floods as Tropical Storm Noru approaches

Brunei:

* Brunei and S. Korea to resume direct flights soon, says envoy

* Brunei lifts daily hospital visitor limit as Covid-19 situation continues to improve

Swiss tennis superstar and legend Roger Federer waves to his fans during the Laver Cup, his last competition, at the 02 Arena in London. – Reuters

AseanPlus:

* Blinken urges calm on Taiwan in talks with China

* After a US$1.3 trillion rout, analysts predict more pain in store for Hong Kong’s stock market amid rate increases

* Hong Kong stocks sink to lowest since 2011 as rate increases dent market confidence, heighten recession worries

* Arguably the GOAT of tennis – Tearful Federer bows out of the sport with Laver Cup defeat

* Chinese teen star Zheng Qinwen powers into her first WTA final in Tokyo

* Hong Kongers hail end of quarantine ‘nightmare’

* Proposal to redevelop part of Hong Kong’s Ocean Park into dining, retail zone fails to attract a single bid

* One killed in landslide as another typhoon nears already-battered Japan

* Chinese researchers simulate hypersonic bombing in wind tunnel

* Love, courage in China: Dad wraps head with cling film to kiss his baby, kneeling cow spared from slaughter

* ‘Sacrificing horse for internet traffic’: Man travelling from Europe to China on horseback facing animal cruelty claims

* As King Charles era begins, British anti-monarchists claim to have growing support

* China’s shipbuilding progress threatens South Korea’s long-held tech dominance in the industry

* Man jailed 24 years for brutal group attack on women in northern China

* US and China FMs meet amid Taiwan tensions

* Australia seeks stable ties with ‘great power’ China, minister says

* HK ends quarantine for international arrivals

* N.Korea may be preparing to test submarine-launched ballistic missile, S.Korea military says -Yonhap

* V&A celebrates ‘Korean Wave’ of popular culture with new exhibition

* Why Japan is divided over Shinzo Abe’s state funeral