Philippines

Super Typhoon kills one in Philippines, tens of thousands flee; Covid-19 issue sprouts free food pantries in country

At least one person was killed and tens of thousands fled their homes as Super Typhoon Surigae made a close approach to the Philippines’ eastern provinces.

Singapore

Ensuring safety of international trade arteries requires collective effort, says Singapore minister

Singaporean Minister for Transport Ong Ye Kung said on Monday that ensuring the safety of international trade arteries like the Straits of Malacca and Singapore remains a critical task and requires the collective effort of all stakeholder countries.

World

India's Modi scorned over reckless rallies, religious gathering amid virus mayhem

(Corrects para 4 to show India decommissioned high denomination banknotes in 2016, not 2014)

World

Local uprisings emerge to challenge Myanmar's army

(Reuters) - Sleeping by their makeshift barricades, knots of young men at Tahan in the western Myanmar town of Kale had not expected an attack in the pre-dawn darkness.

Indonesia

Indonesia's Merapi spews fiery lava 16 times in new activity

Mount Merapi on Indonesia's Java island erupted early Monday, spewing fiery lava 16 times, the country's volcanology agency said.

Philippines

Pacific Ocean storm intensifies into year's first super typhoon; lashes eastern Philippines on Monday (April 19)

Strong winds and high waves lashed the eastern Philippines on Monday as the strongest typhoon ever recorded in April barrelled past in the Pacific Ocean, prompting official warnings of flash floods and landslides in the archipelago.

Nation

M'sian and his Viet lover nabbed on suspicion of drug trafficking

KUALA LUMPUR: A local man and his Vietnamese lover, believed to be involved in drug distribution in the Klang Valley, have been arrested here.

Mobile apps

Gojek co-CEO to head app giant after merger with Tokopedia

Gojek co-chief executive officer Andre Soelistyo is set to head the Indonesian app giant to be created when the transport and delivery provider merges with e-commerce company PT Tokopedia, according to people familiar with the matter.

Vietnam

Vietnam's northern mountainous area hit by flash floods; three death confirmed

At least three people were killed in a flash flood that swept through Van Ban District, in the northern mountainous province of Lao Cai, over the weekend.

AseanPlus News

China debt: local government spending under microscope to protect national economy from ‘systemic risk’

Local Chinese cadres will be held accountable for the rest of their lives if the debt raised during their terms is found to be problematic in the futureKey policies or investment projects that would be funded with public money will have to undergo a ‘fiscal endurance’ evaluation

Technology

Angry Tesla owner protests atop car at Shanghai Auto Show

A disgruntled Tesla Inc owner climbed atop one of the electric vehicle pioneer’s cars on the opening day of the Shanghai Auto Show, before being dragged away by security.

Japan

Japan urges release of journalist detained in Myanmar

Japan has urged Myanmar authorities to release a Japanese journalist in custody at a Yangon prison, one of at least 65 reporters arrested during the junta's crackdown on anti-coup protests.

Cambodia

Cambodia forecasts 70% drop in international tourist arrivals in 2021 due to ongoing pandemic

Cambodia on Monday predicted that international tourist arrivals to the kingdom this year would decline by another 70 percent due to the ongoing impact of Covid-19.

AseanPlus News

Tragedy strikes as four students drown while swimming in central Vietnam as govt announces three more Covid-19 cases

Four students drowned while swimming at a beach in central Vietnam's Khanh Hoa province, Vietnam News Agency reported.

Thailand

Covid-19: Fresh spike in Thailand sparks hospital bed shortage concerns

A fresh wave of Covid-19 infections is sweeping across Thailand, with 1,390 new COVID-19 cases and three deaths reported over the last 24 hours, giving rise to concerns that there may not be enough hospital beds to treat those infected.

Telcos

Gulf Energy offers US$5.4bil for telco in second-largest Thai deal

BANGKOK (Reuters) - Thailand's Gulf Energy Development Pcl is planning a US$5.4 billion buyout of Intouch Holdings which controls the country's biggest mobile operator Advanced Info Service Pcl (AIS) .

Markets

FBM KLCI bucks regional trend to end lower

KUALA LUMPUR: The FBM KLCI bucked regional trends and closed lower on Monday in the absence of fresh catalysts amid rising number of Covid-19 cases in the country.

Indonesia

Emerging markets: Investors keen on Indonesia central bank meeting as India stocks sink on virus surge

In Indonesia, investors await a policy meeting of Bank Indonesia (BI) for cues on how the central bank will support economic recovery as well as the rupiah, which is among the region's worst performing currencies so far this year.

AseanPlus News

Cambodia: More markets in capital shut amid outbreak

Two markets in Phnom Penh – Phsar Thom Tuol Sangke, also known as Samhan market, in Russey Keo district and Boeung Trabek Plaza in Chamkarmon district – have been ordered shut for 14 days from April 19 to May 2 after vendors there tested positive for Covid-19.

Nation

Covid-19: 2,078 new cases, eight new fatalities

PETALING JAYA: Malaysia recorded 2,078 Covid-19 cases on Monday (April 19), bringing the cumulative total to 377,132.