HANOI – According to the Central Bank, The Vietnamese Dong currency may likely get hit due to a weaker foreign direct investment inflow forecast caused by the Covid-19 pandemic. Fitch Solutions experts predicted the currency to be at around VNĐ23,475 per US dollar this year and VNĐ23,650 in 2021 from the current rates of VNĐ23,309 to 1 USD. “We maintain …

In the midst of the COVID-19 pandemic, people were shocked by the surge in PLN electricity bills. Public complaints through the Twitter account of PLN @pln_123 earlier this month, complaining about a significant increase in their electricity bill up to 90 percent. This unusual increase was experienced by postpaid electricity customers. The average electricity consumption of the community has indeed …

To secure rice stocks, President Joko “Jokowi” Widodo has instructed to open new rice fields in Central Kalimantan. The target is that 900 thousand hectares (ha) of new rice fields will emerge. The plan was again discussed in a limited meeting that discussed foodstuffs today. There are already around 200 thousand hectares in Central Kalimantan ready to be used as …

The government has decided on a ban on homecoming or ‘mudik’ during the Covid-19 pandemic to prevent the spread of the virus from April 24 to May 31. The ban is for regions that have implemented large-scale social restrictions (PSBB), red zones of coronavirus spread, and agglomeration of PSBB. A number of vehicles that are found to be heading to …

AirAsia Indonesia Low-cost carrier AirAsia Indonesia plans to re-open flights starting on May 18, 2020, after previously closing scheduled flights from April 1, 2020, affected by the coronavirus pandemic (Covid-19). AirAsia Indonesia decided to reopen the flights from Surabaya, East Java, to the Malaysian cities of Kuala Lumpur and Johor Baru following a decline in the number of new COVID-19 …

Covid-19 pandemic has made the market deserted buyers. In fact, not a few markets also decided to close their operations. Especially since the government enacted the existence of Large-Scale Social Restrictions (PSBB) in a number of areas. To overcome this, Trade Minister Agus Suparmanto has asked traditional markets across the country to remain open to prevent sellers from incurring losses. …

It’s only when enough individuals become immune to the disease to stop transmission, either through a vaccine or direct contact, can COVID-19’s danger to lives and livelihoods solve fully. Before then, policymakers seeking to revive their economies will have public-health programs powerful enough to identify and respond to incidents. But it’s a different face since Malaysia’s economy in 2020 could …

BANGKOK – The streets of Bangkok has returned to business as usual with people resuming their exercise routines in parks, getting haircuts at salons and dining out in restaurants as Thailand begins to ease restrictions on Sunday due to the low cases of new Covid-19 infections reported in the past week. Businesses such as small retailers, street food stalls and …

Although the province of East Nusa Tenggara (NTT) has red zone status for COVID-19, but the provincial government has decided to continue the operation of domestic flights. NTT Chief of Transportation Services Isyak Nuka announced the government’s decision after nine COVID-19 patients had previously been identified. “Intercity flights within the NTT Province are still permitted under several conditions, including a …

Metro Manila – Former senator Jinggoy Estrada was arrested on Sunday and was brought to the San Juan police station for questioning over alleged violations of the enhanced community quarantine (ECQ). According to reports, Estrada was seen distributing relief goods in the city without quarantine pass or authorization to distribute relief goods. Estradahad no permit from the local government for …