Asean News Headlines at 9pm on Friday (April 1, 2022)

A man walks past a burning peat-land in Kampar, in Pekanbaru, on Friday, April 1, 2022. - AFP

Malaysia:

* Covid-19 Watch: 18,560 new cases on Thursday (March 31) bring cumulative total to 4,201,919

* Covid-19 Watch: 310 children in Malaysia fully vaccinated

* Malaysia only in transition to endemic phase, keep following SOP, says Health DG

* Govt disburses RM20.63bil to wage subsidy programme up to March 18

* Johor-Singapore land crossings to see at least 50,000 travellers a day, says exco man

* Malaysia-Singapore border reopening shows govt's concern for the people, says Wee

* Only one way to enter Malaysia for Indonesian domestic helpers under MOU

* Border reopens: 'Malaysia, Truly Asia' tourism campaign goes global again

* Sabah begins large-scale deportation of illegal immigrants as borders reopen

* Court orders Najib to file statement of defence in SRC's US$1.18bil suit

* Jho Low was often seen in Najib's office even before he was PM, 1MDB audit trial hears

* Malaysian IGP says it again: Cartel operating within police force does not exist

Travellers check in for a Singapore Airlines Ltd. flight in the departure hall at Hong Kong International Airport in Hong Kong, China, on Friday, April 1, 2022. A ban on flights from nine countries including the US. and UK is lifted from today and the amount of time travelers spend in mandatory hotel quarantine will be cut in half, provided they test negative, Hong Kong's Chief Executive Carrie Lam said on March 21, unveiling the results of a review of the city's approach to the pandemic. - AFP

Singapore:

* Singapore reports 5,010 new Covid-19 cases as its virus total goes above 1.1 million on Friday (Apr 1)

* Covid-19 directly and indirectly the cause of excess deaths in Singapore in 2021, say experts

* More than 4,000 cars from Singapore in first 16 hours after border reopened

* Ships face power blackouts from contaminated fuel in Singapore

* Over 190,000 VEP applications for Singapore vehicles received so far, says Malaysian Transport Ministry

* Over 11,000 people cross Causeway, Second Link in 7 hours after borders reopen

* Thousands cross Singapore-Malaysia land borders after reopening

* No pre-pandemic motorbike jam at Causeway as Malaysia-Singapore borders reopen

* Preserving fertility rights to be recognised

* Asian shares slip on slowdown fears; oil slide deepens

* Oil slides before consumer nations' meeting on stocks release

Indonesia:

* Indonesia to impose VAT and income tax on crypto assets from May

* Indonesia: Push for Jokowi’s term extension intensifies

* Sarawak plans to finalise travel protocols with Indonesia next week, says Uggah

* Indonesia, Malaysia agree their palm oil prices should not compete

* Malaysian PM Ismail Sabri arrives in Jakarta for working visit

* Drug war situation back under global scrutiny

* Sanctions for digital platforms

* Indonesia's GoTo raises US$1.1bil in IPO

Travellers undergo RT-PCR test outside a designated hotel in Songkhla. Travellers entering Thailand via land border gate under the ‘Test & Go’ programme must apply for ‘Thailand Pass’ and perform an RT-PCR test at the hotel on the first day of arrival, followed by a self-antigen test on the fifth day. Starting on Friday (April 1), two Thailand-Malaysia land border gates namely Sadao-Bukit Kayu Hitam and Wang Prachan-Wang Kelian are open for travellers. - Bernama

Thailand:

* Thailand reports new daily record of 28,379 Covid-19 infections on Friday (Apr 1)

* EPL super heavyweights Man United to face Liverpool on pre-season tour to Thailand and Australia

* Malaysian citizens entering Thailand through land border must follow SOPs, says Thai govt

* Thai PM gives green light for construction of EEC Smart Park project

* Thai gems and jewellery exports more than double in first two months

* Net fishing banned in Andaman Sea for three months of spawning season

* Online campaign to boost durian, mangosteen sales

* Record cases on eve of reopening

Philippines:

* Philippines govt alerts public to avoid exposure to wild birds amid bird flu outbreaks

* SpaceX to launch Starlink satellite service in the Philippines

* Restive volcano near the Philippine capital Manila expels gases and steam; days after phreatomagmatic eruption

* Emerging markets - Philippine peso up on rate hike prospects as Asian currencies fall on Ukraine crisis, recession worries

* Philippines sees inflation rising to 3.7% in March

* Philippine doctor alleged to be top rebel freed after case dismissed

Traffic on Nguyen Huu Canh street in Binh Thanh District in Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam. Vietnam’s economic growth slowed in the first quarter as coronavirus outbreaks and rising oil prices hindered the recovery of industries and businesses. - Bloomberg

Vietnam:

* Vietnam reports 72,556 new Covid-19 cases as total cases goes above 9.6 million on Friday (April 1)

* Vietnam on track to approve country's first local cargo airline

* Foreign tourists and business people to Vietnam surge in March

* Vietnam approves Moderna Covid-19 vaccine for children aged six to Under-12

* Vietnam lecturer's invention to clean river banks wins Unesco prize

* Hanoi named costliest city in Vietnam

Myanmar:

* UN special envoy on Myanmar meets with Asean counterpart

* Myanmar extends Covid-19 preventive measures for one more month

* WWF report says online wildlife trade on rise in Myanmar

* Time to kick out Myanmar's junta from Asean: Jakarta Post

* Myanmar junta FM on 'work trip' to major ally China

Philippine military officers stand by during a combined arms live fire exercise at the 37th Philippine-US joint military exercises at Capas, Tarlac province. 9,000 soldiers from the US and Philippines are taking part in the 12-day training event across the main island of Luzon. - AFP

Cambodia:

* Cambodia govt that is the winning the war against drug smugglers after solid number of seizures in first quarter of 2022

* Cambodia produces over 2 tonnes of gold so far: PM

* Bank of China in Cambodia launches new function of mobile banking UnionPay QR code payment

Laos:

* Laos records trade surplus of US$48 million in February

* Laos plays key role in enhancing Australia-Asean relations: Envoy

* WWF-Laos provides US$1.3 million to strengthen aquatic resources management

Brunei:

* Brunei records 74.1 per cent trade growth in December 2021

* Brunei reports less than 1,000 new Covid-19 cases for eight straight days

* New norms in Brunei judiciary due to pandemic: Chief Justice

Residents line up for the first round of mass Covid test in Jingan district in Puxi area in western Shanghai, China, Friday, April 1, 2022. As residents of western Shanghai start a four day lock down for mass testing, some in eastern Shanghai about to end their lock down are being told they will be confined to their homes for at least 10 more days. It was the latest wrinkle in the lockdown of China's largest city as it struggles to eliminate an omicron-driven coronavirus outbreak under China's zero-COVID policy. - AP

AseanPlus:

* Shanghai tightens travel restrictions amid Covid-19 outbreak starting from Saturday (April 2)

* At China-EU summit, Beijing will be reminded its support for Russian war in Ukraine comes at a cost

* Former journalist pleads guilty for comments said to dishonour Chinese soldiers in Korean war film

* China factory, services activity contract together for first time since 2020 amid lockdowns

* Hong Kong govt 'strongly opposes' UK, US report on city's diminishing freedoms

* China to take reciprocal visa restrictions on US officials

* Asian markets fall further and oil extends steep losses

* Fresh Japan sanctions on North Korea after ICBM launch

* Shanghai official says virus response lacking as city grinds to halt

* Japan needs more babies, so it's helping to pay for costly IVF

* US trade representative says efforts on a phase-two deal with China have faltered

* Mid-air collision of S.Korean trainer planes kills three

* ‘Send e-cards to the dead’: Closed cemeteries in mainland China and live-streamed tomb-sweeping will dampen Ching Ming Festival

* Fuel hikes anger food delivery drivers, truckers across Asia

* Malaysian PM extends condolences over death of Malaysia's permanent rep to Asean

* Bezos poised to clash with Asia’s richest man in cricket auction