Asean morning news for July 7, 2020

Asean morning news

Compiled by Stella-maris Ewudolu @stmarisewudolu

COVID-19 in Asean: update for July 6 — record deaths in Indonesia/ new cases in Philippines
As of 00:45 GMT July 6 there was 67,014 active cases of COVID-19 throughout the 10 Asean member countries, an increase of 2,343, or 3.62 per cent, on the day prior.
— AEC News Today

AirAsia in red with more than RM800mil net loss
AirAsia Group Bhd posted a net loss of RM803.85 million for the first quarter ended March 31, 2020 (Q1) compared to a RM96.09 million net profit a year ago.
— New Straits Times

Malaysian and Thai tourism agencies ride on Singapore deputy prime minister’s nomination day speech fumble
A slip of the tongue by Singapore’s deputy prime minister has been taken advantage of by tourism agencies in the region to promote their products instead.
— Pattaya Mail

COVID-19 cases in Southeast Asia near 170,000
The tally of coronavirus cases in Southeast Asia has reached 169,106 on Monday, including 4,758 fatalities and 94,962 recoveries thus far.
— Anadolu Agency

Southeast Asian democracies in declining health amid COVID-19
The COVID-19 pandemic is affecting democracies in the Asia-Pacific region in ways that demand Australian attention.
— UNSW Newsroom

AsPac urged to ensure food security
The Asian Development Bank is urging countries in the Asia Pacific region to use the pandemic as an opportunity to implement reforms that help ensure food security.
— Philstar

This is no time to take eyes off the South China Sea
Regional flashpoints are heating up, as we’ve seen with the fatal clash in Ladakh on the India–China border, the protests in Hong Kong and provocative sorties in the airspace over Taiwan and Japan.
— The Strategist

APEC Deepens Projected 2020 GDP Loss From Pandemic To 3.7% From 2.7%
The APEC region’s economic growth is now expected to decline by 3.7 percent in 2020, down from its initial forecast a 2.7% shrinkage announced in April, the APEC Policy Support Unit said today.
— Forbes

Impact Of COVID-19 On Rice Farmers In Southeast Asia – Analysis
Over the past several decades, rice farmers across Southeast Asia have experienced growing labor shortages as working-age adults migrated to nearby cities and abroad in search of better jobs.
— Eurasia Review

Asean should reevaluate its path post-Covid-19
ASEAN nations should reevaluate its economy post-pandemic to one that is more resilient, digitally enabled, inclusive and sustainable, says the regional bloc secretary general Datuk Lim Jock Hoi.
— The Malaysian Reserve

Cambodia postpones ASEM 13 to mid-2021 due to COVID-19
Cambodia, the host of the 13th Asia-Europe Meeting Summit (ASEM 13), has decided to postpone the meeting, initially scheduled for November 16 – 17 in Phnom Penh, to mid-2021 due to the COVID-19 pandemic, according to a foreign ministry’s press statement.
— SGGP News

ASEAN maritime Security and the China Factor
The recent COVID 19 crisis which is affecting populations and economies across the globe has generated considerable ill-will towards China.
— Financial Express

Culture, convenience and age: How beverage firms can most effectively tap immunity innovation
Beverage firms in the APAC region can most effectively tap into immunity innovation for their products by focusing on key areas such as culture, convenience and demographic-targeting, according to experts at DuPont.
— Foodnavigator-asia

Vehicle output of Asean region down 39.2 percent in Jan-May
Asean countries’ vehicle output amounted to 82,023 units in May this year, up by 61.6 month on month and down 77.4 percent year on year, according to the data published by the Asean Automotive Federation (AAF).
— SteelOrbis

Mekong region offers opportunities for experienced boutique managers
The Mekong region has huge potential, but ASEAN countries have given relatively less attention to the opportunities it presents, according to Jeremy King, trustee of Knight Foundation.
— Asia First

ASEAN Underground Abortion
Abortion is an extremely taboo topic in some parts of conservative Southeast Asia.
— The Asean Post

Cambodia morning news

Compiled by Mark Henry Uy

Businesses leave premises over rent burdens
As Cambodian businesses suffer amid the pandemic, many are facing tough choices to either ask for reduced rent or are having to up sticks, in some cases losing large deposits amid existing financial turmoil.
— Khmer Times

Health Ministry: Further quarantine spaces prepared for increasing arrivals
The Ministry of Health has said that Cambodia has prepared four centres for Cambodian arrivals and a further 10 hotels for foreign arrivals in Phnom Penh to service the increasing numbers of foreigners arriving in the Kingdom, as Cambodia expects to begin receiving around 500 arrivals per day.
— Khmer Times

Media owner grilled over ‘insulting’ music video
The Ministry of Culture and Fine Arts on Monday summoned the owner of Morodok Media Production for questioning related to a music video said to contain content insulting to the Prey Veng community.
— The Phnom Penh Post

See here for more of today’s Cambodia morning news

Indonesia morning news

Compiled by Justhine De Guzman Uy @justhine.aecnews

Indonesia set to become third virus hotspot in Asia, expert warns
Indonesia will become the third coronavirus epicentre in Asia after China and India, according to one of the country’s top epidemiologists.
— The Sydney Morning Herald

Tokopedia Files Police Report over Alleged Data Breach
Tokopedia VP corporate communications, Nuraini Razak, on Sunday evening clarified the report suggesting that 91 million of its users’ personal data had been leaked and are able to be freely downloaded.
— Tempo.co

See here for more of today’s Indonesia morning news

Lao PDR morning news

Compiled by Mark Henry Uy

Japan provides anti-viral medicine Avigan in fight against COVID-19
The Government of Japan recently handed over to the Lao Ministry of Health enough of the anti-viral medicine Avigan to treat 100 people suffering from coronavirus symptoms.
— Vientiane Times (paywall)

Laos, Vietnam seek to resume post-pandemic cooperation
Laos and Vietnam plan to extend efforts to revive their economies through mutual visits and people-to-people exchanges and are considering reopening flights between the two countries as soon as possible.
— Vientiane Times

Drug gangs start to target Laos border
Thailand has sought help from Laos to step up efforts against drug trafficking along the Thai-Lao border after smugglers changed their routes from the North to Northeast due to heavy suppression along the northern boundary with Myanmar.
— Bangkok Post

See here for more of today’s Lao morning news

Malaysia morning news

Compiled by Sreypov Men @MenSreypov

Hishammuddin: Announcement on Malaysia-S’pore border opening expected early August
Malaysia and Singapore are expected to reach a firm decision early next month on the reopening of its borders under the Reciprocal Green Lane (RGL) and Periodic Commuting Arrangement (PCA) categories, following fruitful discussions on the matter.
— The Star Online

Malaysia: New government must create police commission and pursue other major human rights reforms
Changes in Malaysia’s government must spur, not stall, human rights reforms, including efforts to establish an independent police commission, Amnesty International said today.
— Amnesty

Najib’s Must Explain Past Lies Before His Present Version Of The Truth Can Be Believed
Najib Razak rarely shuts up these days (between court appearances at least) as he seeks to re-invent and re-habilitate his reputation, presumably in advance of arm twisting the present coup coalition, which depends on his support, into either dropping the scores of charges raised against him or into forcing judgements that find him ‘victim’ of the crimes he sanctioned.
— Sarawak Report

See here for more of today’s Malaysia Morning News

Myanmar morning news

Compiled by Sreypov Men @MenSreypov

Myanmar continues capital-market projects despite virus
Foreign investment in Myanmar’s fledging capital markets should increase quickly after the pandemic subsides, as the country pushes ahead with new trading platforms for stocks and bonds, according a Securities and Exchange Commission of Myanmar official.
— Bangkok Post

Looters target Myanmar temple treasures in tourist slump
A squad of armed police patrol Myanmar’s sacred site of Bagan under the cover of night, taking on plunderers snatching relics from temples forsaken by tourists due to coronavirus restrictions.
— CNA

Myanmar army sacks two officers over landslide tragedy
Two high-ranking officers were fired for having failed their responsibilities after a landslide in Myanmar killed at least 174 jade miners, the country’s military said on Monday (Jul 6) in a rare public sanctioning.
— CNA

See here for more of today’s Myanmar morning news

Philippines morning news

Compiled by Stella-maris Ewudolu @stmarisewudolu

‘No alternative’ but lockdown if rising coronavirus cases continue, says Roque
Presidential Spokesperson Harry Roque said on Monday, July 6, that the government would have no choice but to lock down more areas again if coronavirus infections continued to increase.
— Rappler

Duterte’s anti-terrorism law challenged in Philippines’ top court
Critics of a new anti-terrorism law in the Philippines called on the country’s highest court Monday to suspend the legislation, arguing it threatens human rights and freedom of speech.
— CNA

DOH identifies 4 emerging COVID-19 hot spots in Metro Manila
As the number of coronavirus cases continue to rise in the country, the Department of Health (DOH) on Monday, July 6, identified 4 emerging hot spots in Metro Manila.
— Rappler

See here for more of today’s Philippines morning news

Singapore morning news

Compiled by Justhine De Guzman Uy @justhine.aecnews

Trials to test public-health safety measures during flights underway
SINGAPORE and the UK have started a series of trials to test measures aimed at reducing the public health risk to air passengers, air crew and airport staff, the International Civil Aviation Organisation (ICAO) and the United Kingdom Civil Aviation Authority said in a joint statement on Monday.
— The Business Times

Petrol prices, except for SPC’s, creep up as economies reopen
After a month of staying at their lowest in several years, pump prices have moved up in line with higher wholesale fuel prices.
— Straits Times (annoying popups)

Singapore public sector and industry partner to develop technologies to mitigate climate change
According to a report by the National Research Foundation, carbon emissions make up 97% of Singapore’s total greenhouse gas emissions.
— OpenGov

See here for more of today’s Singapore morning news

Thailand morning news

Compiled by John Le Fevre @photo_journ

US delegation ‘will have to wear masks’
A delegation led by the United States’ army chief of staff won’t be quarantined at state facilities, but they will be required to wear face masks during their talks with the prime minister, according to the Centre for Covid-19 Situation Administration (CCSA).
— Bangkok Post

Central bank not ruling out further easing
The central bank has not shut the door to further monetary policy easing, a deputy governor said, after cutting the key rate three times this year to a record low of 0.5% to support an economy badly hit by the coronavirus outbreak.
— Bangkok Post

New police division to track tourists’ movements in fight against Covid-19
A new division of the Royal Thai Police is being formed to monitor tourists’ movements as part of the ongoing suppression of the Covid-19 virus.
— The Thaiger

See here for more of today’s Thailand morning news

Vietnam morning news

Compiled by Sreypov Men @MenSreypov

Vietnam blocks new airlines until 2022 despite market duopoly
Vietnam plans to freeze approval for new entries to the airline industry until 2022, a move that threatens to solidify the virtual duopoly already in place.
— Nikkei Asian Review (paywall)

Exporters fear coronavirus will cause more pain
A global resurgence in Covid-19 cases could put paid to Vietnam’s plans to boost exports in the second half, business executives have warned.
— VnExpress

National retail sales, service revenues up in June
Online shopping has become increasingly popular, especially when social distancing measures were put in place.
— Viet Nam News

See here for more of today’s Vietnam morning news

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