These are the top stories making the front pages of major newspapers from across Southeast Asia today.
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1,012 new Covid-19 cases in S'pore; second day in a row new infections cross 1,000 mark
More than 1,000 new Covid-19 infections were reported in Singapore for the second day in a row on Sunday (Sept 19).
There were a total of 1,012 new Covid-19 cases, the highest daily number since April 23 last year when there were 1,037 new cases.
Of the local cases, 919 were in the community and 90 cases were among dormitory residents, said the Ministry of Health (MOH). Of these, 321 are seniors above 60 years old.
The remaining three cases were imported.
The total number of Covid-19 infections in Singapore now stands at 77,804.
There were also two new Covid-19 clusters reported at nursing homes, with transmission detected among residents and staff, said MOH.
Woodlands Care Home has a total of 12 cases, of which 11 are residents.
Windsor Convalescent Home in Pasir Panjang has 10 cases, of which nine are residents.
A new cluster also surfaced in My Little Campus (Yishun), with transmission detected among staff and pre-schoolers in the school. Of the 11 cases in the cluster, two are staff and nine are pre-schoolers. - Straits Times
'Mix and match booster shots'
Experts have lauded the move for booster jabs, saying Malaysia should adopt the "mix and match" approach — using different brands of Covid-19 vaccine for the third dose — when administering the shots, especially among Sinovac recipients amid concerns over its efficacy.
Pfizer-BioNTech and AstraZeneca were recommended as the most appropriate jabs to be used for this approach, dubbed the heterologous prime-boost vaccination, which experts said could provide broader and longer-lasting immunity against the virus and new variants, besides addressing the country's vaccine supply issues.
Epidemiologist Professor Datuk Dr Awang Bulgiba Awang Mahmud of Universiti Malaya said the authorities should be thinking of the heterologous third dose approach now as there was evidence that this would give a good boost to the immune system.
"The reasons for this are not quite clear but its safety has been demonstrated. Another reason is that there is a large supply of Pfizer and AstraZeneca vaccines which have been ordered, thus it makes a lot of sense to do this."
Dr Awang Bulgiba, who is the Science, Technology and Innovation Ministry's Covid-19 Epidemiological Analysis and Strategies Task Force chairman, said Malaysia should already be looking at securing supplies for booster shots to cover the entire eligible population to avoid facing a supply shortage. - New Straits Times
Cardiac arrest a factor in jab death
Cardiac arrest was determined to be the cause of death of the volunteer rescuer who died after receiving a third shot of the AstraZeneca Covid-19 vaccine in Ratchaburi, doctors said on Sunday.
The dead man's father, Prasert Boonkhian, told reporters yesterday the remains of his 40-year-old son, Prasong Boonkhian -- a volunteer with Pathon Borom Rachanusorn Foundation -- were sent to Ratchaburi Hospital for an autopsy.
Experts at the hospital found Prasong's death was caused by the complete blockage of a coronary artery, which led to a cardiac arrest.
The hospital's deputy director, Thanaboon Prasarnnam, said Prasong's death was the first reported death following a Covid-19 booster shot in the province.
The man's family has been urged to file for compensation from the National Health Security Office.
Anyone suffering from adverse reactions following their Covid-19 shot can apply to be compensated by the NHSO, if they claim within 30 days of receiving a vaccine. - Bangkok Post
Duterte to participate in UN General Assembly anew this month
President Rodrigo Duterte will participate in the high-level general debate of the 76th Session of the United Nations General Assembly (UNGA) on Sept. 21 to 27.
This will be Duterte’s second attendance to the high-level general debate of the international body. He first addressed the UNGA last year.
“The President will speak on the first day of the High-Level General Debate on 21 September 2021 within the 1600H-1800H window, New York time (22 September 2021 between 0400H and 0600H, Philippine Standard Time),” a statement from his office said on Sunday.
The Office of the President said among topics that will be addressed are Philippine positions on global issues of key concern namely universal access to Covid-19 vaccines, climate change, human rights, including the situation of migrant workers and refugees, and international and regional security developments. - Philippine News Agency
Vietnam ready to join talks on global treaty on marine plastic waste
Prime Minister Phạm Minh Chinh has approved a plan for Vietnam to proactively prepare for and take part in the building of a global agreement on ocean plastic pollution.
The Government leader signed Decision No 1407/QD-TTg to approve the plan with a view to ensuring sufficient conditions in terms of human resources, information, and data to serve Vietnam’s participation in the negotiation, thereby protecting the country’s rights and interests and improving its capacity in ocean plastic pollution prevention and control.
By making this move, Vietnam has shown its pioneering viewpoint in the region in dealing with marine plastic waste while proactively and actively joining in the formation of regional and international cooperation frameworks on marine plastics prevention, control, and minimisation.
The plan is part of efforts to carry out the Party and State’s guidelines on sustainably developing Vietnam’s sea-based economy, and help build and successfully implement effective models for the circular economy and plastics management. - Vietnam News
Ministry issues typhoon warning
Koh Kong province will suffer from heavy rains and flooding, disrupting traffic in the province. Some roads will suffer from flash flooding, especially National Road 4, while fishermen must be especially careful not to go out fishing in bad weather.
Director of the Meteorology Department at Ministry of Water Resources Oum Rina told Khmer Times yesterday that ministry is continuing to monitor the typhoon, which will occur from a low pressure system re-emerging in conjunction with the active low pressure in South China Sea.
The typhoon will move toward Vietnam on Saturday, which will have a significant impact on the northeastern part of Cambodia.
Cambodia has just recovered from flash floods that plagued many provinces, especially those bordering Thailand, and now the effects of this new typhoon will also affect provinces along the Thai border and may cause further flooding. - Khmer Times
Junta steps up raids and arrests in effort to stamp out Yangon guerrilla attacks
One person was reportedly killed and at least 35 young people were arrested during junta raids in Yangon as the military intensified their hunt for those involved in the resistance movement this week, according to eyewitnesses and residents.
Soldiers carried out raids from Monday through Thursday in five townships across Myanmar’s largest city after resistance forces carried out several recent attacks against the junta’s armed forces. The raids largely targeted young, new tenants in apartment buildings.
At least five people—three men and two women—were arrested at an apartment in Sanchaung Township on Monday night. They were all between 17 and 23 years old, according to another Sanchaung resident. - Myanmar NOW
Vice House Speaker asks govt to protect small, medium suppliers
The House of Representatives Deputy Speaker Rachmat Gobel has urged the government to consistently protect small and medium entrepreneurs supplying goods to mini markets in the country.
"Don’t let them get involved in unlimited free competition. They will no doubt lose to minimarkets managed by giant companies," he said in a written statement released on Sunday.
He made the remarks after receiving Chief of the Suppliers Association Yeane Lim at his office in the Parliament Building. Lim complained about a plan to revise the Trade Minister’s Regulation No. 23 of 2021 concerning Guidance for the Development, Arrangement and Control of Department Stores and Super Markets.
The planned revision of the regulation issued on April 1, 2021 will be made to Article 10 and Article 11.
Article 10 of the regulation sets the maximum number of self-managed outlets at 150, while Article 11 sets the maximum amount of fees charged to suppliers at 15 percent of the total trade requirement costs.
The provisions in Article 11 are the result of revision of Article 9 of the Trade Minister’s Regulation No, 70 of 2013. In the old regulation, the maximum amount of fees was set at 15 percent. In addition it also carried a clause “except otherwise stipulated based on an agreement” between supplier and mini market owner.
"The clause ‘except otherwise stipulated’ is a rubber article wherein the stronger can pressure the weaker," Gobel said. - AntaraNews.Com