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Politics
Vietnam PM: COVID-19 is test of ASEAN’s mettle as maturing community
HANOI: The 36th Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) Summit “Cohesive and Responsive” was opened in Hanoi by Vietnam’s Prime Minister Nguyen Xuan Phuc. In his opening remarks, PM Phuc highlighted the theme of the summit in the context of the COVID-19 pandemic which is hitting the region and the…
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Maldives first South Asian country to open borders after four months of closure due to COVID-19
By Habib Toumi Malé: The Maldives will re-open its borders for international tourists staying in resorts, live boards and hotels located in uninhabited islands on July 15. Guesthouses and hotels located in inhabited islands will be open from August 1, President Ibrahim Mohamed Solih has said. The country had closed its…
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Politics
Singapore eyes July or September to hold general elections
By Ivan Lim Former AJA President, Contributor to AsiaN SINGAPORE: General elections as early as in July, or latest in September. This is what Singapore’s ruling People’s Action Party (PAP) appears to have set its mind on as it sees the Covid pandemic outbreak in the Republic as stabilising, with restrictions…
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Business
Coronavirus robs Bahrainis of Eid joy, festivities
By Habib Toumi MANAMA: “I am not taking any risks, so I told my daughters and their children to come late for the family lunch, spend a short time with us, then go home,” Fareed said when asked about his plans ahead for the day. “I love my extended family,…
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Business
Vietnamese coastal cities to attract more visitors as virus fears ease
By Phong Lan Vietnam HANOI: Vietnamese people are having chances to enjoy a cool summer holiday at the beaches as the country has so far successfully curbed the virus outbreak. After staying at home for some time following the government’s social distancing regulation, life has now almost returned to normal in…
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Politics
Kuwait announces full curfew until the end of May
KUWAIT: The Kuwaiti Government decided on Friday to impose full curfew starting Sunday (May 10) 4 pm until May 30, as part of the measures to stem the spread of the novel coronavirus (COVID-19). Official government spokesperson Tareq Al-Mizrem said on Twitter that the decision was taken upon recommendations by…
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South Asia
Pakistan registers sharp increase in COVID-19 positive cases
By Nasir Aijaz TheAsiaN Representative ISLAMABAD: The number of confirmed COVID-19 cases in Pakistan rose to 20,987 on Monday after hundreds of new infections were confirmed in the country. There had been sharp increase in COVID-19 cases in the country during last three weeks, as the number of positive cases…
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Business
Indonesia: The Epicenter of the Economic Crisis
By Eddy Suprapto Contributor AsiaN. The process of economic recovery in Indonesia due to COVID-19 will clearly face a new chapter that is facing an economic crisis. Gross Domestic Product growth is only 1.8%, inflation is at 2.7% and unemployment rate rose from 8% to reach 10%. Indonesian National Budgeting…
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Business
South Korea reports zero local infections for first time in 72 days
SEOUL: South Korea marked the first time in 72 days that local infections have fallen to zero. The four cases of the new coronavirus reported on Thursday were all imported ones and brought the total to 10,765. It was the first time since February 18 that no locally infected cases…
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Business
With eased social distancing, South Koreans imagine post-coronavirus life
SEOUL: When South Korea reported its first case of the new coronavirus on Jan. 20, little was fathomed about how this virus would change life. Three months into the virus outbreak, what was once deemed a regional virus has developed into a global pandemic, reshaping how people work, rest and…
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