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.
Stay informed with The ASEAN Post.
US to revise Singapore travel advisory after Covid-19 data issue
The United States Centres for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) is working with Singapore's Ministry of Health regarding the country's Covid-19 testing data, the US agency told Bloomberg News on Thursday (Jan 6).
The CDC will also update its Travel Health Notice for Singapore accordingly.
The move comes days after the CDC earlier this week reclassified its Covid-19 advisory for Singapore and said the situation in the country was "unknown". - Straits Times
Pahang floods claim lives of over 17,000 animals
The floods in Pahang have claimed the lives of a total of 17,403 livestock and pets, incurring an estimated loss of over RM1.4 million as of Wednesday, said state Veterinary Services Department director, Dr Kamaliah Ghazali.
She said the loss involved 100 owners and breeders mostly located in Kuantan, Bentong and Pekan districts.
Poultry recorded the highest number of deaths, namely, chickens at 14,849, followed by ducks (1,100), turkeys (412), cows (307), rabbits (210), goats (132), sheep (64), cats (12), dogs (8), buffaloes (4) and others (305). - New Straits Times
Ministry to pitch tougher curbs
The Public Health Ministry will on Friday propose tougher government measures to curb the latest coronavirus outbreak posed by a rapid increase of Omicron infections.
The proposal, which is up for consideration by the Centre for Covid-19 Situation Administration (CCSA), includes tightening the quarantine system and banning alcohol consumption in restaurants.
Anutin Charnvirakul, deputy prime minister and public health minister, said his ministry has stepped up measures to fight the outbreak. - Bangkok Post
Paracetamol, flu meds supply back to normal this weekend: DTI
Department of Trade and Industry (DTI) Secretary Ramon Lopez said supplies of paracetamol and other flu medicines at drugstores will start to normalize this weekend.
Speaking to President Rodrigo Duterte during the Talk to the People Thursday evening, Lopez said manufacturers of these medicines have started to deliver to drug stores since Wednesday.
He added that due to the surge in demand for paracetamol and flu drugs after New Year, pharmacies have ordered three times more of their normal orders of these medicines. - Philippine News Agency
Vietnam-India ties grow stronger over 50 years: Ambassador
The relationship between Vietnam and India has grown significantly over the past 50 years, with India becoming one of the leading partners of Vietnam, Ambassador to India Pham Sanh Chau told Vietnam News Agency on the 50th anniversary of bilateral diplomatic ties (January 7, 1972-2022).
Over this time, bilateral ties had expanded across all fields, the diplomat said, stressing that Vietnam hoped to elevate the partnership.
The ambassador said that various activities had been conducted to celebrate the anniversary, including high-level visits and the signing of a US$500 million credit agreement in defence. - Vietnam News
Gov’t stresses 3rd jab as Omicron cases increase
With the new Omicron variant threatening to infect more people, the government is calling on all those eligible for the Covid-19 booster dose to get it to increase antibody levels and those not vaccinated against the deadly disease to do so.
This urgent call comes in the wake of Cambodia recording 118 cases of people infected with the Omicron variant in just less than a month – from just one case on December 14 to 118 as of Wednesday. Yesterday alone, 18 new cases were detected.
Health experts fear that if the situation is not contained, there might be another community outbreak just like the February 20 Community Event. - Khmer Times
Propaganda flyers become latest weapon in junta's arsenal
With many parts of the country under a junta-imposed internet blackout, Myanmar’s military regime has turned to an old-school method of spreading its message among the masses: dropping propaganda pamphlets from helicopters.
The flyers have been found in a number of areas where the military continues to face fierce resistance to its rule nearly a full year after it seized power in a coup last February.
These include Sagaing Region’s Budalin, Ye-U, Yinmarpin, Kalay, Kani, Taze, Mingin, Kanbalu, Kyunhla and Kawlin townships, as well as northern Magway’s Yaw region. - Myanmar NOW
Indonesia's G20 Presidency to prioritize world health architecture
The global health architecture is one of the priorities of Indonesia's G20 Presidency in 2022, Foreign Minister Retno Marsudi has said.
"Indonesia's G20 Presidency is also expected to be a catalyst for global economic recovery from the COVID-19 pandemic," she said in her annual press statement, accessed from Jakarta on Thursday.
"This is one of Indonesia's three focuses besides energy transition and digital transformation for its G20 Presidency," she said. - AntaraNews.Com