AseanPlus News

Asean News Headlines as at 7pm on Friday (March 5)

Here's a look at the news highlights from Asean countries in the Star-AseanPlus section for Friday (March 5)

Myanmar

Coup-hit Myanmar sees temporary nationwide electricity outage; fresh bloodshed on the streets

Electricity supply was briefly cut across many areas of Myanmar on Friday because of a "system breakdown", according to multiple government agencies.

Cambodia

Cambodian dog slaughterhouse shuts as meat trade faces pressure

A notorious slaughterhouse in Cambodia that has killed more than a million dogs is closed now as the country steps up efforts to end the trade in their meat.

AseanPlus News

Ohio man admits paying poor Filipino moms for child porn

A registered sex offender from Ohio man has admitted using dating sites to connect with impoverished women in the Philippines and offering them money in return for sexually explicit photos of their children.

Philippines

Philippines records 3,045 new Covid-19 cases, highest in over 4 months; total now at 587,704

The Philippines' Department of Health (DOH) reported on Friday 3,045 new confirmed cases of Covid-19, the highest daily tally in more than four months, bringing the total number of confirmed coronavirus infections in the Southeast Asian country to 587,704.

Singapore

Health Minister: More than 350,000 Singapore residents have received first Covid-19 jab; 9 imported Covid-19 cases on Friday (March 5)

Steady progress has been made in Singapore's vaccination programme, with more than 350,000 Singapore residents, including around 80 per cent of healthcare workers, already receiving their first jab of the Covid-19 vaccine.

Indonesia

Jokowi: Indonesia aims to vaccinate 40 million people by June as country's Covid-19 total goes above 1.368 million

Indonesia plans to inject one million people per day with the coronavirus vaccine and 40 million people by June as part of a mass vaccination drive targetting 181.5 million people, President Joko 'Jokowi' Widodo has announced.

AseanPlus News

Thailand plans to vaccinate 40 million population in 2021; confirms 79 new Covid-19 cases on Friday (March 5)

Thailand plans to vaccinate 40 million people in the country against Covid-19 within this year, said a high-level government official has announced.

AseanPlus News

China to shorten negative lists and encourage more foreign investment in high-tech, modern services industries

China will further shorten the negative lists for foreign investment access, according to the draft outline of the 14th Five-Year Plan (2021-2025) for national economic and social development and the long-range objectives through the year 2035, which was unveiled on Friday.

Nation

MMEA tracking Vietnamese fishing crew who escaped after their boats sank

KOTA KINABALU: The Malaysian Maritime Enforcement Agency (MMEA) is tracking Vietnamese fishermen from two foreign boats which sank in Kudat waters.

Thailand

Thai military denies involvement in network removed by Facebook

BANGKOK, March 5 (Reuters): Thailand's military has announced that it was not behind a network of Facebook accounts that the social media giant took down on the grounds they were using deceptive behaviour to influence public debate.

Indonesia

Palm oil row fuels Swiss vote on Indonesia trade deal

Switzerland votes on Sunday on a free trade deal with Indonesia but the agreement, which opens up a vast potential market, could slip up over the issue of palm oil imports.

Philippines

Giant clam shells worth US$3.3 million seized in Philippine raid

Philippine authorities have seized illegally harvested giant clam shells worth $3.3 million as smugglers turn to the endangered creatures as a substitute for the illicit ivory trade.

Nation

Covid-19: Cases up by 2,154, bringing total to 310,097 (updated daily)

Get the latest update in the numbers of Covid-19 in Malaysia and related information here!

AseanPlus News

Hong Kong electoral reforms: aspiring candidates for city’s next Legislative Council polls will need establishment’s blessing to run

Senior Chinese official confirms the looming rules change at Beijing meeting where drastic overhaul of city’s electoral system is being discussedThe coming changes will necessitate amending Annexes I and II of the Basic Law, National People’s Congress Standing Committee vice-chairman says

AseanPlus News

UNIQLO stores in China hit by craze of women playing dress up in children’s outfits and damaging clothes

UNIQLO staff said customers damaged clothing by stretching or staining it with lipstick and make-up Fashion followers say they love the colourful designs but online critics say the practice is unethical

India

India's FDI rises 40% in April-December 2020; Covid-19 total now at 11,173,761

India's foreign direct investment (FDI) grew 40 per cent to US$51.47 billion during April-December 2020-21 financial year, according to official data that has been released.

Indonesia

Emerging markets: Indonesia's rupiah hits 4-month low as Asian stocks take big hit

Indonesia's rupiah was hovering around four-month lows on Friday as rising US bond yields sent the dollar higher and hit appetite for Asia's emerging currency and stock markets.

Nation

BN parties never agreed to appeal to King for Parliament sitting during Emergency, say MCA and MIC presidents

PETALING JAYA: Barisan Nasional never came to a consensus to ask for an appeal to the Yang di-Pertuan Agong Al-Sultan Abdullah Ri'ayatuddin Al-Mustafa Billah Shah to order Parliament to convene as soon as possible, say the MCA and MIC presidents.

Vietnam

Vietnam's cloth import surges over 2 months; Covid-19 total now stands 2,488

Vietnam spent nearly US$1.9 billion importing cloth in the first two months of this year, posting a year-on-year rise of 17.6 percent, according to the country's General Statistics Office on Friday.