MANILA, Sept 1 — The Philippines announced price ceilings for rice on Friday to protect consumers, as the rising cost of the national staple probably caused August inflation to accelerate for the first time in seven months.

JAKARTA, Sept 1 — The Association of Southeast Asian Nations (Asean), currently chaired by Indonesia, is stepping up efforts to intensify regional cooperation in promoting the use of local currencies in cross-border transactions.

JAKARTA, Sept 1 —Indonesia's Human Resources Minister Ida Fauziyah expressed confidence that the bilateral relationship between Indonesia and Malaysia will remain intact amid a dynamic and challenging global situation.

BANGKOK, Sept 1 — Thailand’s jailed former prime minister Thaksin Shinawatra has requested a royal pardon from the eight-year jail term he is serving, outgoing justice minister Wissanu Krea-ngam said.

DOHA, Sept 1 — Qatar has detected the country's first cases of the coronavirus variant EG.5, the country's Public Health Ministry said on Thursday.

SINGAPORE, Sept 1 — More than 2.7 million Singaporeans will today decide who among the three candidates will become the ninth president of the republic.

NEW YORK, Aug 31 — The US dollar lost in late trading on Wednesday, as new data indicated that the US economy may not be as hot as previously thought, reported Xinhua.

PUTRAJAYA, Aug 30 — Malaysia and Cuba held discussions regarding the preparations for the upcoming G77+China Summit which is scheduled to take place in the capital city of Havana, on Sept 15-16.

NEW DELHI, Aug 30 — India will permit the export of rice to Singapore despite restricting the sale of select types to keep domestic prices in check.

WASHINGTON, Aug 30 — United States (US) President Joe Biden will visit Vietnam next month to meet with top officials on issues ranging from technology and the economy to regional stability and climate change, as Washington eyes closer ties in a region where China looms large.

WASHINGTON, Aug 29  — New York City’s Mayor Eric Adams announced Tuesday that the city will permit the Islamic call to prayer, to be broadcasted at designated times every Friday and during the holy month of Ramadan.

DHAKA, Aug 30 — Air pollution is reducing life expectancy by five years on average for people in South Asia, one of the worst regions having polluted air, according to a report.

KUALA LUMPUR, Aug 30 –Japan stands ready to intensify its strategic partnership with the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (Asean) in bolstering stability, security and growth in the region as well as across the Indo-Pacific.

PATTANI, Aug 29 — Four security personnel were killed while nine others, including a three-year-old, were injured in an ambush in Yarang, Pattani, southern Thailand.

BANGKOK, Aug 29 — Thailand's jailed former prime minister Thaksin Shinawatra has been suffering from fatigue and stress since last week, says his daughter Paetongtarn Shinawatra.

JAKARTA, Aug 29 — The 43rd Association of Southeast Asian Nations (Asean) Summit in Jakarta from Sept 5 to 7, 2023, will be attended by representatives from 22 countries and 9 international bodies, Indonesian Foreign Minister Retno Marsudi sajd on Monday (Aug 28).

HANOI, Aug 29 — Vietnam attracted an estimated foreign investment of nearly US$18.15 billion in the first eight months of this year, up 8.2 per cent year on year, according to the country's Ministry of Planning and Investment on Tuesday, Xinhua reported.

JAKARTA, Aug 29 (Bernama) -- Customs officials from Malaysia and Indonesia recently gathered in Medan, North Sumatra, to review past efforts, address challenges, and pave the way for future collaborations to enhance cross-border trade.

SEOUL, Aug 29 — South Korea's finance ministry on Tuesday proposed a budget of 656.9 trillion won (US$495 billion) for 2024, marking the slowest on-year growth since 2005, as the country aims to tighten its belt amid economic uncertainties.

WASHINGTON, Aug 29 — United States President Joe Biden will visit Vietnam next month to meet with top officials on issues ranging from technology and the economy to regional stability and climate change, as Washington eyes closer ties in a region where China looms large.