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.
Strong quake hits Philippines, causing injuries, damage
A 6.6-magnitude quake struck the southern Philippines Tuesday, authorities said, causing injuries and damaging buildings in a region still reeling from a previous deadly tremor.
Terrified locals fled into the streets after the shallow quake, which the US Geological Survey said hit the island of Mindanao as schools and offices opened for the day.
The USGS initially reported the quake had a magnitude of 6.8, adding there was no tsunami threat. – New Straits Times
ISIS leader Baghdadi given burial at sea, afforded religious rites: US officials
The United States has given the remains of Islamic State in Iraq and Syria (ISIS) leader Abu Bakr al-Baghdadi a burial at sea and afforded him religious rites according to Islamic custom after he was killed in a US commando raid in Syria on Saturday, three officials told Reuters on Monday (Oct 28).
Baghdadi, an Iraqi militant who rose from obscurity to declare himself "caliph" of all Muslims as the leader of ISIS, died by detonating a suicide vest after fleeing into a dead-end tunnel as elite US special forces closed in at the weekend, according to the US government.
The US officials, who spoke on condition of anonymity, did not disclose where the ritual was performed or how long it lasted. – Straits Times
'Golden Crescent' narcotics pouring in, warns minister
Justice Minister Somsak Thepsutin has voiced concern that smugglers have turned to the so-called Golden Crescent as an alternative source of drugs trafficked to Thailand.
Mr Somsak said the Golden Crescent, cutting through Afghanistan, Iran and Pakistan, rivals Southeast Asia's Golden Triangle as a hotbed of drug production. – Bangkok Post
State Counsellor vows to work harder for NCA
State Counsellor Daw Aung San Suu Kyi on Monday vowed to work harder to persuade all ethnic armed groups to sign the government’s Nationwide Ceasefire Agreement (NCA).
“We will continue to intensify talks with ethnic armed groups that have not yet signed the NCA,” she said in a speech during the 4th anniversary of the NCA’s signing in Nay Pyi Taw. – Myanmar Times
Typhoon Matmo to hit Kingdom on November 1
Water Resources and Meteorology Minister Lim Kean Hor yesterday warned the public that Typhoon Matmo is expected to hit the Kingdom and affect the capital and provinces early next month.
He said in a statement the typhoon will hit Vietnam on October 31 after which it will reduce its intensity and blow over to the Kingdom as a tropical storm. – Khmer Times