Asean morning news for April 23, 2020

Asean morning news

Compiled by Stella-maris Ewudolu @stmarisewudolu

COVID-19 in Asean: update for April 22 — new daily death record for USA as Cambodia reports no new cases for 10th day
As of 00:59 GMT April 22 there was 22,367 active cases of COVID-19 throughout the 10 Asean member countries, an increase of 1,323 or 6.29 per cent, on the day prior. Of this 139, or 0.62 per cent, are classified as serious or critical.
— AEC News Today

COVID-19 Report: Malaysia enrolls in WHO treatment trial; ‘worrisome’ infections among Filipino healthcare workers
The race to treat COVID-19 is definitely in gear with Malaysia announcing today it had enrolled its first COVID-19 patient in a clinical drug trial led by the World Health Organization.
— Coconuts Singapore

ASEAN leaders urged: Provide gender-based measures amid COVID-19 emergency
“The population is not homogenous. We need to consider how different segments of the population are affected, ensure that any response must be needs-based, gender-responsive, and to ensure that human rights are respected.”
— Inquirer.net

Migrant worker remittances to fall 20% amid COVID-19 pandemic: World Bank
Developing countries are losing a key source of revenue as the coronavirus pandemic causes worldwide shutdowns, sharply reducing payments from workers living abroad, the World Bank said Wednesday (Apr 22).
— CNA

ASEAN ministers promise to continue food security measures amid COVID-19
In response to the current outbreak of the coronavirus disease (COVID-19), ASEAN Ministers on Agriculture and Forestry (AMAF) vowed to continue to ensure food security, food safety and nutrition in ASEAN member countries.
— Borneo Bulletin

Rice-ing concern: COVID-19 creates supply and price volatility for Asia’s most ‘cost-sensitive’ crop
Lockdowns and trade barriers across Asia due to the COVID-19 pandemic have thrust rice – one of the region’s largest agricultural commodities – firmly into the spotlight potential volatility in both supply and cost.
— Foodnavigator-asia

Will Covid-19 fan the flames of Southeast Asia’s haze problem?
Weak enforcement of restrictions to curb Covid-19 infections in rural Indonesia, coupled with farmers opting for cheap ways to clear land, could see a repeat of the forest fires and smoke that choked Southeast Asia last year, environmentalists say.
— Free Malaysia Today

Southeast Asia finds ways to minimize waste during coronavirus outbreak
Wearing a face mask, sanitizing one’s hands, and using other protective equipment to stem the spread of the coronavirus have become essential for many people around the world.
— Rappler

Southeast Asia is in shambles – so where is Asean?
THE novel coronavirus has taken a devastating toll on its victims in Southeast Asia.
— The Malaysian Insight

Keeping food supply chains open will help us survive this crisis: Nation
The Covid-19 pandemic is having catastrophic and far-reaching effects on economies, jobs, health and lifestyles, while countries are being forced to urgently step up by taking extraordinary measures to tackle the crisis.
— The Straits Times

Netflix Reigns As South East Asian Viewership Surges Under Lockdown
Like the rest of the world under lockdown, South East Asia, too, is seeing a deep surge in the consumption of video content.
— Forbes

The Rise of Food Artisans in Southeast Asia
There was a time when gourmet food items were mostly imported from regions outside of Asia – but the scenario has changed over time.
— Unreserved Life (blog)

Southeast Asia stocks: Most markets fall as risk-off from oil rout persists
Most Southeast Asian stock markets fell for a second session on Wednesday as the collapse of oil prices earlier this week underscored supply glut worries and exposed the severity of the damage to demand from the coronavirus pandemic.
— Today Online

A New Reality: Virtual Weddings
According to retail intelligence firm Stackline, there are a number of e-commerce categories that have been decreasing in demand since the COVID-19 coronavirus outbreak.
— The Asean Post

Fintech Galaxy and ASEAN Financial Innovation Network (AFIN) to support cross-border growth of FinTechs in MENA and Asia
Fintech Galaxy, the MENA region’s first cross-border, open innovation platform and marketplace for collaboration between FinTechs and financial institutions, has signed a partnership agreement with the ASEAN Financial Innovation Network (AFIN) to facilitate greater integration between FinTech hubs across the MENA region as well as Asia, while promoting AFIN’s API Exchange (APIX) platform to the FinTech community, further contributing to the development of the industry.
— ZAWYA (media release)

Cambodia morning news

Compiled by Mark Henry Uy

No necessity to declare State of Emergency with COVID-19 situation under control
Cambodia cannot declare a state of emergency in the current situation, stressed Chin Malin, Secretary of State and Spokesperson of the Ministry of Justice.
— Khmer Times

Parents Protest Outside CIA School
Various local media reports based on Facebook posts say on the morning of April 22, 2020, parents who send children to CIA International School held a protest over tuition fees in Khan Sen Sok, Phnom Penh.
— CNE

See here for more of today’s Cambodia morning news

Indonesia morning news

Compiled by Justhine De Guzman Uy @justhine.aecnews

4 more weeks of social restrictions for Jakarta as Indonesia’s COVID-19 cases near 7,500
Jakarta’s administration will extend wide-scale social restrictions by four weeks as the number of Indonesia’s COVID-19 cases approached 7,500 on Wednesday (Apr 22).
— CNA

Indonesia’s palm oil exports drop 19% in first two months
Indonesia’s palm oil exports, including oleochemicals and palm oil kernel, dropped nearly 19 percent in the January to February period driven by lower exports to China as the coronavirus pandemic took a toll on the country’s top export commodity.
— The Jakarta Post

Foreign debt is within safe limit: Bank Indonesia
Indonesia’s foreign debt, which stood at US$407.5 billion in February, 2020, remains within the safe limit as government debt is overseen by the House of Representatives, said Bank Indonesia Governor Perry Warjiyo.
— Antara News

See here for more of today’s Indonesia morning news

Lao PDR morning news

Compiled by Mark Henry Uy

Report: GDP growth expected at 3.3 percent, lowest in decades
As a result of the impact of the Covid-19 pandemic, Gross Domestic Product (GDP) is projected to grow at just 3.3 percent in 2020 – the lowest rate in three and a half decades, a new report suggests.
— Vientiane Times (paywall)

COVID-19: Vietnam presents medical supplies to Lao people
The Vietnam-Laos Friendship Association on April 21 presented medical supplies to help Lao people, especially doctors and nurses who are directly involved in preventing and combating the COVID-19.
— KPL

Two Luang Prabang Covid-19 patients discharged, no new cases for 10 days
Two of the three Covid-19 patients in Luang Prabang Hospital were set to return home today if they twice tested negative for the virus, while no new cases of infection have been reported for 10 straight days.
— Vientiane Times

See here for more of today’s Lao morning news

Malaysia morning news

Compiled by Sreypov Men @MenSreypov

Malaysia surpasses rest of ASEAN bloc in virus recoveries
Singapore reports over 1,000 positive virus cases for 3rd consecutive day, surpassing 10,000 mark on total.
— AA

Press freedom: Malaysia jumps up 22 places to No 101
Malaysia has been ranked 101st globally in the latest 2020 World Press Freedom Index compiled by Reporters Without Borders (RSF).
— The Star Online

Malaysia Airlines enforces the use of face masks on passengers
All Malaysia Airlines passengers are now required to bring and wear their own protective masks effective April 23, 2020, at touch-points such as check-in, boarding, in the aircraft cabin, disembarkation and collection of baggage on arrival to mitigate the spread of Covid-19.
— The Borneo Post

See here for more of today’s Malaysia Morning News

Myanmar morning news

Compiled by Sreypov Men @MenSreypov

Two new COVID-19 cases detected in Myanmar, patients up to 123
The health ministry reported two new COVID-19 cases on April 23, detected from among the thousands of people undergoing quarantine across the country, an indication the strategy of isolating suspected infected persons is effective in containing the disease.
— Myanmar Times

World Bank approves US$50 million for Myanmar COVID-19 Emergency Response
The World Bank has approved a US$50 million credit for the Myanmar COVID-19 Emergency Response Project, as part of global emergency support operations through a dedicated fast-track COVID-19 facility, according to a press release.
— BNI Online

Commentary: Myanmar’s COVID-19 cruise-ship moment as thousands of migrant workers flock back home
Nestled between giants comprising half the global population, control or contagion in Myanmar has huge ramifications, says Elliot Brennan.
— Channel NewsAsia

See here for more of today’s Myanmar morning news

Philippines morning news

Compiled by Stella-maris Ewudolu @stmarisewudolu

High number of Filipino healthcare workers with COVID-19 ‘very worrisome,’ says WHO
Many Filipino healthcare workers are getting infected with COVID-19 in the country, a fact that the World Health Organization (WHO) found “very worrisome.”
— Coconuts Philippines

Philippines banks on infrastructure push to revive economy from virus
The Philippines is relying on infrastructure projects to revive its coronavirus-stricken economy , with its new chief economist noting that projects with the most impact should be prioritized.
— Rappler

Philippines COVID-19 cases rise to 6,710, recovered patients now 693
The number of patients who have recovered from the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) climbed to 693 on Wednesday after the Department of Health (DOH) reported 39 new recoveries as cases nationwide rose to 6,710 with 111 new infections. Nine more patients have also succumbed to the respiratory illness, bringing the death toll to 446.
— GMA Network

See here for more of today’s Philippines morning news

Singapore morning news

Compiled by Justhine De Guzman Uy @justhine.aecnews

COVID-19 infections in Singapore top 10,000, with 1,016 new cases; 12th person dies
The number of COVID-19 cases in Singapore has crossed the 10,000 mark, with 1,016 new cases reported as of noon on Wednesday (Apr 22).
— CNA

Singapore economy to shrink by steeper 8.5% this year with extended circuit breaker period: Citigroup
Singapore will witness a deeper recession this year after the nation extended and tightened its partial lockdown, Citigroup warned, widening its forecast for an economic contraction.
— Straits Times (annoying popups)

COVID-19: Two more foreign worker dormitories declared as isolation areas
Two more foreign workers dormitories have been gazetted as isolation areas to prevent the spread of COVID-19.
— CNA

See here for more of today’s Singapore morning news

Thailand morning news

Compiled by John Le Fevre @photo_journ

Trillion-baht stimulus to boost domestic debt
Thailand plans to borrow 600 billion baht in the current fiscal year to September and 400 billion baht in the next fiscal year to finance measures to mitigate the coronavirus impact, a finance ministry official said on Wednesday.
— Bangkok Post

Thailand reports 15 new coronavirus cases, 1 new death
BANGKOK: Thailand on Wednesday (Apr 22) reported 15 new coronavirus cases and one new death, continuing a trend of lower numbers of new cases.
— CNA

Airports of Thailand expects 53% drop in passengers
State-owned Airports of Thailand Plc (AoT) said on Wednesday it expects the number of passengers passing through its airports to decline by 53% this year due to the outbreak of the new coronavirus.
— Bangkok Post

See here for more of today’s Thailand morning news

Vietnam morning news

Compiled by Sreypov Men @MenSreypov

Vietnam reports no new COVID-19 cases for 6 days in a row
Vietnam reported no new cases of COVID-19 infection on Wednesday, the sixth consecutive day after it confirmed the latest case on April 17, with its total confirmed cases remaining at 268, Vietnam News Agency reported.
— Xinhua

Tax cuts proposed from SMEs to accelerate growth after COVID-19
The Ministry of Planning and Investment has asked for corporate income tax (CIT) to be cut for small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) by half this year in an effort to boost growth when the COVID-19 pandemic eases.
— Viet Nam News

Hanoi and HCMC downgraded from Covid-19 high-risk to medium-risk group
Social distancing restrictions will be eased in Hà Nội from April 23 as Prime Minister Nguyễn Xuân Phúc agreed to downgrade the city from the COVID-19 high-risk group to medium-risk.
— Vietnam Insider

See here for more of today’s Vietnam morning news

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