Asean morning news

Compiled by Stella-maris Ewudolu         @stmarisewudolu

 

COVID-19 in Asean: update for May 6 — 51,000 cases, 71% active, 1,694 people dead
As of 01:01 GMT May 6 there was 35,753 active cases of COVID-19 throughout the 10 Asean member countries, an increase of 966, or 2.78 per cent, on the day prior.
— AEC News Today

Long-term food security in Asean at risk from virus
International groups have sounded the alarm over long-term food security in Southeast Asia as the world battles the coronavirus disease 2019 or COVID-19.
— Philippine Star

Pathways for ASEAN Contributions to Sustainable Peace and Security in Rakhine State, Myanmar
With changing dynamics between the Rohingya and Rakhine populations and the Tatmadaw (the armed forces of Myanmar), Rakhine State in Myanmar has been in a state of conflict.
— Reliefweb

UNHCR, IOM, UNODC urge states to protect refugees at sea
The United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR), the International Organization for Migration (IOM), and the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC) have called on states in the region to protect refugees stranded at sea in the Bay of Bengal and Andaman Sea.
— Dhaka Tribune

Pathways for ASEAN Contributions to Sustainable Peace and Security in Rakhine State, Myanmar
With changing dynamics between the Rohingya and Rakhine populations and the Tatmadaw (the armed forces of Myanmar), Rakhine State in Myanmar has been in a state of conflict.
— Reliefweb

ASEAN Intervenes to Fight Death Spiral of Food Export Restrictions
Few images conjure the 1930s Depression like people standing in soup lines while farmers dump food they can’t sell.
— VOA

Recent activities in the South China Sea may escalate tensions amid COVID-19 pandemic: Indonesia foreign minister
Indonesian Foreign Minister Retno Marsudi has expressed concern over recent activities in the South China Sea, noting that they may potentially escalate tensions at a time when global collective effort is vital in fighting COVID-19.
— CNA

‘AirAsia well-positioned to weather Covid-19 crisis’
AirAsia Group is well-positioned to weather the Covid-19 pandemic crisis, supported by its cash position as well as brand strength and value, according to Brand
Finance.
— The Borneo Post

Singapore Airlines, Qantas tie up with Australia to carry produce, seafood to Asian markets
Australia on Wednesday (May 6) said that it has reached agreements with Singapore Airlines (SIA) and Qantas Airways to carry food to Asian markets, part of a government initiative to help businesses hit hard by COVID-19.
— CNA

Palm oil crisis: ASEAN’s largest agri export shaken by risk of UK rule changes and ‘backstabbing’ by Malaysia
The ASEAN palm oil industry has been shaken by a new set of attacks attempting to use legalities to block its exports, as well as a shock change in stance over contaminants rules from key member Malaysia.
— Foodnavigator-asia

Thai Cabinet extends Lao, Cambodian, Myanmar workers’ visas to May 31
The Cabinet has approved automatic visa extensions for workers from Cambodia, Laos, and Myanmar under an MOU, giving them the right to reside in Thailand until 31st May.
— Pattaya Mail

ASEAN seeking solutions for regional economic recovery
Minister of Industry and Trade Tran Tuan Anh, on behalf of ASEAN Economic Ministers, held a phone discussion with Secretary-General of ASEAN Lim Jock Hoi on May 6 regarding plans for recovering the regional economy and maintaining intra-bloc supply chains after the COVID-19 pandemic has been brought under control.
— Vietnamplus

COVID-19’s long shadow darkens the future of Southeast Asia’s food security
As COVID-19 continues to threaten the lives and livelihoods of millions of people in Southeast Asia, additional concerns are being raised about the longer term health of the sub-region’s food systems – a complex matrix involving farmers, fishers, labourers, drivers, cold storage, food processors, retailers, and consumers.
— Reliefweb

How Companies Can Rethink Asian Supply Chain Disruptions Amid COVID-19
Large and small companies in the United States and elsewhere have seen their supply chains significantly affected and disrupted by the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic. Just as China’s economic situation began to improve with its handling of the pandemic, the virus — and accompanying economic disruption — spread to the rest of the world.
— The Diplomat

#TECH: Covid-19 drives digital transformation for Asean enterprises
COVID-19 is driving digital transformation for enterprises in the Southeast Asia region (Asean) and will open up wider opportunities for carriers and service providers, said data and analytics company, GlobalData.
— New Straits Times

ASEAN tourism unites to fight Covid-19
ASEAN’s tourism ministers have signalled they will establish standardised health declarations and operating procedures for the handling of public health emergencies while sharing and bolstering health preparedness within the 10-nation bloc.
— TTR Weekly

ASEAN could bring climate transformation to Southeast Asia
The new State of Southeast Asia 2020 survey report released by Singapore’s ISEAS-Yusof Ishak Institute shows that climate change is now among the top security concerns expressed by regional experts and opinion leaders.
— Asean Today

The Pandemic Is Hitting Women Harder
Since the COVID-19 virus emerged in Wuhan, China late last year, people from various backgrounds have succumbed to the disease.
— The Asean Post

Most SE Asia stocks end lower, but Vietnam surges
As Thai markets closed for a holiday, most Southeast Asian stocks fell in low-volume trade on Wednesday as poor economic data capped risk sentiment, but Vietnam jumped more than 2% to its best session in more than a month.
— Bangkok Post

Cambodia morning news

Compiled by Mark Henry Uy

 

Law on Construction expected to prevent structural failures
Kep provincial governor Ken Satha yesterday blamed the lack of a construction law for the deadly building collapse in Kep city earlier this year, which took the lives of 36 people, including children, and injured 23 others.
— Khmer Times

CPP rolls out plan to address fake news
The Cambodian People’s Party (CPP) has laid out a monthly plan for its ongoing battle against fake news in an attempt to quell misleading information that could lead to political or economic subversion.
— The Phnom Penh Post

Activists Warn of Illegal Deforestation in Pursat Province
Forest activists on Wednesday claimed that more cases of forest deforestation around the Cardamom Mountains in Pursat province.
— Cambodianess

See here for more of today’s Cambodia morning news

Indonesia morning news

Compiled by Justhine De Guzman Uy         @justhine.aecnews

 

Indonesia to resume transport operations even as it maintains ban on Hari Raya exodus
Trains, buses, planes and ships in Indonesia will resume operations from Thursday (May 7), weeks earlier than planned, even as the country maintains its ban on the annual exodus ahead of Hari Raya Aidilfitri.
— Straits Times

Indonesia reports 367 new COVID-19 cases, 23 deaths
Indonesia reported 367 new cases of COVID-19 on Wednesday (May 6), taking the total to 12,438, said health ministry official Achmad Yurianto.
— CNA

Indonesia warns on COVID-19 poverty setback as regional elections postponed
COVID-19 has set Indonesia’s poverty eradication efforts back by a decade, its finance minister said on Wednesday, after regional elections were postponed amid concerns about the spread of the coronavirus.
— Reuters

See here for more of today’s Indonesia morning news

Lao PDR morning news

Compiled by Mark Henry Uy

 

Taskforce prioritises virus checks for arrivals, cautions on travel plans
The National Taskforce Committee for COVID-19 Prevention and Control is prioritising surveillance and quarantine measures on people entering Laos as it attempts to extend the positive results of the domestic lockdown against the virus.
— Vientiane Times

Chinese Railway Workers Are Put Under Quarantine Upon Return to Laos
Chinese laborers working on a high-speed rail line connecting landlocked Laos with its northern neighbor China are being allowed to re-enter Laos if they go into quarantine to address COVID-19 concerns which have kept the country’s border closed to others, Lao sources say.
— RFA

Medics retesting recovered virus patients to ease public concerns
Health authorities have announced that nine patients recuperating from COVID-19 need to return to hospital for retesting after 14 days in a move to reassure the public.
— Vientiane Times

See here for more of today’s Lao morning news

Malaysia morning news

Compiled by Sreypov Men         @MenSreypov

 

COVID-19: Malaysia reports 45 new cases and 1 death; authorities to step up testing of some foreign workers
Malaysia reported 45 new cases of COVID-19 on Wednesday (May 6), taking the cumulative total to 6,428 infections.
— CNA

Ministry taking stern action against polluting rubber-based factories
The Ministry of Plantation Industries and Commodities (MPIC) views seriously and will not compromise with manufacturers, who flouted the rules, especially those who were allowed to operate during the Movement Control Order (MCO) period.
— The Borneo Post

Public Bank, RHB cut base rate by 50bps
Public Bank Bhd and Public Islamic Bank Bhd will reduce its base rate (BR) and base lending rate (BLR)/base financing rate by 0.50% effective May 12, 2020, in line with Bank Negara Malaysia’s (BNM) Overnight Policy Rate cut by 50 basis points (bps) to 2.00% yesterday.
— The Sun Daily

See here for more of today’s Malaysia Morning News

Myanmar morning news

Compiled by Sreypov Men         @MenSreypov

 

Myanmar May Be Placed on EU Money-Laundering Blacklist
The European Union is set to add Myanmar on Thursday to a blacklist of 22 countries failing to enforce curbs against money laundering and other financial crimes, a Reuters news report said on May 6, citing drafts of EU documents seen ahead of the list’s expected release.
— Radio Free Asia

Myanmar Struggles With COVID-19 Patient Tracing Amid Asymptomatic Infections
Health authorities in Myanmar are struggling to trace the spread of the contagious coronavirus among several confirmed patients who have reported no travel abroad and no contact with others who are infected, lawmakers in two major cities said Wednesday.
— Radio Free Asia

Outgoing UN Envoy Hopes Myanmar’s Suu Kyi Can Change
Outgoing UN human rights envoy for Myanmar Yanghee Lee says she believes State Counselor Aung San Suu Kyi can change after failing to live up to her reputation as a humanitarian. But that seems unlikely to happen as fighting continues in the troubled northern state of Rakhine.
— The Diplomat

See here for more of today’s Myanmar morning news

Philippines morning news

Compiled by Stella-maris Ewudolu         @stmarisewudolu

 

PH trade drops in March due to Covid-19 restrictions: NEDA
The coronavirus disease 2019 (Covid-19) pandemic around the world and the resulting restrictions in production supply chains and global trade flow led to the decline in Philippine trade in March 2020, the National Economic and Development Authority (NEDA) said.
— Philippine News Agency

Gov’t readies airport rules under new normal as cases top 10,000
THE government on Wednesday announced new rules for the so-called new normal at the country’s international and domestic airports, as the coronavirus infections topped 10,000.
— BusinessWorld

Economy to fall into recession in Q2, says FMIC
The Philippine economy can plunge into a recession starting in the second quarter and will take time to recover amid the uncertainties caused by the coronavirus pandemic, according to report of First Metro Investment Corp.
— Philippine Star

See here for more of today’s Philippines morning news

Singapore morning news

Compiled by Justhine De Guzman Uy         @justhine.aecnews

 

Number of coronavirus cases crosses 20,000 in Singapore with 788 new infections
The Ministry of Health (MOH) has preliminarily confirmed 788 new Covid-19 cases in Singapore as of Wednesday noon (May 6), taking the total count in the country past 20,000.
— Straits Times (annoying popups)

Singapore to distribute ‘better’ reusable face masks to households
Singapore residents will be given better reusable face masks towards the end of the circuit breaker period, said Minister for Trade and Industry Chan Chun Sing on Wednesday (May 6).
— Channel NewsAsia (very annoying popups)

Businesses given green light to reopen on May 12 need not seek approval to do so: MTI
All businesses in categories given the green light to resume operations on Tuesday (May 12) can do so without needing to seek approval, the Ministry of Trade and Industry (MTI) said on Wednesday (May 6).
— Straits Times (annoying popups)

See here for more of today’s Singapore morning news

Thailand morning news

Compiled by John Le Fevre         @photo_journ

 

Doctor stresses lifestyle changes crucial to preventing second outbreak
The chief of Bamrasnaradura Infectious Diseases Institute says Thailand won’t face a second wave of the COVID-19 outbreak if everyone keeps on wearing a face mask, washing hands frequently, and exercising regularly for health; warning that regular drinkers and smokers may face a higher chance of death if infected.
— NNT

Shippers maintain full-year view of 8% export decline
Despite the easing of lockdown measures and higher demand in several export categories, Thailand’s shipments are still forecast to contract by 8% this year, says a key trade group.
— Bangkok Post

Hundreds seek Emergency loans from the Government Saving Bank
Parn Phet Market Government Savings Bank branch in Mukdahan (north eastern Thailand) reports that hundreds of people have lined up to seek emergency loans from the government to help those affected by the Covid-19 crisis.
— The Thaiger

See here for more of today’s Thailand morning news

Vietnam morning news

Compiled by Sreypov Men         @MenSreypov

 

Vietnam, Despite Low Coronavirus Caseload, Will Take Months to Recover Economically
Vietnam has reported few new coronavirus cases every day since mid-April. Now schools are reopening, smaller restaurants are back in business and traffic jams are forming again in the financial center, Ho Chi Minh City, as commuters head to work.
— VOA

Vietnam PM gives green light to export of face masks
VIETNAM Prime Minister Nguyen Xuan Phuc has given the green light to the export of medical face masks without any caps on export volume so that Vietnam will not miss out on the opportunity of becoming the world’s face mask factory amid the Covid-19 pandemic.
— The Star Online

Hanoi stays firm in Vietnam’s top 10 business-friendly localities: PCI 2019
Although Hanoi’s ranking stayed unchanged at ninth, its PCI score has improved from 65.4 to 68.8, showcasing strong efforts from the local authorities towards administrative reform.
— The Hanoitimes

See here for more of today’s Vietnam morning news

 

 

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