The Svay Rieng administration hall has officially announced the cancellation of the Angkor Sankranta Festival, a four-day celebration of the Khmer New Year held in April, as Covid-19 fears mount in the kingdom. The province is the second to do so following Siem Reap province’s cancellation earlier this month. “All public officials and citizens must be notified the Angkor Sankranta …

The United States and China on Monday each demanded that the other stop smearing its reputation over the novel coronavirus as Donald Trump referred to the pathogen as the “Chinese Virus”. “The United States will be powerfully supporting those industries, like Airlines and others, that are particularly affected by the Chinese Virus,” the US president tweeted Monday night. Trump’s allies …

The Philippine stock exchange chief said he plans to reopen the $188 billion market on Thursday, signaling a quick resumption of trading after the country became the first to shut financial markets in response to the widening coronavirus pandemic. The controversial move to halt trading came amid mounting speculation that other countries may take similar measures as stocks around the …

Unsettled disputes between tour operators and airlines may exacerbate the tourism situation in Thailand by forcing outbound wholesalers to exit the market, with more layoffs. The global coronavirus pandemic has created significant impacts to global tourism as the World Tourism Organization (UNWTO) has predicted a contraction of international arrivals by 1-3% with an estimated loss of US$30-50 billion in receipts, …

The municipal government is investigating whether it can put the town in a state of calamity to control the spread of avian influenza that is now threatening local quail, chicken and duck farms. Mayor Sylvia Austria said that the municipal council and members of the local disaster risk reduction and management committee are supporting any measure taken to curb bird …

In a rapid escalation of measures to prevent the spread of the latest coronavirus, President Rodrigo Duterte placed Luzon as a whole under “enhanced neighborhood quarantine” on Monday, just one day after the quarantine of the general community in Me-tro Manila took effect. The Luzonwide quarantine order came as coronavirus cases dwindled to just two on Monday, but thousands crowded …

The North Luzon Expressway (NLEX) was closed to drivers coming to and from Metro Manila. According to NLEX Corp., only delivery trucks carrying basic goods, frontline workers ‘ vehicles and emergency vehicles were allowed through checkpoints at the south entrances of the Balintawak Toll Plaza, Ciudad de Victoria, Marilao Southbound, Mindanao Toll Plaza. The Bocaue toll plaza was also closed …

The Department of Health (DOH) has reported 45 new confirmed cases of coronavirus disease in 2019 (COVID-19), taking the country’s number of cases to 187. The DOH has yet to provide further information on the 45 new confirmed cases. So far the number of deaths associated with COVID-19 has remained at 12. Meanwhile, another patient who has recovered from the …

The Philippine Airlines (PAL) declared on Tuesday the cancelation of all its domestic flights under the enhanced community quarantine now being imposed on the entire island of Luzon by the government. The company stated that in compliance with the Enhanced Community Quarantine measure taken by the Philippine Government over the Luzon Region, including Metro Manila, ALL DOMESTIC FLIGHTS of Philippine …

The past 30 days in Malaysia has been a political rollercoaster, probably worse than watching a thriller horror movie. Malaysian politics had gone through a series of consequential moves, counter-plays, and reversals. Less than 22 months after the historic May 2018 election that ousted Malaysia’s long-ruling coalition, in-fighting within the new government exploded into the open. Tun Mahathir Mohamad resigned …