Malaysia:
* Covid-19 surveillance: 6,342 new cases bring the total to 4,421,443
* More than 16 million adults received a booster dose of Covid-19
* Covid-19: New cluster registered in Sabah after two-month hiatus
* Covid-19: Government plans to relax three main SOP measures, says PM
* SEMy2030 sets new direction for development of social entrepreneurship, says PM
* Creation of a special Cabinet committee to protect vulnerable groups, according to the Prime Minister
* Also consider educational and psychological aspects to solve social problems of young people, says Lam Thye
* Malaysia hopes Russian Aeroflot will open direct flights to Kuala Lumpur, says ambassador
* PAC report on MySejahtera procurement to be tabled in Parliament in July
* PLUS: 1,500 CSA parked at tolls during Raya holidays
* Depot Riot: Pay attention to M’sian’s hospitality before criticizing, says activist
* Richard Branson and Stephen Fry ask that Nagaenthran’s life be spared
Singapore:
* Singapore’s tourism industry is looking for signs of ongoing growth; government reports 2,709 cases of Covid-19 on Saturday (April 23)
* Singapore will resume cross-border bus and taxi services to Malaysia from May 1, 2022
* Nagaenthran case: NGOs and MIC meet at Singapore High Commission to ask for forgiveness
* Singapore is making steady progress towards normalcy, a pace many are happy with
* Easing of Covid-19 measures will bring Singapore back almost to where it was before, says Prime Minister Lee
* Heir apparent Wong must also be an ASEAN leader
* Work on S’pore-US relations
* Singapore property prices are rising at the slowest pace in almost two years
* Oil falls at the end of the week and shows a weekly loss of nearly 5% due to growth problems
Indonesia
* G20 expects Indonesian G20 presidency to seek solution to Russian-Ukrainian conflict
* Indonesia has warned that a palm oil export ban could backfire, top experts say
* Indonesian government confident Aidil Fitri’s ‘mudik’ won’t trigger another wave of Covid-19
* Indonesian Indrawati, former chief operating officer of the World Bank, joins the chorus calling for reforms at the World Bank
* As dominant creditor, China must ‘step up’ debt restructuring, Indrawati says in Indonesia
* Global edible oil markets simmer after Indonesian ban shock
* Indonesia bans palm oil exports as global food inflation rises
Workers transfer harvested palm fruits to a transport truck before being processed into crude palm oil (CPO) at a palm grove in Pekanbaru on Saturday, April 23, 2022. – AFP
Thailand:
* Thai hospitals brace for surge of sick children after schools reopen; 20,052 cases of Covid-19 on Saturday (April 23)
* Thailand’s March exports jump 19.5% year-on-year, beating forecasts
* Thailand: More than half of children killed by Covid-19 are under 5 years old
* Thailand drops Covid-19 testing on arrival from May 1, a major push to attract more tourists
* Schools can open with infection curbs in place
*Covid-19 testing mandate removed to attract tourists
Philippines:
* Travel and tourism expected to rebound to pre-pandemic levels in 2023, Philippines forum says
* Largest Philippine bank wants tougher cybercrime laws
* The second booster program for people with comorbidities in the Philippines begins Monday (April 25)
* The Philippines has a wind energy potential of 21 GW by 2040, according to the World Bank
* Philippines craves foreign tourists as entry restrictions ease
* VP’s daughter seeks to investigate obscene fake videos
Philippine Vice President and presidential candidate Leni Robredo shakes hands with supporters during a campaign rally in Manila, Philippines. -Reuter
Vietnam:
* Vietnam reports 10,365 new Covid-19 cases as total tops 10.5 million on Saturday (April 23)
* Vietnamese and Chinese coast guards conduct joint patrol in Beibu Gulf waters
* Vietnam’s military bank to sell 49% of Cambodian unit to Japan’s leading bank Shinsei
* Vietnam, Vatican agree to improve relations
* Vietnam has 24-hour takedown law for ‘illegal’ social media content, sources say
* Vietnam urges ASEAN to quickly launch launch portal for digital immunization certification
Burma:
* Myanmar’s ruling military offers minorities new peace talks
* Issuance of UNHCR cards to Rohingya refugees will be reviewed, says Malaysian Home Minister
* Depot riot: 80 Rohingya detainees still at large in Malaysia
* Myanmar activists raise millions through S’pore
Visitors swimming in the sea are silhouetted at sunset in Phu Quoc, Vietnam. The government expects Vietnam’s economic growth of up to 6.5 percent this year, the fastest in Southeast Asia, as industries like manufacturing and tourism extend the recovery. -Bloomberg
Cambodia:
* Isolation time for smooth arrivals in Cambodia has been halved to seven days
* Revitalized Angkor Wat brings hope for Cambodia tourism recovery
* 993% of Cambodians receive at least one dose of Covid-19 vaccines; only 28 cases of Covid-19 on Saturday (April 23)
* It is a wonderful time to visit Cambodia
Laos:
* Laos and Japan launch the “Safer Cities” project; the main objective is to protect vulnerable groups
* Laos PM calls for enhanced international cooperation in response to pandemic
* Chinese GBA launches first cold chain freight train for Laos and Thailand
* More visitors to Luang Prabang
Brunei:
* Brunei travel restrictions guidelines have been revised
* Reopening of land borders subject to daily local cases in Brunei, according to economy minister
* Daily Covid-19 cases in Brunei remain below 200 and no deaths
Activists hold a portrait of Tibetan spiritual leader the Dalai Lama and wave flags of Tibet (C) and India during a protest against the Chinese invasion of Tibet ahead of the birthday of the 11th Panchen Lama Gedhun Choekyi Nyima, next to the Chinese consulate in Calcutta on Saturday April 23, 2022. – AFP
AseanPlus:
* Hong Kong will allow international travelers for the first time since 2020
* The Japanese Coast Guard is looking for a “wrecked” tourist boat with 26 people on board
* Taiwan will not enter Shanghai-like lockdown despite rise in Covid-19 cases, PM says
* Alexa is getting “more proactive” to free up time, according to Amazon
*CPO futures will trade at RM6,100-RM6,500 per tonne next week
* Production and work in major sectors resume in Shanghai
* Shanghai launches new virus campaigns
* EU agrees on internet settlement for Google, Facebook and other tech giants
* Hong Kong actress apologizes after brunette portrayal of Filipina domestic worker in TV drama sparked outrage
* Growing isolation puts China and the US ‘on the brink’ of a new Cold War
* YouTube terminates the campaign channel of Hong Kong’s only candidate for chief executive, John Lee, citing the need to comply with US sanctions
* China’s GDP: Economy has grown, but ‘more pain will come’ as coronavirus and lockdown pressures weigh on outlook
* Hong Kong police warn as more under-21s are using cannabis, with the drug as easy to get as ‘buying takeout’
* A father-daughter team’s school project using leftover clay to produce a mask resembling a 3,000-year-old artifact is going viral in China
* Hong Kong to push ahead with plans to double tax on plastic bags to HK$1, with waste pricing system due to come into effect next year
* Leading research organization cuts use of China’s largest online academic database due to high fees
