Cambodia

International tourists to Cambodia's Angkor expected to rebound next year

PHNOM PENH, Oct 19 (Xinhua): Cambodia predicted that international visitors to its famed Angkor Archeological Park will start to rebound gradually from next year if Covid-19 vaccines are available, a spokesman for the Ministry of Tourism said on Monday.

Laos

Laos to boost economic growth amid pandemic; over 60,000 tested for Covid-19

VIENTIANE, Oct 19 (The Vientiane Times/ANN): The Lao government sectors have been urged to further stimulate economic growth amid the Covid-19 pandemic and global economic slump, which have taken a heavy toll on Laos' economy.

AseanPlus News

Brunei: 8 well-known cosmetic products in country found tainted

BANDAR SERI BEGAWAN, Oct 19 (Borneo Bulletin/ANN): The Ministry of Health (MoH) of Brunei alerted the public to eight cosmetic products tested by the Laboratory of Pharmacy Section, Department of Scientific Services, MoH and found to be adulterated with undeclared, potent western medicine.

AseanPlus News

Life expectancy of Beijing residents hits 82.31 years

BEIJING, Oct. 19 (Xinhua): The average life expectancy of Beijing's registered permanent residents reached 82.31 years in 2019, according to a report published Sunday (Oct 18).

AseanPlus News

Emerging markets: Manila stocks hit near six-week high as Thai stocks plumb 6-month low

JAKARTA Oct 19 (Reuters): Thai shares sank to a six-month low on Monday as escalating anti-government protests threatened to trigger an even deeper sell-off in equities and heaped further pressure on the region's worst performing stock market this year.

AseanPlus News

Hong Kong govt to amend national flag, emblem ordinance

HONG KONG / BEIJING, Oct 19 (China Daily/ANN): The Hong Kong Special Administrative Region (HKSAR) governmenthas announced that it will introduce amendments to the National Flag and National Emblem Ordinance.

China

China finds live coronavirus on imported frozen cod packaging

BEIJING, Oct 19 (China Daily/ANN): The Chinese Centre for Disease Control and Prevention announced it had detected live Covid-19 (coronavirus) on the outer packaging of imported frozen cod in the eastern coastal city of Qingdao, Shandong province, but confirmed that the public was at low risk of infection from touching or eating cold-chain food.

AseanPlus News

Oil prices slip after China economic data; focus on OPEC+ supply

SINGAPORE, Oct 19 (Reuters): Oil prices fell on Monday after China's third-quarter economic growth rose came in weaker than expected, underscoring concerns that surging coronavirus cases globally are impacting demand in the world's largest oil importer.

AseanPlus News

Asian markets jump on Covid-19 vaccine and US aid hopes

SYDNEY/HONG KONG, Oct 19 (Reuters): Asian markets advanced toward a recent 2-1/2-year peak on Monday powered by hopes of a US fiscal package and expectations of a coronavirus vaccine by the end of this year, though gains were held back by weaker-than-expected Chinese economic data.

Brunei

Brunei continues efforts to attract foreign investment amid global pandemic

BANDAR SERI BEGAWAN, Oct 19 (Xinhua): To boost its economic diversification, Brunei is making further efforts to attract foreign investments, including from China.

Thailand

Thai authorities seek to censor coverage of student protests

BANGKOK, Oct 19 (AP): Thailand’s embattled prime minister said on Monday that there were no plans to extend a state of emergency outside the capital, even as student-led protests calling for him to leave office spread around the country.

China

China turns on the charm to get its belt and road plan back on track

HONG KONG, Oct 19 (SCMP): Beijing’s diplomats are leading a global effort to breathe new life into the stalled multibillion-dollar scheme, but observers say revitalising it in a post-pandemic world will not be easyChina said in June that about 60 per cent of projects under the plan had been affected in some way by the global health crisis

Technology

Japan to join forces with US, Europe in regulating Big Tech firms, says antitrust watchdog head

Japan will join forces with the United States and Europe to take on any market abuses by the four Big Tech companies, the new head of its antitrust watchdog said on Oct 19, a sign Tokyo will join global efforts to regulate digital platform operators.

AseanPlus News

Survey: Most Indonesians want conditional lockdown to end and resume economy

JAKARTA, Oct 19 (The Jakarta Post/ANN): Most residents want the large-scale social restrictions (PSBB), imposed to curb Covid-19 transmission, to end so the economy can be resumed, a survey by pollster Indikator Politik Indonesia shows.

Vietnam

Vietnam and Japan agree to boost defence, economic, energy ties

HANOI, Oct 19 (AP): Japanese Prime Minister Yoshihide Suga, in his first summit foray since taking office last month, agreed with his Vietnamese counterpart to step up defense and security cooperation in the face of China's expanding influence in the region.

Internet

Police: S. Korea woman repents after offering to sell newborn baby online

A Jeju Island woman, who recently caused a stir in Korean society after offering to sell her newborn baby for 200,000 won (US$175 or RM725) in an online secondhand marketplace, has deeply repented for her wrongdoing, local police said on Oct 19, Yonhap News Agency reported.

AseanPlus News

Korea’s US$35bil rescue fund sells debt as airlines seek help

SEOUL, Oct 19 (Bloomberg): A South Korean fund established to prevent major companies from going bankrupt during the Covid-19 pandemic is selling its first bonds, as struggling carriers seek support.

Thailand

Thai Parliament to decide on special meeting as protesters rally

BANGKOK, Oct 19 (Bloomberg): Thai lawmakers are set to meet on Monday to decide on convening a special parliament session to discuss ways to end an escalating protest movement calling for the ouster of Prayut Chan-O-Cha’s government and the reform of the monarchy.

World

Vietnam troops find more bodies after latest deadly landslide

HANOI (Reuters) - Vietnamese soldiers with heavy machinery and rescue dogs searched on Monday for the last remaining troops buried under a mudslide, after recovering 18 bodies from the latest in a week of deadly landslides caused by unrelenting rains.

AseanPlus News

It's confirmed - global Covid-19 cases surpass the 40 million milestone

UNITED NATIONS, Oct 19 (Reuters): Worldwide coronavirus cases crossed 40 million on Monday, according to a Reuters tally, as the onset of winter in the northern hemisphere fuelled a resurgence in the spread of the disease.