• Two Indonesian firms receive Green awards
Two Indonesian operations linked to U.S. geothermal giant Chevron and to Switzerland’s largest cement firm were on Friday awarded the top rating for environmental excellence by the Environment Ministry.

• Indo plans new financial authority
Indonesia on Friday adopted a radical restructuring of the way banking and financial services are policed with an agreement to set up a new supervisory authority.

• UN Special Envoy Visits Myanmar
A top United Nations envoy arrived in Yangon Saturday for a two-day visit to Myanmar to monitor the political situation after the country’s general election, China’s Xinhua news agency quoted diplomatic sources as saying.

• Philippine exports continue fast pace
New data showed that Philippine exports are not about decline in the fourth quarter, as electronics led the four-month high growth of imports in September.

• Singapore adult diabetes hits high
The adult diabetes rate in Singapore has risen to a 12-year high, according to the latest national health survey.

• Wage hike, flooding lowers Thai GDP
The Thai government’s decision to lift the minimum wage will affect economic growth by 0.2 percent on average, says the Finance Ministry, while this year’s growth will decline slightly to between 7.3 percent and 7.4 percent due to the recent floods.

• Thai central bank to avoid using reserves
While some economists suggest that the Bank of Thailand should allow the government to make better use of the country’s official reserves, central bank governor Prasarn Trairatvorakul wants to keep them at a safe level.

• Prices soar in Vietnam
As the lunar New Year festival approaches, the prices of goods have soared as usual. But the increase has come earlier this year. As the Vietnamese dong continues to depreciate, people have been faced with increased living costs.