Asean morning news for May 15, 2020

Asean morning news

Compiled by Stella-maris Ewudolu @stmarisewudolu

COVID-19 in Asean: update for May 14 — Singapore tops 20,000 infections, Cambodia hovers at 1
As of 00:30 GMT May 14 there was 41,882 active cases of COVID-19 throughout the 10 Asean member countries, an increase of 191, or 0.46 per cent, on the day prior.
— AEC News Today

An Upswell of Solidarity: China’s Mekong Dams Face Online Backlash
After years of concern that Chinese activity along the Mekong River could harm downstream countries, there is new evidence that China’s “spree of upstream dam building”—as Secretary of State Mike Pompeo once put it—is severely disrupting the flow of the river.
— CSIS

PH war chest vs COVID-19 up to $16.7B, but 4th lowest per person in Southeast Asia
The Philippines’ war chest against COVID-19 inched up to $16.7 billion in May, but still lagged behind most of its Southeast Asian neighbours if spending was divided across the population, the latest data compiled by Asian Development Bank (ADB) economists showed.
— Inquirer.net

As Rohingya Boats Keep Sailing, Southeast Asia Turns a Blind Eye
The ink was barely dry on a statement by Southeast Asian governments pledging to leave “no one behind” in the coronavirus pandemic when reports of hundreds of Rohingya refugees adrift in the Andaman Sea emerged in early April.
— Foreign Policy

ASEAN calls for support for workers affected by COVID-19
ASEAN labour ministers have called for measures to ensure workers’ income, jobs and safety at an online special meeting on Thursday in order to support labourers amid the COVID-19 pandemic.
— Viet Nam News

How To Tame Aggressive China In South China Sea Amid COVID-19 Crisis – OpEd
Unprecedented things have been happening in the disputed South China Sea (SCS) during the last five months, mainly due to China’s aggressive, unilateral and coercive actions against its small Southeast Asian neighbors.
— Eurasia Review

Restructuring supply chains needed to restore ASEAN economy, says minister
The COVID-19 pandemic has not only affected people’s health but also disrupted supply chains, negatively affecting the global and regional economy.
— Viet Nam News

ASEAN, Mexico exchange experience in COVID-19 response
Ambassadors and chargé d’affaires of ASEAN countries in Mexico, including Indonesia, Malaysia, the Philippines, Thailand and Vietnam, on May 13 had an online exchange with Director General for Asia-Pacific at the Mexican Ministry of Foreign Affairs Claudia Franco Hijuelos about the COVID-19 fight in Southeast Asia and Mexico.
— Vietnamplus

Women running Southeast Asia’s small businesses get digital lifeline
When the coronavirus stopped her husband from working, Nguyen Thi Bich Ngoc’s small business of selling cosmetics from home became the main income for their Vietnamese family of four.
— The Japan Times

Fundraising by SE Asian VCs slows in Q1 2020, ending year-long growth streak
The performance of Southeast Asia-focused funds weakened in the first quarter of this year, putting an end to a year-long growth streak for capital commitments that started in the first quarter of last year, DealStreetAsia’s latest VC market review shows.
— Deal Street Asia

Japan’s Southeast Asian Diplomacy
For Japan, Southeast Asia is vital. 42% of Japan’s maritime trade and 80% of its oil imports pass through the South China Sea.
— International Affairs Review

Asia-Pacific region could lead hospitality recovery
The Asia-Pacific region might lead the global hospitality industry’s post-COVID-19 pandemic rebound, but a full recovery is unlikely in the short term as nations cautiously navigate opening their borders, Minor Hotels Group chief executive Dillip Rajakarier said yesterday.
— Taipei Times

Most SE Asia stocks drop on delayed recovery fears
Most Southeast Asian stock markets fell on Thursday as fears of a delay in economic recovery due to rising coronavirus cases in countries easing lockdowns were exacerbated by dour outlook from the US Federal Reserve chairman.
— Bangkok Post

Five startups across SEA that pledge to protect jobs
The ripple effects from the COVID-19 pandemic have caused many companies to conduct layoffs and furloughs to save the business.
— Human Resources Online

Cambodia morning news

Compiled by Mark Henry Uy

About 1,600 workers demand April’s wages
About 1,600 workers of the FMF factory staged a protest yesterday in front of the factory to demand last month’s missing wages in Kandal province’s Takhmao city.
— Khmer Times

Sar Kheng Orders Border Authorities to Stop Illegal Crossings
Interior Minister Sar Kheng on May 13 ordered provincial governors and border authorities to prevent illegal border crossings to help ensure public safety and prevent the transmission of the Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19).
— Cambodianess

Crowds are hard to contain
While entertainment clubs and KTVs remain closed under the instructions of the Ministry of Health, authorities say they are having a hard time banning locals from running their small business along sidewalks, where large numbers of people can sometimes gather.
— 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

Air Carriers Ignores Physical Distancing, Face Investigation
The Ministry of Transportation will be launching an investigation on airline operators that offered its services at the Soekarno-Hatta International Airport in the early morning of May 14, 2020, after a photo showing a densely-packed queue of passengers at the airport’s Terminal 2 went viral.
— Tempo.co

COVID-19 volunteers urge govt to release data as suspected virus deaths exceed 3,000
Volunteers for crowdsourced database KawalCovid-19 have renewed their calls for the government to release all of its COVID-19 data as the number of suspected COVID-19 deaths recorded by provincial administrations in the country have exceeded 3,000, nearly three times the confirmed death toll reported by the national COVID-19 task force.
— The Jakarta Post

New Covid-19 Cases Surpass 1,000 in 48 Hours For the First Time
Indonesia has reported more than 1,250 new confirmed coronavirus cases over the past two days, the first time there were more than 1,000 cases in a 48-hour period since the outbreak began in early March.
— Jakarta Globe

See here for more of today’s Indonesia morning news

Lao PDR morning news

Compiled by Mark Henry Uy

Laos allows entry of many foreign workers
Laos has allowed the entry of many foreign workers as the country has gone without any new case of COVID-19 for 32 consecutive days as of May 14, the Lao Health Ministry said.
— Vietnam Plus

Agriculture ministry, FAO, WFP ease COVID-19 food insecurity impacts
Food Agriculture Organisation (FAO) of the United Nations, the World Food Programme (WFP) are cooperating with the Lao Ministry of Agriculture and Forestry to draft a response plan and provide direct assistance to farmers continuing to produce food for their communities.
— Vientiane Times

Laos records no new case of COVID-19 for 32 consecutive days
Laos reported no new case of the COVID-19 for 32 consecutive days and the total number of the confirmed cases in the country remains at 19.
— Xinhua

See here for more of today’s Lao morning news

Malaysia morning news

Compiled by Sreypov Men @MenSreypov

Malaysia to recover US$107.3 million after settling 1MDB case against Wolf of Wall Street producer
Malaysian prosecutors on Thursday (May 14) dropped money laundering charges linked to the 1Malaysia Development Berhad (1MDB) scandal against one of the producers of Hollywood hit The Wolf of Wall Street after he agreed a settlement with the government.
— Channel NewsAsia

COVID-19: Majority of infected patients linked to religious schools in Malaysia were asymptomatic, says health ministry
The majority of COVID-19 patients linked to tahfiz, or religious schools, in Malaysia were asymptomatic, said the Ministry of Health on Thursday (May 14), cautioning against a potential spread within the local communities if preventive measures are not taken.
— Channel NewsAsia

Malaysia Postpones No-Confidence Vote Against Prime Minister
A parliamentary no-confidence vote against Malaysian Prime Minister Muhyiddin Yassin will not take place next week as previously scheduled.
— VOA

See here for more of today’s Malaysia Morning News

Myanmar morning news

Compiled by Sreypov Men @MenSreypov

Myanmar extends coronavirus flight ban to May 31
Myanmar extended a ban on international commercial air traffic until the end of this month on Thursday (May 14) to curb the spread of coronavirus.
— Myanmar Times

Myanmar’s army investigating soldiers over video of abuses
Myanmar’s army said on Wednesday it was investigating soldiers filmed beating and threatening to kill suspected insurgents in the western state of Rakhine, where dozens of people have been killed during an upsurge of fighting in recent weeks.
— Reuters UK

Bangladesh says COVID-19 detected in Rohingya refugee camp: Official
The novel coronavirus has been detected in one of the camps in southern Bangladesh that are home to more than one million Rohingya refugees, officials said on Thursday (May 14).
— Channel NewsAsia

See here for more of today’s Myanmar morning news

Philippines morning news

Compiled by Stella-maris Ewudolu @stmarisewudolu

Typhoon Ambo slams Philippines, testing COVID-19 protocols
Typhoon Ambo slammed coronavirus-stricken Philippines Thursday with heavy rains and fierce winds, as tens of thousands required evacuation while observing pandemic protocols.
— ABS-CBN News

Government confident of eliminating testing backlog ‘in two weeks’
The government is optimistic that it will be able to address the backlog on coronavirus testing in two weeks as it expects the country’s testing capacity to increase with the help of the private sector.
— Philippine Star

See here for more of today’s Philippines morning news

Singapore morning news

Compiled by Justhine De Guzman Uy @justhine.aecnews

Singapore reports 752 new COVID-19 cases taking tally over 26,000
Singapore’s health ministry reported 752 new coronavirus infections on Thursday, taking city-state’s total to 26,098.
— Reuters

Singapore Airlines posts first annual net loss in 48-year history after COVID-19 cripples demand
National carrier Singapore Airlines on Thursday (May 14) reported the first annual net loss in its 48-year history after COVID-19 crippled travel demand, saying that it has set up an internal task force to review its operations and to prepare for when air travel recovers.
— Channel NewsAsia (very annoying popups)

All pre-school staff to be swabbed for COVID-19 before centres resume full services
All teaching and non-teaching staff at pre-schools will be tested for COVID-19 from Friday (May 15), in order to reduce the risk of transmission when centres resume full services.
— Channel NewsAsia (very annoying popups)

See here for more of today’s Singapore morning news

Thailand morning news

Compiled by John Le Fevre @photo_journ

14.5 million Thais eligible for the monthly 5,000-baht state subsidy
14.5 million Thai citizens have passed the eligibility screening for the three month 5,000 baht state subsidy.
— Thai PBS News

Phuket International Airport to re-open from 16th of May-but limited domestic flights only
The Civil Aviation Authority of Thailand (CAAT) has officially approved the reopening of Phuket International Airport for domestic flights from 12:01 AM on the 16th of May, 2020.
— The Pattaya News

One new COVID-19 case recorded as committee considers easing curfew
Thailand recorded one new COVID-19 infection today, bringing the cumulative total to 3,018, and no new fatalities.
— Thai PBS News

See here for more of today’s Thailand morning news

Vietnam morning news

Compiled by Sreypov Men @MenSreypov

Vietnam Cuts License Fees for Five Industries to Alleviate COVID-19 Burden
Vietnam’s Ministry of Finance (MoF) has cut license and administrative fees for several industries to help them recover from the COVID-19 pandemic.
— Vietnam-Briefing

Vietnam struggles to save British pilot, avoid first Covid death
Vietnam has mounted an all-out effort to save the life of its most critically ill coronavirus patient, a British pilot who works for Vietnam Airlines, the national carrier.
— Bangkok Post

Vietnam Steps Up Tax Collection as Virus Pushes Revenues Down
Vietnam’s Finance Ministry said Wednesday it is stepping up tax debt recovery as well as inspections and other measures as it strives to preserve revenue streams during the coronavirus crisis.
— Bloomberg Tax

See here for more of today’s Vietnam morning news

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