Members of Indonesia's National Narcotics Agency (BNN) destroy marijuana plants during a raid at a forest line in Lamteuba, Indonesia's Aceh province. - AFP
Malaysia:
* Covid-19 Watch: 2,017 new cases bring total to 4,483,295
* Covid-19: 30.4% of children fully vaccinated
* Malaysians have learnt how to live with Covid-19, says KJ
* Malaysia's digital economy to contribute 22.6% to GDP, create half a million jobs by 2025
* Dr Wee, S'pore Foreign Minister discuss transport issues at breakfast meet
* Size matters to poultry farm in bid not to sell underweight chicken
* Amazon Web looks at developing data centres in Malaysia
* Tobacco product display ban being studied by Health Ministry
* Malaysia committed to recovery of global aviation after pandemic, says Dr Wee
* Malayian Education Ministry sets up special committee for sexual harassment, bullying cases
* S’wak asks Federal Govt to increase number of parliamentary seats in line with MA63
* Sarawak first state to require a licence for forest carbon activities
An artist’s impression of Batu Pahat station on the Kuala Lumpur-Singapore High-Speed Rail (HSR) line. The HSR project was suspended in September 2018, with Singapore and Malaysia saying its construction would be shelved until the end of May 2020. It is now expected to restart this year. - The Star/ANN
Singapore:
* Singapore and Indonesia in discussions on port in Central Java
* Singapore must remain open to global talent to stay competitive , says its central bank
* Singapore Air says business travel rebounding to pre-Covid level
* Johor river water agreement among matters discussed by PM with Singapore Foreign Minister
* Singapore hopes full connectivity with Malaysia will be restored in coming months: FM
* Singapore to roll out biometric verification for travellers departing Changi Airport
* SG cops: Scammers impersonate PayPal in new variant of tech support scam
* Singapore Airlines sees no big growth risk from Boeing 777X delays
* S’pore VC renews S-E Asia, India bets with US$600mil fund
* Biometric verification for travellers departing Changi to be rolled out this year
* Oil prices recoup early losses on China hopes, global supply fears
* Asian shares drop sharply as they track Wall Street's inflation-fuelled retreat
Satrio Adi Nugroho of Indonesia competes in the men's 55Kg weightlifting event during the 31st South-East Asian Games (SEA Games 31) in Hanoi, Vietnam, Thursday, May 19, 2022. - AP
Indonesia:
* Indonesia lifts palm oil export ban in relief to global market; govt makes decision after improvements in local supply and prices
* No hindrance to continue small vessel trade between Indonesia, Malaysia, says Dr Wee
* Indonesia MPs seek palm oil export ban review as industry warns on storage
* Asean-US on the same page, but not in the same boat on Indo-Pacific: Jakarta Post contributor
* Trapped Indonesian ferry with 800 on board dislodged
* Outdoor mask mandate lifted as cases wane
* Indonesian cleric denied entry into Singapore
* Bali requests govt for endemic status
Thailand football players celebrate after beating Indonesia 1-0 in extra-time in the semifinals of the 31st Sea Games football competition at the Thien Truong Stadium in Nam Dinh, Vietnam. - Reuters
Thailand:
* Thailand eyeing end of Covid within the year, says deputy health minister; daily cases now only around 6,000
* Thailand has no need to follow Fed's tightening, says central bank chief
* Bangkok governor election seen as national harbinger for country
* Record-breaking Thai teenager wins SEA Games sprint double
* Thailand to promote medical tourism in post-Covid-19 era: Prayut
* Thailand hopes to transition to Covid endemic stage in mid-June
* Thailand records 6,305 Covid-19 cases and 42 deaths
Philippines:
* Philippines' Marcos set for supermajority as 'Uniteam' dominates Congress
* Approved foreign investments in Philippines down by 54.1 per cent in Q1
* Philippine central bank raises interest rates to curb inflation
* Emerging markets: Philippine peso firms after rate hike as Asian stocks fall on growth fears
* Philippine senator-elect hopes Marcos will continue Duterte’s ‘Build, Build, Build’ programme
* Marcos-Sara Duterte alliance shows cracks after historic election win
* Activists ask top court to void Marcos’s presidential win
Vietnam fans inside the stadium before the football semifinals match against Malaysia at the 31st SEA Games at the Viet Tri Stadium in Viet Tri, Vietnam on Thursday, May 19. - Reuters
Vietnam:
* Vietnam reports 1,716 new Covid-19 cases as total infections now has gone above 10.7 million on Thursday (May 19)
* Celine Nha, the first Vietnamese woman, to reach the summit of Mount Everest
* TikTok plans big push into gaming, conducting tests in Vietnam, sources say
* Chinese chess checks in with hushed SEA Games debut in Hanoi, Vietnam
* Vietnam stresses the importance of maritime and aviation security in South China Sea at ADSOM+
* Vietnam Blockchain Summit 2022 to take place in July
* Vietnam, Singapore to expand ties in digital transformation, green economy
Myanmar:
* Myanmar authorities to allow tourist visa applied through e-visa system from Friday (May 20)
* Myanmar's junta leader to hold peace talks with 10 ethnic armed groups on May 20
* Myanmar gets tips on food processing from China
* Plea for weapons and cash from Myanmar shadow govt
Malaysia's team competes during the women's individual all-around group rhythmic gymnastics final in the 31st Southeast Asian Games (SEA Games) at the Quan Ngura Sports Complex in Hanoi on Thursday, May 19, 2022. - AFP
Cambodia:
* Cambodian PM Hun Sen and Indian PM Modi discuss on improving bilateral ties via video link
* No new Covid-19 cases for 12 straight days in Cambodia as health minister calls for equal treatment of patients
* Cambodia iron, steel imports mount as construction sector recovers
* RCEP, CCFTA inject new impetus into Cambodia-China trade: Cambodian official
Laos:
* Laos' vovinam (Vietnam's traditional art) exponents are the first athletes to win first SEA Games gold medal for country
* Laos reopens international border in north at Bokeo Province; the travel hub to China, Thailand and Myanmar
* Laos records US$102mil in trade deficit in April
Brunei:
* Brunei among nations with lowest death rate from pollution
* No new Covid-19 sub-variants detected in Brunei as daily Covid-19 cases hit 300
* Asean officials discuss defence, security issues
People burning joss sticks at a temple in Hong Kong on Thursday, May 19, 2022. - AFP
AseanPlus:
* South-East Asia’s reliance on China may upend US-EU plan for global tech standards
* China's zero-Covid policy dashes global hopes for quick economic return to normal
* China domestic violence: Man’s request for protection order from wife’s alleged abuse starts rare conversation on male victims
* Asian markets plunge after Wall St battering
* China warns US a 'dangerous situation' is forming over Taiwan
* HK to distribute 170,000 Covid test kits after virus detected in sewage
* Japanese man given US$360,000 in Covid aid by mistake arrested
* N. Korea completes prep for nuke weapon test: Seoul lawmaker
* China in talks with automakers on EV subsidy extension
* Taiwan firms resuming production in China as Covid-19 curbs ease: Minister
* Tencent signals tech crackdown will wind down only gradually
* Soccer-Rights groups urge FIFA to earmark $440 million for Qatar migrant workers
* Australia's economy holds plenty of pitfalls for election winner
* Seoul's double in the metaverse is designed to simplify citizens' lives
* Flight MU5735 crash: Bereaved relative demands answers from airline over US report of deliberate dive
* Golf-India's Lahiri savours Woods 'serendipity' ahead of PGA Championship
* China seen lowering lending benchmark LPR to support economy
* Gitee, China’s answer to GitHub, to review all code by temporarily closing open-source projects to the public
