Top News Headlines In Indonesia, Philippines, Singapore & Thailand : Feb 3, 2025

INDONESIA 

1.PRABOWO PLEDGES FISHING VESSELS TO MODERNIZE INDONESIA'S VILLAGES -- ANTARA

President Prabowo Subianto pledged to distribute fishing vessels ranging from five to 30 gross tons to coastal communities, aiming to boost catches and enable longer voyages as part of a national push to modernize fishing villages.  

2.INDONESIA SET TO ACQUIRE MORE FRIGATES FROM UK, TURKEY -- THE JAKARTA POST

Indonesia is continuing to modernize its naval fleet by acquiring licenses to build two more Arrowhead 140 frigates from the United Kingdom and securing the financing of two Turkish-made Istanbul-class frigates in cooperation with a Qatari defense company.  

PHILIPPINES

1.LPA LIKELY TO DEVELOP INTO CYCLONE, ENTER PAR -- PHILIPPINE NEWS AGENCY

The low pressure area (LPA) outside the Philippine Area of Responsibility (PAR) has a high chance of developing into a tropical cyclone in the next 24 hours, the weather bureau said on Tuesday.

2. EALA ADVANCES TO ABU DHABI OPEN 2ND ROUND-- PHILIPPINE NEWS AGENCY

Filipino Alexandra Eala defeated Turkish wildcard Zeynep Sonmez, 6-4, 6-3, early Tuesday morning in the first round of the WTA 500 Abu Dhabi Open at the Zayed Sports City International Tennis Centre in the United Arab Emirates.

SINGAPORE

1.CAN GDP GROW WHILE JOBS DISAPPEAR? ECONOMISTS WEIGH IN ON WHAT SINGAPORE'S AI PUSH MUST GET RIGHT -- CNA

Economic growth alone will not create jobs, economists said on Monday as they weighed in on recommendations from the recent Economic Strategy Review update and what Singapore needs to get right in its artificial intelligence push.

2.C-130S HERE TO STAY AS RSAF UPGRADES OTHER HARDWARE: AIR FORCE CHIEF -- THE STRAITS TIMES

Rather than retiring its C-130 transport aircraft, some of which have been in service since 1977, the Republic of Singapore Air Force (RSAF) is opting to replace older models with used but well-maintained ones.

THAILAND

1. COMMERCE MINISTRY STEPS UP CHECKS IN GOLD SHOPS AMID SHARP PRICE SWINGS -- THE NATION

Department of Internal Trade is inspecting gold shops nationwide, checking scale accuracy and clear price displays amid sharp gold-price volatility.

2. ANUTIN SAYS ELECTION WIN WITHIN REACH -- BANGKOK POST

Bhumjaithai Party (BJT) leader, Prime Minister Anutin Charnvirakul, on Monday expressed confidence that his party is well placed to secure the most seats in the general election.

-- BERNAMA