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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Singapore researchers studying effects of mixing COVID-19 vaccines on immune system
Researchers in Singapore are studying the impact mixing different COVID-19 vaccines, including some not currently under the national vaccination programme, can have on the body's immune system.
The Pribivac study will compare the effect on individuals given three doses of the same vaccine, including the booster, against those given two doses of the same vaccine and a different one for their booster shot. Details of the study were included on the United States National Library of Medicine's database of clinical studies – the largest biomedical library in the world.
The research is being led by Dr Barnaby Young of the National Centre for Infectious Diseases (NCID), who previously researched immune response in vaccinated individuals with COVID-19 and the impact of long COVID on patients.
The latest study involves about 600 participants 21 years or older, who had their second dose of Moderna's or Pfizer-BioNTech's vaccines at least six months before enrolling. Among other criteria, they must also not have previously been infected with Sars-CoV-2, which causes Covid-19, or Sars-CoV-1, which causes severe acute respiratory syndrome. – Straits Times
COVID-19 infectivity rate back at 1.0 yesterday
The national infectivity rate, or Rt, has again returned to 1.00 on Thursday.
Health director-general Tan Sri Dr Noor Hisham Abdullah said Kuala Lumpur recorded the highest Rt at 1.08, followed by Sabah that has an infectivity rate of 1.07 and Putrajaya (1.05).
Another two states with a Rt higher than 1.00 were Melaka (1.02) and Negri Sembilan (1.01).
The Rt in Selangor was at 1.00 yesterday (Thursday), 0.99 in Johor, 0.96 in Penang, 0.97 in Pahang, 0.94 in Kedah, 0.93 in Perak, 0.91 in Kelantan and Sarawak, 0.79 in Terengganu, 18 cases in Labuan and eight cases in Perlis. The nationwide Rt had slightly dropped to 0.99 on Wednesday after it hit 1.00 on Tuesday.
Meanwhile, the percentage of the adult population who received the COVID-19 booster vaccine steadily climbed to 37.6 per cent on Thursday.
To date, 8,806,581 people, or 27 per cent of the total population in the country, have received the booster jab since the programme rolled out in October last year.
Yesterday, a total of 260,356 boosters were administered nationwide, the highest daily booster dose vaccination even given. – New Straits Times
City infections spike in pubs, dorms
Bangkok has reported a jump in Covid-19 caseloads, many involving infections in restaurant-cum-pubs and crowded communities, according to the Department of Disease Control (DDC).
On Thursday the capital reported 939 new infections, including 45 imported cases. Of the locally-transmitted cases, 300 contracted the virus in restaurants that also opened as pubs, as well as from crowded communities, according to the DDC’s Institute for Urban Disease Control and Prevention.
The institute’s director, Dr Suthas Chottanapan, said many infections were also detected in student dormitories and police flats.
The spike in caseloads can be attributed to people visiting high-risk places where groups of five people or more were infected.
If high-risk places with a SHA+ (Safety and Health Administration) certificate were found to have acted recklessly causing infections to occur on their premises, they will be stripped of the SHA+ certification, he warned.
Dr Suthas advised people to avoid poorly- ventilated areas and being stuck in crowded places with others who are unmasked, especially at drinking parties. He also recommended people put off their travel plans at this time. – Bangkok Post
PH Army aids in 'Odette' rehab efforts
The Philippine Army (PA) announced that its Cebu-based 53rd Engineer Brigade (53EBde) has deployed several units to help in the ongoing relief and rehabilitation efforts in communities in the Visayas battered by Typhoon Odette last month.
"A total of 32 teams composed of 224 Army personnel from the brigade are currently deployed to assist in clearing, rehabilitation, and delivery and distribution of relief goods in Cebu City and nearby provinces, Bohol, Negros Occidental, Northern Samar, and Southern Leyte," the PA said in a Facebook post on Thursday night.
In line with this, Army commander Lt. Gen. Romeo Brawner Jr. hailed the efforts of 53EBde for their efforts in helping Filipino people and communities affected by "Odette".
This, he said, exemplified best "Bayanihan" or the spirit of communal unity or helping without expecting something in return.
Earlier, Defense Secretary Delfin Lorenzana said around 7,493 soldiers were deployed in Mimaropa, Western Visayas, Central Visayas, Northern Mindanao and Caraga to help in relief efforts for "Odette". Also deployed are 769 land transport which includes 6x6 trucks, 28 aircraft including C-130 and C-295 transport planes, helicopters, and 27 ships. – Philippine News Agency
Health ministry eyes Pfizer COVID vaccines for children aged 5-11 years
Viet Nam is exercising caution in consideration of COVID-19 vaccinations for children aged 5-11 years, Minister of Health Nguyen Thanh Long told local media.
The health ministry has submitted a tentative inoculation plan to the Government awaiting approval, however, Long stressed the World Health Organisation (WHO) has not issued official guidance for vaccinations for children aged 5-11 years yet.
“Therefore, the Ministry of Health works very carefully, scientifically and objectively on the basis of reference to inoculation programmes of all countries,” he said, adding that the ministry was in close coordination with the WHO in the matter.
The health minister also expressed concerns about public acceptance, so the Prime Minister has ordered the health ministry to conduct a survey regarding vaccinations for young children.
He admitted getting the shots to this age group would be much more difficult compared to adults.
The other issue is supply but the health ministry is already in talks with various manufacturers and suppliers, and is eyeing Pfizer/BioNTech COVID-19 vaccine for children aged 5 to 11, the same one being offered to eligible children ages 12 to 17 in the country.
“This is a very important issue. We can’t rush things, and we have to take concrete steps to ensure maximum safety for children,” Long said.
To date, Viet Nam has administered over 14 million COVID-19 vaccine shots for children in the 12-17 age group, with first-dose coverage hitting 90 per cent and second-dose coverage reaching 68.5 per cent. – Vietnam News
Singapore voices support for Cambodia’s efforts in Myanmar crisis
Minister of Foreign Affairs of the Republic of Singapore, Dr Vivian Balakrishnan, has expressed his support for Cambodia’s efforts in engaging all stakeholders to implement the Five-Point Consensus, reached by the ASEAN leaders in April last year. The support was made in his telephone conversation with Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation, Prak Sokhonn, on January 13.
“We both regret that the AMM Retreat in Siem Reap had to be rescheduled. I appreciate his expressed support for Cambodia’s efforts in engaging all relevant stakeholders in order to fully and timely implement the 5-Point Consensus. We continue to be supportive and contributory in any way we can to help Myanmar restore normalcy soon,” DPM Sokhonn underlined in a Facebook post.
The five-point consensus on Myanmar crisis comprises: 1. There shall be immediate cessation of violence in Myanmar and all parties shall exercise utmost restraint. 2. Constructive dialogue among all parties concerned shall commence to seek a peaceful solution in the interests of the people. 3. A special envoy of the ASEAN Chair shall facilitate mediation of the dialogue process, with the assistance of the Secretary-General of ASEAN. 4. ASEAN shall provide humanitarian assistance through the AHA Centre. 5. The special envoy and delegation shall visit Myanmar to meet with all parties concerned.
On January 7 to January 8, Prime Minister Hun Sen paid a working visit to Myanmar and met with Senior General Min Aung Hlaing, Chairman of the State Administration Council and Prime Minister of the Republic of the Union of Myanmar. On the occasion, Senior General Ming Aung Hlaing has agreed to extend the five-month ceasefire with all Ethnic Armed Organisations (EAOs) until end of 2022, and welcomed the participation of the Special Envoy of the ASEAN Chair on Myanmar to join the ceasefire talks.
As the ASEAN Chair, Mr Hun Sen continued proposing more initiatives to achieve peace and further development in Myanmar. – Khmer Times
Air force chief among those removed from posts as junta’s reliance on planes and helicopters grows
Junta leader Min Aung Hlaing has removed several top generals from their posts in an apparent move to consolidate his power, almost a year after he made himself military commander-in-chief for life.
Among those replaced in the reshuffle is air force commander General Maung Maung Kyaw, who leaves as the military is becoming highly reliant on planes and helicopters to fight resistance forces inflicting heavy casualties against its ground troops.
Just three days after last year’s February coup, Min Aung Hlaing issued a directive scrapping a rule that would have forced him to retire last year on his 65th birthday. He also scrapped the rule for his deputy commander-in-chief, Soe Win.
On top of that, he raised the retirement age for generals and lieutenant generals from 60 to 62. But 57-year-old General Maung Maung Kyaw was nonetheless removed from his post on Monday.
His replacement will be Tun Aung, who served under Maung Maung Kyaw as air force chief of staff and was promoted from Lieutenant General to General on Monday so he could serve in the new role.
As always with Myanmar’s opaque military, the exact reasons behind the reshuffle are unclear. “It’s according to the army’s tradition,” junta spokesperson General Zaw Min Tun said in an interview with Eleven Media on Tuesday.
“It’s just like when we replaced General Tin Aung San with General Moe Aung,” he added, referring to the replacement last February of the navy chief, who was then made transport and communications minister.
Maung Maung Kyaw will continue to serve in a political role as a member of the military council, while Tun Aung and others moving into top positions this week will serve in a purely military capacity. – Myanmar NOW
Jokowi asks state-run tourism holding to be agile, professional
President Joko Widodo (Jokowi) has asked the newly-launched tourism and supporting sectors state-owned holding to be agile and professional in running its business to make its governance more efficient and simpler.
"Do not let new complications arise or transform old problems into new ones," he advised while launching InJourney, the state-owned tourism and supporting sectors holding, at Kuta Mandalika Beach, Central Lombok District, West Nusa Tenggara (NTB) Province, on Thursday.
The key to advancement is improving management and governance to optimize Indonesia's huge tourism potential, he said.
"Earlier, as stated by the State-owned Enterprises (SOEs) Minister, the potential of domestic tourists could reach 330 million trips. Do not let the huge potential slip away," he emphasized.
Meanwhile, the potential of foreign travellers is only 17 million trips, he pointed out.
However, international travellers are also important actors for Indonesia’s tourism, he noted.
In 2022, Indonesia has the potential to increase the number of visits since it is set to host various international events, including the Mandalika MotoGP in March 2022 and the G20 Summit in November 2022, he said.
The events will attract the attention of the international community to Indonesia, he added. – AntaraNews.Com