These are the top stories making the front pages of major newspapers from across Southeast Asia today.
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Singapore, US working on vaccinated travel lane: Gan Kim Yong
Singapore is working on establishing a Vaccinated Travel Lane (VTL) with the United States and wants to conclude it as soon as possible, certainly before the end of the year, said Minister for Trade and Industry Gan Kim Yong.
He was speaking to an audience at the US Chamber of Commerce in Washington on Thursday (Oct 7).
This follows successful VTL pilots with Germany and Brunei, he said.
"We are also continuing to facilitate the arrival and return of American work pass holders from the US to Singapore, so that your companies can operate at full strength," he added.
Mr Gan is on a four-day trip to the US, during which he will also be in New York.
He told the audience at the US Chamber event that Singapore recognises the need to strike a balance between saving lives and protecting livelihoods.
Close to 85 per cent of Singapore's population is fully vaccinated, with a majority of new Covid-19 cases experiencing mild or no symptoms, he said. The death rate remains low. - Straits Times
Covid-19 death toll breaches 27k mark
Malaysia's Covid-19 death toll has breached the 27,000 mark after 132 more deaths were reported to the Health Ministry as of 11.59pm yesterday.
The figure includes 26 cases which were brought in dead (BID), according to data shared on the Health Ministry's CovidNow portal.
To date, the virus had claimed 27,113 lives including 5,450 BID.
The ministry's data, however, revealed that the actual number of deaths as of 11.59 pm on Oct 7 was one (in-patient death), with zero BID. - New Straits Times
Economic recovery in motion
Thailand's plan to attract 1 million quality tourists by the first quarter of next year is to serve as a key blueprint to drive the economic recovery after almost two years of being hit by the coronavirus pandemic.
Deputy Prime Minister and Energy Minister Supattanapong Punmeechaow said Thailand has learned from past lessons and now it will optimise the tourism sector by focusing on quality rather than quantity, which poses a threat to the environment and ecosystem.
"Instead of relying on 40 million tourists to generate 2 trillion baht in revenue, we will turn to focus on quality tourists who can spend more," Mr Supattanapong said. "This will be good for the country's environment and natural resources."
Speaking on Thursday at the Bangkok Post Forum 2021 under the theme of "Resilient Thailand: Ways to Bounce Back" to mark the Post's 75th anniversary this year, the deputy premier urged all parties to cooperate with the kingdom's reopening plans. - Bangkok Post
Portion of US-made Covid-19 vax in PH allotted to minors
The government has set aside a portion of the latest shipments of American-made coronavirus disease 2019 (Covid-19) vaccine for the inoculation of minors.
"Yes, nakapaglagay na tayo ng buffer, we already allocated a buffer and the same time, this coming next week na meron pa din dadating na Pfizer, so ayun 'yung mga gagamitin natin yung mga dadating na bago (We have already allocated a buffer stock, and at the same time, we expect deliveries of Pfizer next week so we will be using those newly-delivered vaccines)," National Task Force against Covid-19 chief implementer, Secretary Carlito Galvez Jr. said in an interview during the arrival of the 797,940 doses of government-procured Pfizer vaccine at the Ninoy Aquino International Airport Terminal 3 on Thursday night.
The 797,940 doses of Pfizer vaccine arrived via Air Hongkong Flight LD-456 around 8:45 p.m.
Another 141,570 doses were earlier delivered to Cebu while some 64,350 doses are scheduled for delivery to Davao on Friday, totaling 1,003,860 doses. - Philippine News Agency
HCM City, neighbouring provinces allow inter-provincial travel of workers, experts
HCM City and its neighbouring provinces of Binh Duong, Tay Ninh, Dong Nai and Long An have reached an agreement on the travelling of workers and experts between the five localities.
Vo Van Minh, chairman of Binh Duong Province’s People’s Committee, said on Wednesday that it agreed with a proposal from the HCM City’s People’s Committee, allowing enterprises to transport workers and experts by company cars between HCM City and four localities.
Eligible commuters are people who are fully vaccinated against COVID-19 or recovered from COVID-19 and have a negative Covid-19 test certificate within the previous 72 hours.
Only workers from Thuan An and Di An towns in Binh Duong Province are allowed to commute to HCM City’s Thu Duc City and vice versa by motorbikes. - Vietnam News
Sam Rainsy and 3 accomplices charged with “conspiracy and incitement to cause serious disturbance to social security”
Phnom Penh Municipal Court has decided to charge a group of individuals, including Sam Rainsy, Eng Chhay Eang and Mu Sochua and Ho Van on charges of “conspiracy and incitement to cause serious disturbance to social security” under Articles 453, 494 and 495 of the Penal Code of the Kingdom of Cambodia.
A spokesman for the Phnom Penh Municipal Court confirmed that the above allegations were related to the facts of Sam Rainsy’s appeal posted on Facebook on October 5, 2021, which contained the content of a ” plot to overthrow The Royal Government of Cambodia ” by using exaggerated information under the guise of inciting the armed forces and the people to overthrow the legitimate Royal Government of the Kingdom of Cambodia.
It should be noted that after the false claims in a number of international news outlets that PM Hun Sen had Cyprus citizenship in addition to his Cambodian citizenship, the former opposition leader Sam Rainsy, who has a large number of cases in court, issued a statement urging the overthrow of the legitimate Royal Government.
Following this, the management, officials and staff of different ministries and institutions, provincial and municipal administrations, Cambodian embassies and consulates, the armed forces, associations and organisations as well as the general public and Buddhist monks have sent their petitions, expressing their full support for the initiative to amend the constitution on single Khmer nationality for top leaders. - Khmer Times
Student union federation vice president slapped with another incitement charge
Wai Yan Phyo Moe, the vice president of the All Burma Federation of Student Unions (ABFSU), was charged with violating Section 505a of the Penal Code for incitement at the Mayangone Township court in Yangon this week, according to his lawyer.
Lawyer Thet Naung told Myanmar Now that they heard about new charges against Wai Yan Phyo Moe during his other hearings in the Kyauktada and Kamayut township courts on Tuesday.
“We haven’t seen him for a while as the offices and prisons have been closed. We only learnt briefly about this Section 505 charge during his court hearings at Kyauktada and Kamayut courts,” he said.
The lawyer said he has not submitted a power of attorney document for the new charge, which would allow him to represent Wai Yan Phyo Moe at hearings in Mayangone.
Wai Yan Phyo Moe was already facing charges for the violation of Section 19 of the Peaceful Assembly and Peaceful Procession Law in Kyauktada for allegedly breaking rules surrounding demonstrations, as well as for incitement in both Kyauktada and Kamayut. - Myanmar NOW
Indonesia seeks to roll out carbon tax in April 2022
The Indonesian Government is seeking to impose a carbon tax of Rp30 per kilogram of carbon dioxide equivalent (C02e) on emissions surpassing a designated cap from April 1, 2022, the Finance Minister has said.
“The carbon tax begin to take effect on April 1, 2022, but still it (the government) follows the carbon roadmap related to climate change,” Sri Mulyani Indrawati said at a press conference in Jakarta on Thursday.
The Law on Harmonizing Tax Regulation (UU HPP) deals with the imposition of carbon tax aimed at restoring the environment.
The carbon tax is part of Indonesia’s commitment to lower carbon emissions by 29 percent on its own and 41 percent through international support by 2030 in accordance with the target of Nationally Determined Contributions (NDC), the minister noted. - AntaraNews.Com