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Malaysia: Covid-19: 15,902 new cases, Selangor the highest with 7,351 Covid-19: 96.8% of 15,902 new cases asymptomatic or have minor symptoms, says Health DG Covid-19: Close contacts told not to deliver items to patients at MAEPS quarantine centre Covid-19: Over 460,000 vaccine doses administered on Friday (July 23) Macau scams: Almost RM328mil lost in over 5,000 cases since 2019, says Bukit Aman Johor cops seize RM2mil worth of drugs in series of raids Anwar's motion rejected because it was submitted too early, says Speaker MMA welcomes contract doctor extension offer, urge for long-term solutions to problems faced by health workers Bursa Malaysia likely t move between 1,515 and 1,535 next week Those who harbour undocumented migrants will face severe punishment, warns Immigration DG Malaysia needs a big reset button Ringgit to trade in tight range vs US$ The operating capacity of attractions in Singapore has been reduced to 25 per cent, down from 50 ... » Learn More about Asean News Headlines as at 10pm on Saturday (July 24)

BANGKOK, June 24 (Bloomberg): The Thai-American founder of Minor International Pcl, which runs more than 500 hotels across 55 countries, sees green shoots emerging in Europe properties while those in Asia remain squeezed due to resurgences in coronavirus outbreaks. Italy, Spain and the U.K. are seeing businesses reopen and resumptions in domestic tourism, helping boost Minor’s hotel-occupancy rate to about 40% in Europe, Bill Heinecke, founder and chairman of the Bangkok-based company, said in a Bloomberg TV interview on Friday. Operations in Asia remain restricted as the region copes with continued outbreaks. "I’m reasonably optimistic about the rest of the world, but a bit depressed about Asia,” the 72-year-old Heinecke said in the interview with Haslinda Amin and Rishaad Salamat. The policies of some Asian governments to fully control virus outbreaks are "killing businesses, and economies are suffering much more greatly than even from the disease,” he said. Minor’s business in ... » Learn More about Thai hotel tycoon sees bright spot in Europe as Asia stays shut

JAKARTA, July 24 (Reuters): Indonesia's central bank held its key interest rate at a record low this week to support the economy amid a growing COVID-19 crisis, but said recent anti-virus measures had hit activity less than expected. Bank Indonesia (BI) kept the benchmark 7-day reverse repurchase rate at 3.50%, where it has been since February, as expected by all 31 economists in a Reuters poll. The central bank also left its two other main policy rates unchanged. Indonesia has one of the world's worst coronavirus outbreaks due to a rapid spread of the Delta variant, reporting around 1,000 deaths from the respiratory disease each day in the past week. The government extended pandemic-linked restrictions to July 25 as the number of infections remained high, but is hoping for a gradual easing of curbs next week if cases drop, President Joko Widodo said on Tuesday (July 20). BI Governor Perry Warjiyo said the policy decision was consistent with the need to support the economy ... » Learn More about Indonesia central bank holds rates amid growing Covid-19 crisis

According to Brunei's Ministry of Health, two of the new cases arrived in the country from Indonesia via Singapore on July 11, 2021, who had no signs of infection. The other six cases arrived in the country from Jakarta, Indonesia on July 18, 2021, onboard the same flight with a patient recorded on Friday. Five of the six cases show no signs of infection and the contact tracing has found 10 close contacts for all the six cases. All the new cases were detected when they were undergoing quarantine and they are being treated and monitored at the National Isolation Center with 41 other active patients, who are all in a stable condition. With the detection of the new cases, a total of 180 imported cases have been confirmed since the last local infection case on May 6, 2020. Brunei has recorded 444 days without local Covid-19 infection cases. There have been a total of 269 recovered patients and three deaths reported from Covid-19 so far in the country. The health ministry also ... » Learn More about Brunei reports eight new imported Covid-19 cases, 321 cases in total – all from Indonesia but no local cases for 444 days

BANDAR SERI BEGAWAN, July 19 (Borneo Bulletin/ANN): By the consent of His Majesty Sultan Haji Hassanal Bolkiah Mu’izzaddin Waddaulah ibni Al-Marhum Sultan Haji Omar ‘Ali Saifuddien Sa’adul Khairi Waddien, Sultan and Yang Di-Pertuan of Brunei Darussalam, the Prime Minister’s Office (PMO) today informed that following the on-going situation of Covid-19 in Indonesia, approvals on the entry for foreign nationals departing from or through Indonesia are temporarily suspended with immediate effect until further notice. This applies to entry travels of all foreign nationals departing from or through any airport in Indonesia (direct flight) or travelling from Indonesia to Brunei Darussalam via transit at any other airport. The temporary suspension also applies to foreign nationals who have been granted pre-approvals to enter Brunei Darussalam from Indonesia. Brunei Darussalam on Sunday night (July 18) detected eight new imported Covid-19 cases, bringing the national tally of confirmed ... » Learn More about Brunei govt announce temporary suspension on travel from Indonesia

BANDAR SERI BEGAWAN, July 24 (Borneo Bulletin/ANN): Bank Islam Brunei Darussalam (BIBD) Group held its annual general meeting (AGM) 2021 in review of the previous year during which the group stepped up its focus on serving the community and the nation at large, amidst the outbreak of Covid-19. Minister at the Prime Minister’s Office and Minister of Finance and Economy II Dato Seri Setia Dr Awang Haji Mohd Amin Liew Abdullah in his capacity as Chairman of BIBD and its Group of Companies said, “Despite the challenges posed by the global pandemic, BIBD’s financial position remained resilient and continued to post strong profitability in 2020.” He said, “Prudent financial management emphasising on heightened risk management and community focussed initiatives were key management drivers in 2020. At the forefront was the measures taken by BIBD to provide a safe working and business environment for our staff and customers. "As a partner in progress, BIBD supported the government’s call ... » Learn More about Brunei: BIBD meeting highlights solid achievements in the midst of Covid-19

BANDAR SERI BEGAWAN, July 19 (Xinhua): Brunei on Monday (July 19) suspended all entry from Indonesia due to their Covid-19 situation and rising imported cases from the country. According to Brunei's Prime Minister's Office (PMO), following the ongoing situation of Covid-19 in Indonesia, approvals on the entry for foreign nationals departing from or through Indonesia are temporarily suspended with immediate effect until further notice, which applies to entry travels of all foreign nationals departing from or through any airport in Indonesia (direct flight) or traveling from Indonesia to Brunei via transit at any other airport. The PMO also said that in addition, the temporary suspension also applies to foreign nationals who have been granted pre-approvals to enter Brunei from Indonesia. Indonesia on Monday recorded 34,257 newly-confirmed cases of Covid-19 and 1,338 deaths in the past 24 hours, the country's Health Ministry said. After recording eight imported cases from ... » Learn More about Brunei bars entry from Indonesia amid rising imported Covid-19 cases

VIENTIANE, July 24 (Xinhua): Laos reported another record high of 278 new cases of Covid-19 on Saturday, surpassing the previous record of 256 cases registered on Thursday, according to the Lao Ministry of Health. The National Taskforce Committee for COVID-19 Prevention and Control reported 278 new imported cases and no locally transmitted cases, Deputy Director General of the Department of Communicable Diseases Control under the Lao Ministry of Health Phonepaserd Sayamoungkhoun told a press conference in Lao capital Vientiane on Saturday. Phonepaserd said that the imported cases were detected among returning workers from neighboring countries. Among the imported cases, 198 were reported in Savannakhet province, 53 in Champasak, nine each in Saravan and Bolikhamxay, five in Khammuan, and four in Lao capital Vientiane. As of Saturday, the total number of confirmed Covid-19 cases in Laos reached 4,620 with five deaths. A total of 2,830 Covid-19 patients have recovered and been ... » Learn More about Laos’ daily Covid-19 infections surge to new high

PHNOM PENH, July 24 (Xinhua): Cambodian Prime Minister Samdech Techo Hun Sen has decided to bring forward a Covid-19 vaccination drive for adolescents aged from 12 to 17 to Aug. 1. The prime minister first set Aug. 6 for the campaign, but changed his decision a few hours later in order to enable the adolescent group to get the jabs sooner, according to a Fresh News report. Hun Sen said he will attend the launching event at the Calmette Hospital in Phnom Penh and that China's Sinovac COVID-19 vaccines will be used in the drive, said the report. He will also bring all of his grandchildren aged between 12 and 17 to get the jabs, the Fresh News said, adding that other senior leaders' children and grandchildren will also go for their doses. There are around 2 million adolescents in the kingdom, Hun Sen said last week, adding that the vaccinations for the adolescents will pave the way for the country to reopen schools after being closed down since late February. Cambodia launched a ... » Learn More about Cambodian PM reschedules Covid-19 vaccine rollout for adolescents to Aug 1

The National Taskforce Committee for Covid-19 Prevention and Control reported 170 imported Covid-19 cases and no new locally transmitted cases, Deputy Director General of the Department of Communicable Diseases Control under Lao Ministry of Health, Sisavath Soutthaniraxay, told a press conference here on Tuesday. Among the imported cases, 98 were reported in Savannakhet province, 38 in Champasak, 20 in Saravan, 10 in Lao capital Vientiane, and four in Khammuan province. As of Tuesday, the total number of confirmed Covid-19 cases in Laos reached 3,710 with five deaths. A total of 2,483 Covid-19 patients have recovered and been discharged from hospitals. Laos reported its first two confirmed Covid-19 cases on March 24 last year. - Xinhua ... » Learn More about Laos’ daily Covid-19 cases reach all-time high on Tuesday (July 20)