TOPSHOT - Participants attempt to climb greasy poles to collect prizes at the top during celebrations marking Indonesia's 78th Independence Day in Jakarta. - AFP
Malaysia:
* Govt confident of meeting GDP forecast of 4-5% in 2023: PM Anwar
* Najib fails to recuse judge in 1MDB trial
* NRD refutes claims 54,000 Chinese nationals granted citizenship
* AGC must ‘do the right thing’ to drop Najib's charges following leak of documents, says daughter
* Elmina plane crash: Victims' remains expected to be released earliest by Aug 21
* Elmina plane crash: Spreading photos and videos of victims is punishable under law, says MCMC
* Elmina plane crash: Aircraft airworthy, complied with rules of the air, says CAAM
* Madani economy framework to anchor Malaysia's economy - Bank Negara
* Malaysia can withstand risk from China's slow economic growth - Bank Negara
* Malaysia's economy grows 2.9% in 2Q 2023 as slower external demand weighs
* Witnesses required to attend hearings as PAC completing proceedings, says Mas Ermieyati
* RM30mil worth of drugs seized from makeshift drug lab in Ipoh
A visitor sitting with her cat on the Royal Albatross, a luxury tall ship that hosts sailing and dining experiences around the waters of Singapore with pets allowed. Cat owners in Singapore can now take their pets on luxury sunset cruises, perfect for pampered kitties who enjoy the finer things in life. - AFP
Singapore:
* Singapore seizes more houses from Chinese money laundering gang; case involves more than RM3.42 billion
* All paws on deck: Singapore company launches luxury cat cruises
* The 10 charged after billion-dollar anti-money laundering raid in Singapore
* Woman loses over S$20k from credit card and bank accounts after downloading third-party app
* Presidential election: Ng Kok Song, Tharman and Tan Kin Lian get eligibility certificates to contest
* Man held for allegedly cheating then lover of S$400k in Singapore
* Oil set to snap 7-week winning streak on US rate outlook, China woes
* Asian shares set for 3rd losing week on China woes, US rates
* Malaysia and Singapore should explore new fields, says envoy
* Household wealth up 7.2% in Singapore in 2022
Indonesia:
* Indonesian envoy appointed as Chair of Asean committee in Washington
* EU starts probe on Indonesian biodiesel avoiding import duties
* Firefighters are trying to put out a peatland fire threatening homes on Indonesia’s Sumatra Island
* Jakarta opts for remote working, learning to curb pollution
* Health Ministry reprimands three teaching hospitals following bullying reports
* Asian FX rise as yuan firms, equities decline on US rate, China fears
A worshipper leaves offerings at a giant statue of the deity Kru Kai Kaew, regarded by some as a 'god of wealth' but by others as alien to Buddhism, in Bangkok on Friday, August 18, 2023. A huge black statue of an emaciated, winged figure with golden fangs and scarlet talons glares down on a busy Bangkok street, its sudden appearance triggering alarm and calls for its removal. - AFP
Thailand:
* 'Life of every Thai will be just great' - Would-be Thai PM rejects graft claims and promises poverty action
* Thai coalition clinches House majority ahead of PM vote
* Authorities launch probe into ‘disturbing’ statue at Bangkok Hotel
* More than a tonne of endangered pangolin scales seized in Thailand
* Alarm over animal sacrifices to ‘god of wealth’ in Bangkok
* Thailand poised to reap big gains from CNPC deal
Philippines:
* As safe as possible - Philippines to deploy around 4,400 law enforcers during FIBA World Cup
* Philippine central bank revises 2023 inflation forecast to 5.6 per cent
* Philippine central bank has room to raise rates without contracting the economy, says governor
* Marcos: High farmgate costs, importation hiking rice price
* Philippines, US lead drills for mass casualty evacuation
Offshore aquaculture farms at Van Phong Bay in Khanh Hoa Province. Vietnam’s exports of seafood, wood products and cashew nuts seen unlikely to reach goals this year on lower consumer spending and high inventories in importing nations, newspaper reports, citing information from industry groups. - Bloomberg
Vietnam:
* Vietnam to consider night drive time limit in big bid to raise road safety
* Vietnam moving into new era as govt aim to accelerate drive into EV industry
* Vietnam tycoon loses US$18bil after VinFast shares drop for second day
* Mines and cluster munitions: Vietnam's deadly traces of war
* Vietnam's aviation industry faces human resource shortage
Myanmar:
* UN humanitarian chief appeals to Myanmar generals for greater aid access
* H&M says it will 'phase out' sourcing from Myanmar
* Myanmar eyes surge in rice exports after India curbs supply
* Death toll from Myanmar's jade mine collapse is confirmed at 33 but many still missing
A worker harvests water spinach (locally known as Kangkong) from a plantation amongst fish pens in Laguna lake, suburban Manila on Friday,, August 18, 2023. - AFP
Cambodia:
* Restoration work underway for key temple of Cambodia's famed Angkor Park
* Cambodia announces Indonesia has agreed to purchase 125,000 tonnes of its milled rice
* ‘Remorque-able’ journey: romance of yesteryear returns to Angkor Park
Laos:
* Laos to increase minimum wage limit for workers in October
* Lao railway training college to receive first batch of students
Brunei:
* Brunei introduces ban on pet imports amid rabies concerns
* Brunei’s decarbonisation efforts highlighted at Apec meeting in US
South Korean President Yoon Suk Yeol arrives at Camp David in Maryland on Friday, August 18, 2023, to attend a summit with US President Joe Biden and Japanese Prime Minister Fumio Kishida. - AFP
AseanPlus:
* Elmina plane crash: US aviation investigators, experts to inspect wreckage on Aug 21
* Elmina plane crash: All Beechcraft Model 390 in Malaysia to be investigated
* Will efforts to help Hong Kong’s giant pandas Ying Ying and Le Le reproduce bear fruit? Chinese experts are here to lend a paw
* Man with brass knuckles arrested over brutal rape of woman in Seoul park
* Elon Musk arrives in Japan for first visit since 2014
* Japanese turn to wearable tech to beat the heat
* US judge declines to block Florida law restricting Chinese from buying property
* India plans to hold FTA talks with UK, EU, Canada on G20 sidelines - trade secretary
* Hong Kong-owned electronics factory shuts down in Shenzhen and lays off workers as economic downturn bites
* Taipei mayor to visit China as tensions simmer with Taiwan
* N. Korea's Kim visits typhoon-hit farmlands amid food shortage concerns
* South Korea’s teachers to be allowed to remove disruptive students, ban phones
* HK actress Jacqueline Wong to tie the knot with Cantopop band drummer
* India's top court lists gender stereotypes to be avoided in documents
* China adds world’s biggest energy sector to anti-spy push
* Group fears Fukushima water release could revive health concerns
* China’s economic ‘crisis of confidence’ has shattered faith of foreign investors, warns European business head in call to action
* Evergrande seeks US court nod for $32 bln debt overhaul as China economic fears mount
* Pakistani police arrest two Christians accused of blasphemy
* Soccer-'Best' Women's World Cup generates $570m for FIFA - Infantino
* China’s new rules on AI-generated content
* Pacific island sea levels rising faster than global average, WMO says
* Table tennis soap opera as star refuses to hand back son to her ex
