The Indonesian Textile Association (API) has blamed the stagnation of the textile industry for increasing influx of imports that negatively affect the local manufacturing.

Indonesian Secretary of the Coordinating Ministry for Economic Affairs Susiwijono Moegiarso has said that the government is devising a policy to protect online motorcycle taxi drivers.

Pchum Ben Festival, or the Festival of the Ancestors, is being celebrated across Cambodia from October 1 to 3.

Thailand’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Chulalongkorn University have co-organised a seminar in Bangkok, discussing ways to step up Vietnam-Thailand cooperation through their three-connection strategy.

Some 16 retail chains across Malaysia have pledged to no longer provide single-use plastic bags to customers from October 1, said Minister of Housing and Local Government Nga Kor Ming at the “Say No to Single-Use Plastics” campaign in Kuala Lumpur on September 26.

The Thai government on September 25 kicked off the first phase of a 14 billion USD digital wallet scheme that aims to stimulate the economy.

The Indonesian government is currently constructing a new national data centre (PDN) in Bekasi and will build another two in Batam and Nusantara capital city (IKN), Political, Legal, and Security Affairs Coordinating Minister Hadi Tjahjanto has stated.

The Governor of Japan’s Yamanashi prefecture, Nagasaki Kotaro, on September 24 presented the token of 1 million JPY (over 6,900 USD) to the Vietnamese Embassy in Japan to support the country’s disaster relief efforts in the wake of Typhoon Yagi and its subsequent floods and landslides.

Malaysia on September 20 launched its National Guidelines on Artificial Intelligence Governance and Ethics (AIGE) to establish a robust framework for users, policymakers, and AI technology providers to ensure adherence to the highest ethical standards.

Thailand remains committed to a people-centered foreign policy, focusing on "diplomacy for the people" and proactive economic diplomacy, the country’s Foreign Minister Maris Sangiampongsa said at a press briefing on September 19.

The Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) and the Mekong River Commission (MRC) kicked off the second round of talks on water security in Vientiane, Laos, on September 18.

Malaysian authorities have frozen close to 100 bank accounts belonging to a charity group accused of running care homes where hundreds of children were allegedly abused.

The 38th ASEAN Free Trade Area (AFTA) Council Meeting opened in Vientiane on September 16 under the chair of Lao Minister of Commerce Malaythong Kommasith.

A delegation of the Vietnam News Agency (VNA) led by Deputy General Director Doan Thi Tuyet Nhung has attended a ceremony marking the 120th founding anniversary of the Russian News Agency TASS and the BRICS Media Summit in Moscow.

The Global New Light of Myanmar reported on September 15 that as of September 13 evening, flooding and landslides triggered Typhoon Yagi in the country had left 74 and 89 others missing.

In response to the severe loss of life and property caused by Typhoon Yagi in several countries in the region, ASEAN foreign ministers on September 11 issued a joint statement on its impact.

Since automated immigration lanes were introduced for all foreigners at Singapore’s Changi Airport in May this year, a higher percentage of travellers have been refused entry into the country.

The Thai government is expected to distribute 145 billion THB (4.28 billion USD) in cash under its digital wallet handout programme from late September to stimulate short-term development and support vulnerable groups.

Malaysian Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim said Malaysia enjoys better international recognition now due to strategic cooperation with major powers such as China and Russia.

Negotiations on the Indonesia-EU Comprehensive Economic Partnership Agreement (IEU-CEPA) are nearly 90% complete, with the deal expected to be finalised this month, according to Indonesia’s Trade Minister Zulkifli Hasan.