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Asean morning news

Compiled by Stella-maris Ewudolu         @stmarisewudolu

COVID-19 in Asean: update for March 18 — new record for new cases globally
As of 01:40 GMT March 18 there was 1,573 active cases of COVID-19 throughout the 10 Asean member countries, an increase of 248 on the day prior.
— AEC News Today

Coronavirus surging in Southeast Asia, with new cases traced to religious gathering
At the end of last month, thousands of Muslim missionaries from two dozen countries congregated at a sprawling mosque complex outside the Malaysian capital for a weekend of prayer.
— Yahoo News

ADB lays out $200 million for COVID-19 supply chains
The Asian Development Bank (ADB) has stumped up $200 million for companies that make and distribute supplies needed in Southeast Asia’s fight against the novel coronavirus/ COVID-19 outbreak.
— AEC News Today

Asia-Pacific faces imminent recession
A RECESSION across Asia-Pacific is “now guaranteed” amid an unprecedented disruption in the flow of people, trade and supply chains in large economies like China and the United States, with emerging countries in the region like the Philippines also likely to see spillover effects, according to S&P Global Ratings.
— BusinessWorld

Southeast Asia faces budget deficits if tourist numbers drop 50%
Cratering demand for travel in the wake of the new coronavirus outbreak is battering Southeast Asian economies heavily dependent on tourism.
— Nikkei Asian Review (paywall)

Combination of fiscal, monetary policies can help ward off recession in Asean region, says economist
Central banks’ monetary policy and governments’ fiscal policy can be two essential weapons for the Asean economies to use to manoeuvre against a potential recession caused by the Covid-19 outbreak and plunging oil prices, according to an economist.
— Malay Mail

Compulsory quarantine required for passengers from ASEAN countries
The new requirement is detailed in an urgent dispatch that the Transport Ministry sent to the Civil Aviation Administration of Vietnam on March 17.
— Vietnamplus

Thai Travelers Who Visited Laos Likely Carried COVID-19 Across the Mekong
As Vietnam and Cambodia reported increases in the number of confirmed COVID-19 cases, authorities in Thailand warned their Lao neighbors that a group of Thai nationals that recently visited Laos on a day trip had tested positive for the coronavirus.
— Radio Free Asia

Vietjet suspends Thai, Asean flights as infections rise
Budget airline Vietjet Air said on Tuesday it will suspend its flights to major Southeast Asian destinations from Friday due to the coronavirus.
— Bangkok Post

Cambodia halts Mekong River dam plans ‘for 10 years’
Electricity-starved Cambodia will not develop new hydropower dams on the Mekong River for the next 10 years, a senior energy official said on Wednesday, as it reviews its policy to seek energy from coal, natural gas and solar.
— Bangkok Post

ASEAN response on COVID-19 under spotlight as crisis deepens
A regional response on the new coronavirus disease outbreak has come under the spotlight as Southeast Asia scrambles to prevent the wider transmission of COVID-19, which has reached eight out of 10 ASEAN member states.
— The Jakarta Post

SE Asia Stocks-Most rise as stimulus measures boost sentiment; Singapore leads gains
Most Southeast Asian stock markets rose on Wednesday, with Singapore leading the pack, as risk sentiment improved on global stimulus efforts to soften the economic
impact of the coronavirus pandemic.
— Reuters

Coronavirus cases surge in ASEAN states
A regional response on the coronavirus disease outbreak has come under the spotlight as Southeast Asia scrambles to prevent the wider transmission of COVID-19, which has reached eight out of 10 ASEAN member states.
— The Jakarta Post

Taiwan to cancel visa-free entry for S’poreans & Asean citizens as part of Covid-19 measure
Taiwan is set to cancel visa-free entry for Singaporean citizens and nationals from 18 other Asian countries in an attempt to curb the spread of the Covid-19 outbreak within its borders, Taiwanese media Apple Daily (Taiwan) and CNews reported.
— Mothership

Battling childhood obesity in ASEAN
According to the World Health Organisation (WHO), the prevalence of childhood obesity has increased at an alarming rate globally.
— The Asean Post

Is COVID-19 curbing startup exits in Southeast Asia?
The exit landscape in Southeast Asia has seen a huge rise in the recent past and if you consider the current trends, it will grow higher with every year.
— e27

Cambodia morning news

Compiled by Mark Henry Uy

COVID-19 infection increases to 37
The Health Ministry has detected two more cases of COVID-19 in Tboung Khmum province, bringing the number of infection to 37.
— Khmer Times

Cambodia Forms National Commission for Combatting Covid-19 Headed by PM Hun Sen
Cambodia formed a National Commission for Combatting Covid-19, according to the decision dated 18 March 2020.
— Fresh News

Cambodian participants facing increased risk of COVID-19 after Tabligh congregation as cases surge
The leaders of the Tabligh at a mosque in Sri Petaling, Kuala Lumpur, Markas Dakwah Tabligh Malaysia Sri Petaling, have ordered for all activities that can cause worry and the spread of Covid-19 to be suspended with immediate effect.
— Khmer Times

See here for more of today’s Cambodia morning news

Indonesia morning news

Compiled by Justhine De Guzman Uy         @justhine.aecnews

President, ministers’ medical test results won’t be revealed to public: Health minister
The Health Ministry announced Tuesday that President Joko “Jokowi” Widodo, along with his aides in the Cabinet, had been tested for COVID-19 following the positive case of Transportation Minister Budi Karya Sumadi.
— The Jakarta Post

It’s a non-emergency emergency, BNPB says regarding COVID-19 pandemic
The National Disaster Mitigation Agency (BNPB) has declared that Indonesia’s emergency disaster status due to the COVID-19 pandemic would be extended until May but explained that the status did not mean an actual state of emergency.
— The Jakarta Post

Police slammed for arresting producer of video showing 49 Chinese workers arriving in Kendari
The police’s response to a video of 49 Chinese workers arriving in Kendari, Southeast Sulawesi, despite the government’s travel ban to and from China in an effort to prevent the novel coronavirus from spreading, has been condemned.
— The Jakarta Post

See here for more of today’s Indonesia morning news

Lao PDR morning news

Compiled by Mark Henry Uy

Testing for COVID-19 in Laos
Testing for COVID-19 is possible in Laos, however, supplies are limited and testing is only available to those who meet certain criteria and who have specific symptoms.
— The Laotian Times

Thai Travelers Who Visited Laos Likely Carried COVID-19 Across the Mekong
As Vietnam and Cambodia reported increases in the number of confirmed COVID-19 cases, authorities in Thailand warned their Lao neighbors that a group of Thai nationals that recently visited Laos on a day trip had tested positive for the coronavirus.
— RFA

Laos closes checkpoint at Thai border
Laos has closed its four immigration checkpoints near Thailand’s Nakhon Phanom province, saying it doesn’t have enough medical personnel to screen for the Covid-19 coronavirus at the four places.
— The Thaiger

See here for more of today’s Lao morning news

Malaysia morning news

Compiled by Sreypov Men         @MenSreypov

Made in Malaysia: How mosque event spread virus to SE Asia
Out of Malaysia’s 673 confirmed infections, nearly two-thirds are linked to the four-day meeting outside Kuala Lumpur.
— Aljazeera

Malaysia Airlines scales down operations in light of travel bans
Malaysia Airlines will significantly reduce its overall network following the nationwide movement control order imposed by the government from March 18 to 31 to curb Covid-19.
— The Sun Daily

Malaysian PM Muhyiddin says control measures could be extended if coronavirus continues to spread
Malaysian Prime Minister Muhyiddin Yassin has said that the movement control measures which took effect on Wednesday (March 18) could be extended past their initial two weeks if they fail to curb the spread of the coronavirus.
— The Straits Times

See here for more of today’s Malaysia Morning News

Myanmar morning news

Compiled by Sreypov Men         @MenSreypov

COVID-19 could hit FDI in Myanmar; 4000 workers lose jobs
The flow of foreign direct investment (FDI) into Myanmar could be affected by the COVID-19 pandemic, hitting manufacturing businesses that rely on import of raw materials, according to U Thant Sin Lwin, secretary of the Myanmar Investment Commission (MIC). Currently, more than 10 garment factories have shut down due to losses caused by the outbreak.
— Fibre2fashion

MoHS to use $10.7 mln international funds for COVID-19 prevention measures
The Ministry of Health and Sports will use US$ 10.7 million international funds for prevention and control measures against the COVID-19.
— The Global New Light of Myanmar

UK Embassy Tells Citizens to Leave Myanmar Amid Coronavirus Concerns
The UK Embassy in Yangon is concerned the coronavirus will pressure Myanmar’s healthcare system and flights may be cancelled, though the country so far has no confirmed cases.
— Irrawaddy

See here for more of today’s Myanmar morning news

Philippines morning news

Compiled by Stella-maris Ewudolu         @stmarisewudolu

Covid-19 cases up to 202, including 17 dead, 7 recovered — DoH
THE Department of Health (DoH) on Wednesday confirmed that 202 patients tested positive for the coronavirus disease 2019 (covid-19), from 187 while the death toll is up to 17 from 14. The three new fatalities all passed away on Tuesday. The 15th victim, identified as PH201, 58, male, succumbed to the disease at 6:41 a.m. on Tuesday. A 65-year old …
— Manila Times

DOH, experts say PH coronavirus cases could reach 75,000 by June if not contained
Experts from the Philippines and the World Health Organization (WHO) estimate the novel coronavirus cases in the country could peak to 75,000 in the next 3 months or by June if not properly contained.
— Rappler

PH in race to trace Filipinos at Malaysian gathering linked to coronavirus
Philippine authorities are racing to trace attendees of a big religious gathering in Malaysia that was linked to clusters of coronavirus infection in several countries in Southeast Asia.
— Rappler

See here for more of today’s Philippines morning news

Singapore morning news

Compiled by Justhine De Guzman Uy         @justhine.aecnews

COVID-19 cases in Singapore reach 313 with 47 new infections, 33 imported
Singapore on Wednesday (Mar 18) reported 47 new COVID-19 cases, taking the total in the country to 313.
— Channel NewsAsia (very annoying popups)

Coronavirus: 108,000 affected workers to each get one-time payment of up to $300
The payment will be funded by a $25 million sum set aside by NTUC, unions and the Government, and applies only to union members.
— Straits Times (annoying popups)

Singapore remains the most expensive city for expatriates: survey
SINGAPORE held on to its first-place seat as the world’s most expensive city for expatriates for the seventh straight year, sharing the top spot with Hong Kong and Osaka. However, the city-state’s gap with other cities narrowed.
— The Business Times

See here for more of today’s Singapore morning news

Thailand morning news

Compiled by John Le Fevre         @photo_journ

Thailand confirms 35 new coronavirus cases, total surpasses 200
Thirty-five new cases of the Covid-19 coronavirus have been confirmed in Thailand today, a new daily record, taking the total to 212 since the virus struck in January.
— The Thaiger

The fight to save Bangkok from sinking into watery depths
A green basin, an urban farm and a floating home — the programme Insight explores the solutions being devised to keep climate change and floodwaters at bay in the Thai capital.
— CNA

COVID-19 outbreak could last 2 years in Thailand but there is still time to limit impact: Expert
Half of Thailand’s population – about 33 million people – could be infected by COVID-19 over the next two years in the worst case scenario described by deputy director of the Disease Control Department Dr Thanarak Phaliphat.
— CNA

See here for more of today’s Thailand morning news

Vietnam morning news

Compiled by Sreypov Men         @MenSreypov

Covid-19 impacts: Vietnam aviation suffers $1.3 billion revenue loss
Vietnamese carriers have lost more than VND30 trillion ($1.3 billion) in revenues as a result of the Covid-19 pandemic, the transport ministry estimates.
— VnExpress

Billion-dollar wildlife industry in Vietnam under assault as law drafted to halt trading
Vietnam’s prime minister, Nguyen Xuan Phuc, has asked the country’s agriculture ministry to draft a directive to stop illegal trading and consumption of wildlife over fears it spreads disease.
— The Guardian

Economic Watch: Trade recovers on China-Vietnam border
Hundreds of flat-bed and container trucks queued along a border bridge in Dongxing, a city in south China’s Guangxi Zhuang Autonomous Region, waiting for customs clearance, a scene that signifies the recovery of trade on the China-Vietnam border from the COVID-19 epidemic.
— Xinhua

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.

We filter our the dull, the boring, the repetitive, and the click-bait and package all of the Asean daily news that you need to know to start your day into an easy to read, time saving format of Asean news headlines and first paragraphs before 7.30am Bangkok time.

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