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Politics
ASEAN, Plus Three partners must join forces to battle economic impact of COVID-19: Muhyiddin
KUALA LUMPUR: It is imperative for ASEAN to work closely with its Plus Three partners to ensure that Asia Pacific recovers from the economic impact of COVID-19 together, said Muhyiddin Yassin. In a Special ASEAN Plus Three Summit on COVID-19 conducted via a video conference today, the Prime Minister said…
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Politics
Trump in blame-game spree as COVID-19 death spiral soars
By Ivan Lim Former AJA President, Contributor to AsiaN SINGAPORE: As the toll in the United States from the novel pneumonia super-bug exceeded 20,000 deaths and reached more than half a million confirmed cases by Easter Friday, President Donald Trump began hitting out at the World Health Organisation (WHO), faulting…
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Politics
Bahrain converts parking into 130-bed COVID-19 intensive care unit in seven days
By Habib Toumi MANAMA: Bahrain has completed converting a parking lot into a large intensive care unit (ICU) accommodating beds equipped with respiratory and reanimation equipment in seven days. The third floor of the Bahrain Defense Force (BDF) Hospital parking is now a field intensive care unit that contains 130…
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Politics
Kopi-tiam pundits hedge bets on Singapore polls outcome
By Ivan Lim Former AJA President, Contributor to AsiaN SINGAPORE: The kopi-tiam, Singapore’s well-known name for the coffee shop, is the go-to place in the city-state to get your latest update on engrossing political gossip. Freshly brewed events come alive, with arm-chair critics holding forth, in between sips of kopi-O…
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Politics
South Korea to allocate Kyrgyzstan $50,000 to combat coronavirus
BISHKEK: Korea will allocate Kyrgyzstan $50,000 to combat coronavirus, the South Korean embassy in Kyrgyzstan reported. “In connection with an increase in cases of coronavirus infection in the Kyrgyz Republic, the Korean Government, aware of the lack of medical equipment and the need to improve medical services to combat coronavirus…
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Politics
35 million South Koreans to benefit from ‘disaster relief money’ for households
SEOUL: The South Korean government will grant “emergency disaster relief money” to a majority of the country’s households in a one-off stimulus program to help with the economic impact of the coronavirus crisis, President Moon Jae-in said Monday. He also unveiled a plan to seek another supplementary budget during a…
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Politics
COVID-19 pandemic and India
By Pramod Mathur India <Spotfilm> CEO, AJA Senior member NEW DELHI: An Extraordinary Virtual G20 Leaders’ Summit was convened on March 26, 2020. The aim was to discuss challenges posed by the COVID-19 pandemic and forge a coordinated global response. Earlier, Prime Minister Modi had a telephonic conversation with the…
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Politics
South Korea’s culture minister vows utmost help to revive coronavirus-hit arts, tourism
SEOUL: South Korean Culture Minister Park Yang-woo has vowed utmost efforts to help the recovery of the country’s arts, sports and tourism sectors, among the worst hit areas in the COVID-19 pandemic. “The sectors that are getting a particularly acute impact from COVID-19 are culture, sports and tourism. The…
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Politics
Malaysia announces $57.78 billion stimulus package to deal with coronavirus fallout
PUTRAJAYA: Malaysia’s government will channel RM25 million to the vulnerable groups through the RM250 billion ($57.78 billion) economic stimulus package announced on Friday by Prime Minister Muhyiddin Yassin. The funds are to be channelled towards supporting people and businesses most adversely impacted by the economic disruption from the Covid-19 outbreak…
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Politics
Only a surge in COVID-19 cases may change Singapore move for elections
By Ivan Lim Former AJA President Contributor to AsiaN Singapore Singapore: Many Singaporeans would agree that the prevalent Corvid-19 pandemic is an inconvenient time, for all intents and purpose, to hold a general election. However, the long-ruling People’s Action Party (PAP) strategists apparently have their own ideas. The government…
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