Asean morning news

Compiled by Stella-maris Ewudolu         @stmarisewudolu

 

Coronavirus: WHO asks countries in South-East Asia region to strengthen preparedness
With India, Indonesia and Thailand confirming new cases of COVID-19, the World Health Organization on Wednesday asked countries in its South-East Asia region to strengthen preparedness for all possible scenarios and ensure early containment measures.
— Outlook

From Manila to Malaysia, Southeast Asia Is Moving to Beat Impacts of Coronavirus
Singapore was hit a month ago with a surge in novel coronavirus cases that originated in China but capped the spread.
— VOA

Coronavirus outbreak may spur Southeast Asian action on wildlife trafficking
Governments across Southeast Asia have vowed to strengthen cooperation in curbing the illegal wildlife trade, suspected to have sparked the novel coronavirus epidemic.
— Mongabay

Coronavirus’ economic impact in East and Southeast Asia
As the number of coronavirus cases continues to rise around the world, there are deep concerns over the potential economic impact of the virus.
— East Asia Forum

Vietnam among most sensitive to China supply shocks: report
AMONG Asian economies, Vietnam is the most vulnerable to China supply shocks while Singapore is the least, according to a Deutsche Bank research note on March 3.
— The Business Times

Plans to fight Mekong pollution take shape
Researchers plan to assess plastic waste leakage into the Mekong River system to protect the mighty river.
— The Star Online

58% of SMEs in South East Asia are Keen in Alternative Financing
In 2020 and onward, an increasing portion of micro, small and medium-sized enterprises (MSMEs) in Southeast Asia will turn to non-traditional financial sources for their financial needs.
— Fintech News Singapore (media release) (blog)

ASEAN ambassadors to begin 5-day visit to Northeast India and Myanmar border town
In a growing indication of interest in Northeast India and bordering areas with Myanmar, Ambassadors of ASEAN countries based in New Delhi are arriving tomorrow in Mizoram State of India for a five-day visit, according to a Mizzima reporting team joining the event.
— Mizzima News

Greater focus on Asean in the curriculum at secondary, tertiary levels
Students can expect to learn more about the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (Asean) region in school as the Ministry of Education (MOE) seeks to bolster students’ understanding of Asia.
— Today Online

Covid-19 slowing down Asean-China trade, tourism
The coronavirus disease 2019 (Covid-19) is slowing down trade and tourism between Asean and China, IHS Markit Chief Economist for Asia Pacific Rajiv Biswas said in an e-mail.
— Philippine News Agency

ASEAN governments want data localisation laws
The dangers of corporations owning large amounts of personal data have been heavily debated in recent years with no real solution to the issue.
— The Asean Post

Joining hands to build a solid and close Asean Community
From Jan 1 Vietnam officially assumed the Asean chair role for annual rotating chairmanship.
— Khmer Times

The ADMM-Plus And Maritime Security In South China Sea: Constraints In Establishing A Maritime Security Regime – Analysis
The Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) through the ASEAN Defence Ministers’ Meeting (ADMM) have taken steps to establish a maritime security regime that may govern interactions and avoid contingencies and operational miscalculations in the South China Sea (SCS).
— Eurasia Review

ASEAN defence and security institutions meeting opens in Da Nang
Vietnamese Deputy Minister of National Defence Sen. Lieut. Gen. Nguyen Chi Vinh joined hundreds of delegates from defence and security institutions and centres in ASEAN member countries at the event.
— Vietnamplus

PM receives US-ASEAN Business Council delegation
Prime Minister Nguyen Xuan Phuc hosted a reception in Hanoi on March 4 for a delegation of the US-ASEAN Business Council (US-ABC) led by its President and CEO Alex Feldman.
— Vietnamplus

ASEAN Programme sends 2 youth leaders to biodiversity negotiations in Rome
Two youth leaders attended the second round of negotiations about the post-2020 global biodiversity framework in Rome, Italy as part of the ASEAN Centre for Biodiversity (ACB) through the ASEAN Youth Biodiversity Programme (AYBP) efforts to empower the youth in conserving biodiversity.
— Philippine Information Agency

Mass mobilisation official receives ASEAN women delegation
Head of the Party Central Committee’s Mass Mobilisation Commission Truong Thi Mai hosted a reception in Hanoi on March 3 for a delegation of the ASEAN Community Women’s Group led by Ambassador Nguyen Nguyet Nga, on the occasion of the 110th anniversary of the International Women’s Day (March 8).
— Nhan Dan Online

ASEAN senior officials gather in Da Nang
The ASEAN Senior Officials’ Meeting (SOM) took place in the central coastal city of Da Nang on March 4 with the participation of hundreds of senior officials from the 10 ASEAN member countries.
— Vietnamplus

SE Asia Stocks-Fall as Fed rate cut fails to calm nerves over virus impact
Most Southeast Asian stock markets slipped on Wednesday, tracking Wall Street as a surprise rate cut by the U.S. Federal Reserve failed to allay fears over the coronavirus’s impact, while dismal China economic data dented sentiment as well.
— Reuters

Southeast Asia Smartphone Sales Rose 4 Per Cent in 2019 – Study
Smartphone sales in Southeast Asia rose 4 per cent to $23 billion in 2019, a study by market research company GfK found, even as global demand declined.
— Entrepreneur

Cambodia morning news

Compiled by Mark Henry Uy

 

PM Hun Sen: All State Institutions Must Reduce Expense by 50%, Except Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Commerce, and Council of Ministers 25% (Video inside)
Cambodia’s Prime Minister Hun Sen announced that the Royal Government of Cambodia has decided to reduce state institutions’ expenditure by 50 percent, while the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, the Ministry of Commerce, and the Council of Ministers only 25 percent.
— Fresh News

Aftermath of Chinese Exodus from Sihanoukville
Over the past few years with the influx of Chinese nationals and Cambodians working in Sihanoukville, landlords have been laughing all the way to the bank through rentals.
— Khmer Times

Deportations are an obligation facing all nations including Cambodia, says Ambassador Murphy
Deportations of Cambodians living in the United States, including Lowell, have been on the rise.
— Khmer Times

See here for more of today’s Cambodia morning news

Indonesia morning news

Compiled by Justhine De Guzman Uy         @justhine.aecnews

 

Coronavirus Fear; Indonesia Tightens Entry Rules for 4 Nationals
The government will not restrict the entry of foreigners from four countries which become the epicenters of the Coronavirus spread after China, namely Korea, Japan, Italy, and Iran. Nevertheless, the government will tighten the entry rules for foreigners from those countries.
— Tempo.co

Seven suspected COVID-19 patients treated at Sulianti Saroso Hospital
Seven patients suspected of having contracted the COVID-19 infection are currently undergoing treatment in isolation rooms at the Sulianti Saroso Infection Disease Hospital in Jakarta.
— Antara News

67 Indonesian crew members test negative for coronavirus
​​​​Sixty-seven Indonesian crew members working on the Diamond Princess cruise ship were confirmed to have tested negative for the Covid-19 coronavirus infection.
— Antara News

See here for more of today’s Indonesia morning news

Lao PDR morning news

Compiled by Mark Henry Uy

 

Gov’t taps US$22.5 m World Bank finance to tackle rural poverty
The government has borrowed US$22.5 million through a low-interest World Bank loan to fund a programme to address nutrition improvement and poverty in four northern provinces from 2020-2024.
— Vientiane Times (paywall)

Economic recession possible in Laos due to Covid-19
Laos’ economy could possibly face a recession, with growth in 2020 expected to drop from the predicted 6.7 percent to 6 percent, because of the outbreak of the coronavirus (Covid-19) in many countries around the world.
— ANN/Vientiane Times

Take passengers’ temperatures before flying to Laos, foreign airlines told
Lao authorities have told foreign airlines to check the temperature of their pilots, flight attendants and passengers before flying to Laos in a bid to prevent the spread of the coronavirus here.
— Vientiane Times

See here for more of today’s Lao morning news

Malaysia morning news

Compiled by Sreypov Men         @MenSreypov

 

Sarawak govt provides animal control vehicles to local authorities to curb rabies
The Sarawak government today handed over 26 units of  animal control vehicles, worth RM3.37 million, for use by local government authorities, especially to curb the spread of rabies.
— Malay Mail

14 new cases of COVID-19 in Malaysia, new cluster identified
Fourteen new cases of COVID-19 were reported in Malaysia on Wednesday (Mar 4), bringing the national total to 50.
— CNA

Communications Ministry confident new govt will continue with planned initiatives
The Ministry of Communications and Multimedia (KKMM) is confident that the new government will continue with the implementation of all planned initiatives under the ministry for the benefit of the people.
— Malay Mail

See here for more of today’s Malaysia Morning News

Myanmar morning news

Compiled by Sreypov Men         @MenSreypov

 

11 Factories in Myanmar Close Due to Lack of Orders, Raw Materials
Labor activists claim factories looking to break trade unions are exaggerating the impact of supply disruptions linked to the coronavirus in order to justify closures.
— Irrawaddy

Myanmar to continue labour exports despite COVID-19
The government will continue sending workers abroad, even to South Korea, which is now the centre of the COVID-19 epidemic in more than 70 countries, a senior labour official said.
— Myanmar Times

Covid-19: Singapore sends medical supplies to Myanmar to boost detection efforts
The Government has contributed medical supplies to Myanmar, following a request by the latter’s Ministry of Health and Sports, to help in the detection of Covid-19.
— Today Online

See here for more of today’s Myanmar morning news

Philippines morning news

Compiled by Stella-maris Ewudolu         @stmarisewudolu

 

Duterte repeals fiat shunning aid from drug-critic nations
PRESIDENT Rodrigo R. Duterte has revoked an order he issued last year rejecting loans and grants from 41 countries that backed a probe of his deadly war on drugs, his spokesman said on Wednesday.
— BusinessWorld

No Covid-19 case in the country for ‘four weeks’- DoH chief
THERE are no recorded cases for the Coronavirus Disease 2019 (Covid-19) for almost a month as the number of patients under investigation (PUIs) for the disease declined, the Department of Health (DoH) said on Wednesday.
— Manila Times

Greenhills hostage taker charged with frustrated murder, illegal detention
MULTIPLE charges were filed against Alchie Paray, the hostage taker in a mall in Greenhills, police reported on Wednesday.
— Manila Times

See here for more of today’s Philippines morning news

Singapore morning news

Compiled by Justhine De Guzman Uy         @justhine.aecnews

 

Flight delayed at Changi over virus concerns
A Turkish Airlines flight that had been scheduled to depart from Changi Airport last night was delayed after a coronavirus case was detected among passengers who had arrived from Turkey earlier on the same plane.
— Straits Times (annoying popups)

COVID-19: Visitors from Singapore to Thailand do not need to self-quarantine, says tourism authority
Visitors from Singapore to Thailand will not have to quarantine themselves amid the COVID-19 outbreak, the Tourism Authority of Thailand confirmed on Wednesday (Mar 4).
— Channel NewsAsia (very annoying popups)

Infected passenger flew on SIA from Milan to S’pore
Singapore Airlines (SIA) has asked the pilots and cabin crew of a Milan-Singapore flight to take leave of absence and monitor their health closely after a passenger later tested positive for the coronavirus.
— Straits Times (annoying popups)

See here for more of today’s Singapore morning news

Thailand morning news

Compiled by John Le Fevre         @photo_journ

 

Thailand’s global ranking for COVID-19 infections improves slightly
Thailand’s ranking, by number of confirmed COVID-19 infections, has improved from 15th to 16th place, a position it shares with Australia, based on WHO figures, according to Dr. Thaweesilp Wissanuyothin, a senior doctor attached to the 10th Health region.
— Thai PBS News

B100bn relief package for virus
The Finance Ministry has launched a huge relief package including cash giveaways to many more individuals beyond the 14 million people with annual base incomes not exceeding 100,000 baht and who are registered as poor to help cushion fallout from the spread of the new coronavirus.
— Bangkok Post

Student demonstrations continue for a 10th day
The wave of student demonstrations which began on 21 February has now been continuing for 10 days as more universities and high schools organize their own rallies amidst fear of COVID-19 and as students in many universities go into their mid-term examination period.
— Prachatai English

See here for more of today’s Thailand morning news

Vietnam morning news

Compiled by Sreypov Men         @MenSreypov

 

Vietnam Buying $3 Billion in U.S. Farm Goods to Ease Trump Tariff Threats
Vietnam, looking to allay the Trump administration’s wrath over its soaring trade surplus with the U.S., is committing to buy $3 billion in farm products from Nebraska.
— Bloomberg

Vietnam banking system eases pressure on US$10 billion loans for clients
The current Covid-19 epidemic has led to delay in debt payment and higher rates of bad and overdue debts , according to a senior official of the State Bank of Vietnam.
— The Hanoitimes

Vietnam suspends visa exemption for citizens from Italy
The Government of Vietnam has decided to temporarily suspend visa exemption for citizens from Italy since March 3 amid fast rising coronavirus infections in the European country.
— Vietnam Insider

See here for more of today’s Vietnam morning news

 

 

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