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Asean morning news

Compiled by Stella-maris Ewudolu         @stmarisewudolu

COVID-19 in Asean: update for May 12 — Singapore sees first fall in active cases; global rates continues to ease
As of 00:23 GMT May 12 there was 41,150 active cases of COVID-19 throughout the 10 Asean member countries, an increase of 198, or 0.48 per cent, on the day prior.
— AEC News Today

China’s Chance to Demonstrate Leadership in the South China Sea
China, in a series of assertive and sometimes risky unilateral actions, has netted some significant gains in the South China Sea in the past decade.
— The Diplomat

Thailand, Malaysia, Singapore may see recovery in Q1 2021: report
EXPORT-oriented economies in South-east Asia could take longer to recover from the coronavirus-led slowdown, compared with those with lower exposure to the impact of the global recession, a report from Morgan Stanley suggests.
— The Business Times

Laos to press ahead with ‘destructive’ new dam on Mekong
Environmentalists have criticised Laos for pressing ahead with plans for another “destructive dam” on the Mekong River, a waterway already strangled by hydropower schemes.
— France 24

Hackers target ASEAN governments during 5-year ‘cyber espionage campaign’
A five-year cyber espionage campaign targeting government agencies and owned businesses across Southeast Asia has been uncovered following the re-emergence of hacker group Naikon.
— Channel Asia Singapore

EU still pursuing FTAs with Asean
THE European Union (EU) continues to push for more trade deals with major Asean economies despite making slow progress following its consecutive successes with Singapore and Vietnam last year.
— The Malaysian Reserve

Japan forced 500,000 women into prostitution: Will Southeast Asia push for justice?
Apart from their collective socio-economic goals, the ASEAN countries share a dark past.
— Asean Today

ASEAN countries prove effective cooperation in curbing COVID-19: Deputy Defence Minister
The Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) entered 2020 with a lot of difficulties due to the COVID-19 pandemic but the initial success in curbing the spread of the disease in the region has proved effective intra-regional cooperation, said Vietnamese Deputy Minister of National Defence Sen. Lieut. Gen Nguyen Chi Vinh.
— Vietnamplus

Asean’s authoritarian regimes use virus to ramp up repression
Authoritarian regimes across Southeast Asia have been using the Covid-19 crisis to increase repression and curb freedoms, and they are unlikely to change tack or give up any new “official” powers lightly.
— UCA News

Pandemic meets geopolitics in the South China Sea
Historically, epidemics and pandemics have ravaged societies and civilization as they culled more human beings than natural disasters and armed conflicts combined.
— BusinessWorld

ADSOM Working Group convenes teleconference
The ASEAN Defence Senior Officials’ Meeting Working Group (ADSOM WG) wrapped up a teleconference on May 12.
— Vietnamplus

SE Asia markets skid; Singapore drops most
Southeast Asian stock markets fell on Tuesday amid fears of a coronavirus resurgence in China and its implications for countries easing restrictions, while prospects of Sino-US tensions flaring further also weighed on sentiment.
— Bangkok Post

APAC firms still coming to grips with data protection
Asia-Pacific organisations see the importance of having good data protection practices, even as they are still grappling with a slew of organisational and operational challenges, according to industry experts.
— ComputerWeekly.com

China’s Mekong dams have grave consequences for SE Asia
China’s frenzied damming of the Mekong River upstream for hydroelectricity generation has had devastating consequences for people living alongside Southeast Asia’s longest river, experts say.
— UCA News

Issues to be settled for East Asia to stabilize industrial chain
All three major production networks in the world – East Asia, North America and Europe – have encountered economic fallout from the deadly COVID-19.
— Global Times

Using rail to cross borders quicker helps SE Asia’s truckers get back on track
South-east Asia’s cross-border road freight market has taken a hit from coronavirus lockdowns, but using rail to mitigate delays from tightened border controls is helping.
— The Load Star

Cambodia morning news

Compiled by Mark Henry Uy

Ministry: 60 per cent of cars on the road not inspected
Officials from the Ministry of Public Works and Transport said 60 per cent of cars on the road have not been inspected and starting July 1, the ministry will begin issuing fines to owners of cars with overdue inspection dates at a rate of 2,000 riel ($0.50) per overdue day.
— The Phnom Penh Post

Young Woman Becomes 16th Targeted in Brutal Assaults on Cambodia Opposition Since Mid-2019
A young woman activist with the banned Cambodia National Rescue Party (CNRP) has been attacked by an unknown assailant, bringing to 16 the number targeted since mid-2019 and prompting condemnation from the opposition Tuesday over what they allege is a campaign of intimidation by authorities.
— RFA

COVID-19 hurts Cambodia’s export of famous Kampot pepper
The exports of renowned Kampot pepper, one of Cambodia’s only two products to be registered as a Geographical Indication in the European Union (EU), have now been stymied because of the COVID-19 pandemic, local media reported on Monday.
— Cambodianess

See here for more of today’s Cambodia morning news

Indonesia morning news

Compiled by Justhine De Guzman Uy         @justhine.aecnews

Indonesia’s COVID-19 Deaths Top 1,000 as Those Under 45 Urged to Resume Work
Indonesia’s death toll from the novel coronavirus passed the 1,000 mark on Tuesday, even as authorities signalled they were poised to ease some social restrictions aimed at curbing the spread of the virus in the Southeast Asian country.
— The New York Times

Indonesia eyes $1 billion rescue for virus-hit national airline
Indonesia is drawing up a $1.0 billion rescue plan for struggling national airline Garuda after the coronavirus forced the company to ground most of its planes, Bloomberg News reported Monday.
— Inquirer.net

‘Shut Freeport mine’ plea by Mimika regent after workers test positive
The regent of Mimika in Papua has urged President Joko “Jokowi” Widodo to temporarily close a mine in the regency owned by gold and copper miner PT Freeport Indonesia as the number of covid-19 coronavirus cases in the area continues to rise.
— Asia Pacific Report

See here for more of today’s Indonesia morning news

Lao PDR morning news

Compiled by Mark Henry Uy

Laos issues temporary guideline on entry-exit during COVID-19
Lao Ministry of Foreign Affairs has issued the guideline on entry-exit the country during the COVID-19 pandemic.
— Xinhua

Organic farmers feel the heat as production capacity wilts
Around 30 percent of Vientiane clean agriculture production has been impacted adversely by the COVID-19 outbreak as well as hotter weather conditions, an official in the sector said.
— Vientiane Times (paywall)

Laos’ sixth Mekong dam plans submitted
Laos has submitted plans to build a new hydropower dam on the Mekong River, with construction scheduled to begin later this year, the Mekong River Commission (MRC) said in a press release on Monday.
— The Phnom Penh Post

See here for more of today’s Lao morning news

Malaysia morning news

Compiled by Sreypov Men         @MenSreypov

Malaysia reports 16 new COVID-19 cases, lowest since movement control order began
Malaysia confirmed 16 new cases of COVID-19 on Tuesday (May 12), the lowest daily number since the movement control order (MCO) came into force on Mar 18.
— Channel NewsAsia

Tax accountants: Malaysia should bring back GST but at 3pc and reduce cigarettes’ tax to boost govt coffers
To help kickstart the economy, the Malaysian government should consider certain unorthodox measures such as bringing back the Goods and Services Tax (GST) as well as reduce the excise duty on cigarettes.
— Malay Mail

Health DG: Malaysia concerned about possible emergence of Covid-19 second wave
The emergence of new clusters in countries that have recovered from Covid-19 is a cause for concern for Malaysia, says the Health Ministry.
— The Star Online

See here for more of today’s Malaysia Morning News

Myanmar morning news

Compiled by Sreypov Men         @MenSreypov

Myanmar central bank reinstates banking hours after complaints emerge
The Central Bank of Myanmar (CBM) has reinstated banking hours to 9.30am-3pm starting May 12, after businesses and the public urged it to reconsider the current hours in the country.
— Myanmar Times

Myanmar to launch its first satellite in 2021
Myanmar plans to launch its first satellite in 2021, using Japanese technology, Nikkei Asian Review reported.
— Mizzima

Myanmar Rebel Coalition Calls for Military to Extend Ceasefire to Rakhine
Members of three ethnic armed groups known as the Brotherhood Alliance have asked the Myanmar army not to exclude Rakhine State from a unilateral ceasefire from May 10 to Aug. 31 as the country is trying to control the coronavirus pandemic.
— Irrawaddy

See here for more of today’s Myanmar morning news

Philippines morning news

Compiled by Stella-maris Ewudolu         @stmarisewudolu

Philippine president to extend COVID-19 lockdown beyond nine weeks
The Philippines will extend its lockdown beyond nine weeks in some areas this weekend, according to its president, stretching one of the world’s strictest and longest community quarantines to try to contain coronavirus outbreaks.
— CNA

UP experts spot ‘alarming errors’ in DOH’s COVID-19 patient data
The University of the Philippines COVID-19 Pandemic Response Team in their policy note released Tuesday pointed out errors and discrepancies in the Department of Health’s data on COVID-19 patients.
— Philippine Star

Philippines to hire contact-tracers ‘en masse,’ restart ‘Build Build Build’
The Philippines will “restart and accelerate” its P8 trillion infrastructure program, hire contact-tracers “en masse” and push food production as part of efforts to reboot the economy from the COVID-19 pandemic, the head of President Rodrigo Duterte’s economic team said Tuesday.
— ABS-CBN News

See here for more of today’s Philippines morning news

Singapore morning news

Compiled by Justhine De Guzman Uy         @justhine.aecnews

Singapore testing all migrant workers in dorms, to clear them to return to work
SINGAPORE is in the process of testing all 300,000-plus migrant workers residing in dormitories for Covid-19, with a plan to allow them “to be progressively cleared so they can safely return to work when the time comes”, said Health Minister Gan Kim Yong at a multi-ministry taskforce press conference on Tuesday.
— The Business Times

S’pore’s Covid-19 circuit breaker measures have shown promise, could be further eased on June 1
Singapore’s circuit breaker measures have “shown promise” in bringing down the number of coronavirus cases in the local community, and the country is on track to further ease these restrictions on June 1, said Health Minister Gan Kim Yong on Tuesday (May 12).
— Straits Times (annoying popups)

MOH preliminarily confirms 884 additional cases of COVID-19; Total tally reaches 24,706
As of Tuesday noon (12 May), the Ministry of Health (MOH) has preliminarily confirmed an additional 884 cases of COVID-19 infection in Singapore.
— The Online Citizen

See here for more of today’s Singapore morning news

Thailand morning news

Compiled by John Le Fevre         @photo_journ

CCSA worries that relaxed measures may cause 2nd wave of infection
The Center for COVID-19 Situation Administration or CCSA has admitted that there are concerns about the possibility of a second wave of a COVID-19 viral outbreak.
— NNT

PM Squashes Official’s Speculation on Lifting Virus Decree
Prime Minister Prayut Chan-o-cha said Tuesday the Emergency Decree may or may not be extended beyond the end of May, depending on the coronavirus situations.
— Khaosod English

Single-Digit Count in New Virus Cases for 8th Day
Thailand reported two new cases of coronavirus on Tuesday, a single-digit increase for the eighth consecutive day.
— Khaosod English

See here for more of today’s Thailand morning news

Vietnam morning news

Compiled by Sreypov Men         @MenSreypov

Vietnam central bank to cut policy rates Wednesday to boost growth
The State Bank of Vietnam announced a reduction in its policy rates, making a second cut in less than two months to help the economy weather the impact of the coronavirus pandemic.
— Nikkei Asian Review (paywall)

Mobile payments in Vietnam set to soar 400% in volume by 2025
One quarter of banks in Vietnam will actively pursue modern digital core platforms by 2025.
— The Hanoitimes

Prices of face masks fall steeply due to plentiful supply
More than one month ago, because of hoarders, medical face masks became scarce with some sellers overcharging them 10 times higher. Currently, with plentiful supply, the prices of face masks have started to plummet, especially the price of medical face masks has dropped by 50 percent.
— Vietnam Insider

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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