These are the top stories making the front pages of major newspapers from across Southeast Asia today.
Get up to speed with what’s happening in the fastest growing region in the world.
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Fresh protests, violence in Europe against Covid-19 restrictions
A fresh wave of protests broke out in several European cities and in some French overseas territories on Sunday (Nov 21), as protesters reacted, sometimes violently, to moves to reintroduce coronavirus restrictions.
Police and protesters clashed in the Belgian capital Brussels, in several Dutch cities and overnight into early Sunday in the French Caribbean territory Guadaloupe.
There were fresh demonstrations in Austria, where the government is imposing a new lockdown and Covid-19 vaccine mandate. - Straits Times
Covid-19 infectivity rate drops to 1.0
The country's Covid-19 infectivity rate dropped to Rt 1.0 yesterday compared to Rt 1.01 the day before.
Putrajaya recorded the highest Rt at 1.13, followed by Selangor and Kelantan at 1.07.
The infectivity rate at Kuala Lumpur and Negri Sembilan was 1.06; Pahang (1.05); Johor (1.04); Penang and Kedah (1.02); Perak and Terengganu (1.01); and Melaka at 1.0. - New Straits Times
PM denies 'clinging to power'
Prime Minister Prayut Chan-o-cha has denied criticism that he wanted to cling to power to see the government's 20-year-national strategy through to the end.
Speaking at a seminar organised by the Thai Chamber of Commerce (TCC) on Sunday, Gen Prayut said poverty, injustice, and inequality are fundamental problems that remain unsolved, and measures to address these issues are included in the national strategy.
He rejected criticism by anti-government elements that the 20-year national strategy is designed to pave the way for him to hang on to power. - Bangkok Post
Navy keeps constant patrols in PH waters: Wescom chief
The Philippine Navy (PN) continues to patrol and maintain its presence in the country's vast territorial waters, an official said on Sunday.
"Hindi lang kasi masyadong napa-publicize ano pero ang ating Navy ay tuloy tuloy na nagpapatrolya sa ating mga karagatan (It is not very much publicized but our Navy is constantly patrolling our seas). In fact as we speak, yung ating BRP Jose Rizal yung barko na binili natin sa, o pinagawa natin sa (South) Korea ay kasalukuyang nagpapatrolya sa bandang Pagasa (Island) ngayon, galing dyan rin sa Recto bank, at yung, ang kanyang sister ship na si BRP Antonio Luna ay nasa bandang Reed Bank din ngayon (In fact as we speak, BRP Jose Rizal (FF-150), the ship which we had constructed by South Korea is now patrolling off Pagasa Island and her sister ship, the BRP Antonio Luna (FF-151) is now patrolling in Reed Bank)," Western Command chief, Vice Adm. Ramil Roberto Enriquez said in a radio interview.
Meanwhile, he said repairs to the damaged supply boats are now nearing completion. - Philippine News Agency
Wood processing industry recovers thanks to post-pandemic production
The wood processing industry has seen a recovery in production after the fourth outbreak of COVID-19, thanks to the Government's supportive policies.
To support economic recovery, the National Assembly and Government have issued many policies to help enterprises and businesses resume production and business activities.
These policies have included a delay on tax payments, reducing corporate income tax; dropping loan interest rates and financial support for employees. These actions have created a favourable business environment for enterprises of wood production, processing and export. - Vietnam News
Minister of Tourism: Cambodia ready to receive vaccinated foreign tourists after successful Water Festival
Cambodia is ready to welcome international visitors fully vaccinated against COVID-19 based on the good tourist movement management during the Water Festival holiday in the past three days.
The remarks were made by H.E. Thong Khon, Minister of Tourism, stressing that this is a key prerequisite for receiving vaccinated international tourists with safety.
H.E. Minister noted changes in attitude of tourists. They turned to use related services of local businesses such as hotels, guesthouses, and restaurants, instead of bringing food along with them as in the past holidays, he added. - Khmer Times
Suu Kyi housekeeper to testify in corruption case against ousted leader
Wai Wai Than, Aung San Suu Kyi’s long-time housekeeper, has been called as a witness to challenge claims that the ousted state counsellor received massive bribes from Yangon Region’s former chief minister, Phyo Min Thein.
A special court set up inside the Naypyitaw Council compound was scheduled to hear Wai Wai Than’s testimony on Friday, but postponed it until a later date after the session ran out of time, a court source told Myanmar Now.
Myint San, the presiding judge, had planned to listen to testimony in three of four corruption cases against Suu Kyi, but was only able to go over two of the charges, the source said. - Myanmar NOW
Ministry encourages more research on spices for health benefits
The Education, Culture, Research and Technology Ministry encourages further research or better understanding of spices for the benefit of health.
"Not only medicine, for beauty, for food recipes, and that's what we have not explored further. We hope that the role of doctors through PDPOTJI (Association of Indonesian Traditional Medicine and Herbal Medicine Developers) will be strategic in the future," Fitra Arda, the ministry's Secretary of the Directorate General of Culture, said.
The Indonesian people have always known the benefits of using plants from roots to leaves. That knowledge has been passed on from generation to the generation through texts and oral traditions, according to him. He delivered the statement in a webinar entitled 'Reviving the Glory of Indonesian Spices and the Role of Doctors in the Past, Present, and Future' held on Saturday. - AntaraNews.Com