INDONESIA
1. RESHUFFLE SEES PRABOWO, ALLIES CLOSE RANKS -- THE JAKARTA POST
President Prabowo Subianto has announced another cabinet shake-up, placing more allies into his 11-month administration, in a bid to consolidate his power amid growing public distrust of his government in the wake of deadly protests and unrest.
2. INDONESIA’S NEW FINANCE CHIEF LAUDED FOR OUT-OF-THE-BOX ECONOMIC STRATEGY -- JAKARTA GLOBE
Indonesia’s new Finance Minister, Purbaya Yudhi Sadewa, has earned praise from economists for adopting bold and unconventional fiscal policies less than two weeks into his tenure.
LAOS
1. KOREA’S RURAL UPGRADING PROJECT ENDS -- VIENTIANE TIMES
The Korea-Laos Rural Development Cooperation Project, valued at approximately RM52 million (US$12.5 million), was concluded this year. Four new agricultural centres were handed over to the government in Vientiane, Bolikhamxay and Xiengkhouang.
2. SKILLS TRAINING IMPROVES LABOUR MARKET -- VIENTIANE TIMES
The Vientiane Labour and Social Welfare Department’s skills development programme has helped about 50,000 workers to seek employment over the past five years. The department prioritised skills training to meet job market demands.
MYANMAR
1. TAPPING ASEAN TRADE VIA EXPO IN CHINA -- THE GLOBAL NEW LIGHT OF MYANMAR
Myanmar places high importance on the 22nd China-ASEAN Expo and China-ASEAN Business and Investment Summit that opened on Wednesday. Myanmar will showcase 120 booths, featuring agriculture products, technology, handicrafts, gemstones and jewellery.
2. NATIONAL ACTIONS TO PROTECT OZONE LAYER -- THE GLOBAL NEW LIGHT OF MYANMAR
The government reiterated its commitment to protect the ozone layer. It has restricted the import of ozone-depleting materials, cut down the use of pesticides and reduced the use of refrigerants to conserve the ozone layer.
PHILIPPINES
1. COMELEC SUSPENDS PREPS FOR BANGSAMORO POLLS AMID TRO ISSUED BY SC -- PHILIPPINE NEWS AGENCY
The Commission on Elections (Comelec) on Wednesday ordered the suspension of the preparations for the Bangsamoro Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (BARMM) Parliamentary Elections (BPE) set on Oct. 13, amid the issuance of a temporary restraining order (TRO) by the Supreme Court (SC) against the implementation of Bangsamoro Autonomy Act (BAA) 77.
2. DA HALTS POULTRY IMPORTS FROM ARGENTINA OVER BIRD FLU -- PHILIPPINE NEWS AGENCY
The Philippines has temporarily suspended the importation of birds and poultry products from Argentina to prevent the possible spread of highly pathogenic avian influenza (HPAI) or bird flu, the Department of Agriculture (DA) announced on Wednesday.
SINGAPORE
1. RECENT MRT DISRUPTIONS ISOLATED, NOT SYSTEMIC IN NATURE: SMRT TRAINS PRESIDENT -- THE STRAITS TIMES
The three rail disruptions that have occurred over the last four days on lines operated by SMRT are isolated cases and “not systemic issues across the rail network”, said Mr Lam Sheau Kai, president of SMRT Trains.
2. MOM LOOKING INTO 'INAPPROPRIATE' AGODA SEVERANCE CLAUSES DISCOURAGING CONTACT WITH AUTHORITIES; NTUC 'APPALLED' BY ALLEGED PRACTICE -- CNA
The Ministry of Manpower (MOM) is looking into provisions in severance agreements offered to retrenched Agoda employees, following reports that these contracts discouraged staff from approaching government bodies.
VIETNAM
1. VIETNAM GRANDSALE 2025 TO PUMP UP ECONOMY -- VIETNAMPLUS
The Vietnam GrandSale 2025 will be held from December 1 to January 18, 2026, to spur consumption in the domestic market. It is part of the government’s initiative to ramp up economic growth.
2. MOVING UP GLOBAL ECONOMIC RANKING -- VIETNAM NEWS
Vietnam was ranked 44th out of 139 economies in the 2025 Global Innovation Index released on Tuesday. Among the 37 economies in the lower middle-income group, Vietnam achieved second place after India.
-- BERNAMA
