INDONESIA
1. MINISTER ORDERS STRICT SHIP MANIFEST TO BOOST SAILING SAFETY -- ANTARA
Transportation Minister Dudy Purwagandhi stressed the importance of accurate passenger and cargo manifest data as the basis for sailing oversight and stronger maritime safety.
2. RI'S ENERGY MINISTER GUARANTEES COAL QUOTAS SUFFICIENT FOR ELECTRICITY -- ANTARA
Indonesia's coal production quotas are sufficient to meet state utility PT PLN's power-generation needs, Energy and Mineral Resources Minister Bahlil Lahadalia said, rejecting concerns that permits contributed to recent regional outages.
LAOS
1. LAOS, RUSSIA AGREE ON TREATY TO PROTECT CITIZENS -- VIENTIANE TIMES
Laos and Russia have agreed on a draft treaty to protect the rights of their citizens under international law, following negotiations held between Vientiane and Moscow on Sept 15.
2. TEMPORARY HALT ON HIRING BANGLADESHI WORKERS -- VIENTIANE TIMES
The Labour and Social Welfare Ministry has suspended the issuance of new work permits and the hiring of Bangladeshi nationals for the rest of this year as part of efforts to prevent the illegal entry of foreign workers.
MYANMAR
1. AMERICAN BUSINESSMAN DEPORTED -- THE GLOBAL NEW LIGHT OF MYANMAR
The government deported American businessman Adam Michael Castillo on Wednesday. He was found to have violated the rules set out in the constitution of the American Chamber of Commerce in Myanmar.
2. OIL REFINERIES DEVELOPMENT GIVEN PRIORITY -- THE GLOBAL NEW LIGHT OF MYANMAR
The Electricity and Energy Ministry has called for faster development of oil refineries as the price of refined fuel has risen sharply compared with crude oil, up about 30 per cent.
PHILIPPINES
1. THE PHILIPPINES NEEDS TO FORTIFY INFRA TO MITIGATE SEVERE DISASTERS -- PHILIPPINE NEWS AGENCY
The Philippines needs to build up its "infrastructure" and "adaptation systems" amid threats of more severe disasters in the coming days, Department of National Defense (DND) Secretary Gilberto Teodoro Jr. said on Wednesday.
2. ASEAN ADOPTS MANILA DECLARATION TO STRENGTHEN DISASTER PREPAREDNESS -- PHILIPPINE NEWS AGENCY
Members of ASEAN have agreed to strengthen disaster preparedness by moving faster on prevention and anticipatory action, as they formally adopted the Manila Declaration at the closing of the two-day ASEAN Ministerial Conference on Disaster Resilience (AMCDR) 2026 in Pasay City on Wednesday.
SINGAPORE
1. SMALLER CLASSES, STREAMLINED TEACHER DUTIES AMONG IDEAS MOE WILL PILOT IN 6 SCHOOLS -- CNA
A pilot in six schools will study measures to redesign classrooms from 2027, including whether more students can benefit from smaller classes, Education Minister Desmond Lee announced on Wednesday.
2. AI MAY NEED AVIATION-STYLE SAFETY REGULATIONS TO GAIN TRUST: JOSEPHINE TEO -- THE STRAITS TIMES
Artificial intelligence may eventually need a safety regime akin to civil aviation, where layers of safeguards and standards give people the confidence to use the technology, said Minister of Digital Development and Information Josephine Teo.
THAILAND
1. HEAVY RAIN PUTS ALL THAI PROVINCES ON FIVE-DAY FLOOD ALERT -- THE NATION
Thailand warns of flash floods and landslides on September 16-20, with Bangkok drainage risks and rough seas off six southern provinces.
2. FOREST LAND CHANGES RAISE CONCERNS -- BANGKOK POST
More than 300,000 applications to use forest land, largely involving state agencies, are intensifying debate over how Thailand manages degraded forests as the government moves to widen the range of activities permitted in forest zones.
VIETNAM
1. VIETNAM POISED FOR 4.8 PER CENT GROWTH -- VIETNAMPLUS
Vietnam is projected to grow by an average of 4.8 per cent annually between 2026 and 2035, in line with growth across fellow Southeast Asian economies including Indonesia, Malaysia, the Philippines, Singapore and Thailand.
2. RESETTLING VIETNAMESE DEPORTEES FROM US -- VIETNAM NEWS
Ho Chi Minh City police have received 42 Vietnamese citizens deported from the United States (US). They are now working to resettle the returnees, reconnect them with their families, provide accommodation, and help them rebuild their lives.
-- BERNAMA