Asean morning news
Compiled by Stella-maris Ewudolu @stmarisewudolu
COVID-19 in Asean: update for April 30 — Asean active cases top 30K as deaths hit 1,500; 1 mln survivors globally
As of 00:59 GMT April 30 there was 30,845 active cases of COVID-19 throughout the 10 Asean member countries, an increase of 946 or 3.16 per cent, on the day prior.
— AEC News Today
Asean to delay any visa exemption schemes
No more talks about visa exemptions or visa fee waivers are expected for Asean countries in the foreseeable future as members are focusing on their own rehabilitation plans, the tourism and sports minister said.
— Bangkok Post
PH cancels hosting of 10th ASEAN Para Games
The Philippine Sports Commission (PSC) and the Philippine Paralympic Committee (PPC) decided to cancel the country’s hosting of the 10th ASEAN Para Games due to the coronavirus pandemic.
— Rappler
AirAsia Resumes Domestic Flights in Malaysia; Philippines and Thailand Next
AirAsia resumed scheduled domestic flights in Malaysia on Wednesday.
— Travel News Asia
US destroyer sails through South China Sea waters China claims
A US Navy guided-missile destroyer has sailed through waters near the Paracel Islands in the South China Sea, challenging China’s claim to the area.
— Aljazeera
France allocates 2-M euros for labs in SE Asia, including RITM
France is allocating 2 million euros in grants for the coronavirus disease 2019 (Covid-19) response of seven laboratories in Southeast Asia, among them the Philippines’ Research Institute for Tropical Medicine (RITM).
— Philippine Canadian Inquirer
Asean should talk to China as dams dry up Lower Mekong, behaviour ‘unacceptable’: Tommy Koh
Asean should take up the issue of Chinese dams in the Mekong river contributing to severe droughts in downstream countries, Singapore’s Ambassador-at-Large Tommy Koh suggested in a Facebook comment on Wednesday, April 29.
— Mothership
Healthy Ageing APAC Summit: Updated agenda revealed – check out who’s speaking in Singapore in November
Today we can reveal the updated agenda for the 2020 Healthy Ageing APAC Summit, which takes place in Singapore in July, and features a raft of big-name brands and international academic experts.
— Foodnavigator-asia.com
Coronavirus Stricken China Losing Grips On RCEP: Should India Give Second Thought To Join? – Analysis
After intense parley through several ministerial and secretarial meetings over past seven years, India refused to join RCEP in November 2019.
— Eurasia Review
Southeast Asia’s Grab offers staff no-pay leave as coronavirus saps demand
Southeast Asian ride-hailing firm Grab said on Thursday it is offering some staff unpaid leave and senior executives are taking salary cuts as it moves to conserve cash amid falling demand because of the novel coronavirus outbreak.
— Arab News
Projecting a sensible Covid-19 battle
Covid-19 has put the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (Asean) to the test.
— Bangkok Post
Gov’t Puts Strictions on Migrants From Neighboring Countries
Thailand has slowed down the entry of job-seeking migrants from neighboring countries to contain the spread of the COVID-19 pandemic, confirmed a senior government official on Wednesday.
— Khaosod English
Southeast Asia’s private equity investment slows in 2019, outlook gloomy
Private equity investment in Southeast Asia declined to US$12 billion last year after reaching a record high of $14 billion in 2017, with COVID-19 posing a risk to investment this year, a global consulting firm says.
— The Jakarta Post
The missing piece in the debate about the future regional order
With cruise ships banned from ports around the world, it would not be a stretch to wonder about the impact the coronavirus pandemic will have on future military movement as well.
— The Interpreter
Asean tourism ministers agree to fight virus together
ASEAN tourism ministers yesterday agreed to work together to deal with the potentially fatal Novel Coronavirus pandemic, underlining action plans and a post-recovery plan to support the tourism sector.
— Khmer Times
Clean label peas: Will consumers back Ayam Brand’s bold move towards ‘light brown’ product?
Ayam Brand, a household name in Asia for its canned processed foods, is introducing its clean label processed peas, which now come in a light brown colour due to the removal of artificial colourings.
— Foodnavigator-asia.com
SE Asia Stocks-Climb on coronavirus treatment progress, higher oil prices
Southeast Asian stock markets climbed on Thursday as progress in the development of a COVID-19 treatment and higher oil prices spurred a rally.
— Reuters
Cambodia morning news
Compiled by Mark Henry Uy
May 1 sees enforcement of steep traffic fines
The government today said motorists must carry their driver’s license and vehicle technical inspection certificate at all times as traffic police nationwide introduce the enforcement of hefty fines on traffic law violators starting today.
— Khmer Times
Cambodia’s Controversial State of Emergency Draft Signed into Law
Acting head of state Say Chhum promulgated the controversial state of emergency legislation into law on Wednesday, despite severe concerns over its ability to abuse citizens’ human rights and freedoms.
— VOA Khmer
Poachers kill 3 near-extinct giant ibises amid pandemic pressure in Cambodia
The giant Ibis, a mega-sized bird that can stand more than a meter (3 feet) tall and weigh more than 4 kilograms (9 pounds), was once thought to be extinct in Cambodia.
— Focusing On Wildlife
See here for more of today’s Cambodia morning news
Indonesia morning news
Compiled by Justhine De Guzman Uy @justhine.aecnews
Indonesia’s Virus Cases Top 10,000 Amid Calls to Ramp Up Testing
Indonesia’s coronavirus cases exceeded 10,000 as infections showed no signs of slowing even with partial lockdowns and travel restrictions in the nation’s main cities.
— Bloomberg
Coronavirus Blunders in Indonesia Turn Crisis Into Catastrophe
The sequence of denial, reluctance, and alarm in Indonesia’s response to the coronavirus crisis follows the trajectory of many other countries, including highly developed nations.
— Carneige
Govt highlights hospital bed shortage at 1.2 per thousand Indonesians
President Joko Widodo (Jokowi) has drawn attention to the scarcity of beds at Indonesian hospitals, at only 1.2 per thousand people.
— Antara News
See here for more of today’s Indonesia morning news
Lao PDR morning news
Compiled by Mark Henry Uy
In Press-Restricted Laos, Reporters Self-Censor, Cover Only ‘Safe’ Topics
Working under government control, reporters in Laos write and broadcast stories supporting state policy and official views, carefully steering clear of subjects deemed controversial by authorities, media watchdogs and sources in the country say.
— RFA
Lao PDR: Personal Protective Equipment for protecting front line workers against COVID-19
“An ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure”. To protect health workers and ensure they continue to serve communities especially for maternal health, during COVID-19, measures of hygiene and social distancing for the general population, specific and oriented interventions are being practiced to ensure the protection of those in the frontline: Midwives and health workers.
— KPL
Govt discusses post-lockdown measures
The government looks set to keep some strict measures in place as part of its bold policy to control the spread of COVID-19, following a high-level meeting in Vientiane.
— Vientiane Times
See here for more of today’s Lao morning news
Malaysia morning news
Compiled by Sreypov Men @MenSreypov
Malaysia reports 57 new coronavirus cases with two new deaths
Malaysian health authorities reported 57 new coronavirus cases on Thursday (Apr 30), raising the cumulative total to 6,002 cases.
— Channel NewsAsia
Malaysia: No wholesale markets, no vegetable supply
Supply of vegetables in Malaysia’s Klang Valley and several states nearby have been affected following the temporary closure of several wholesale markets here and in the capital.
— Fresh Plaza
Covid-19: List of fake news on social media as of 9.30am, April 30 – KKMM
The following is the 9.30am update from the Communications and Multimedia Ministry (KKMM) Quick Response Team on countering fake news on Covid-19 on social media.1.
— The Sun Daily
See here for more of today’s Malaysia Morning News
Myanmar morning news
Compiled by Sreypov Men @MenSreypov
Myanmar Govt Offers to Pay Factory Workers 40% During COVID-19 Inspection Closures
Myanmar’s Ministry of Labor, Immigration and Population says it will provide 40 percent of workers’ salaries where factories have been closed since April 20 for COVID-19 inspections.
— Irrawaddy
Millions in Myanmar risk having mobile phones cut off after SIM registration deadline
Millions of people in Myanmar risk having their mobile phones cut off tomorrow, in the midst of the pandemic crisis, if the government goes ahead with its deadline for users to register their SIM cards with a valid identity document.
— Myanmar Times
Myanmar Tourism Sector Braced for 50% Job Cuts Amid COVID-19 Downturn
Tour operators are not expecting a return to normality until 2023 as the world turns away from tourism after the coronavirus outbreak.
— Irrawaddy
See here for more of today’s Myanmar morning news
Philippines morning news
Compiled by Stella-maris Ewudolu @stmarisewudolu
Economic losses from COVID-19 onslaught hit P700 billion
Economic damage from the coronavirus outbreak and lockdowns enforced to control the contagion have reached P700 billion, Acting Socioeconomic Planning Secretary Karl Kendrick Chua said on Thursday.
— Philippine Star
PH airlines ask Congress to enact financial support
Local airlines asked Congress for financial support as the industry is running out of cash amid the coronavirus disease 2019 outbreak.
— Manilastandard.net
PH coronavirus cases now at 8,488, deaths rise to 568
The number of confirmed novel coronavirus cases in the Philippines has reached 8,488 on Thursday, April 30, as the government reported 276 new cases.
— Rappler
See here for more of today’s Philippines morning news
Singapore morning news
Compiled by Justhine De Guzman Uy @justhine.aecnews
MOH preliminarily confirms daily toll of 528 COVID-19 cases, bringing total to 16,169
The Ministry of Health (MOH) on Thursday (30 Apr) has confirmed an additional 528 cases of COVID-19 infection in Singapore as of 12 pm today.
— The Online Citizen
Customers advised to bring NRIC to enter shopping malls, supermarkets: Enterprise Singapore
Customers visiting shopping malls and supermarkets are advised to bring along their identification cards for entry, Enterprise Singapore said on Thursday (Apr 30).
— Channel NewsAsia (very annoying popups)
Banks to follow standard deferment of more consumer loans: MAS
FROM May 6, individuals can soon seek to defer repayment across a wider swathe of loans – such as loans for industrial and commercial property, renovation, education and cars – the Monetary Authority of Singapore (MAS) and other industry bodies said late on Thursday.
— The Business Times
See here for more of today’s Singapore morning news
Thailand morning news
Compiled by John Le Fevre @photo_journ
Exclusive: Thai Airways to Seek $1.8 Billion Emergency Loan to Navigate Virus Impact-Document
Thai Airways International PCL plans to seek a 58.1 billion baht ($1.80 billion) emergency loan to maintain liquidity and see it through a coronavirus-induced drop in demand, showed a document from the airline detailing the plan.
— NYT
Central bank paints grim economic picture
The economy contracted at an accelerated pace in March due to Covid-19 measures, with sharp drops reported in almost all areas, according to the Bank of Thailand.
— Bangkok Post
Six types of business and leisure activities to resume on Sunday
From this Sunday, six types of businesses and recreational activities will be allowed to reopen in Thailand, but on a limited scale, as the CCSA gradually eases COVID-19 lockdown restrictions.
— Thai PBS News
See here for more of today’s Thailand morning news
Vietnam morning news
Compiled by Sreypov Men @MenSreypov
Vietnam exports 415 million face masks this year
A surge in global demand has enabled Vietnam to export over 415 million face masks in the year to April 19.
— VnExpress
Vietnam Poised to Export COVID-19 Test Kits
Less than a month ago, Vietnam was importing COVID-19 test kits from South Korea and conducting test research with Japan.
— VOA
Việt Nam urged to tap global supply chain for halal products
As global supply chains for Halal products have been disrupted by the pandemic, Vietnamese companies have been urged to further tap the halal market which has export value of US$34 billion a year, experts said at an online seminar on Tuesday.
— Viet Nam News
See here for more of today’s Vietnam morning news
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About Asean morning news.
Asean morning news roundup and its individual country morning news roundups are the most comprehensive hand-curated selection of Asean English language news headlines published. Each weekday we scour hundreds of local and international news sites and websites to find the most recent Asean English language news today.
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