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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UK study on Covid-19 variant Omicron bolsters evidence of lower hospital risk
Omicron appears to be less severe but more contagious than any other Covid-19 strain to date, a British government study concluded, bolstering research that has shown a lower risk of hospitalisation from the fast-spreading variant.
People infected with Omicron are 50 per cent to 70 per cent less likely than those with Delta to be admitted to hospitals, the British Health Security Agency said Thursday (Dec 23).
Omicron patients are also 31 per cent to 45 per cent less likely to arrive at emergency departments than those with Delta. - Straits Times
Trapped 'furkids' in flood-ravaged Taman Sri Muda not forgotten
They may have been drenched, hungry and thirsty, but the pet cats and dogs of flood-ravaged Taman Sri Muda were never abandoned.
Even if they had to be left alone in the flooded houses, their owners, who had to be evacuated in a hurry, came back to rescue them.
Siblings Alia Zulaikha Mahmud, 21, and Nur Hazirah Mahmud, 14, had to wade through waist-high floodwaters to save their 11 cats trapped in their house. - New Straits Times
New Year countdown to stay
The private sector will still be allowed to host New Year countdown festivities under strict precautions while City Hall has decided to cancel all events it had planned to mark the New Year in Bangkok amid fears of a surge in Omicron cases.
National Security Council secretary-general Gen Supoj Malaniyom, in his capacity as head of operations at the Centre for Covid-19 Situation Administration (CCSA), said the CCSA is permitting the private sector to proceed with its plans but they must seek permission first.
"City Hall and authorities in other provinces will have to enforce strict compliance with the precautions prescribed by the Public Health Ministry," Gen Supoj said. - Bangkok Post
BRP Ang Pangulo brings relief aid to 'Odette'-battered Siargao
The Philippine Navy (PN) said the BRP Ang Pangulo (ACS-25), which was repurposed into a floating hospital, has finally arrived in Siargao Island, Surigao Del Norte on Dec. 22, bringing essential relief items, essential goods, and construction materials for the recovery and rehabilitation of communities ravaged by Typhoon Odette.
"The now repurposed 10-bed floating hospital ship, ACS25, departed Manila on December 19, carrying thousands of relief goods and other essential items intended for the 'Odette' affected populace in Mindanao," Navy spokesperson, Commander Benjo Negranza said in a statement Thursday night.
The Navy's landing craft BRP Ivatan (LC-298), which earlier arrived at Dapa, Siargao, came alongside the BRP Ang Pangulo to transfer the relief goods and other cargoes for transport to Siargao. - Philippine News Agency
HCM City issues guidelines for pandemic level assessment in all districts
The HCM City Department of Health’s new guidelines for pandemic assessment in all districts and Thu Duc City will be based on the rate of new cases in the community, vaccine coverage, and medical facilities’ treatment capacity.
The number of weekly cases confirmed by RT-PCR test results (recorded between Friday and next Thursday) will be sent by the city Centre for Disease Control (HCDC) to its health centre and announced by the Ministry of Health.
The number of new weekly cases excludes the number of imported cases, which are quarantined upon arrival. - Vietnam News
Hun Manet unanimously elected to be the future Prime Minister
His Excellency Hun Manet, Member of the Standing Committee and Chairman of the Central Youth Committee of the Cambodian People’s Party, was unanimously elected by the Central Committee of the Party to be the future Prime Minister.
Hun Manet, who is the eldest son of Prime Minister Samdech Techo Hun Sen and Samdech Kittiprittpundit Bun Rany Hun Sen, had been widely tipped for the post, and was among 4 candidates in the running for the future PM’s role.
The candidacy of H.E. Lt. Gen. Hun Manet for the future post of Prime Minister was endorsed by the ruling Cambodian People’s Party (CPP) during the 43rd Meeting of the CPP’s 5th mandate Central Committee at the party’s headquarters this morning. - Khmer Times
Luang Prabang to Reopen Three Districts to Foreign Tourists
Luang Prabang District, as well as Chomphet, and Pak Ou districts in Luang Prabang Province are designated as green zone tourism destinations in the first phase of the plan, KPL reports.
Head of the Luang Prabang Tourism Promotion Division, Mr. Vongdavone Vongsayalath, says 95 percent of residents in the three districts have been fully vaccinated against Covid-19.
“During the Covid-19 pandemic, the tourism industry in Luang Prabang Province was badly impacted, and many tour guides, as well as restaurant and hotel personnel, were forced to find other occupations or face unemployment,” said Mr. Vongdavone. - The Laotian Times
Indonesia's economic performance better in 2021: BRIN
Indonesia's economic performance in 2021 was better than in 2020, acting head of the Social Sciences and Humanities Research Center of the National Research and Innovation Agency (BRIN), Ahmad Najib Burhani, said.
"Although economic growth in early 2021 was negative, the government's policies to recover the national economy have shown significant results," he remarked during a media briefing on the '2022 Indonesian Economic Outlook' here on Thursday.
In the second quarter of 2021, the country's economic growth was recorded at 7.1 percent, while in the third quarter of 2021, it reached 3.5 percent, he noted. - AntaraNews.Com