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Asean morning news

Compiled by Stella-maris Ewudolu         @stmarisewudolu

COVID-19 in Asean: update for May 20 — cases fall in Singapore for 5th consecutive day
As of 00:46 GMT May 20 there was 41,968 active cases of COVID-19 throughout the 10 Asean member countries, an increase of 347, or 0.83 per cent, on the day prior.
— AEC News Today

ASEAN Bloc Fights Impulse to Hoard Medical Goods
More than half the nations of Southeast Asia started this week by taking a donation of protective personal equipment (PPE), such as medical suits and masks, from their neighbor Vietnam to help them in the fight against COVID-19.
— VOA

Virus-fueled protectionist mode derails RCEP
IT might be difficult to conclude the Regional Comprehensive Economic Partnership (RCEP) by the end of this year as planned, as parties are moving toward the direction of protecting their supply chains to the detriment of free trade.
— Business Mirror

ASEAN multilateralism and the COVID-19 crisis
As the onslaught of Covid-19 rages across the world, Southeast Asia is addressing the pandemic from a domestic and regional perspective.
— The New Indian Express

The World’s Biggest COVID-19 Worries
Other than preying on humans, the deadly COVID-19 virus has severely affected livelihoods, local businesses and the economy in general.
— The Asean Post

China must not flex muscle as neighbors grapple with pandemic
Amid the chaos of the coronavirus pandemic, a rare power vacuum has emerged in Asia.
— Nikkei Asian Review (paywall)

Covid-19 business impact on Southeast Asia: Danish business webinar report
On 5 May some 150 representatives of the various stakeholders and Danish businesses representatives attended a webinar hosted by the Confederation of Danish Industry.
— ScandAsia.com

What Does Malaysia’s Troubled Transition Mean for Democracy in Southeast Asia?
This week, Malaysia’s troubled transition was on full display again with an unprecedented one-day parliamentary session that put off a no-confidence vote and left the country’s politics in flux.
— The Diplomat

ASEAN’s efforts against COVID-19 lauded
The Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) has coped with COVID-19 quite well with Vietnam serving as the ASEAN Chair 2020, heard an online seminar held by the Centre for International Law (CIL) under the National University of Singapore on May 20.
— Vietnamplus

China, ASEAN civil organizations exchange views on pandemic fight
The “political virus” made by some Western countries cannot eliminate the “natural virus,” said Lin Songtian, president of the Chinese People’s Association for Friendship with Foreign Countries (CPAFFC), stressing the need for cooperation in the fight against COVID-19.
— CGTN

Indonesia, Singapore key markets for venture capital fundraising: Report
Indonesia and Singapore currently dominate the venture capital (VC) fundraising in Southeast Asia, despite a slower pace of capital raising in the first quarter this year.
— The Jakarta Post

ASEAN light vehicle sales hit 9-year low in Q1 2020
As the world tries to find a way to live with the Coronavirus endemic, countries big or small have borne a huge brunt of the global health crisis, with economies getting crippled to the state of a massive disaster.
— Autocar Professional

ASEAN-Australia forum held online amid Covid-19
Vietnam will work closely with other Asean countries and partners, including Australia, to maintain Asean’s activities through teleconferences to continue to actively promote orientations and priorities for cooperation set out in 2020, Vietnamese Deputy Foreign Minister Nguyễn Quốc Dũng said.
— Philippine News Agency

SE Asia Stocks-Most slip as vaccine optimism evaporates; Singapore drops most
Most Southeast Asian stock markets slipped on Wednesday, tracking overnight losses on Wall Street, as investors refrained from making big bets after doubts were
cast over a recent early-stage trial of a coronavirus vaccine.
— Reuters

Nearly 1 in 10 videos in Southeast Asia are not brand-safe
Indian adtech firm SilverPush has launched a brand-suitability platform that uses artificial intelligence to scan videos for red flags such as violence and adult and extremist content.
— PRWeek

Malaysia’s hit animated film BoBoiBoy Movie 2 is coming to Netflix
Those who’ve heard about BoBoiBoy Movie 2 will now get the chance to see what the buzz was all about – the Malaysian hit animated film will be available on Netflix from Jun 1.
— CNA

Cambodia morning news

Compiled by Mark Henry Uy

‘Three million at risk of Covid-19’
Around three million Cambodians are at risk of Covid-19, as well as other epidemics, because of a lack of proper hand cleaning stations, while 10 per cent of healthcare facilities in the country lack clean water and soap, NGO WaterAid Cambodia said on Monday.
— The Phnom Penh Post

Anti-virus measures in place
The government yesterday announced the lifting of the entry ban on people from six countries, more than two months after it was put in place to prevent imported virus cases from entering Cambodia.
— Khmer Times

Cambodia Cautiously Returning to Normal
Cambodia’s museums will reopen as of June 2020 according to the Ministry of Health, who have declared museums safe to visit.
— Cambodianess

See here for more of today’s Cambodia morning news

Indonesia morning news

Compiled by Justhine De Guzman Uy         @justhine.aecnews

Indonesia Reports 693 New Coronavirus Cases, Highest Rise in a Day
Confirmed cases of Covid-19 in Indonesia soared by 693 on Wednesday in yet another record high, almost three times the daily average since the outbreak began in early March, taking the country’s total to 19,189.
— Jakarta Globe

Indonesia’s Q1 current account deficit narrows as imports fall
Indonesia’s current account deficit narrowed in the first quarter of this year as imports fell and the deficit in services dwindled amid the coronavirus pandemic, Bank Indonesia (BI) announced on Wednesday.
— The Jakarta Post

More Indonesian doctors, nurses die fighting against COVID-19
As the country still struggles to flatten the COVID-19 transmission curve, more medical workers have fallen victim to the disease, with dozens of doctors and nurses across the country succumbing to the coronavirus.
— The Jakarta Post

See here for more of today’s Indonesia morning news

Lao PDR morning news

Compiled by Mark Henry Uy

Laos Sends Home Chinese Gamblers, Workers From Golden Triangle SEZ
More than 300 Chinese gamblers and workers have been sent home from Laos after two months held in quarantine in the Golden Triangle Special Economic Zone in Laos, sources in the country say.
— RFA

Lao Citizens Charged High Rates For Power Amid Virus Shutdown
Lao citizens are being charged high rates for power use, with some asserting rates are also more than prior to the coronavirus break out, in spite of expanding degrees of joblessness as a result of company closings to stop the spread of COVID-19, resources in the one-party communist state claim.
— The Union Journal

Health Minister calls for unity as he joins world leaders in opening World Health Assembly
Minister of Health, Dr Bounkong Syhavong, participated in the opening session of the 73rd World Health Assembly (WHA 73), giving the Presidential Address in his role as President of last year’s Assembly (WHA 72).
— KPL

See here for more of today’s Lao morning news

Malaysia morning news

Compiled by Sreypov Men         @MenSreypov

Malaysia COVID-19 cases cross 7,000 mark with 31 new infections
The number of COVID-19 cases in Malaysia crossed the 7,000 mark on Wednesday (May 20) as 31 new cases were reported, taking the cumulative total to 7,009 infections.
— Channel NewsAsia

Dr M promises ‘very big trouble’ for Malaysia’s ruling coalition
Veteran Malaysian politician Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad said he would seek to oust Prime Minister Tan Sri Muhyiddin Yassin at every turn, scolding his successor for bringing back into power a graft-tainted party rejected by voters in an historic election two years ago.
— Malay Mail

MAHB imposes safety measures for retailers
Malaysia Airports Holdings Bhd (MAHB), under its Commercial Services Division, has imposed safety measures in accordance with the Health Ministry’s guidelines for its retailers, food and beverage (F&B) operators and.
— Malay Mail

See here for more of today’s Malaysia Morning News

Myanmar morning news

Compiled by Sreypov Men         @MenSreypov

Myanmar police make Asia’s biggest drug bust in decades, seizing 200 million meth tablets
Hong Kong (CNN)Myanmar police have made Asia’s biggest drug bust in decades, seizing hundreds of millions of dollars worth of contraband including “unprecedented” amounts of methylfentanyl, a dangerously potent synthetic opioid.
— CNN

Is China Deploying COVID-19 Diplomacy to Speed BRI Projects in Myanmar?
At present, fears that China is using the pandemic to exert excessive pressure and push through BRI projects in Myanmar are exaggerated.
— The Diplomat

Myanmar Government Rejects Motion to Shutter Polluting Chinese-Owned Coal Plant
Myanmar’s government on Tuesday rejected a Shan state member of parliament’s proposal to shutter a Chinese-owned coal-fired power plant residents of his region say has exceeded land use specifications, severely polluted the local environment, and jeopardized their health and livelihoods.
— Radio Free Asia

See here for more of today’s Myanmar morning news

Philippines morning news

Compiled by Stella-maris Ewudolu         @stmarisewudolu

Tourist arrivals, receipts fall by 50% as of April as coronavirus bites
Foreign tourist arrivals fell by more than half in the first four months of the year as the coronavirus outbreak and state-initiated lockdowns continue to crimp travel and tourism at home and abroad.
— Philippine Star

Up to 10 million Filipinos could lose jobs in Philippines due to COVID-19–DOLE
Around five to 10 million Filipinos could lose jobs in the country due to the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic, according to the Department of Labor and Employment (DOLE) on Wednesday.
— GMA Network

Two arrested in raid at Philippine illegal hospital for Chinese coronavirus patients
Philippine police raided a clandestine hospital and pharmacy that was secretly treating Chinese nationals suspected of being infected with the coronavirus, police officials said on Wednesday.
— South China Morning Post

See here for more of today’s Philippines morning news

Singapore morning news

Compiled by Justhine De Guzman Uy         @justhine.aecnews

Changi Airport to gradually allow transit traffic from June 2
FROM June 2, Singapore will gradually allow travellers to transit through Changi Airport as it begins to progressively re-open air transport.
— The Business Times

Singapore’s COVID-19 cases cross 29,000 mark with 570 new infections reported
The number of COVID-19 cases in Singapore crossed the 29,000 mark on Wednesday (May 20), with 570 new infections reported as of noon.
— Channel NewsAsia (very annoying popups)

Man sentenced to death in Singapore on Zoom call
A judge in Singapore has sentenced a man to death via a Zoom video-call for his role in a drug deal, one of just two known cases where a capital punishment verdict has been delivered remotely.
— Reuters

See here for more of today’s Singapore morning news

Thailand morning news

Compiled by John Le Fevre         @photo_journ

Fate of emergency decree to be decided Thursday
Officials will decide on Thursday on the future of the emergency decree, which is due to end on May 31, National Security Council secretary-general Somsak Roongsita said on Wednesday.
— Bangkok Post

More trouble for ailing Thai Airways as Airbus calls in its debts
Even as struggling national flag carrier Thai Airways strives to come up with blueprint for financial recovery, Airbus is calling in its debts on 30 aircraft rented by the airline.
— The Thaiger

Thai central bank cuts policy rate by 25 basis points to 0.50%
The Monetary Policy Committee (MPC) of the Bank of Thailand has cut the benchmark interest rate by 25 basis points, to a new record low of 0.50%, with immediate effect….
— Thai PBS News

See here for more of today’s Thailand morning news

Vietnam morning news

Compiled by Sreypov Men         @MenSreypov

Vietnam to invest $472 mln in new terminal at HCMC airport
Prime Minister Nguyen Xuan Phuc agreed to a VND10.99 trillion ($472 million) investment for building the Tan Son Nhat airport’s third terminal.
— VnExpress

Vietnam determined to save British pilot, avoid its first COVID-19 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.
— Reuter

Việt Nam ranks 2nd in top 10 fastest growing wealth markets from 2010 to 2019
Việt Nam ranked at the second position, following Bangladesh, in the top 10 fastest growing wealth markets from 2010 to 2019.
— Viet Nam News

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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