Malaysia:

Covid-19: 7,420 new cases bring the total to 2,377,033

91.2% of Malaysia’s adult population fully vaccinated by Thursday, October 14

Malaysia wins seat on UN Human Rights Council

Department of Health files police reports against anti-vaccine groups

Bank Negara adds three companies and websites to unapproved list

Appeals court rejects 32 people’s requests to challenge compounds issued by MACC

1MDB obtains leave to serve subpoena on six overseas parties

More than 1.3 million vehicles on the PLUS highways Friday (October 15)

Highway traffic expected to reach four million vehicles per day with interstate travel ban lifted

Sabah to move to PNR phase three on Monday (October 18)

PM: M’sia generated over RM7.2 billion in the first two weeks of Expo 2020 Dubai

Proposed constitutional amendments will affirm Sarawak’s position as one of the three equal partners in Malaysia, according to CM

New higher education framework aims to produce graduates who will excel in a changing global scenario

Malaysia could open its borders to fully vaxxed travelers from certain countries without quarantine required

Planned constitutional amendment will give Sarawak power to decide definition of “indigenous”, says Wan Junaidi

Man-made tree-shaped structures called Supertrees are seen before the lights are turned off to commemorate Earth Hour, at Gardens By the Bay, Singapore. – Reuters

Singapore:

Singapore reports eight more Covid-19 deaths, 3,445 new infections on Saturday (October 15)

Singapore home sales drop for second month amid new virus restrictions

Soaring electricity prices in Singapore are partly due to the downgrade of the Indonesian gas regulator

Singapore Cancels License to Political Blog Regarding Funding Disclosures

Singaporean Minister Says Growing Wealth Inequality Must Be Tackled

Oil prices climb more than 3%, set for multi-week gains

Two Singaporeans aged 23 and 34 among the 15 deaths from Covid-19 on Thursday (October 14); highest daily figure ever recorded in the country

Najib also requests the temporary release of his passport to visit his future daughter in Singapore

Rosmah is free to travel to Singapore after court clears passport temporary release

Indonesia:

Indonesia reports 915 newly confirmed Covid-19 cases, 41 more deaths as virus issues are brought under control in country

Asean meeting in Myanmar ends, to announce results Saturday (October 16)

Emerging markets: Bank of Indonesia to maintain rates until end of 2022, with Thai baht becoming primary source of weekly income

ASEAN ministers meet to discuss stuttering Myanmar peace plan

Indonesia: Bali reopens in disturbing silence; its airport seemed as quiet as the private getaways that the tropical island has to offer

Indonesian girl killed by crocodile while swimming in river

Indonesia reopens Bali to foreign visitors, but Covid-19 rules threaten to push them away

Doubt clouds Bali’s international reopening

On Friday, October 15, students wait to receive doses of the vaccine against the Pfizer / BioNTech Covid-19 coronavirus in the grounds of Narasikalai school, in the southern province of Narathiwat. – AFP

Thailand:

Thailand recorded 10,486 cases of Covid-19 and 94 deaths on Friday (October 15); government introducing more easing measures

Thailand to step up vaccination in four southern provinces to contain Covid-19

Thailand-Malaysia border provinces could reopen in December if 70% of Thais are hit as curfew shortened in the country

Thailand approves new incentive to boost transformation of country’s Industry 4.0

A Thai pass to ease the documentation process for travelers from November 1

Thailand hopes ASEAN special envoy can visit Myanmar soon and advance five-point consensus implementation

Thailand ends quarantine for some visitors to save tourism

Philippines:

Philippines registers 7,625 new cases of Covid-19, total exceeds 2.7 million as country plans to reopen again

Philippines lifts quarantine for fully vaccinated international travelers starting Saturday (October 16)

Philippines: house and car among the prizes of the Covid-19 vaccination campaign in Cebu

Philippines lifts quarantine for fully vaccinated international travelers

Philippines, US plan to resume full military exercises in 2022

Kompasu death toll rises to 19

Government supports booster injections for health workers

A passenger in full protective gear walks to the boarding gate of Tan Son Nhat Airport in Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam on Friday, October 15, 2021. Vietnam resumed air travel after several months of suspension due to the Covid-19 epidemic. – AP

Vietnam:

Vietnam’s Covid-19 issues under control as government reports 3,797 new Covid-19 cases – 857,639 in total on Saturday (October 15)

Vietnam disasters cause economic losses of 1 to 1.5% of GDP per year

Vietnam rolls back lockdowns in a bid to allow economy to recover

Vietnam extends Covid-19 vaccination to children aged 12 to 17

Da Nang city in Vietnam to welcome foreign visitors from November

Vietnam approves Covid-19 vaccination for children as only 3,092 cases were reported Thursday evening (October 15)

Burma:

International call for Myanmar to allow envoy to meet Suu Kyi

Burmese military junta confirms order to gag Aung San Suu Kyi’s lawyer

One dead, Burmese firefighters save 3, after a construction accident

Burmese army calls on all parties to ceasefire, commander-in-chief says

UN deal offers no guarantee of free movement for Rohingyas on island – copy leaked

Myanmar’s chief lawyer for Suu Kyi says he received a gag order

ASEAN to discuss exclusion of Burmese army chief from summit

Deputy Speaker of the National Assembly of Cambodia Nguon Nhil (center) and members of parliament walk past the guard of honor after paying their respects in front of the monument to the late King Norodom Sihanouk in a ceremony commemorating his ninth death anniversary in Phnom Penh on Friday October 15, 2021. – AFP

Cambodia:

UNESCO welcomes Cambodia’s commitment to strengthen preservation of urban heritage

Cambodian agriculture exports nearly six million tonnes from January to September 2021

Cambodia: Covid-19 cases remain below 300 after festival, 26 more deaths reported from viral complications

China-donated two-million-dose new batch arrives in Cambodia

Laos:

Laos flag symbol inspires design of passenger train for Laos-China railway

Laos confirms 573 new cases of Covid-19; higher figures after the epidemic in a prison in the province of Khammouane

Laos government cracked down on illegal vehicle importation

Sixth batch of Covid-19 vaccine from China arrives

Brunei:

Covid-19 problems worsen in Brunei as new daily record of virus cases confirmed and death reported on Friday (October 15)

Brunei: the “One Asean One Response” key to avoiding disasters

China wants to promote improved relations with Brunei, says Chinese foreign minister

Brunei government expands anti-virus measures, toughens sanctions

Joanna So of Hong Kong performs in the women’s free skating event at the 2021 Asian Open Figure Skating Trophy, as part of a test event at the 2022 Beijing Olympic Winter Games, at Capital Indoor Beijing Stadium, Friday, October 15. – AFP

Asean:

US joins UN Human Rights Council, paving way for further tensions with Beijing

Coronavirus Outbreaks, Limited Access to Vaccines, Weak Policy Push IMF to Downgrade Global Economic Outlook

Coronavirus: Hong Kong domestic helper tested positive 5 days after quarantine ended

South Korea targets Apple for new app store regulations

China’s growth drops to 5% in third quarter due to energy concerns, AFP poll finds

Japanese Prime Minister Kishida launches flagship panel to examine wealth redistribution

Microsoft shuts down LinkedIn in China as rules tighten

Tencent bans 1,463 WeChat accounts as China cleans up content

Chinese military researchers identify AI for precision hypersonic weapons

Evergrande crisis: Beijing likely won’t let developer collapse even if it gets tough, analysts say

Heavy rains damage thousands of historic sites in northern China’s Shanxi

China to unveil young team of astronauts for Shenzhou 13 space mission

‘Key to China’s energy future’: cost of solar power to match that of coal by 2023, scientists say

Coronavirus vaccine diplomacy between the United States and China is intensifying, but can donations influence allegiances?

Almost half of BN (O) migrants from Hong Kong are still unemployed and struggle with language and culture differences in the workplace

Japanese cosmetics giant Shiseido sees 2022 as a ‘turning point’ in tourism sales