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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Wettest August in S’pore in over 40 years; drier, warmer days expected in first half of September
The Republic has experienced its wettest August in more than 40 years, said the Meteorological Service Singapore (MSS) on Wednesday (Sept 1).
“Based on the rainfall averaged over long-term stations islandwide, August 2021 is the wettest August since 1980, with a monthly total rainfall of 426.2mm,” said the weatherman.
The previous record-highest August rainfall was recorded in 1996, at 296.3mm.
The Changi climate station also recorded a total of 24 rain days in August, well above the long-term average of 14 days for August.
The MSS said that on Aug 24, a few spells of widespread moderate to heavy thundery showers fell over the island in the pre-dawn hours and morning, followed by light to moderate rain in the afternoon. The highest daily total rainfall recorded that day was 247.2mm at Mandai.
Flash floods had occurred on that day in some parts of Singapore, including Upper Bukit Timah and Dunearn Road.
This was the highest daily total rainfall for August, surpassing the previous record highest daily rainfall of 181.8mm at Changi on Aug 22, 1983. - Straits Times
Khairy: 15.16 million doses to be distributed to 7 states this month to boost vaccination rates
Some 15.16 million doses of vaccines will be distributed to states lacking in vaccine supply to help boost the vaccination rates there.
Health Minister Khairy Jamaluddin said the vaccines would be delivered some time this month.
The states are Sabah (to receive 2.9 million doses), followed by Johor (1.9 million), Perak (1.6 million), Pahang (1.4 million), Kedah (1.3 million), Kelantan (1.2 million) and Penang (one million).
Khairy expressed his gratitude to Prime Minister Datuk Seri Ismail Sabri Yaakob for the government's purchase of an additional six million Covid-19 vaccine doses which were expected to arrive early this month. - New Straits Times
Curfew may be lifted soon, Prayut says
The night curfew in dark-red zones may be shortened or lifted, depending on the Covid-19 situation, Prime Minister Prayut Chan-o-cha said on Wednesday.
Gen Prayut was responding to reporters as he arrived at parliament for the second day of the no-confidence debate against him and five other cabinet ministers.
He said the Centre for Covid-19 Situation Administration (CCSA) had eased some disease controls, effective from Wednesday, and he hoped everyone would strictly comply with them.
The restrictions could be further relaxed if the situation improved, he said.
As for the 9pm-4am curfew, which remained unchanged, Gen Prayut said it could be shortened or lifted entirely -- depending on the number of infections, fatalities and other indications of the seriousness of the situation.
The prime minister said he knew the curfew had affected entertainment places. His advice was for associations of owners of pubs, bars and other night spots to discuss the matter with the CCSA, and make suggestions for consideration. - Bangkok Post
Gov’t responded with urgency as lives were at stake: Galvez
National Task Force Against Covid-19 chief implementer and vaccine czar Sec. Carlito Galvez, Jr. said the government responded with a sense of urgency at the start of the pandemic last year, as the national government procured coronavirus response supplies, including personal protective equipment for medical workers.
“When the pandemic started, our main objective was to save lives and protect our healthcare workers who are at the forefront of the battle against Covid-19,” Galvez said during an online interview on Wednesday.
“Wala tayong face masks, walang test kits, walang PPE pero ang mga namamatay, parami nang parami (We don't have face masks, test kits, PPE but more are dying).
We needed to bring in the supplies as quickly as possible and in larger volumes,” he added.
Galvez said each medical grade PPE set, priced at PHP1,700, was composed of medical grade cover-all, gloves, head cover, shoe cover, goggles, N95 mask, surgical mask and surgical gown.
He recalled that when he was designated as NTF chief implementer, they initially intended to procure three million sets, which at the time, would only meet the requirements of Covid referral hospitals. - Philippine News Agency
Vietnam develops digital certification for vaccinated arrivals
The Vietnam National Administration of Tourism (VNAT) has developed a digital vaccine certification system, which will be piloted to welcome back international arrivals and ensure safe travel during the COVID-19 pandemic.
The European-standard system is technically the same as a vaccine passport to help ensure safe travel. It digitally certifies that a person has had two doses of the COVID vaccine. By authenticating the information on a digital platform, it will be convenient in case the tracking process is needed.
This system provides procedures for controlling and updating medical records of international visitors upon their entry into Vietnam, during their travel and their exit. It is built following European standards and meets regulations on security and confidentiality. - Vietnam News
WHO is monitoring a new mutation virus called “Mu” as the Delta Variant wrecks havoc in Cambodia and the world
The World Health Organization ( WHO ) says it is monitoring a new coronavirus called “Mu”, which was first discovered in Colombia in January. This is according to the publication of CNA on September 1, 2021.
The World Health Organization (WHO) says the “Mu” virus, also known as B.1.621, is classified as a “virus of serious concern.”
The World Health Organization (WHO) says the virus is mutated, indicating a risk of vaccine resistance, and stressed that more studies are needed to better understand the virus.
So far, there has been great concern about the emergence of new virus mutations as the rate of infection has risen worldwide again with highly contagious viruses, especially among those who have not been vaccinated and in areas where antiviral measures have been relaxed - Khmer Times
Junta troops arrest more than 30 young men in rural Mandalay Region
Hundreds of police officers and soldiers arrested 31 young men from three villages in rural Sintgaing Township in Mandalay Region on Tuesday.
The troops travelled to Mon Pin, Kan Gyi and Ywar Bo villages in 10 military trucks and detained those they met on site.
The troops arrived in Mon Pin, around a one-hour drive from downtown Sintgaing, at around 6am and arrested around 25 people—mostly men in their 20s—after ransacking the village for an hour.
“They didn’t say what they were looking for. They were basically here for illegal portering,” a Mon Pin resident said, referring to the longtime military practice of forcing local men to carry goods, work as guides, or otherwise serve the army.
“Many fled the village. Those who were left were arrested,” the local said, adding that the young men who were detained were farmers and not involved in political activities.
Another local said that the mass arrests follow frequent raids on villages around Sintgaing, carried out since an alleged military informant was shot and killed in July by anti-junta resistance forces. - Myanmar NOW
Foreign Minister Marsudi urges young generation to learn about ASEAN
Foreign Affairs Minister Retno Marsudi asked the young generation in Indonesia to learn about ASEAN while launching the ASEAN Teaching Materials Book for Primary and Secondary Education on Wednesday.
“The young generations have to know about ASEAN. They should be proud of the ASEAN community identity as they are going to determine the direction of the Southeast Asian region in future," she remarked at the virtual launch of the book on Wednesday.
She lauded the preparation of the book by the ministry in collaboration with the Education, Culture, Research, and Technology Ministry as an attempt to introduce ASEAN to the young generation from an early age.
Referring to the ASEAN Curriculum Sourcebook, the book emphasizes five main themes: respecting identity and diversity, linking global and local issues that are increasingly connected in the future, promoting equality and justice, as well as working together to create a sustainable future, she noted. - AntaraNews.Com