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.
Trump skips ASEAN Summit once again
US President Donald Trump yesterday named Assistant to the President for National Security Affairs, Robert O'Brien, as his special envoy to the United States-ASEAN Summit and the East Asia Summit, which will be held this weekend.
According to the US embassy in Bangkok, Mr O'Brien will be accompanied by Secretary of Commerce Wilbur Ross, who will be the senior representative for the United States government at the second annual Indo-Pacific Business Forum in Bangkok. – Bangkok Post
Shamsul Iskandar: 'Palm oil advisory won't hit industry'
The Primary Industries Ministry has allayed fears about the advisory by a leading Indian trade body urging its members against buying Malaysian palm oil, maintaining that it will not put a dent on Malaysia’s edible oil industry.
Deputy Primary Industries Minister Datuk Seri Shamsul Iskandar Mohd Akin gave the assurance based on the economic diplomacy approach adopted by the ministry in resolving the issue, as well as the eight-fold increase in Malaysia’s processed palm oil exports to India this year. – New Straits Times
SingPost to introduce new rates, end doorstep delivery for small packages from Dec 2
SingPost customers who take advantage of low basic postal rates to send small packages domestically will soon have to pay more to do so, as the postal service provider revises its services to cope with the e-commerce boom. From Dec 2, only letters and printed papers weighing up to 500g will be accepted under a new basic mail category that will replace ordinary mail, SingPost said in a statement on Wednesday (Oct 30). – The Straits Times
Investigation reveals disinformation campaigns on Papuan issues
A recent digital forensic investigation has revealed that multiple attempts have taken place in the digital world to manipulate the narrative about the protests and riots in the Papua and West Papua provinces in favour of the Indonesian government. The joint investigation, launched by the British Broadcasting Corporation (BBC) and the Australian Strategic Policy Institute (ASPI), found at least two online influence campaigns had been “disseminating pro-Indonesian government material on the issue of West Papua”. – The Jakarta Post
Brace for more tremors, Mindanao folk advised
The Philippine Institute of Volcanology and Seismology (Phivolcs) has advised the public in the quake-hit areas of Mindanao to brace for more tremors. The agency said Tuesday’s devastating earthquake in Tulunan, Cotabato province, was a continuation of events from interrelated active faults in Central Mindanao. – Philippine Daily Inquirer
Cambodia, Laos, Myanmar tackle migrant worker safety
Minister of Interior Sar Kheng met his Lao and Myanmar counterparts on Wednesday to discuss ways to strengthen the protection of migrant workers from each country. Speaking during a two-day technical-level meeting in Siem Reap province, Sar Kheng said after this second round of discussions to exchange ideas and experiences, that the three countries will raise the issue with Thailand, which receives the most migrant workers in the region. – Phnom Penh Post