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.
Stay informed with The ASEAN Post.
Australia's Sydney to end Covid-19 quarantine for international travellers
Sydney will open up to fully vaccinated international travellers from Nov 1 without the need for quarantine, the country’s most populous state said on Friday (Oct 15), bringing forward a full return of overseas travel.
Australia closed its international borders in March 2020 in response to the pandemic, allowing entry almost exclusively to only citizens and permanent residents who are required to undergo a mandatory two-week hotel quarantine at their own expense.
"We need to rejoin the world. We can’t live here in hermit kingdom. We’ve got to open up," New South Wales Premier Dominic Perrottet said. - Straits Times
Rosmah gets passport, will be heading to Singapore
Datin Seri Rosmah Mansor will be heading to Singapore to be with her daughter Nooryana Najwa Najib who is expected to give birth soon.
This after High Court judge Mohamed Zaini Mazlan allowed her application to temporarily get back her international passport.
The wife of former prime minister Datuk Seri Najib Razak is now on trial over corruption charges involving a project to provide solar hybrid power for rural schools in Sarawak. - New Straits Times
Extravaganza to cost up to B600m
The Tourism and Sports Ministry expects to use a budget of 500-600 million baht to host twin concerts in Bangkok and Phuket after it was confirmed that two prominent artists -- 'Lisa' and Andrea Bocelli -- will perform to celebrate the country's reopening.
"Bringing both artists to Thailand is beyond economic value, particularly Lalisa 'Lisa' Monaban, the young Thai K-pop singer, who is a huge inspiration for the youth of the country," said Tourism and Sports Minister Phiphat Ratchakitprakarn.
He said both singers have been confirmed to perform in Thailand, with the Italian tenor's performance set to take place in Bangkok at Sanam Luang, with the Grand Palace as the background. - Bangkok Post
Former US President Bill Clinton hospitalized
Former US President Bill Clinton was hospitalized earlier this week, his spokesperson said Thursday.
Clinton was admitted to the University of California Irvine Medical Center on Tuesday "to receive treatment for a non-Covid-related infection," Angel Urena said in a statement.
"He is on the mend, in good spirits and is incredibly thankful to the doctors, nurses, and staff providing him with excellent care," he added. - Philippine News Agency
Hanoi to host Vietnam-Singapore forum for senior leaders in energy industry
A Vietnam - Singapore forum for senior energy industry leaders will be held in Hanoi on October 21 to discuss how to maintain growth and sustainablility even during crises and challenging contexts.
The key topics on the agenda are global energy sector development and trends, challenges, opportunities, and strategic implications for Vietnam, and methods for navigating through COVID-19 adopted by leading regional corporations such as Temasek Holdings and Sembcorp Industries.
Speakers include influential regional leaders such as Douglas Foo, president of the Singapore Manufacturing Federation, chairman of Vietnam - Singapore Business Council, and a nominated Singapore MP; Vu Minh Khuong, associate professor at the National University of Singapore; Fadah Alsagoff, management team member and head of enterprise development at Temasek Holdings, Singapore; and Wong Kim Yin, group president & CEO of Sembcorp. - Vietnam News
Phnom Penh extends administrative measures, despite growing moves to reopen economy across all sectors
Phnom Penh municipal administration has decided to continue its administrative measures for two more weeks, from Oct. 15 to 28, in order to combat and prevent the spread of COVID-19, especially the Delta variant.
The announcement, as is the habit of Phnom Penh authorities was made known in the evening of Thursday, dashing the hopes of many businesses which were preparing to reopen, especially in the F n B sector such as bars.
According to the new directive issued this evening, high-risk occupational and business activities such as cinemas, KTVs, nightclubs, beer gardens and all kinds of entertainment businesses have to temporarily shut down for 14 more days. - Khmer Times
Junta prepares for major offensives in upper Myanmar
The Myanmar military has deployed thousands of troops to upper Myanmar in recent weeks in what appears to be preparation for a concerted push to crush an anti-coup uprising that has inflicted heavy casualties on the junta army, according to locals and sources within the armed resistance movement.
Chin State and Sagaing and Magway regions have seen a heavy build-up of military forces since the beginning of the month, the sources said. This comes after months of fierce clashes between junta troops and local resistance groups operating as part of the People’s Defence Force (PDF) formed by the shadow National Unity Government (NUG).
According to figures released by the NUG, the army suffered at least 1,500 casualties in more than 700 armed conflicts between June and September in the areas that are now coming under the most intense pressure. – Myanmar NOW
Indonesia ready to deepen economic engagement with LAC countries
Indonesia is ready to deepen its economic engagement with Latin America and Caribbean (LAC) countries post-COVID-19 pandemic, Industry Ministry Agus Gumiwang Kartasasmita said.
In his speech at the 2021 INA-LAC Business Forum held online on Thursday, he stated, “Indonesia is ready to explore the potential to deepen its economic engagement with LAC countries.”
He made this statement following announcement that Indonesia’s total global trade was recorded at only 2 per cent, while the total for LAC countries only reached 0.32 per cent. - AntaraNews.Com