News
CERP should focus more on agriculture, livestock sectors: businesses
Economists said the government’s COVID-19 Economic Relief Plan (CERP) should focus more on essential sectors such as agriculture and livestock, which affects longer term food security. The CERP was announced on April 27 to mitigate the negative impact of COVID-19 on the economy. “Myanmar is an agricultural ...
THIHA KO KOZEYAR HEIN
The COVID-19 rice economy: what a pandemic means for Southeast Asia’s staple
As cities and countries impose lockdowns, people around the world, from the UK to India, are struggling to access food. The causes vary, with some communities facing lost income and local scarcity while others deal with barriers to movement, but the drivers of this food insecurity are primarily ...
Skylar Lindsay
New quarantine venues for returnees in Bangkok
Additional state quarantine facilities in the capital are being offered to Thais returning from overseas this month, according to a Defence Ministry official. The facilities include those in Qiu Hotel and Movenpick Hotel in central Bangkok. Returnees are required to spend 14 days in state-designated quarantine facilities, ...
WASSANA NANUAM
Journalists Fear Tougher Restrictions as Cambodia Enacts New Law on State of Emergency
On the eve of World Press Freedom Day, journalists in Cambodia expressed concern that a new law authorizing a state of emergency to contain the spread of the coronavirus will be used by the government to restrict their ability to work. The “Law on Governing the ...
WHO urges vigilance as COVID-19 situation in Myanmar remains “manageable”
Myanmar has seen COVID-19 confirmed cases rising to 151 with 6 deaths and 31 people recovering. Despite the increase in cases, the country has been able to trace the majority of transmission chains, maintaining that the virus spread is “manageable”, said Dr Stephan Paul Jost, World ...
JOHN LIU
Govt to hire jobless to offer health advice
The government may employ public health volunteers to advise on how to prevent disease transmission as certain business activities reopen from the lockdown today. Speaking at the Ministry of Public Health, Sathit Pitutecha, the ministry’s deputy minister, said the government is concerned about the large number ...
APINYA WIPATAYOTIN
The Thai economy: COVID-19, poverty, and social protection
The coronavirus pandemic (COVID-19) has touched people from all walks of life. Across Thailand, children have been home from school, employees have been working from home, and business owners have struggled to remain viable. All of us have been learning to conduct our daily lives. ...
KIATIPONG ARIYAPRUCHYAARVIND NAIRJUDY YANGHARRY EDMUND MOROZ
Coronavirus is 'emboldening' Myanmar military to carry out 'war crimes' says UN human rights expert
A leading United Nations human rights expert claims the Myanmar military is carrying out “war crimes” against ethnic minorities, emboldened by special extended powers intended to help control the spread of the coronavirus. Yanghee Lee, the UN special rapporteur on the situation of human rights in Myanmar, accused the military ...
Rebecca Wright and Ivan Watson
After aggressive mass testing, Vietnam says it contains COVID-19 outbreak
Businessman Phan Quoc Viet was making his usual prayers at a pagoda in Tay Ninh, a province in southern Vietnam, when the government official’s call came. It was late January, just after the Lunar New Year. Vietnam had detected its first two cases of the new ...
Khanh Vu, Phuong Nguyen, James Pearson
Coronavirus: Thailand extends state of emergency until May 31
Thailand is extending the state of emergency for a month until May 31, Prime Minister Prayut Chan-o-cha announced on Tuesday (April 28), even as new coronavirus cases in the country have been on a decline for the past few weeks. “The extension is necessary. Many orders especially in ...
Hathai Techakitteranun