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.
Malaysia warns new EU rules could hurt palm oil used in food
Malaysia, the world’s second-largest producer and exporter of palm oil, warned on Tuesday against new European Union (EU) rules that could hurt demand for a commodity used in foods from snacks to chocolate spread, threatening a US$60 billion industry.
Environmentalists have attacked palm oil over the vast areas of forest they say have been cleared to grow the commodity that is consumed by billions of people. Teresa Kok, Malaysia’s minister in charge of the agricultural mainstay reiterated that Indonesia and Malaysia – the top two producers of palm – would challenge at the World Trade Organisation another EU law limiting its use in biofuels. – New Straits Times
TTSH reports spike in injuries involving PMD riders
Trauma doctors at Tan Tock Seng Hospital (TTSH) are seeing a rise in injuries suffered by personal mobility device (PMD) riders, according to a study conducted by the hospital over a 33-month period. In the first nine months of this year, 79 PMD riders were admitted to TTSH for injuries, or an average of nine a month. This is compared with 87 last year, or seven a month; and 47 in 2017, or four a month. – The Straits Times
Prawit orders security review ahead of ASEAN summit
Deputy Prime Minister Prawit Wongsuwon has ordered a comprehensive review of all security procedures in preparation for the upcoming 35th Asean summit, says Defence Ministry spokesman Kongcheep Tantravanich.
Lt Gen Kongcheep said Gen Prawit, who oversees national security, has instructed the relevant agencies to review security plans and check their readiness to implement them during the three-day summit starting on 2 Nov. – Bangkok Post
Jokowi's new Cabinet: Sri Mulyani keeps job as finance minister
The former managing director of the World Bank, Sri Mulyani Indrawati, who has been President Joko "Jokowi" Widodo's finance minister since 2016, says she is ready to stay in that position in Jokowi's next Cabinet.
She is expected to spearhead sweeping tax reforms that include proposals to lower corporate income tax and broaden the definition of the term permanent establishment (BUT) to tax overseas companies that make profit in the country. – The Jakarta Post
PNP files criminal raps vs Albayalde
Former Philippine National Police chief Oscar Albayalde now has to face criminal investigation along with 13 of his former officers in Pampanga province who have been accused of letting a drug lord escape in exchange for P55 million and selling a large amount of seized “shabu” (crystal meth) six years ago. The PNP Criminal Investigation and Detection Group (CIDG) charged Albayalde and the 13 officers in an amended complaint filed with the Department of Justice (DOJ) on Monday. – Philippine Daily Inquirer
NGO PSI supports health sector upgrade with US$4.9 million
Population Services International (PSI) will provide US$4.9 million to help Laos improve the health sector from 2019 to 2022. The new assistance package “Concerning Strengthening Public Health Emergency Operations Centre to Accelerate Malaria Elimination and Respond to Public Health Emergencies in the Lao PDR” will support the Ministry of Health to ensure it has the capacity to detect and respond to any public health emergency, interrupt disease outbreaks (including malaria), and ultimately reduce the impact of these diseases on the community. – Vientiane Times