These are the top stories making the front pages of major newspapers from across Southeast Asia today.
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Approval for new pass for migrant workers to visit 4 popular spots will be almost instantaneous: MOM
Applications for a new pass from this Friday (June 24) for migrant workers to visit Chinatown, Jurong East, Little India and Geylang Serai on Sundays and public holidays will be approved almost instantaneously.
The Ministry of Manpower (MOM) said in response to queries from The Straits Times that applicants need to give only the date of visit and preferred visit location when applying via the SGWorkPass mobile app.
"The pass is valid for the whole day and will be approved almost instantaneously," a spokesman for the ministry said on Wednesday. A small number of special pass holders do not have access to SGWorkPass, and they will not be required to apply for the pass when visiting the community, said MOM.
The new Popular Places Pass is an easing of Covid-19 curbs requiring migrant workers to have an exit pass when leaving their dormitories for any destination in the community.
Workers living in dorms were largely confined to their quarters and work sites in the first 17 months of the pandemic, before a pilot programme was introduced last September for up to 500 fully vaccinated workers a week to be able to go back into the community.
This exit pass system was progressively ramped up, and as at April, MOM said up to 25,000 workers could visit the community on weekdays and 50,000 during weekends and public holidays. – Straits Times
Launch of Measat-3d helps bridge digital divide, says PM
The launch of the Measat-3d satellite is hoped to help bridge the digital divide and lure more young people to venture into the aerospace industry.
Prime Minister Datuk Seri Ismail Sabri Yaakob said the launch of the satellite would also improve Internet penetration rates in suburban and rural areas across Peninsular Malaysia, Sabah and Sarawak.
"On this historic day, Measat Global Berhad (MEASAT) has launched the MEASAT-3d satellite in Kourou, French Guiana," he posted on Facebook today.
The prime minister had earlier joined 600 other guests to watch the live streaming of the launching of Measat-3d into orbit at the Dewan Merdeka, World Trade Centre here. The satellite was launched on an Ariane-5 rocket from the Guiana Space Centre, which is also called the European Spaceport, in Kourou, French Guiana, South America at 5.50 am Malaysian time (6.50 pm local time on June 22).
Measat-3d, which is Measat's eighth and most advanced satellite, costs RM1.2 billion with a lifespan of 18 years and is expected to improve the communication services to Malaysia and regional countries.
It is also expected to bridge the digital connectivity gap and shape a better connectivity future for Malaysians in line with the government's initiatives through the National Digital Network (JENDELA) plan.
With the launch, Malaysia could also strengthen its presence in the digital era based on fixed-line, mobile and satellite technologies without marginalizing any group of people. – New Straits Times
Covid-19 strains spur fears
The government is monitoring two new Omicron subvariants in Europe as Thailand prepares for an influx of international arrivals from next month when entry rules are eased further.
Government spokesman Thanakorn Wangboonkongchana said on Wednesday Prime Minister Prayut Chan-o-cha instructed the Public Health Ministry to monitor the Covid-19 situation in Europe after cases of the two subvariants – BA.4 and BA.5 – were detected in countries such as Portugal, the UK, Austria, the Netherlands, France and Germany.
State agencies have also been instructed to plan ahead to deal with the expected surge in foreign arrivals after the Thailand Pass registration requirement is revoked on July 1, the spokesman said.
Supakit Sirilak, director-general of the Department of Medical Sciences (DMSC), said people should not jump to conclusions about the new subvariants, to avoid causing public panic. The subvariants were already on the radar of the DMSC which is studying them to learn more about their characteristics, he said.
"Initially, we have found they can evade immunity better than previous strains. Most new mutations are often able to escape immunity," he said.
Dr Supakist said health authorities have collected samples of the subvariants, though it may take up to five weeks to determine how they differ from previous strains. – Bangkok Post
Lorenzana fetes PRRD for 'people-centred' leadership
Outgoing Department of National Defense (DND) Secretary Delfin Lorenzana said he is honoured to have worked with President Rodrigo R. Duterte, whose leadership he described as "people-centered".
"Thank you, PRRD (President Rodrigo R. Duterte) Sir! It’s both an honour and a privilege to serve the nation under your exceptional and people-centered leadership," he said in his Facebook post on Thursday.
In the same post, Lorenzana said he received an award from the Chief Executive for his vital role in the country's pandemic response.
"In a simple ceremony last June 16, I received from President Duterte the Lakandula Award-Degree of Grand Cross for serving as Chairperson of the National Task Force against Covid 19 (NTF-Covid-19). I humbly received the award on behalf of the men and women of the NTF-Covid 19 who worked tirelessly and efficiently in the fight against the Covid virus," he added.
Lorenzana became the country's 36th defense secretary last June 30, 2016 and brought to the DND his expertise in national defense and security, special operations, foreign military affairs, public diplomacy, veterans affairs, and strategic leadership.
He is a member of the Philippine Military Academy Class of 1973.
Earlier, Lorenzana said the Duterte administration worked hard for the Philippines to attain a credible defense posture to protect its vast maritime territories.
Lorenzana also said the AFP also significantly stepped up its external defense operations to secure the country's strategic border areas and exclusive economic zone by increasing naval surface and maritime air patrols.
Lorenzana is also pleased to note that during his term the AFP launched sustained operations against the communist insurgents and violent extremists which led to the weakening of these pressing security threats. – Philippine News Agency
Ha Noi finalises design of $375m Tran Hung Dao Bridge
Ha Noi’s People’s Committee has chosen the final design for the Tran Hung Dao Bridge, which will cross the Hong (Red) River and connect three urban districts of the capital, after three months of consideration.
Nguyen Ngoc Tuan, chairman of Ha Noi’s People’s Council, said on Tuesday that the final design was the one that won the first prize in a design contest held by the city’s Transport Construction Investment Project Management Board and the Viet Nam Association of Architects last October.
According to the design, the main bridge will be 900m long with six spans. The project will have a total length of about 5.5km, connecting the districts of Hoan Kiem and Hai Ba Trung to Long Bien District on the northern bank of the Red River.
The bridge's starting point will be at the Tran Hung Dao-Tran Thanh Tong intersection in Hoan Kiem District, where it will extend to Nguyen Van Linh Road in Long Bien District.
The design is a combination of ancient and modern Ha Noi on the two sides of the Red River, featuring curving waves in the bridge's dome and symbolising endless connection.
There will be separate lanes leading to the bridge for vehicles and pedestrians. The bridge will also feature spaces for sightseeing and parks for people to enjoy.
There will be parks at both ends of the bridge.
The project's construction will take three years and will be completed in the second quarter of 2025. Total preliminary investment capital is estimated to be about VND8.7 trillion. – Vietnam News
Opposition told to stop accusing without proof
Minister of Interior Sar Kheng wants all political parties to stop accusing the ruling party without providing clear evidence and called for all parties that won commune seats in the election to work together to serve the nation and the people. He also urged political parties to accept the reality of the forthcoming results and called for an end to unsubstantiated accusations.
“Allegations of vote-rigging and unfair elections are not true and it is a political culture that must stop. Stop the nonsense. It is unreasonable,” Kheng said at the National University of Battambang graduation ceremony on Tuesday. Kheng suggested that the losers (in the polls) should embrace the winners and work together to serve the country and the people. He also urged people with different political affiliations to reconcile and respect the elected commune council members.
‘Be in solidarity with the commune council leaders. Commune council officials must work to serve the people without discrimination. Do not speak harshly of the losers in the commune, because we are all Khmers,” Kheng said.
Candlelight Party (CP) vice-president Thach Setha, said CP officials had gathered enough evidence before commenting on election-related issues and the issues if proven to be true must be rectified to make the political situation better.
“Don’t brush it off. The problems we raised are all true. There is no shame if action is taken. Outright denial of problems will not put an end to it.” – Khmer Times
Myanmar junta discusses nuclear technology with Russian atomic energy agency
A junta delegation discussed collaboration concerning nuclear technology with a Russian state-owned atomic energy agency while attending the country’s economic forum late last week, according to military-run media.
Junta-appointed ministers from the commerce and energy sectors – including Win Shein, Aung Naing Oo, Ko Ko Hlaing, Pwint San and Thaung Han as well as Central Bank deputy governor Than Than Swe – attended the 25th St Petersburg International Economic Forum from June 15-18.
Propaganda newspaper the Global New Light of Myanmar (GLNM) reported that the military council’s minister for electric power and energy Thaung Han met with Alexey Likhachev, director-general of Russia’s ROSATOM State Nuclear Energy Corporation, and discussed equipment production using nuclear energy, as well as Myanmar’s electricity consumption.
When contacted by Myanmar Now on Tuesday, ROSATOM’s Southeast Asia office offered no additional details on the meeting.
The junta continues to face a fuel and electricity shortage that has become more pronounced amid the international isolation and sanctions imposed on the military council since the February 2021 coup.
During the Russia trip, multiple discussions and agreements were held concerning petrol supply and power generation in Myanmar, with the coup council officials reportedly discussing “long-term cooperation” with Russia to meet energy needs, according to GLNM.
Thaung Han reportedly signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with Russia’s INTER RAO-Export to work together on issues related to electricity production. He also held talks concerning the construction of an oil refinery in Myanmar as well as the import and sale of fuel with the leadership of another corporation, Sigma LLC, GLNM said. – Myanmar NOW
Development of new capital's basic infrastructure has begun: President
President Joko Widodo (Jokowi) on Wednesday declared that the construction of Sepaku Semoi Dam and Mentawir Nursery in North Penajam Paser district, East Kalimantan, have marked the commencement of the new capital’s basic infrastructure development.
"The (construction of the) dam means that the development of basic infrastructure (for the new capital Nusantara) has been started. Next July, the construction of the main road from Balikpapan toll road will also commence," the President said during a visit to Sepaku Semoi Dam, according to a statement issued by the Presidential Secretariat.
The development of Mentawir Nursery has accentuated the environmental sustainability aspect of the new capital’s development, he added.
Jokowi then instructed the Ministry of Public Works and Public Housing, which has been tasked with overseeing the new capital’s development, to expedite the completion of Sepaku Semoi Dam earlier than scheduled.
The dam is expected to provide water to at least 1.5 million residents in the new capital, he noted.
"The water supplied (from the dam) will be ready-to-drink water," he added.
Minister of Public Works and Public Housing, Basuki Hadimuljono, reiterated that the dam will supply ready-to-drink water.
"If (the supplied water) is not potable, then our capital relocation will be meaningless," Hadimuljono remarked.
Responding to the President's request for accelerating the dam’s construction, the ministry's director general of water resources, Jarot Widyoko, affirmed the ministry's readiness to complete the dam by early 2023, much before the December 2023 deadline.
"By expediting (the construction process), we target the development to conclude by January or February 2023," Widyoko said.
Speaker of the House of Representatives (DPR RI), Puan Maharani; Minister of State Secretariat, Pratikno; Minister of Investment/head of the Investment Coordinating Board, Bahlil Lahadalia; head of the Nusantara Capital Authority, Bambang Susantono; and the Governor of East Kalimantan accompanied the President to Sepaku Semoi Dam on Wednesday. – AntaraNews.Com