AseanPlus News

Asean news headlines at 10pm on Monday (March 31, 2025)

Here's a look at the news highlights from Asean countries in the Star-AseanPlus section for Monday (March 31, 2025)

Singapore

Former AIC chief spotted with East Coast GRC MPs; first public servant new face seen on the ground

SINGAPORE: Recently resigned public servant Dinesh Vasu Dash accompanied East Coast GRC MPs on a mosque visit in Chai Chee on Monday (March 31) morning.

Myanmar

Myanmar to hold minute's silence for quake dead on April 1: Junta

YANGON: Myanmar will hold a minute's silence on Tuesday (April 1) to remember the victims of the country's devastating earthquake, which has killed more than 2,000 people, the ruling junta said.

Brunei

Brunei Sultan highlights unity, gratitude in Hari Raya message

BANDAR SERI BEGAWAN: Brunei's Sultan Hassanal Bolkiah emphasised that carrying out entrusted responsibilities with diligence invites halal sustenance and blessings for individuals and the nation.

Cambodia

China's poverty alleviation project turns Cambodia's far-flung village into modern one

BATI, Cambodia: Started in 2021, a China-aided poverty alleviation project has transformed a formerly isolated and tranquil Tanorn village in Cambodia's remote area into a modern one.

Nation

Family of seven stranded at Lata Batu Hampar falls due to water surge

IPOH: A family of seven were trapped at the Lata Batu Hampar waterfall in Kuala Kangsar due to a headwater surge.

China

Shock as teen surrogate gives birth to twins for Chinese man, 50, receives US$124,000

BEIJING (SCMP): A 17-year-old girl from China's Yi minority acted as a surrogate mother and egg provider for a 50-year-old man who allegedly paid her more than 900,000 yuan (US$124,000) to conceive twin boys.

Thailand

Search for quake survivors intensifies in Myanmar, Thailand; death toll around 2,000

BANGKOK: Survivors were pulled out of rubble in Myanmar and signs of life were detected in the ruins of a skyscraper in Bangkok on Monday (March 31) as efforts intensified to find people trapped three days after a massive earthquake in South-East Asia that killed around 2,000.

China

Robotic fish help revitalise fish farming in China

BEIJING: At the National Innovation Centre for Digital Fishery in Beijing, two robotic fish with a sleek, metallic finish swim gracefully in a breeding tank, showcasing cutting-edge research designed to revolutionise fish farming.

Nation

Myanmar quake: SMART focuses on rescuing victims in places of worship

KUALA LUMPUR: The Special Malaysia Disaster Assistance and Rescue Team (SMART) is focusing its efforts on locating victims trapped in places of worship affected by the earthquake disaster in Myanmar's Sagaing district.

Thailand

Thai watchdog had flagged concerns on building that collapsed in earthquake

BANGKOK: An anti-corruption watchdog had flagged irregularities in the construction of a Bangkok skyscraper that collapsed in an earthquake last week and killed at least 11 people, the head of the monitoring group told Reuters.

Laos

Laos backs regional cooperation at Boao Forum

VIENTIANE: Prime Minister Sonexay Siphandone has reaffirmed Laos' commitment to regional cooperation and connectivity, highlighting the success of the Laos-China Railway, a flagship project of the Belt and Road Initiative (BRI).

China

Xi showdown with Li Ka-shing threatens China’s pro-business push

BEIJING: President Xi Jinping is seeking to paint China as a steady partner to investors roiled by a global trade war. A spat over a shipping lane coveted by Donald Trump is testing that push.

Philippines

Duterte's lawyer says there are ‘compelling’ grounds to throw ICC case out

THE HAGUE: Roddrigo Duterte's lead lawyer on March 30 said there was a "compelling" argument to throw out the International Criminal Court case against the former Philippines president before it even comes to trial.

Cambodia

Fugitive human trafficker arrested after four years on the run

PHNOM PENH: Police have arrested a 33-year-old fugitive who has been wanted by the Battambang Provincial Court for almost four years, in connection with illegally bringing people across the border into Thailand to work.

Nation

Singapore ministers visit Johor royal family’s Hari Raya open house, reaffirm strong ties

JOHOR BARU (The Straits Times/ANN): Two Singaporean cabinet ministers attended the Johor royal family's Hari Raya Open House on March 31, continuing an annual tradition that reaffirms Singapore's strong ties with Johor.

Vietnam

Four earthquakes strike Vietnam's Kon Tum province

HANOI: Four earthquakes struck Vietnam on Monday (March 31), with the epicentre in Kon PlOng District, Kon Tum Province, at a depth of approximately 8.1km.

Singapore

Passenger to be charged for threatening to kill cabin crew member on board flight to Singapore

SINGAPORE: A 42-year-old man is expected to be charged on April 1 after he allegedly grabbed a passenger and threatened to kill a cabin crew member while drunk on board a plane bound for Changi Airport.

Indonesia

Prabowo holds first Aidil Fitri open house at Palace for officials, public

JAKARTA: President Prabowo Subianto held his first-ever Idul Fitri gathering at the Merdeka Palace on Monday (March 31), during which he welcomed officials and the general public who began thronging the palace complex earlier in the morning.

Nation

Man killed in collision with motorbike ridden by 12-year-old

JOHOR BARU: A man has been killed after the motorcycle he was on collided with another ridden by a 12-year-old boy in Kampung Sri Aman here.