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.
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Biden likely to head to COP26 without a final US climate deal
United States President Joe Biden is expected to head to Europe without an agreement on measures to combat climate change, as chances dimmed that deeply divided Democrats in Congress would agree on Wednesday (Oct 27) on a broader spending deal.
Mr Biden is expected to leave on Thursday for a meeting of G-20 leaders in Rome and then the UN Climate Change Conference in Glasgow, Scotland.
The Glasgow conference was expected to be a showcase for Mr Biden to demonstrate US efforts to tackle climate change and ask other countries to adopt similar measures. - Straits Times
PM Ismail Sabri expresses Malaysia's concern over AUKUS at East Asia Summit
Malaysia again expressed its concern over the trilateral security pact involving Australia, the United Kingdom and the United States, known through its acronym AUKUS, this time at the 16th East Asia Summit on Wednesday.
Prime Minister Datuk Seri Ismail Sabri Yaakob in his intervention at the summit reiterated that such developments could lead to arms race and spark tension, which could lead to instability in the region, particularly in the South China Sea.
In this regard, he said Malaysia underscored the importance of preserving the Southeast Asian region as a nuclear weapon-free zone, in line with the Zone of Peace, Freedom and Neutrality (ZOPFAN) Declaration and Southeast Asia Nuclear Weapon Free Zone (SEANWFZ) Treaty. - New Straits Times
Covid fears mount as Bangkok eyes tourists
About 300,000 foreign tourists are expected to visit Bangkok in each of the next two months after the capital reopens, according to the Tourism Authority of Thailand (TAT).
However, the private sector has expressed concern about the risk of a new surge of infections if the consumption of alcoholic drinks in restaurants and other entertainment venues is allowed to resume on Dec 1 as planned.
Bangkok governor Pol Gen Aswin Kwanmuang chaired a meeting via teleconference of a committee steering the plan to reopen Bangkok to fully vaccinated tourists. - Bangkok Post
QC contact tracing capacity doubles in 1 week
The Quezon City government is now able to trace 31.2 contacts per individual found positive of coronavirus disease 2019 (Covid-19), boosting its capacity to mitigate further spread of infections.
In a statement Wednesday night, Mayor Joy Belmonte said this contact tracing capacity from October 16 to 22 is double the capacity during the week of October 2 to 9 which is 14.94.
She said that these intensified efforts are part of the city government's strategy to combat the dreaded disease. - Philippine News Agency
Social prejudice hinders Vietnamese women's promotion at work
In Vietnam, women in business still face “social prejudice” including the perception that women’s natural competency was for housework, not in management and business.
Other common perceptions are that women should assume an auxiliary position (second place) rather than assume a top leadership role, that women are unable to concentrate because of their primary focus on caring for their children and family and, moreover, that women are risk averse and not as skilled as men to make bold decisions.
These are some of the findings in the Country Gender Equality Profile Vietnam 2021 (CGEP) – a report launched on Tuesday by UN Women, the Australian Embassy in collaboration with Asian Development Bank (ADB) and International Labour Organisation (ILO). - Vietnam News
Flash flood warnings across Kingdom
Water Resources Ministry has issued a warning for flash floods and lightning from October 27 to November 2 in Phnom Penh and the provinces of Prey Veng, Svay Rieng, Kandal, Takeo, Kampong Speu, Kampong Chhnang, Pursat, Mondulkiri, Tboung Khmum, Kampong Cham, Kampot, Koh Kong and Preah Sihanouk.
Strong wind gusts are also expected. Temperatures may drop as low as 23˚Celsius with highs between 29-31˚Celsius.
While authorities are busy with their mission of curbing the floodwaters flowing across the roads and villages in Phnom Penh’s Dangkor district, Khmer Times went to observe vulnerable evacuees in Kongnoy commune’s Veal Thnan village. - Khmer Times
Junta files terrorism charges against three detained journalists - lawyers
Three journalists jailed by the junta after reporting on the fallout from its February 1 coup are now facing terrorism charges that could see them sentenced to several years in prison, lawyers have told Myanmar Now.
The journalists are Win Naing Oo, a senior Channel Mandalay reporter, D Myat Nyein, a reporter with the now defunct Zayar Times in Sagaing Region, and Pyae Phyo Aung, who worked for the same outlet.
All three were initially charged under Section 505-A of the Penal Code for incitement. A Mandalay-based lawyer familiar with Win Naing Oo’s case said more details of the new charge against him would be released at his next hearing on November 5. - Myanmar NOW
Halal industry plays strategic role in national economy: VP
The halal industry is playing a strategic role in boosting the national economy, Vice President Ma'ruf Amin has said.
"This is apparent from many countries that are focusing on developing the halal industry. The countries include Brazil, Thailand, South Korea, Japan, and China, which have relatively small Muslim populations," he said while opening the Indonesia Sharia Economic Festival (ISEF) 2021, accessed from Jakarta on Wednesday.
The Indonesian government also continues to promote the role of the halal industry in the national economy, he added. - AntaraNews.Com