Hot Off The Press

These are the top stories making the front pages of major newspapers from across Southeast Asia today.

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Scientists lauded for research on Asian genetics, light at nano-level

Research into the human genome has grown over the past decade but Asian populations remain under-studied. Professor Liu Jianjun, 57, is trying to change that - and gaining recognition for it. Last Friday, he received the President's Science Award. "My research on the genetics of Asian populations has revealed new insights into the biological mechanisms of diseases that are prominent in Asian populations," said Prof Liu, deputy executive director at the Agency for Science, Technology and Research's Genome Institute of Singapore. This will help in the development of clinical tests to look for such Asian "biomarkers", which will allow doctors to diagnose patients early, and help prevent adverse reactions to drugs, he added. Prof Liu was part of a team that discovered the specific risk strains of the Epstein-Barr virus (EBV), which are associated with the development of nasopharyngeal carcinoma. This nose cancer is found largely in populations in South China and Southeast Asia, but is very rare in other regions. The EBV risk strains can be used as biomarkers to identify individuals with high risk of developing the cancer, enabling early diagnosis and improved survival rates. Prof Liu is one of two recipients of the President's Science Award this year. The award is one of three prizes under the President's Science and Technology Awards - the highest recognition for exceptional research scientists and engineers here. The other President's Science Award went to a trio from Nanyang Technological University for their research into topological nanophotonics – a field in the science of light that has emerged in the past decade. Professor Nikolay Zheludev, 65, Associate Professor Chong Yidong, 40, and Associate Professor Zhang Baile, 39, found that manipulating light at the nano-level - an extremely small scale - could allow scientists to probe objects such as viruses that are too small to be seen under a conventional microscope. Photonics, the science of generating, harnessing and manipulating light, is a critical enabling technology of the 21st century, underpinning numerous other technologies ranging from imaging to security and defence, the research team told The Straits Times. "We expect that our research innovations will lead to higher-density optical chips, more robust and compact lasers, universal super-resolution optical imaging for applications across various technologies, such as those used in the life sciences and biomedical industries, as well as ultra-fast 6G telecommunications," they said. – The Straits Times

Ku Nan guilty of accepting RM2 million bribe from businessman in 2013

Former Federal Territories Minister Datuk Seri Tengku Adnan Tengku Mansor has been found guilty of corruption by receiving RM2 million for himself from a businessman. High Court judge Mohamed Zaini Mazlan said the prosecution had proven its case beyond all reasonable doubt against the Putrajaya Member of Parliament, who is popularly known as Ku Nan. Tengku Adnan, who just celebrated his 70th birthday and his son's wedding yesterday, listened intently from the dock as the judge read out the verdict. Tengku Adnan was represented by Datuk Tan Hock Chuan, while the prosecution team was led by deputy public prosecutor Julia Ibrahim. In his testimony after being ordered to enter his defence, Tengku Adnan admitted that he received a RM2 million cheque from businessman Tan Sri Chai Kin Kong on June 14, 2016. However, he claimed the money was for the campaign expenses of the Sungai Besar (Selangor) and Kuala Kangsar (Perak) by-elections on June 18 the same year. The former Umno Secretary-General also told the court that the RM2 million given by Chai was like "pocket money" to him. Tengku Adnan was charged in his capacity as a civil servant, namely Federal Territories Minister, with having received for himself a total of RM2 million from Chai, who is Aset Kayamas Sdn Bhd (AKSB) director. It was done via a Hong Leong Islamic Bank cheque belonging to the company, which was deposited into a CIMB account owned by Tadmansori Holdings Sdn Bhd (THSB), which Tengku Adnan has an interest in and is known to AKSB as being related to his official duties. Tengku Adnan was accused of committing the offence under Section 165 of the Penal Code at the CIMB Bank Berhad, Pusat Bandar Damansara, here on June 14, 2016. The offence carries a maximum two years' jail, or a fine, or both, upon conviction. The High Court was supposed to have decided on the case on Nov 17, but the proceedings were adjourned following the enforcement of the Conditional Movement Control Order (CMCO). The trial of the case began on July 2 last year, with the prosecution calling 23 witnesses to testify. – New Straits Times

Samut Sakhon to suffer huge financial losses

The lockdown of Samut Sakhon due to a new surge in Covid-19 infections will cause about 1 billion baht a day in economic damage, says Amphai Harnkraiwilai, chairwoman of the Samut Sakhon Chamber of Commerce. She said the province's seafood industry with sales amounting to 400 to 500 million baht a day, as well as other related businesses, have now been forced to stop as a result of the lockdown. "This could cause estimated economic damage of about 1 billion baht a day," she said. However, major damage will be limited only to businesses that employ migrant workers while there will be little impact on businesses that do not hire them, Ms Amphai said. "Initially, local businesses have agreed to comply with disease control measures fully and screen migrant workers to prevent the spread of the virus to other areas," Ms Amphai said. "Regarding remedial measures to help other operators who are not in the infection zone and have been affected by the lockdown, the provincial chamber of commerce will raise the issue with the Thai Chamber of Commerce which will then forward the matter to the government," she said. Commercial and state-run banks announced the closure of their branches in Samut Sakhon in the wake of the lockdown effective from Saturday until Jan 3. Bank branches in shopping malls were also closed. – Bangkok Post

Jokowi hopes vaccinations will start in January 

President Joko “Jokowi” Widodo hopes the national COVID-19 vaccination program will begin in January 2021. “Insya Allah [God willing], we will start the shots in January. In our prediction, we may return to normal next year. Let us all pray together so that we will return to normal quickly,” said Jokowi while handing out presidential aid at the Bogor Presidential Palace in West Java on Friday, as reported by kompas.id. He went on to say that the vaccination program aimed to reach 70 percent of the Indonesian population – or around 182 million people. The vaccination of that proportion of the population would, it is believed, ensure herd immunity. As it stands, there are only enough vaccines in the country for 600,000 recipients. The Food and Drug Monitoring Agency (BPOM) is studying additional candidate vaccines to determine whether to authorize emergency use. “I will be given the vaccine first to show that it is all right,” said the President. Jokowi reminded the public that the vaccination program would tak
e some time because of the country’s large population. He said the program would be carried out in stages, beginning with health workers, members of the Indonesian Military (TNI) and the National Police (Polri) before reaching the general public. The President reasserted that any future vaccine would be approved by the BPOM and would be declared halal by the Indonesian Ulema Council (MUI). Vaccination, he said, would be free for all Indonesians. Separately, Foreign Minister Retno LP Marsudi said in a Kompas Collaboration Forum (KCF) virtual discussion on Friday that the government was still working on providing enough vaccines for all Indonesians. According to the John Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health, 2.2 billion COVID-19 vaccine doses will be available in 2021. As many as 3.76 billion future vaccine doses have been reserved by less than 50 countries, including Indonesia. Meanwhile, pharmaceutical company Kalbe Farma CEO Vidjongtius said that as an archipelagic state, Indonesia’s geography would be a challenge in the national vaccination program. “A good quality of vaccines equals a good quality of vaccine distribution. We do not want decreasing quality of vaccines because of poor distribution handling to ever happen,” he added. – The Jakarta Post

‘Show no mercy’ to cop in Tarlac shooting, Lacson tells PNP

Police officers should turn in their issued firearms when they are on off-duty status, Senator Panfilo Lacson said Monday as he urged the Philippine National Police (PNP) to “show no mercy” to the policeman who shot dead a mother and her son in Tarlac. “If what’s on video tells the whole story, I enjoin the Philippine National Police leadership to show no mercy. They should spare no effort to make sure that he rots in jail. He’s the last policeman that they need in the force,” Lacson, a former PNP chief, said in a statement. “As a policy recommendation, policemen should turn in their issued firearms to their unit’s armorer or supply officer when on off-duty status. That said, they should not be issued Permits to Carry Firearms Outside Residence (PTCFOR) while still in the active service,” he added. Lacson made this suggestion following the death of 52-year-old Sonya Gregorio and her 25-year-old son Frank Anthony Gregorio, who were shot dead by Senior Master Sergeant Jonel Nuezca in Paniqui town on Sunday. Lt. Col. Noriel Rombaoa, chief of Paniqui Municipal Police Station, said the suspect and the victims had a confrontation prior to the crime and that they had been involved in a land dispute regarding right of way. Following this incident, Lacson said the PNP should always uphold its motto, which is “To Serve and Protect.” “That includes taking appropriate steps to protect our people from scalawags in their ranks, whether they are on duty or not,” he added. – INQUIRER.net 

Demand for cold storage facilities grows with e-commerce popularity

Cold storage might soon become a rising star in the logistic sectors, property market researcher Jones Lang LaSalle (JLL) Vietnam has said. It told a seminar held last week to discuss trends in logistics that investors are already partial to cold storage facilities after online grocery sales skyrocketed during the pandemic, requiring more refrigerated warehouses close to buyers. “There has been a spike in short-term logistics requirements directly linked to the immediate impact of the pandemic, particularly in relation to the significant expansion of online grocery spending, and the need to support critical health services such as vaccines distribution.” Since all leading vaccines require very low temperatures to remain effective, cold storage for the new COVID-19 vaccines might be the next big thing in the supply chain and logistics industry. Another trend seen in the market is automation. Trang Bùi, head of markets, JLL Vietnam, said: “The COVID-19 pandemic is accelerating automation in the logistics sector and will become a major trend in the near future. “Tenants are upgrading from outdated, often small and owner-occupied facilities, to newer facilities in premium locations. Simultaneously, the consolidation of logistics operations into more modern facilities is improving efficiency and reducing the overall logistics costs of tenants. Growth in other industries will also support three-party-logistics market expansion, including growth in the food and beverage, healthcare and pharmaceuticals and office and technology equipment industries.” Rapid urbanisation and the growing middle class are among the biggest drivers of growth. Demographic forces drive demand for commercial real estate, and this is a major factor that underpins demand in Việt Nam, and the Asia Pacific in general. Around 35 per cent of Việt Nam’s population currently lives in urban areas, up from 29 per cent just about a decade ago. As the market matures, the level of logistics space required to serve the population is likely to rise, leading to greater requirements for logistics space. – Viet Nam News 

UK media reports British backpacker Amelia Bambridge, who died on Koh Rong, was “spiked with date rape drug”

A UK media report has reopened the mystery of the tragic death of British backpacker Amelia Bambridge in 2019, whose body was found floating in the Gulf of Thailand after she went missing after a notorious party on hedonistic Koh Rong Island’s “Police Beach” According to The Daily Mirror, toxicology tests in the UK have revealed the “date rape” drug GHB in her system – prompting suspicions that Amelia was “spiked” before her death. Also found were MDMA and the hallucinogen MDA – which her family insists she would not have taken. A British police spokesman said: “Her family requested that samples obtained during the post mortem were provided to them. With the assistance of Sussex Police, who funded the toxicology tests in support of the family, the samples were examined and revealed the presence of MDMA, MDA and GHB.” Her grieving family have now asked for the investigation into Amelia’s death to be reopened. The original inquest had ruled that Amelia had dies by drowning, but her family is questioning this verdict in light of the UK toxicology tests. It has emerged that the results of the test were sent to Cambodian police several months ago – but Amelia’s family have had no feedback from Cambodian Police. Cambodia Police officials say they have not received any paperwork from Amelia’s family and have declined to comment. This is sure to bring attention to the notorious “Police Beach” area of Koh Rong – where, despite COVID restrictions banning gatherings of more than 20 people – the parties still appear to be continuing. These parties have gained a reputation for drug use and other illegal behaviour which apparently flourishes under the noses of the authorities. Amelia’s mother Linda is reported as saying: “I am convinced there was some sort of cover-up. Amelia wasn’t a drug user; she didn’t take party drugs in the UK. – Khmer Times