Asean morning news
Compiled by Stella-maris Ewudolu @stmarisewudolu
COVID-19 in Asean: update for April 6 — active cases broach 10K across Asean, fall in Thailand, Brunei
As of 01:40 GMT April 6 there was 10,180 active cases of COVID-19 throughout the 10 Asean member countries, an increase of 454, or 4.56 per cent, on the day prior.
— AEC News Today
ASEAN strengthens measures to control COVID-19
Public transport in Indonesia serves about 2,5 million commuters a day.
— Vietnamplus
Prisons, detention facilities in Southeast Asia should release vulnerable, non-violent inmates — group
Detention facilities in Southeast Asia should suspend arrests for non-violent offenses and release vulnerable people and those who pose little threat to public safety early to avoid the spread of the contagion in the region’s overcrowded jails.
— The Philippine Star
How can tariff reduction under RCEP reduce Asean’s exports?
Free trade agreement (FTA) generates both winners and losers, and the formation of the Regional Comprehensive Economic Partnership (RCEP) is no exception.
— The Business Times
COVID-19 APAC lockdowns: F&B manufacturing an ‘essential service’ in some countries – but not enough
The F&B manufacturing sector has been classified as an ‘essential service’ by many APAC countries in as COVID-19 lockdowns are imposed, enabling factories to continue producing food supplies – but this has not been seen in some places which need the supply the most.
— Foodnavigator-asia
ASEAN must do more in Rakhine
Regional action is needed to stem the unprecedented violence in Rakhine State and should include a push by ASEAN leaders for a ceasefire between the Tatmadaw and Arakan Army.
— Frontier Myanmar
After COVID-19, Southeast Asia strongly favours crackdown on wildlife trade
The coronavirus pandemic has generated overwhelming support for the closure of markets selling illegal wildlife across Southeast Asia, an epicenter of the multi-billion-dollar trade, the World Wildlife Fund said in a public opinion poll on Monday (Apr 6).
— CNA
COVID-19’s challenge to donors and international institutions in Asia
In the face of COVID-19, leaders are focussed on protecting their own citizens and their own economies.
— East Asia Forum
Asean, US vow to keep working together to counter Covid-19
Asean and the United States vowed that vital medical supplies and equipment, critical agricultural products, and other essential goods and services would continue to flow across their borders, at a video conference on countering the coronavirus last week.
— The Straits Times
Will COVID-19 erase ASEAN’s progress on poverty in recent years?
Nobody will escape the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic. Some will feel worse consequences than others, depending on their age, social status and location.
— Asean Today
Joint Statement from Co-Chairs of ASEAN- U.S. High Level Interagency Video Conference to Counter
The text of the following statement was released by the Governments of the United States and Vietnam as Co-Chairs of the ASEAN – U.S. High-level Interagency Video Conference to Counter COVID-19 held on April 1, 2020.
— Mirage News
Stronger coordination, skills and transparency needed to elevate sustainable projects in Asean: SIIA
Southeast Asia needs stronger coordination, skills and transparency in elevating sustainable projects to investors, said a report on financing sustainable infrastructure in ASEAN which was published by the Singapore Institute of International Affairs (SIIA).
— The Business Times
COVID-19 Report: Economic impact of coronavirus becoming evident in Southeast Asia
The economic impact of the coronavirus is becoming evident in Southeast Asia with thousands of people in Indonesia driven out of jobs and a third round of financial aid relief announced in Singapore as part of efforts to prevent companies from laying off staff.
— Coconuts Singapore
Brunei’s total fertility rate drops below replacement level
Brunei Darussalam, Thailand, Singapore, Malaysia and Vietnam are among the ASEAN member countries which have the total fertility rate (TFR) below the replacement level, World Bank data revealed.
— Borneo Bulletin
Community responsible for subregional MLC initiatives
The Mekong-Lancang Cooperation Mechanism (MLC) is a cooperation mechanism in line with the current trend of globalisation and integration.
— Khmer Times
Cooperative Maritime Law Enforcement and Overfishing in the South China Sea
Fish are the primary source of animal protein for populations bordering the South China Sea (SCS) and overfishing in the region has emerged as a major threat to food security.
— CIMSEC
Stay home and karaoke: Tencent’s JOOX sees usage spike in Southeast Asia
Lockdowns and travel restrictions prompted by the new coronavirus have been a boon to JOOX, Chinese tech giant Tencent’s international music streaming platform, driving traffic to its karaoke services up by as much as 50 per cent, an executive said.
— CNA
Southeast Asia IPA prices hit six-year high, market warns of peak
Southeast Asia’s isopropanol (IPA) prices hit a six-year high on 3 April 2020, according to ICIS data, on the back of continued strong demand – being a key ingredient in hand sanitisers and other health related uses – amid the coronavirus pandemic.
— ICIS
Up as global equities cheer slowing virus; Vietnam surges 5%
Southeast Asian stock markets tracked broader equities to end higher on Monday as investors were encouraged by a global slowdown in coronavirus cases and deaths as well as regional government stimuli.
— Today Online
From the front-lines: An insider’s guide to how SEA tech firms are navigating COVID-19
We’re all inside a giant pressure cooker. With everyone impacted by the global virus, and by measures to combat it, my Singapore-based venture capital firm hosted a virtual “cloud panel” of founders and CEOs powering the backbone of the online consumer economy, with companies active in areas from logistics to payments to global analytics.
— e27
13 Amazing Women in Fintech From South East Asia You Can Invite for a Webinar Panel
We recently stumbled across a great list by Arnaud Bonzon who’s an angel investor and the co-founder of Map of the Money, his list consisted of 250 women rocking the tech industry to invite to the panel instead of having an all-male panel like most events do.
— Fintech News Singapore (blog)
Cambodia morning news
Compiled by Mark Henry Uy
National Assembly to meet soon on draft emergency law
The National Assembly is expected to meet soon to debate the State of Emergency Law draft which the government has deemed to be a matter of “urgency.”
— Khmer Times
TOP NEWS: Cambodia Reports No Case of Covid-19 for Third Day Running; 53 Recovered
Cambodia reported no case of Covid-19 for third day running, while three patients recovered today, according to the Ministry of Health’s press release dated 6 April 2020 (updated as of 8:00 a.m).
— Fresh News
14 days self quarrantine for all foreigners entering the Kingdom
Foreigners wishing to enter the Kingdom amid the global COVID-19 outbreak are now required to self-quarantine for two weeks after arriving in the country, according to an immigration official.
— Khmer Times
See here for more of today’s Cambodia morning news
Indonesia morning news
Compiled by Justhine De Guzman Uy @justhine.aecnews
Indonesia announces biggest daily rise in COVID-19 cases, 24 doctors now dead
Indonesia announced its biggest daily increase in novel coronavirus cases on Monday (Apr 6) and a medical association said 24 doctors had now died after contracting the virus.
— CNA
Indonesia ranks among world’s worst in coronavirus testing rate, together with Ethiopia, Bangladesh
Only 36 in every million people are being tested for the coronavirus in Indonesia, making it the fourth worst in testing rate among countries with a 50 million population or above, pandemic data site Worldometer has revealed.
— Straits Times
Exclusive: Jump in Jakarta funerals raises fears of unreported coronavirus deaths
The number of funerals in Jakarta rose sharply in March, a development the governor of Indonesia’s capital city said suggested that deaths from the new coronavirus may be higher than officially reported.
— Reuters
See here for more of today’s Indonesia morning news
Lao PDR morning news
Compiled by Mark Henry Uy
A 20-year-old student tests positive for Covid-19
A returning student from UK has tested positive for Covid-19, taking the total to 12.
— KPL
Travel restrictions nationwide to prevent the spread of Covid-19
Districts and villages nationwide are imposing travel restrictions to prevent the spread of Covid-19 among communities following detection of 12 infections in the country.
— Vientiane Times
Update On The Health of COVID-19 Patients In Vientiane
Director Sanong Thongsana of Mittaphab “150 Bed” Hospital updates the public about the condition of the patients receiving care in Vientiane during an exclusive television interview.
— The Laotian Times
See here for more of today’s Lao morning news
Malaysia morning news
Compiled by Sreypov Men @MenSreypov
Malaysia reports 131 new coronavirus cases; 3,793 in total, with one new death
Malaysia on Monday reported 131 new coronavirus infections, raising the country’s total to 3,793 cases, the highest in Southeast Asia.
— The Sun Daily
Malaysia identifies 2 new COVID-19 clusters resulting from mass gathering events
Malaysia has identified two COVID-19 clusters as a result of mass gathering events, health director-general Noor Hisham Abdullah said at a press conference on Monday (Apr 6).
— Channel NewsAsia
4.8 million SME workers to benefit from revised wage subsidy programme
About 4.8 million workers from small and medium enterprises (SMEs) will benefit from the government’s wage subsidy programme, which was increased from RM7.9bil to RM13.8bil.
— The Star Online
See here for more of today’s Malaysia Morning News
Myanmar morning news
Compiled by Sreypov Men @MenSreypov
One more coronavirus case reported in Myanmar
The National Center for Communicable Disease (NCCD) of Myanmar said on Monday that one more coronavirus patient has been diagnosed in the country, increasing the total number of coronavirus infected patients in Myanmar to 15 as of Monday.
— Menafn
Blocked websites, internet shutdown, and media arrests undermine free speech in Myanmar
Myanmar’s Ministry of Transport and Communication has directed four major telecommunication service providers to block websites supposedly in the name of combatting disinformation amid the government’s campaign to contain the spread of COVID-19.
— Global Voices
Myanmar earns US$1.8 B from natural gas export in six months
Myanmar earned over US$1.8 billion from natural gas export from October 1 to March 27 in this fiscal year and it is more US$18 million in comparison with the same period in the last fiscal year, according to the Ministry of Commerce.
— Eleven Myanmar
See here for more of today’s Myanmar morning news
Philippines morning news
Compiled by Stella-maris Ewudolu @stmarisewudolu
Duterte ‘inclined’ to extend Luzon-wide quarantine until April 30
The Duterte administration is inclined to extend the Luzon-wide enhanced community quarantine until April 30 as the government continues to grapple with the coronavirus disease (COVID-19) pandemic, President Rodrigo Duterte said in a televised address on Monday.
— Inquirer.net
DOH says coronavirus tracker ‘suffering issues’ after confusion over test figures
Explaining the discrepancy between the data from the coronavirus tracker and its pronouncements, the Department of Health (DOH) on Monday, April 6, said the tracker was “suffering from technical issues.”
— Rappler
DOH: Almost 23000 COVID-19 tests conducted in PHL
Almost 23,000 coronavirus disease 2019 tests have been conducted in the country so far, the Department of Health said on Monday, April 6. According to Health Undersecretary Maria Rosario Vergeire, the majority of the 22958 COVID-19 tests, or 82.7% however, yielded negative results.
— Eagle News
See here for more of today’s Philippines morning news
Singapore morning news
Compiled by Justhine De Guzman Uy @justhine.aecnews
Solidarity Budget: S$600 cash support for all adult Singaporeans, other cash payouts to be brought forward to June
All adult Singaporeans aged 21 and above will receive a one-off Solidarity Payment of S$600 in cash, Deputy Prime Minister Heng Swee Keat announced on Monday (Apr 6).
— Channel NewsAsia (very annoying popups)
Revised FY2020 deficit soars to record S$44.3b
WITH Monday’s round of support measures against the novel coronavirus outbreak, Singapore’s overall budget deficit for FY2020 is on track to become the largest deficit since its independence.
— The Business Times
Hong Kong and Singapore cannot get Australian produce they desire
Until some 14 days ago, Antony Allen –chief executive of agribusiness The Avolution in Brisbane, Australia– was exporting a total of 45 tonnes of avocados to Hong Kong, Singapore and Malaysia every week.
— Fresh Plaza
See here for more of today’s Singapore morning news
Thailand morning news
Compiled by John Le Fevre @photo_journ
Thailand extends a ban on inbound passenger flights until 18 April, 2020
The Tourism Authority of Thailand (TAT) would like to provide further update that Thailand’s ban on all incoming passenger flights has
— Richard Barrow in Thailand
Thai Prime Minister reiterates that there are NO plans at this time for a 24/7 style lock-down or curfew-IF people comply with the current rules
Following multiple rumors and fake news on social media last night after a notice from the Interior Ministry was sent to all Provincial Governors asking for preparations for further emergency measures, the Prime Minister of Thailand, Prayut Chan-O-Cha, through multiple spokespersons, has stated throughout the day that all rumors and speculation of a 24/7 curfew or lock-down starting now or on April 10th was false and could be considered fake news.
— The Pattaya News
Bt5,000 cash handouts to commence on Wednesday
More than 260,000 out of 24.2 million registrants for the government’s Bt5,000 cash handout campaign have cancelled their applications, while the first batch of people will receive the money starting this Wednesday (April 8), the Finance Ministry said.
— The Nation (very annoying popups)
See here for more of today’s Thailand morning news
Vietnam morning news
Compiled by Sreypov Men @MenSreypov
Ministry asks Gov’t to cut tax for transport firms
The Ministry of Transport has asked the Government to assign the Ministry of Finance to consider reducing several taxes for transport businesses.
— Viet Nam News
HCM City ensures oil and petrol supply, takes steps to prevent hoarding
HCM City businesses and authorities have been asked to ensure sufficient oil and petrol for local demand, and to prevent hoarding of these goods during the COVID-19 pandemic.
— Viet Nam News
Why has no one in Vietnam died from Coronavirus?
As the U.S. government’s incompetence is put on full display by the COVID-19 crisis, many are rightfully looking to other countries around the world for an alternative to the disastrous profit-first approach of the Trump administration.
— Liberation news
See here for more of today’s Vietnam morning news
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