TOP NEWS Pet humanisation’ trend playing a big role in expanding Thailand’s pet market Bangladesh urges China to reduce loan interest, extend repayment period Japan to launch self-driving trains in 2028MORE HEADLINES ARTIFICIAL INTELLIGENCE The Jakarta PostIndonesia must take a bold step on regulation to shape the future of AI The Straits TimesUnsure if you can recycle a frying pan? Ask NEA’s new AI chatbot The Daily StarTired of swiping? Let AI find your soulmate! The Straits TimesSingaporean director Jack Neo to film Chinese New Year movie on artificial intelligence The Korea HeraldPresident Yoon touts South Korea as cybersecurity drill hub Philippine Daily InquirerPhilippine state weather bureau to tap AI for more frequent, longer-term weather forecasts The Straits TimesNew AI service to help lawyers go through 15,000 judgments in Singapore’s legal history The Phnom Penh PostUnseen dangers: Deepfakes in Cambodia’s future The Korea HeraldSeoul summit charts framework on responsible AI military use The Korea HeraldSouth Korea’s KAIST, NYU to implement joint degree for AI The Korea HeraldSamsung’s AI push has long way to go, says CEO The StarMalaysia registers successful diagnosis, treatment of first lung cancer detection using AI The Korea HeraldMarrying your virtual partner? Era of AI companionship dawns The Korea HeraldNearly 60% of South Koreans see AI’s benefits outweighing risks Viet Nam NewsHarnessing AI for Vietnam’s economic future Philippine Daily InquirerAdopt AI or perish, CEOs told VIEW ALL COMBATING INFLATION The Kathmandu PostSugar shortage likely to repeat as festival season begins in Nepal Viet Nam NewsVietnam PM Chinh orders price stabilisation and essential goods security after Typhoon Yagi Philippine Daily InquirerRice prices in Philippines still high despite lower tariffs The Phnom Penh PostCambodian farmers urged to prioritise local rice varieties as prices surge The Japan NewsJapan’s newly harvested rice arrives on store shelves; prices soar 30%-50% following shortage The Daily StarInflation in Bangladesh eases to 10.49% in August Vientiane TimesFood security in Laos improves but inflation drives migration: World Bank report Vientiane TimesLaos sees spike in prices of healthcare products, medicines amid high inflation in August The Korea HeraldSouth Korea’s inflation falls to 2% target DawnInflation falls to 34-month low at 9.6pc in August: Pakistan Bureau of Statistics KuenselBhutan government, politicians address surge in car prices, citing various factors Go Go MongoliaMongolian government faces opposition against 30% energy price hike The Daily StarRice prices in Bangladesh rising despite ample harvests The StarMalaysia’s inflation remains at 2% in July KuenselBhutan’s Inflation drops to 1.84 percent, easing cost of living pressures Philippine Daily InquirerWhy cut fuel subsidy for fishers, farmers? Philippine agriculture department asked VIEW ALL TECHNOLOGY VIEW MORE IFA Berlin, Europe's largest consumer electronics trade fair, was held from September 6-10 in Germany. This year, over 420 Chinese companies registered to showcase their latest innovations, accounting for nearly 25% of all the exhibitors. BUSINESS, Technology, Technology Right Black Myth: Wukong, China’s first blockbuster video game, marks turnaround for its gaming industry ... BUSINESS, Technology, Technology Right EV fires in South Korea prompt transparency moves over battery origins ... Artificial Intelligece, BUSINESS, Home Page, Technology, Technology Right Chinese AI making all the smart moves at Paris Olympics ... ECONOMIC AFFAIRS VIEW MORE State welfare cardholders, who fall under the vulnerable persons group, will be the first to receive 10,000 baht in cash by the end of September. The depressed consumption, which comes as once-prolific Chinese shoppers cut back on spending amid an uncertain economic outlook, is bad news for China – and not just because it weakens short-term gross domestic product growth. CORPORATE BUZZ VIEW MORE Hyundai Motor and GM -- the world’s third and fifth largest auto brands by sales last year, respectively -- said they will look for ways to leverage their complementary scale and strengths to reduce costs and bring a wider range of vehicles and technologies to customers faster. Apple seeks to reverse its sales slump with the AI-enhanced iPhone 16 line. Facing stiff competition and regulations in its major markets in China and Europe, the company has included a number of new markets, such as Korea, in its 59 initial launch countries for the first time. SPECIAL REPORTSVIEW ALL MORE HEADLINES His Majesty the Sultan of Brunei to attend UN’s Summit of the Future, General Debate ... Singapore restaurant linked to Malaysian firm in alleged child abuse case distances itself from probe ... Former Pakistan PM Imran’s tweets create uproar, mystery over who runs account ... Philippine National Police set to file criminal complaint vs. persons who harboured pastor Quiboloy ... Passenger numbers plummet on Bangladesh-India routes following Aug 5 ... SC judgement on CM Kejriwal’s bail plea, appeal against CBI arrest on Sept 13 ... CHINA AND ASEAN The Phnom Penh PostCambodia, China planning sixth military drills The Straits TimesSingapore, Shanghai ink record 15 MOUs as bilateral trade grows The Japan NewsU.S., Australia to counter China’s ‘destabilizing military activities’ China DailyAsean-Plus defence ministers agree to improve defence collaboration The Jakarta PostChina and Asean join hands to bring the ‘Asian moment’ in global governance China DailyRCEP shows strength and resilience of regional trade liberalization The NationThailand and China ink 5 agreements to boost trade, regional security The Jakarta PostIndonesia, China to resume joint-military training exercises, strengthen military cooperation China DailyXi, Widodo vow to take ties to new level The Jakarta PostIndonesia-China ink $2.6 billion crude palm oil, fishery trade deals The Straits TimesOutcome of China’s application to join CPTPP trade pact not yet known: S’pore PM The Phnom Penh PostCambodia, China sign $1.6 billion deal for second expressway The Jakarta PostAs Xi visit draws near, delays haunt Jakarta-Bandung rail project The Jakarta PostWhat does the 20th CCP National Congress mean for Indonesia? Viet Nam NewsVietnamese, Chinese Party leaders stress peace at sea, resumption of flights in talks Viet Nam NewsVietnam, China sign 13 cooperation documents in Party leader’s visit VIEW ALL BIG PICTURE VIEW MORE The report from Enterprise Singapore and DealStreetAsia found that start-ups based in the country accounted for 63.7 percent of all equity deals in the ASEAN-6 in 2023. McKinsey & Company senior partner Vishal Agarwal suggested at an event that project developers have to build local ecosystems and work with stakeholders to find innovative solutions. POLICY MATTERS VIEW MORE Officials see conspiracies behind the unrest and believe "real workers" are not involved in the vandalism of some factories, while labour leaders blame the influence of partisan politics and control over fabric scrap trade for the situation. The Cabinet on Tuesday approved five measures made up of 63 operational plans to tackle the influx of ultra-cheap and often substandard products that have been flooding Thai markets, Suksit Srichomkwan, Prime Minister’s deputy secretary-general for political affairs, said. MORE HEADLINES Nepal’s federalism on a bumpy road ... 40 litterbugs caught in Brunei ... Indonesia should be more active in foreign policy, former ministers say President Moon meets BTS, officially appoints them as special diplomatic envoy Russia’s Putin, PM Imran discuss Afghanistan, bilateral ties in 2nd call in a month Asean is China’s largest trading partner with US$685b trade CLIMATE AND ENVIRONMENT China DailyShanghai grapples with impact of Typhoon Bebinca Viet Nam News$118.3 million needed to repair national highways in Vietnam damaged by typhoon The NationDamage to the Thai economy from flooding could reach 27 billion baht The Straits TimesWarm, dry days to continue in Singapore until heavy rains bring respite at end of September The Straits TimesTyphoon Bebinca lands in Shanghai, the strongest storm to hit the city since 1949 The Phnom Penh PostChildren of migrants in Cambodia bear the brunt of climate change, says report The NationMekong River bursts its banks and floods downtown Nong Khai in Thailand Viet Nam NewsDead, missing from super typhoon Yagi in Vietnam decreased to 330, 18 missing persons found alive Philippine Daily InquirerStorm Bebinca, southwest monsoon kill 6 persons, affect over 203,000 in Philippines The Straits TimesSaving Southeast Asia’s trees requires action to address climate change and deforestation: Study Philippine Daily InquirerFor third year in a row, Philippines still world’s most at-risk to disasters Eleven MediaNew rainfall record in 60 years set in Myanmar’s Bagan; walls of some ancient pagodas collapse Viet Nam NewsMassive cleanup efforts underway in Vietnam’s typhoon-hit provinces Viet Nam NewsInternational support pours in for relief in Typhoon Yagi’s aftermath in Vietnam The Korea HeraldUnbearably hot weather continues as Seoul hit by latest tropical night on record The NationFour more sub-districts in Thailand’s Mae Sai, Chiang Rai brace for flooding VIEW ALL AGRICULTURE VIEW MORE Some durian farmers are tweaking the Musang King taste to make it sweeter, dialling down on the bitterness that is also part of its hallmark. Ministry spokesman Khim Finan emphasised the financial advantages of homegrown rice strains such as the fragrant Sen Kra-Ob over imported varieties like OM rice from Vietnam. TRANSPORTATION VIEW MORE JR East explained it will install autonomous trains for the Joetsu Shinkansen line between the Tokyo and Niigata stations. Airlines have been blaming India's restricted visa issuance as the main cause. ENERGY VIEW MORE Coordinating Maritime Affairs and Investment Minister Luhut Pandjaitan said that the economies of developing countries must still grow, while they pursued emissions reduction. According to the Japan International Cooperation Agency, the objective of the project is to enhance the stability of the electrical supply in Phnom Penh, thereby contributing to sustainable economic growth in Cambodia. MORE HEADLINES Japan to establish ¥500 billion fund to reinforce economic security ... China to include sex education in primary school text books ... Indonesian migrant worker’s ‘7 conditions’ for job search sparks debate ... Livelihoods hinge on green recovery ... Energy minister tells petroleum dealers ‘legitimate’ demands will be met, urges them to reconsider strike ... Japan cultural agency to earmark ¥6.5 billion to preserve local festivals ... Marijuana legal in Thailand from Dec 9, but ‘doobies’ still not allowed ... Covid-19 shots alone don’t ensure 100 percent safety, continued caution needed, experts say ... SPOTLIGHT ON ASIA China DailyLearning from the top of the world The Daily StarInsight: How Hasina’s flight was kept off radar The Kathmandu PostOrnithologists confirm first whiskered tern breeding in Nepal Philippine Daily Inquirer7 Filipino illustrators who have mastered the art of visual world building Borneo BulletinBrunei school blends academic strength, physical agility for holistic learning The Korea HeraldWorkplace communication: To emoji or not to emoji? The Japan NewsThe polka dot fantasy world of Yayoi Kusama The Korea HeraldK-pop music awards: Who truly benefits? The Phnom Penh PostEmpowering Cambodian women with a lifeline through crochet and knitting Viet Nam NewsDeaf café in Hanoi goes with the flow KuenselShaping lives, empowering Bhutan’s deaf through the arts, vocational training The Kathmandu PostHow literature inspires a Nepali visual artist The Phnom Penh PostCambodian conservationists celebrate Vulture Awareness Day, report increasing population China DailyDedication of plateau patrollers in China’s Changtang National Nature Reserve moves filmmakers China DailyXinjiang’s deep horse-riding history The Korea HeraldK-pop groups face dilemmas when confronted with political issues VIEW ALL GO DEEPER WITH ANN Coming Soon ANN Newsletter Sign up here Follow us: