Malaysia:

* Covid-19 surveillance: 2,375 new cases, national use of intensive care beds at 61.4%

* Time to reopen borders and get back to normal, Ismail Sabri urges China

* Malaysia Day should be focal point to invigorate unity, says PM

* Prime Minister: Government will review all policies related to the energy sector

* The King and Queen depart for the UK to pay their last respects to Queen Elizabeth II

* GE15 a time for people to make a change, says Shafie of Warisan

* Malaysians complain a lot but Malaysia is still home, says Chong Wei

* Special Umno supreme council meeting postponed until September 30, says Ahmad Maslan

* Samy Vellu a multi-talented man with a great sense of humor, says Dr. Ling

* BKM Phase 3, approved appeals will be credited from September 20, says PM

* PM conveys Armed Forces Day wishes, ensures welfare of supported personnel

* Samy Vellu cremated after emotional farewell

Passers-by hold their mobile phones to take selfies with Singapore’s central business district in the background, Singapore. -Reuter

Singapore:

* Singapore, Malaysia and Thailand – Stormy rainy weather is expected to persist for the next two weeks, according to the meteorologist

* F1 unlikely to return to Malaysia anytime soon, circuit chief says in Singapore interview

* Cathay Airways says formation and aircraft bottleneck slows Covid-19 recovery

* Singapore may consider legislation to tackle cancel culture amid LGBTQ rights debate

* Man jailed for abducting sex worker into deep sleep before having sex with her

* Three more cases of monkeypox detected in Singapore, bringing the total to 19

* Man is sentenced to life, caning for stabbing a jogger in a ‘senseless’ murder

* Asian markets fall as recession risks remain high

* Oil rises, but on track for a weekly loss on recession fears

Papuans cremate their loved ones who were allegedly killed by Indonesian soldiers, in the regency of Mimika on Friday, September 16, 2022. Six Indonesian soldiers have been arrested after being accused of killing four native Papuans and mutilating their bodies , authorities announced on August 30. -AFP

Indonesia:

* Garuda Airlines in distress in Indonesia may remove first class seats in the inside bet

* Indonesia investigates Google over App Store payment system

*Jokowi orders shift to electric vehicles, public may not follow

* Indonesia’s $600bn plan to shut down coal-fired power plants struggles to gain support

* Southeast Asia needs US$210 billion annual investment in renewable energy: report

* People’s governor of Jakarta set to run for president

Thailand:

* Emerging Markets – Thai Baht Hits Lowest Level Since December 2006; Asian currencies also hit multi-year lows as yuan lags

* Homemade gun brought in to settle the score behind the class explosion

* Thai soldier charged in deadly shooting at army facility

* Schoolboy killed in an explosion during a computer class

* Switzerland unveils bust of late Thai King Bhumibol

* Cannabis bill dealt a blow after bigger parties demanded changes

Men search for mussels along the coast of Freedom Island in Paranaque, Metro Manila, Friday, September 16, 2022. – AFP

Philippines:

* Philippine capital returns to moderate risk amid rising Covid-19 cases

* Philippine police have been asked to investigate visits used as bait for human trafficking

* Marcos swears peace, “historic justice” for Bangsamoro

* Philippines warned of Chinese rocket debris

* AirAsia to expand operations in Indonesia and the Philippines

Vietnam:

* ASEAN ministers reaffirm commitment to regional economic integration despite pandemic-related challenges

* Vietnam remains the world’s second largest coffee exporter

* Vietnam expo seeks to boost post-pandemic aviation growth

* Green activists urge HRC to reject Vietnam’s bid for membership

* Hanoi authorities begin to enforce closure of railway cafes

Performers next to a VinFast LLC VF8 sport utility vehicle (SUV) during a delivery event at the company’s factory in Haiphong, Vietnam. VinFast, an electric car maker backed by Vietnam’s richest man, will ship about 5,000 vehicles to customers in the United States, Canada and Europe in early November and begin global deliveries a month later. -Bloomberg

Burma:

* Myanmar exports over 723,043 tonnes of beans and pulses in over five months

* Myanmar court sentences journalist to three years in prison

* Myanmar reports 259 new cases of Covid-19

Cambodia:

* Five suspects in Cambodia fraud ring arrested in Taiwan

* Cambodia registers 1.13 million air passengers in first eight months, says senior official

* China-ASEAN economic cooperation yields fruitful results: Hun Sen

* Mass treason trial begins in Cambodia

Laos:

* Economic experts revise down Laos’ economic growth forecast for 2022

* Lao monks will receive scholarships to study in India

Brunei:

* Brunei’s Covid-19 transmission rate remained low last week, health minister says

* Brunei’s exports increase by 55.3% in the first quarter

Russian President Vladimir Putin meets Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi on the sidelines of the Shanghai Cooperation Organization (SCO) leaders’ summit in Samarkand, Friday, September 16, 2022. – AFP

AseanPlus:

* UN humanitarian aid funds are insufficient despite record donations

* UN digs deep into emergency funds amid record shortfall in humanitarian aid

* Tree crashes into school bus and cars in Hong Kong, driver and nanny narrowly escape serious injury

* Bilateral China-Malaysia relations will continue to be stronger, says envoy

* Xi pledges support for Russia’s ‘core interests’ as he meets Putin in Uzbekistan

* Taiwan plans to end Covid-19 quarantine for arrivals sooner

* Chinese yuan weakens past 7/dlr for first time in 2 years

* China Film Festival 2022 to strengthen Malaysia-China relationship through film industry

* Asian stocks open lower as all eyes are on the Fed’s decision next week

* Japanese PM’s support plummets as anger over state funeral grows

* Russia says pipeline to China will replace Nord Stream 2

* Vatican asked for Xi-Pope meeting in Kazakhstan, China refused: source

* China’s retail and factory sectors unexpectedly rebound in August

* When World Power Changes – Russia-China Meeting

* 11 more victims of employment scams in Cambodia brought home

* Crisis in Sri Lanka pushes war-shattered Tamils ​​to the brink

* Gambling giant Macau opens offers from seven casinos, Genting one wild card

* Chinese scientists plan a boron-powered supersonic missile that can fly and swim

* Asian markets weaken as IMF and World Bank signal recession risks

* South Korea seeks to revoke the passport of Terra founder Do Kwon, who is believed to be in Singapore