Asian leaders determined to fight pandemic
TOKYO – Financial leaders from China, Japan, South Korea and Southeast Asia vowed to redouble their efforts to help the region recover economically from the novel coronavirus and to defend a multilateral system of trade and investment. “We will remain … Continue reading Asian leaders determined to fight pandemic
Coronavirus: Thailand invites tourists back
Bangkok – American writer Mark Weyant had been planning an extended getaway to Thailand’s sun-soaked tourist island of Phuket for over a year, aiming to finish writing a screenplay and complete a diving certification over a three-month period. But then Covid-19 hit … Continue reading Coronavirus: Thailand invites tourists back
Malaysia: Ban on foreign tourists remain
Kuala Lumpur – Malaysia has further extended the recovery movement control order (RMCO) to December 31, 2020, while the ban on international tourists will remain in place, as Covid-19 cases across the globe continue to surge. The RMCO, which kicked in on … Continue reading Malaysia: Ban on foreign tourists remain
China wants to boost cooperation with ASEAN
Singapore – China is keen to work with its Southeast Asian neighbours to promote regional stability and boost the economy, Beijing’s top diplomat said in Singapore. In a meeting with the city state’s prime minister, Lee Hsien Loong, Yang Jiechi, a member … Continue reading China wants to boost cooperation with ASEAN
Singapore relaxes travel restrictions
Singapore – Singapore on Friday moved to further relax coronavirus travel restrictions for incoming travellers from “low-risk” territories such as mainland China, Taiwan and Malaysia, with senior officials adding that the city state was moving towards allowing full fledged travel to Brunei … Continue reading Singapore relaxes travel restrictions
Plastic pollution plagues Southeast Asia
Hong Kong – Adam Reza is among those for whom environmental awareness took a back seat to health concerns during Malaysia’s national earlier this year to curb the spread of Covid-19. Despite making a conscious effort to be mindful, he estimates his use … Continue reading Plastic pollution plagues Southeast Asia
Thai protest puts pressure on government
BANGKOK – More than 10,000 Thai protesters chanting “down with dictatorship” and “the country belongs to the people” rallied in Bangkok on Sunday in by far the biggest anti-government demonstration since a 2014 coup. There were cheers for student calls … Continue reading Thai protest puts pressure on government
Malaysia: AirAsia logs record loss in first-quarter
KUALA LUMPUR – Malaysian budget carrier AirAsia Group Bhd reported its largest quarterly loss, battered by a collapse in demand for air travel amid the coronavirus pandemic as well as losses on fuel hedges settlement. It reported a net loss of 803.3 … Continue reading Malaysia: AirAsia logs record loss in first-quarter
Bali: Coronavirus hideout for many foreigners
Jakarta – When Chinese tourist Jingjing Zang arrived in the Indonesian holiday island of Bali last August for a scuba diving course, the 28-year-old did not expect to be stuck there almost a year later after a pandemic had closed borders … Continue reading Bali: Coronavirus hideout for many foreigners
Singapore: Coronavirus tracing device starts in June
Singapore – Singapore is expected to deliver the first batch of portable contact tracing devices to people in the latter half of June, as the country looks to progressively introduce this method to tackle the spread of coronavirus. The TraceTogether … Continue reading Singapore: Coronavirus tracing device starts in June