Hot off the press

These are the top stories making the front pages of major newspapers from across Southeast Asia today. 

Get up to speed with what’s happening in the fastest growing region in the world.  

Manned SpaceX mission will happen in first quarter of 2020 -NASA boss

NASA boss Jim Bridenstine said on Thursday that the first manned mission into orbit by SpaceX’s Crew Dragon would take place in the first quarter of next year, pending the satisfactory outcome of tests.

On a visit to the SpaceX headquarters, Bridenstine praised Elon Musk’s SpaceX for its “fail fast, then fix” approach to spacecraft design after a personal briefing on the company’s long-delayed Crew Dragon capsule - a display of unity amid a rare public spat between the two key space figures.

But he also emphasized NASA’s concern for astronaut safety. “We are not going to take any undue risk,” he said. – New Straits Times

THAI told to revamp rehab plan

Deputy Transport Minister Thaworn Senneam has ordered loss-ridden national flag carrier Thai Airways International (THAI) to overhaul its financial rehabilitation plan and draw up a new business plan within 30 days.

Mr Thaworn's order comes in response to a recent decision by THAI's board to suspend for six months a plan to procure 38 new aircraft for an estimated 156 billion baht. – Bangkok Post

Hun Sen: Kingdom always stays strong when aid cut

Prime Minister Hun Sen said on Thursday that under his leadership Cambodia had never fallen after countries withdrew aid, and that the Kingdom would continue to remain strong.

Hun Sen was presiding over a ceremony at the Chaktomuk Theatre Hall in Phnom Penh to commemorate the 40th anniversary of the establishment of the National Bank of Cambodia on October 10, 1979. – Phnom Penh Post

Malaysia is set to lower income tax, widen deficit goal in 2020 budget

Malaysian Prime Minister Mahathir Mohamad faces a choice in the 2020 state budget between keeping a pledge to reduce public debt or ramping up spending to weather the US-China trade war.

Economists surveyed by Bloomberg expect the government to set a wider deficit target for next year than previously estimated and announce income-tax cuts, while keeping its promise not to introduce new levies. – Straits Times

“We have made good progress”: minister points to improvements for business

Deputy commerce minister U Aung Htoo spoke to The Myanmar Times in Nay Pyi Taw about the National League for Democracy-led administration’s latest efforts to improve the country’s business environment.

U Aung Htoo is the senior official in charge of improving Myanmar’s ease of doing business ranking. In an extensive interview, he explained the reform programme undertaken by the government, such as improvements in starting up a business, access to electricity and credit, obtaining construction permits, and dealing with insolvency.

Myanmar was ranked 171st among 190 countries by the World Bank’s Ease of Doing Business Ranking 2019. The country aims to be among the top 100 countries by 2020-21 and among the top 40 by 2035-36. – Myanmar Times