ASEAN NOW Content Team

After three months from their second Covid-19 vaccination dosage, members of the public aged 18 and above will be able to receive Covid-19 booster doses on a walk-in basis beginning Friday (Dec 17), according to the health minister. This, according to Brunei Minister of Health Dato Seri Setia Dr Md Isham Jaafar, is a continuation of the third dose for health workers and individuals aged 50 and up. "This third dosage will be administered to those aged 18 and over who have received two doses of immunisation and have waited three months since the second dose, regardless of the type of vaccine that has been received." He explained that the decision was made after the Vaccination Technical Committee determined that two doses of the Covid-19 vaccine might not be enough to protect the Omicron variety. "And, at least three months after the second dosage, a third dose should be administered to strengthen vaccine protection against the variant threat," he added. This third dosage is administered on a walk-in basis at any vaccination centre. Meanwhile, appointments for a third dose via the BruHealth app will be available until the end of December 2021. Brunei has added 14 new Covid-19 cases in the last 24 hours, with one new cluster involving three patients. The overall number of cases now stands at 15,362. On Monday, 36 cases were also recovered, increasing the total number of cases recovered in Brunei Darussalam to 15,009. The total active cases are 253 cases. A total of 1,406 samples were tested for the SARS-CoV-2 virus in the last 24 hours, bringing the total number of laboratory tests completed since January 2020 to 665,433. - Borneo Bulletin/Annual Report Discover Cigna’s range of health insurance solutions created for expats and local nationals living in Thailand - click to view

After being seized last week while documenting protests in Myanmar, a freelance photojournalist died in military captivity. Soe Naing is the first journalist to die in jail since the army seized power in February, deposing Aung San Suu Kyi's democratic administration. Since then, over 100 journalists have been imprisoned, with around half of them being released. Soe Naing and a coworker were arrested in downtown Yangon on Friday while shooting photos during a "silent strike" planned by opponents of military rule. The streets were nearly empty as people responded to the call to stay at home and for businesses to close for six hours. It was the largest nationwide protest in several months. Soe Naing isn't the first inmate to pass away while being held by the government. There is no official count, but political activists and members of Aung San Suu Kyi's National League for Democracy have been reported deceased while in jail. According to human rights groups, the bodies in numerous cases where they could be viewed bore scars that suggested the individuals had been tortured. Journalists have been arrested in large numbers as the military-installed government attempts to stifle the free flow of information. In addition to detaining journalists, numerous news organisations have been compelled to close or go underground, putting their employees at risk of arrest. Soe Naing and a colleague had been documenting Myanmar's turmoil for months, with their images of anti-military protests and security forces' savage crackdowns being picked up by international news outlets. Soe Naing was taken to a military interrogation centre in Yangon's eastern Botahtaung Township after his arrest, according to sources familiar with the situation. His family learned of his death at the 1,000-bed Defense Services general hospital in Yangon's Mingaladon Township on Tuesday morning, according to coworkers and a family member who spoke on the condition of anonymity since disclosing such information may lead to their detention. Interrogation centres across Myanmar have been increasingly using torture against detainees since the army took charge. "Appalled to read that freelance photoreporter Soe Naing – abducted by the military while documenting a quiet demonstration in Yangon on Friday – died in detention this morning, after a harsh interrogation," the Paris-based organisation Reporters Without Borders tweeted.

Officials said the ship capsized near a beach town in the South China Sea, leaving 29 people missing. According to Malaysian officials, a boat carrying at least 60 Indonesian migrants sank in the South China Sea before daybreak on Wednesday, killing at least ten people and leaving 29 others missing. A spokesman for Malaysia's Maritime Enforcement Agency said the boat capsized in bad weather around 4:30 a.m. off the shore of Tanjung Balau, a beach town in the southeastern Malaysian state of Johor. According to the spokeswoman, Nurul Hizam Zakaria, twenty-one persons were rescued after the agency deployed a helicopter and two boats for a search-and-rescue operation just before 9 a.m. Malaysia's national news agency, Bernama, shared a photo on Twitter of people on a beach retrieving a capsized boat from the waves. All of the passengers onboard, according to a spokeswoman for the Malaysian Army's Third Infantry Division, were Indonesians. They had sailed from Batam, an Indonesian island on the Singapore Strait, he added. Batam is close enough to Singapore and neighbouring Malaysia that it was connected to the city-state by frequent boat service prior to the outbreak. In the region, boat accidents are regular, and some have involved Rohingya refugees. Thousands of Rohingya Muslims have tried the risky boat trip to Malaysia from Myanmar, where they face ethnic persecution, or Bangladesh, where they often live in poverty, throughout the years. They usually make their way to Malaysia's west coast via the Straits of Malacca. Officials in Malaysia have occasionally barred such refugee boats from docking. Last year, the Bangladeshi Coast Guard recovered one of them, and authorities discovered hundreds of hungry and dehydrated people imprisoned in the boat's hold by human traffickers.

According to three individuals and documents seen by Reuters, Malaysia's major wireless carriers have urged the government approve the establishment of a second 5G service, ahead of a cabinet decision on whether to proceed with a proposal for a single wholesale network. Following business concerns that a single state-run network could stifle competition, Communications and Multimedia Minister Annuar Musa stated last week that the cabinet will decide by January whether to allow multiple 5G carriers. In November, Reuters reported that mobile operators and Digital Nasional Berhad (DNB), the government agency in charge of 5G deployment, had reached an impasse over pricing and transparency issues. On Wednesday, DNB aims to undertake an early 5G deployment in three core districts. Three people familiar with the situation told Reuters that representatives from the country's six mobile operators met with ministry officials on Monday to suggest solutions to the gridlock and their ideas for delivering 5G. Because the meetings were confidential, the people, including two telecoms company officials, sought anonymity. According to the sources, four operators - Axiata Group's Celcom (AXIA.KL), DiGi.com (DSOM.KL), Maxis (MXSC.KL), and U Mobile (IPO-UMOB.KL) - suggested that the government allow the government to allow two wholesale 5G networks, each to be created and controlled by a consortium of carriers. According to a presentation viewed by Reuters, the operators proposed that the consortia start building the two networks simultaneously next year and then split them in 2023, "offering Malaysia a quick initial deployment and then the security of dual competing networks going forward." According to the slides, the two companies will use existing telco assets to "coordinate implementation and collaborate in the first 12-18 months to enable faster 5G rollout across Malaysia than any single party." According to the sources, the carriers are also open to suggestions that would allow them to own equity in DNB and have requested more engagement in the government's deployment plans. "Given the substantial ramifications for the country's digital economy objectives," one of the people said, "we hope there will be continued engagement on the topic." Another carrier, YTL Communications, has expressed opposition to the idea and support for a single 5G network, while Telekom Malaysia (TLMM.KL) has stated that it will support whatever government decision, according to the sources. U Mobile, DiGi.com, and YTL all declined to comment. Reuters' inquiries for response to the communications ministry, Axiata, Maxis, and Telekom Malaysia were not immediately answered. DNB stated that it was not aware of the discussions that took place. "We will respect the government's procedure and express our representations in the appropriate forum," DNB CEO Ralph Marshall told Reuters in an email. In February, the government rejected a proposal to assign spectrum to carriers, choosing instead for a single shared network to save money, enhance efficiency, and speed up infrastructure development. Carriers are concerned that the plan will result in a nationalised monopoly that will be more expensive than installing 5G on their own, while DNB has stated that it will charge operators less for access to its 5G network than for 4G. In order to finalise long-term wholesale deals with operators, DNB has also given complimentary 5G services to carriers until March 31. Telekom Malaysia was the first operator to sign up for 5G testing with DNB earlier this month, but it did not clarify whether it had inked a long-term agreement.

US Secretary of State Antony Blinken will give a speech in Jakarta on Tuesday about Washington's Indo-Pacific strategy. Indonesia's foreign minister said US Secretary of State Antony Blinken made a "quite evident" commitment to the country as the top American diplomat began a visit of Southeast Asia amid rising tensions with China in the area. According to the US Department of State, Blinken met with Indonesian President Joko Widodo on Monday and emphasised the importance of the two nations' "strategic alliance." According to the statement, Blinken praised "Indonesia's leadership" in the Indo-Pacific region, describing the country as "the world's third-largest democracy and a staunch proponent of the rules-based international order." Following Blinken's meeting with Indonesian President Jokowi, Retno Marsudi, the country's foreign minister, said the US appeared interested in forming cooperation with Jakarta, notably on infrastructure. "The US commitment was extremely obvious," Retno said to reporters, declining to elaborate. On Tuesday morning local time, US Secretary of State John Kerry will deliver a speech in Jakarta on the Biden administration's Indo-Pacific strategy. During his trip of the area, Blinken will also visit in Malaysia and Thailand, where Washington and Beijing are increasingly competing for influence. The US aims to expand involvement with the 10-member Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) to "new heights," according to Daniel Kritenbrink, assistant US secretary of state for East Asian and Pacific affairs, who spoke to media ahead of Blinken's trip. In October, President Joe Biden took part in a virtual summit between the United States and ASEAN, promising to strengthen ties with the group. The US has already expressed support for various ASEAN countries in their disputes with China over the South China Sea, which Beijing claims as its own. The Chinese state-owned Global Times said Blinken's travel to Southeast Asia "fails to disrupt the equilibrium" in the region in an opinion article published on Monday. "These countries are good at maintaining a balance between China and the US, in terms of neither being wholly dependent on China nor the US, which is a feature of many countries in the region's foreign policies," Gu Xiaosong, dean of Hainan Tropical Ocean University's ASEAN Research Institute, told the Global Times.

According to the United States Geological Survey (USGS), a violent 7.3-magnitude earthquake struck off Indonesia's eastern coast on Tuesday, causing people in adjacent cities to rush into the streets and seek higher ground. On Indonesia's Flores Island, the quake struck 112 kilometres (69 miles) north of Maumere. At 10:20 a.m. local time, it struck at a depth of 18.5 kilometres (11 miles) in the Flores Sea, according to the USGS (10:20 p.m. ET). "Hazardous tsunami waves are possible for coasts located within 1,000 kilometres (621 miles) of the earthquake epicentre," the Pacific Tsunami Warning Center, based in the United States, stated based on preliminary seismic parameters. Dwikorita Karnawati, the head of Indonesia's Meteorological, Climatological, and Geophysical Agency (BMKG), subsequently verified that the tsunami warning had been lifted. So far, she said, 15 aftershocks have been registered, the biggest of which had a magnitude of 5.6. If a powerful tremor lasts longer than 10 seconds, residents along the northern coast should seek higher ground, according to Dwikorita. Romanus Woga, the Deputy Head of Sikka Regency, the region closest to the epicentre of the earthquake, told CNN that he felt four or five large tremors that caused people in Maumere city to flee their houses. People who lived near the coast had fled to higher ground, he said. Romanus, who is travelling about the city to assess the situation, claims that no structures or homes have been noticeably damaged thus far. With a population of around 90,000 people, Maumere is the capital city of Sikka and the second-largest town on Flores. Indonesia is located on the Pacific Ocean's "Ring of Fire," a stretch of land that is prone to earthquakes and volcanic eruptions. It runs from Japan and Indonesia on one side of the Pacific to California and South America on the other, making it one of the world's most seismically active zones. A 7.8 magnitude earthquake and tsunami struck Flores Island in December 1992, killing almost 2,000 people.

On Wednesday, December 15, Brunei will enter the endemic phase of its COVID-19 recovery plan, removing remaining limitations on public life. His Majesty Sultan Haji Hassanal Bolkiah remarked in a televised address that the decision to proceed was based on scientific facts and analysis undertaken by the competent institutions. "The outbreak's consequences have been felt during the last few months. "The constraints that had to be imposed over time were becoming more difficult to bear," he remarked. "Mosques, surau, and prayer halls lost contact with us." Schools and educational institutes have also been forced to close due to the limitations. The restrictions also had an impact on the economic productivity of businesses and government agencies. In short, no one was safe from the second wave's assault." "These restrictions were not imposed arbitrarily," he continued, "but were necessary steps implemented in light of the country's capabilities and readiness." "In the near future, this disease will not be totally eradicated." However, this is only a prediction, and no prediction is guaranteed to be correct. Everything is in Allah's hands alone. If Allah wishes something, it will undoubtedly come to pass." The health ministry is slated to hold a press conference on Sunday afternoon to announce the details of the remaining restrictions. In the endemic phase, the government already declared a progressive relaxation of limitations stated in its COVID-19 recovery plan, including full reopening of public areas and international travel. "The number of instances is neither certain to diminish or rise in this phase, nor does it mean we have succeeded or not," the sultan remarked. "Instead, we'll have to emphasise cooperation and consideration among those who live in this new normal." His Majesty also acknowledged the fear of a new wave of diseases, but claimed that the population had endured significant suffering as a result of stringent movement restrictions. "In light of the current scenario, and while embracing the reality of a new way of life, it is time for us to take a step ahead in order to minimise disturbance to our quality of life by choosing the path of Allah the Almighty." Since late October, Brunei's infection rate has been declining, with only 150 COVID cases reported last week, down from an all-time high of 1,880 in mid-October. Vaccination coverage has now reached 87 percent of the population. Discover Cigna’s range of health insurance solutions created for expats and local nationals living in Thailand - click to view

The National Unity Government has started fundraising campaigns to help fund its battle to depose the military government. The woman known only as Burmese Beast is sponsoring the resistance to Myanmar's military regime from a small city in Northeast Asia. The assistant professor in her 30s organises fundraising campaigns on social media, offering to draw portraits in exchange for money, which she then donates to the cause of resisting the military regime, while working on her iPad and listening to podcasts like the BBC's You're Dead to Me. "It's calm, tranquil, and safe here — everything Myanmar isn't right now," the woman told Al Jazeera, requesting anonymity and without revealing her exact location. Burmese Beast, who left Myanmar over a decade ago, has sent money to humanitarian aid workers, striking civil servants, and, most recently, the People's Defence Force (PDF), the armed wing of the National Unity Government (NUG), the parallel government formed by politicians ousted in February's military coup. The military dictatorship in Naypyidaw, officially known as the State Administration Council, has labelled both groups as terrorist organisations (SAC). "As a fundraiser, I've been in touch with a lot of young people who joined the PDF, and they're doing it because they're hopeless about their futures, not because they're violent or thirsty for blood," said Burmese Beast, who claims that the people have no choice but to take up arms against the coup leaders and the forces backing them up. "I don't condone violence, and I'm not happy when I hear about SAC soldiers being killed." The initial opposition to Senior General Min Aung Hlaing's coup, which deposed Aung San Suu Kyi's democratically elected government, was mostly nonviolent, with millions coming to the streets to protest or strike at state-run businesses. When the military retaliated by killing over 1,300 civilians in a violent crackdown on protesters, the resistance movement embraced armed revolt. After months of skirmishes, the NUG launched a "people's defence war" to destabilise the military in September. However, starting a civil war and forming a parallel government has posed difficult problems about funding and navigating an ethical and legal minefield. The NUG's revolution will require significant financial resources. The parallel administration has promised "continued support" in the form of $60 payments to roughly 200,000 striking federal officials, but in August, it was believed that about 410,000 government employees were still refusing to work. The NUG has set a budget of around $800 million, excluding defence spending, but has been tight-lipped about how it will pay for the fight. Requests for comment were not returned by the NUG. However, a number of formal fundraising efforts have proven to be extremely popular among the general public. The NUG introduced a Spring Lottery in August to help striking civil staff. According to NUG representatives, the pilot programme raised roughly $8 million, and once expanded, it may raise about $11 million every month. Local media stated that 55 of the 78 lottery winners returned their prize money back to the NUG administration, demonstrating the NUG's popular popularity. Another popular campaign has been the sale of so-called bonds, which pay no interest and are unlikely to be repaid unless the military government is deposed. The NUG claims to have sold almost $2 million in bonds in the first two hours of their offering, with aspirations to raise $200 million in total. "The NUG's numbers for the cash raised from the Spring Lottery, raffle, and now bond sales show that they have been rather successful, each garnering millions of dollars," Richard Horsey, Myanmar adviser to the International Crisis Group, told Al Jazeera. "It demonstrates that a sizable portion of the Myanmar diaspora is willing to donate substantial sums in support of the resistance movement." One NUG fan in Europe who bought $2,000 in bonds told Al Jazeera that he didn't expect to be repaid anytime soon. "I feel the only purpose, not only for myself but for the vast majority of others, is to fund the NUG because they believe it is the only mechanism that can bring us to triumph," the supporter, who requested anonymity, added. "There is no financial incentive for anyone to buy the bond."

Malaysia's government has been accused of applying double standards in implementing Covid-19 restrictions after an event it hosted violated safety protocols but only received a RM1,000 (S$325) punishment. Prime Minister Ismail Sabri Yaakob kicked off the four-day event at the Kuala Lumpur Convention Centre on Thursday (Dec 9) to commemorate his government's first 100 days. Over 100,000 people attended the rally, according to the government's Chief Secretary, Zuki Ali. Critics from both sides of the political spectrum, as well as civil society groups, likened the punishment to fines of up to RM20,000 issued during last month's Melaka state elections, during which physical campaigning was prohibited, and the millions imposed on illegal parties in the capital. "Is increasing the number of Covid-19 cases part of the next 100 days' KPI (key performance index)?" President of the Malaysian Medical Association, Koh Kar Chai. Lim Kit Siang, a mainstay of the opposition, also slammed the "chicken-feed" fine, saying it "highlights the government's absolute lack of commitment" in combating the pandemic. For the previous seven months, infection levels have been consistently above 4,000 cases per day. On Sunday, the number of new cases fell below 4,000 for the first time since May. "Yet, Ismail Sabri may give the Cabinet a 90 percent for its 100-day performance, making Malaysia the new object of international ridicule and humiliation," said Mr Lim, an Iskandar Puteri MP. The event's organiser, the Prime Minister's Department's section, has been chastised by Health Minister Khairy Jamaluddin, who claims that the "congested scenario, lack of physical separation, and poor crowd control enhanced the likelihood of Covid-19 spreading." "The event... was tainted by the organizer's failure to follow SOPs. We, as a government, should be role models for best practises "Mr. Khairy was referring to standard operating procedures when he said this. Nonetheless, he stated in a statement on Friday that his ministry no longer has the authority to impose fines of more than RM1,000 per person. This was due to the withdrawal of emergency ordinances just one day before the event in Parliament. Former Prime Minister Muhyiddin Yassin enforced the state of emergency from January to August, during which time Datuk Seri Ismail served as a senior minister and then deputy Prime Minister. On Thursday night, however, police stormed a Kuala Lumpur nightclub and handed a total of RM245,000 in fines, including an RM25,000 charge for the club's proprietor. Discover Cigna’s range of health insurance solutions created for expats and local nationals living in Thailand - click to view

Southeast Asian artists are benefiting from non-fungible tokens, which are helping to democratise art and increase sales. Before the COVID-19 epidemic shut down art and performing places in March 2020, the art festivals and galleries of Malaysia's Kuala Lumpur and George Town provided a lifeline and inspiration to the country's artists. However, many have struggled to subsist as full-time, "physical" artists as a result of the disruption of the past 20 months, and have been forced to step outside of their comfort zones. Some people have dabbled in the world of non-fungible tokens (NFTs) and cryptocurrency. NFTs are one-of-a-kind digital assets that are used to symbolise ownership of a virtual item. Unlike Bitcoin and other cryptocurrencies, NFTs cannot be swapped for cash, making them scarce and increasing their value. This notion is ideal for collecting artworks and has sparked an unprecedented wave of digital consumerism: in March, American digital artist Mike Winklemann, aka Beeple, sold an NFT of his work Everydays: The First 5000 Days for an astounding $69 million at Christie's in London. NFT art began as a pleasant pastime for graduates of design, multimedia, engineering, and architecture in Malaysia. Filamen, a Kuala Lumpur-based collective of diverse digital creatives, popularised it when they held the Seni Kripto ("Cryptoart" in Malay) show in April 2021 at their physical home, the University of Malaya's Digital Art Gallery. The Malaysian art industry rapidly recognised the potential of NFTs, hosting the first Crypto Art Week in July and launched Pentas.io, the country's first NFT marketplace. It has already paid out millions of Malaysian ringgit in cryptocurrencies to several local musicians. New concept of art Mumu the stan AKA Munira Hamzah (Moon) of Malaysia NFT said Al Jazeera, "NFT in Malaysia has witnessed substantial growth this past year." This new non-profit organisation and internet gallery aims to empower and promote Malaysian artists in the NFT community by raising finances, providing instructional materials, and providing peer support. "Earlier this year, you could probably count on one hand the number of Malaysian artists minting and selling NFTs. Over the course of several months, that number grew to hundreds, and now we're definitely in the thousands," Moon added. Malaysian artists' NFT works include 3D animations, Internet memes, and graphics inspired by the Southeast Asian country's multiethnic culture. The growth of the NFT scene, according to Moon, has changed the way artists in Malaysia traditionally make a living – away from commissioned artworks – providing "newfound confidence as well as a source of income that isn't dependent on client requests, but rather on what artists want to personally achieve creatively." NFTs have reintroduced joy into art for some of them. Kenny Ng, a Penang-based artist, told Al Jazeera, "It allows me the ability to grow my creativity, exhibit [my work] as I choose, track copyright ownership, and retain records of creation." Others have seen NFTs as a tangible way to make massive profits in Ether, the cryptocurrency that serves as the primary asset of Ethereum, the decentralised, open-source blockchain with smart contract capability where NFTs are traded. Earlier this month, Kuala Lumpur-based graffiti artist Abdul Hafiz Abdul Rahman, better known as Katun, made headlines when he sold two of his NFT collections for 127.6 ETH — the equivalent of 1.6 million Malaysian ringgit ($400,000) – in less than 24 hours. It was the most expensive batch of NFTs ever sold in a single release by a Malaysian artist. "It's plain to see that, if done correctly, the money gained can actually make a difference for any Southeast Asian musician," Katun told Al Jazeera. Even if NFT appears to be a get-rich-quick gimmick, it has evolved into a progressive, helpful community in Malaysia. Katun, for example, developed 4 Stages, a digital platform dedicated to connecting Southeast Asian musicians. "There are so many talented artists here who don't get enough exposure to the rest of the world," Katun told Al Jazeera, adding that NFT's rapid growth and global reach will be critical in propelling both the presence and monetary gains of Malaysian artists well beyond the country's small physical art market's geographical and economic constraints.

The eruption of Java's largest mountain has sparked concerns about the country's catastrophe warning system's effectiveness, as well as the perils of rebuilding on the volcano's lush but dangerous slopes. The entangled remains of a mother and daughter engulfed in molten ash have come to symbolise what many living in the shadow of the volcano believe went wrong in the aftermath of the fatal Semeru eruption on Indonesia's Java island. "There was no prior notice. There would have been no victims if there had been, right?" Rumini, Minah's cousin, perished clutching her elderly mother as their kitchen roof crashed in, recalled Minah. They go by one name, as do many Indonesians. Their town of Curah Kobokan, which is nestled at the base of the volcano, was among the hardest impacted when Semeru erupted spectacularly on Saturday, ejecting ash clouds and pyroclastic flows that killed 43 people and left scores missing. The eruption of Java's largest mountain has sparked concerns about the country's catastrophe warning system's effectiveness, as well as the perils of rebuilding on the volcano's lush but dangerous slopes. Officials claimed some communications were delivered to local administrators, but that they did not result in an evacuation order, owing to the volcano's unpredictable behaviour. The national disaster mitigation agency usually issues evacuation orders, such as in 2017, when it urged 100,000 people living near Bali's rumbling Mt Agung to leave the danger zone immediately. The national disaster mitigation agency did not respond to a request for comment from Reuters right away. Curah Kobokan means "pouring basin" in Javanese, referring to the river that runs through the village. The river, which was once a source of life, will eventually become the community's ruin. When Semeru erupted, the river poured heavy lava and ash flows straight into Curah Kobokan, which is now a field of grey ash piled as high as the powerlines, with a few triangular roofs protruding out of the newly constructed disaster landscape. Residents claim that the air became scorching hot and pitch dark in a matter of seconds. People yelled and ran away in terror, some hiding in a prayer house while others huddled in a concrete drain. None of the eight residents Reuters spoke to said they had received any notice of an approaching eruption. "People would have evacuated if there had been a notice. Instead, lava poured down in a matter of minutes, killing a large number of people "Irawati, 41, said her husband was knocked unconscious as they attempted to flee.

Doctors are concerned that refugees' health will be harmed if they inhale volcanic ash while staying in crowded shelters. Dugijan, a farmer from Curuk Kobokan village near the base of Indonesia's Mount Semeru volcano, was sleeping in his hut when a tremendous explosion woke him up. As he stumbled out the front door, he witnessed his friends and neighbours fleeing for their lives as the mountain erupted, sending ash and volcanic debris 4 kilometres (2.5 miles) into the gloomy sky. "The road was dimly lit and strewn with dirt and smoke. People were screamed and ran. It was raining and the mountain was ringed with lightning. The 60-year-old told Al Jazeera that it appeared to be the Day of Judgement. "I didn't think I'd make it." It was pouring rocks, and I wasn't in any shape to run. So I just started walking gently and entrusted everything to God." Dugijan noticed that some of the people fleeing alongside him were covered in burns and blisters from the heat of the heavy ash cloud that was pressing down on the villagers as he carefully made his way to a neighbouring mosque, where he stayed for three hours before relief arrived. "I'm still reeling from what happened. I'm afraid I won't be able to return. He said, "I'm old and I'm waiting for my time, but not because of a calamity like this." At least 34 people were killed in the eruption, which occurred on Saturday afternoon, with scores more still missing. More than 3,000 people have been displaced in Indonesia, according to officials, as ash and mud continue to blanket towns, making rescue harder and increasing concerns among specialists about the impact on the COVID-19 pandemic. Doctors are still debating whether the eruptions will cause an increase in COVID-19 cases or exacerbate COVID-19 symptoms in patients, according to Dr Irandi Putra Pratomo, the chief medical officer of the COVID-19 Task Force and the Pulmonology Medical Unit at Universitas Indonesia Hospital in Depok, near Jakarta. He told Al Jazeera, "We don't know yet whether the COVID-19 virus and volcanic ash will interact." "However, we already know that volcanic eruptions can induce pulmonary inhalation damage." Discover Cigna’s range of health insurance solutions created for expats and local nationals living in Thailand - click to view

According to the ICC complaint, the coup commander is 'criminally liable' for the mass atrocity crimes committed by the security forces under his direction. Myanmar's military leader Min Aung Hlaing has been charged with crimes against humanity by the International Criminal Court (ICC) for ordering a violent crackdown on protestors and activists opposed to the February 1 coup. The Myanmar Accountability Project (MAP) urged The Hague tribunal to initiate a criminal investigation "into the widespread and systematic use of torture as part of the violent crackdown on the protest movement" in the Southeast Asian country in a document filed on Friday. In July, a UN Rapporteur described the military government's repression of dissenters as "a brute force terror campaign." In a statement, MAP Director Chris Gunness said, "The commander of the unlawful coup is criminally liable for the security forces under his command committing mass atrocity crimes." "The chances of a conviction are good, and we believe there are compelling reasons to issue an arrest warrant for Min Aung Hlaing." According to the Assistance Association for Political Prisoners (AAPP), a rights organisation that tracks deaths and detentions, at least 1,305 individuals have died as a result of the military crackdown on anti-coup rallies since the coup, including more than 75 children. A total of 10,756 persons have been detained. Protesters have become more aggressive as a result of the military's increasingly harsh response to demonstrations. UN Spokesperson Stephane Dujarric reported more bloodshed on Wednesday, accusing security forces of shooting and burning people, including five children, in the northwest Sagaing district in retribution for recent military strikes. "We strongly condemn such acts of violence and remind Myanmar's military authorities of their legal responsibility to safeguard the safety and protection of civilians under international law." "Those responsible for this horrible act must be brought to justice," Dujarric said during his daily briefing. On Thursday, US State Department spokesman Ned Price said the US was "outraged" by the incident's "credible and horrifying accounts." He told reporters, "Appallingly, this is not the first time we have witnessed stories of the Burmese military utilising similar measures to subjugate the people of Burma." "The military's pervasive use of appalling and cruel violence emphasises the importance of ending the Burmese military's culture of impunity by holding military actors responsible and restoring Burma's road to inclusive democracy," says the report. More violence was reported on social media on Thursday, including the burning of homes and the shooting of at least one citizen in Mon state.

According to a US-based cybersecurity firm, Chinese hackers targeted military and civilian organisations in various Southeast Asian countries this year, particularly those with similar territorial claims or vital infrastructure projects, implying official involvement. Malaysia, Indonesia, and Vietnam were the top three nations attacked in the last nine months, according to new analysis released late Wednesday by the Insikt Group, the threat research arm of Massachusetts-based Recorded Future. According to the report, the hackers targeted numerous other countries, including the Philippines, Laos, Cambodia, and Thailand. Insikt Group said in its report that "the identified intrusion campaigns almost certainly support key strategic aims of the Chinese government, such as gathering intelligence on countries engaged in South China Sea territorial disputes or related to projects and countries strategically important to the Belt and Road Initiative (BRI)," The hackers targeted the offices of the Thai and Malaysian prime ministers, as well as their foreign affairs departments and militaries, according to the report. Insikt said it discovered over 400 unique servers in Southeast Asia talking with infected networks, all of which were likely linked to Chinese state-sponsored actors, but it had no knowledge of the precise material acquired. Much of the activity was ascribed to a Chinese state-sponsored outfit known as Threat Activity Group 16. TAG-16 appears to share custom capabilities with the People's Liberation Army-linked activity group RedFoxtrot, according to the report. In October, Insikt stated it alerted all of the countries involved. The results of Insikt were dismissed by China. "We oppose the dissemination of disinformation for political reasons in order to mislead the world community and foment conflict among regional nations," said Wang Wenbin, a spokeswoman for China's foreign ministry, at a routine news briefing in Beijing yesterday. China has previously disregarded Recorded Future's claims, such as findings in September that Chinese state-sponsored hackers penetrated and presumably stole data from an Indian government organisation in charge of a national identification database. Insikt reported in May that it had discovered probable Chinese state-sponsored network intrusion activities aimed at Laos' "telecommunications, government, and state-owned enterprises." Targets included the Lao National Committee for Special Economic Zones and the National Enterprise Database, according to the report. Laos opened a roughly $6 billion Chinese-built railway connecting the country to southern China earlier this month. The Cambodian foreign ministry, as well as the country's only international and commercial deep sea port, Sihanoukville Autonomous Port, were targeted in September, according to the cybersecurity organisation.

According to Deputy Health Minister Noor Azmi Ghazali, about 20,000 people in Malaysia who recovered from the coronavirus are suffering with post-Covid-19 syndrome, also known as "long Covid." "As of November this year, a total of 19,890 Covid-19 patients have been offered appointments for follow-up therapy at health facilities," Dr Noor Azmi said in Parliament on Wednesday in response to a question from Gabungan Parti Sarawak lawmaker Lukanisman Awang Sauni (Dec 8). According to his observations, patients with post-Covid-19 syndrome have five main symptoms: lethargy (78.9%), breathing difficulty when performing particular jobs (52.9%), coughing (18.1%), insomnia (14.5%), and anxiety (10.4 per cent). He went on to say that individuals who had lengthy Covid would normally have symptoms for four to twelve weeks following recovery, with some patients still having symptoms after that time. Those with long-term Covid problems will be referred to a specialist doctor for further therapy, he said. The follow-up treatment, according to Dr. Noor Azmi, is based on the ministry's post-Covid-19 management policy, which ensures that patients suffering from extended Covid receive treatment and medication. Long Covid patients have been referred for treatment at 41 public and private health facilities, he said, in addition to the Sungai Buloh Hospital and the UiTM Training Hospital. Dr Noor Azmi responded to a question from Pakatan Harapan's Dr Dzulkefly Ahmad that there was no specific data on the effects of extended Covid on youngsters at the moment. Dr. Dzulkefly noted that research in other countries have found that one out of every seven children infected with Covid-19 suffers from cognitive deficits. Long-term Covid patients receive therapy for a variety of health conditions, including cardiovascular and pulmonary disorders, as well as neurological and mental health issues, according to Dr. Noor Azmi. Dr Noor Azmi responded to a related question raised by PH assemblyman R.S.N Rayer by saying that follow-up testing on Malaysia's first Omicron variant case had come out negative. Tests on five close contacts, he added, also came up negative. Discover Cigna’s range of health insurance solutions created for expats and local nationals living in Thailand - click to view

Chef Ilhani used to serve Japanese cuisine to tourists every night; now he makes just US$3 a day selling fried appetisers on Gili Trawangan's once-bustling streets. The COVID-19 outbreak has forced the closure of practically all of Indonesia's Gili Islands' resorts and restaurants, which are known for their turquoise waters, sandy beaches, and rich marine life. With roughly 1,500 foreign visitors visiting Trawangan every day, tourism and the local economy had been thriving due to its proximity to Bali. His eatery, however, could not endure the loss of revenue when authorities first imposed a statewide viral lockdown in March 2020 and subsequently blocked borders to international travellers. He claims he is still trying to sustain his wife and four children almost two years later. "Now is a really trying time in my life. "I sell fried snacks since it's something that residents can afford," he told AFP, adding, "In the past, tourists would buy everything we sold, but today the island is desolate."" Trawangan, Meno, and Air, the three Gili islands, have long been dependant on international visitors. According to Lalu Kusnawan, chairman of the Gili Hotel Association and owner of a resort in Trawangan, there are approximately 800 hotels with 7,000 rooms, but only about 20 to 30 remain operational. Shops, pubs, cafes, and restaurants are all closed, some for sale, and others abandoned entirely. On long-abandoned tables and chairs, dust and spider webs accumulate. Staff who used to work there have been forced to find alternative sources of income, with some resorting to fishing to feed their families. According to the UN's tourism authority, the coronavirus pandemic will cost the global tourism sector US$2.0 trillion in lost revenue in 2021, the same as it did in 2020. According to the World Tourism Organization, international tourist visits would be 70-75 percent lower this year than the 1.5 billion recorded in 2019 before the epidemic, with the sector's recovery being "fragile" and "slow." Discover Cigna’s range of health insurance solutions created for expats and local nationals living in Thailand - click to view

From sunrise to dusk, veterinarians try to rescue and treat animals suffering from burns, smoke inhalation, and other injuries. Dr. Sugeng Widodo just concluded his latest shift working in the shadow of Mount Semeru, an active volcano on the Indonesian island of Java that erupted on Saturday night after torrential rains collapsed its crater. The veterinarian has been volunteering at the disaster site since the eruption, which shot an ash cloud 4 kilometres (2.48 miles) into the air and triggered devastating volcanic mudflows, killing more than 30 people and leaving scores missing and at least 3,000 more displaced. Widodo is the coordinator of the Indonesian Veterinary Medical Association's (IVMA) East Java II volunteer team, which has been working to assist and rescue some of the volcano's frequently forgotten victims: the area's animals and livestock. The veterinarians, along with a small team of three to four other volunteers, work with veterinary paramedics from sunrise to sunset to remove and treat animals suffering from burns, smoke inhalation, and other injuries. "I was in Supiturang village today." He told Al Jazeera, "We've evacuated 150 cows and 200 sheep." "So far, we've discovered 17 dead cows and 50 dead sheep." The owners of several damaged animals that couldn't be saved sold them right away." The sand mining industry and farming are both well-known in the area surrounding the volcano. The mountain's lush surroundings, as well as the fertile volcanic soil it produces and the lush vegetation, make it a perfect place to pasture cattle, goats, and sheep. ‘This will be the day I die’ Many of the dead and missing were farmers who were on the mountain's slopes and were either unable or unable to abandon their animals and flee in time, according to Marzuki Suganda, a 30-year-old truck driver at a local sand mine. Suganda, who was driving home from work at a sand mine on the day of the eruption, said the sky darkened before volcanic boulders shot through the air, striking him in the head and back and knocking him to the ground. "I thought to myself, 'This is the day I die.' I was prepared. 'It'll be fine,' I reasoned. He said, "I was born here in Curuk Kobokan village, and I'll die here as well." "Death and life flashed in front of my eyes." As he searched for a place to take refuge, Suganda discovered that there was nowhere to go because homes had been demolished by falling debris, forcing him to kneel by the side of the road and shield his head with his motorcycle helmet and hands. The dense ash that descended on the communities around Semeru buried animals grazing by the roadside. Suganda's home was also devastated by the eruption. Under the weight and heat of the volcanic ash, the tiles broke, and his house's roof was replaced by a massive hole. "It's no longer possible to live in my house." "It's traumatised me," he admitted. Suganda, his wife, and their five-year-old daughter have taken refuge in a neighbouring hamlet with other district residents as they wait to be permanently evacuated and relocated. Eleven goats are also living with the residents who attempted in vain to preserve their cattle when the eruption began.

According to diplomatic sources in Myanmar, the European Union (EU) has discontinued renting its official ambassador's residence from the family of late Myanmar dictator General Ne Win after eight years. Following the formation of a diplomatic mission in Myanmar, the EU began renting the residence of Roland Kobia, the EU's first ambassador to Myanmar. The house lies on 19 May Kha Road, formerly known as Ady Road, in Yangon's Mayangone Township, an affluent enclave where Ne Win, his relatives, trusted ministers, and aides used to live. Ne Win's relatives own the palatial houses [numbers 19 to 30] that line Yangon's famous Inya Lake. Ne Win received state visits, hosted several parties, and commanded the Myanmar military to crush the 1988 pro-democracy rebellion from the mansion next to the EU Ambassador's residence. Despite the EU's commitment to Myanmar's aid and development, the rental of the elite property garnered criticism from international and local agencies for paying millions of dollars in rent to the relatives of Myanmar's first military dictator, Ne Win. The EU diplomatic mission in Yangon confirmed to The Irrawaddy on November 30 that it had stopped renting the Ady Road property and that the ambassador had moved out. Because the ambassador is now on leave, the official told The Irrawaddy to contact them in a month for additional information. The official stated, "He is relocating out of that residence." The Belgian Roland Kobia was the inaugural resident of the house, with the purpose of advancing Myanmar-EU relations and establishing a long-term connection between the EU and Myanmar, which had been a pariah nation until democratic changes began in 2011. Mr. Kobia was succeeded as EU ambassador to Myanmar by Kristian Schmidt of Denmark. Ranieri Sabatucci, the current ambassador, is Italian. The new EU ambassador's house will be on University Avenue Road in Bahan Township, near the South Korean Embassy, according to a source. It took the EU diplomatic mission more than a year to find a residence that was not owned by generals or their cronies, according to reports. Following the coup and the military's deadly assault on peaceful anti-coup protestors, the EU slapped sanctions on 11 people, including coup leader Senior General Min Aung Hlaing, in March, including travel bans and asset freezes. Former Lieutenant General Myint Swe, Vice Senior General Soe Win, the junta-appointed chairman of the Union Election Commission U Thein Soe, General Mya Tun Oo, Lieutenant General Aung Lin Dwe, Lieutenant General Gen Ye Win Oo, General Maung Maung Kyaw, Lieutenant General Moe Myint Tun, and Lieutenant General Than Hlaing are among those sanctioned. The Irrawaddy has learned that the EU has no intentions to leave its Hledan Center headquarters, which is owned by Asia World, a company formed with drug money by Lo Hsing Han, an ethnic Kokang Chinese warlord who previously oversaw one of Southeast Asia's greatest heroin trafficking networks. International institutions and western nations hurried to open offices and diplomatic missions in Myanmar after it became open in 2010. Most ended up renting buildings held by family members of prominent military commanders and business tycoons, including associates of previous military regimes, while looking for suitable offices and housing.

Malaysia has revised its Covid-19 testing standards for international and domestic visitors arriving under three different travel schemes. Those who travel by air or land through the Vaccinated Travel Lane (VTL), the Langkawi International Travel Bubble (LITB), or the One Stop Centre (OSC) for short-term business visitors would be required to take extra Covid-19 tests for six days after arrival in Malaysia. Travelers from Singapore will be subject to the new rule as well. The requirement, which goes into effect today, intends to reinforce the Ministry of Health's existing preventative and control measures to avoid the transmission and spread of the Omicron variety in the country, according to Health Minister Khairy Jamaluddin. On arrival in Malaysia, VTL travellers are subjected to a professionally administered Covid-19 detection test - a reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) test for those arriving by air, and an antigen rapid test kit (RTK-Ag) test for those arriving by land - according to current procedures. Travelers will be subjected to extra tests following their arrival under the new restrictions. On the second, fourth, and sixth days after their arrival, they will take a self-administered RTK-Ag test, followed by a professionally performed RTK-Ag test on the third and fifth days. Mr Khairy also stated that people travelling must be completely vaccinated and undergo RT-PCR testing 48 hours prior to their departure dates, which is a reduction from the previous requirement of 72 hours prior to departure, according to national news agency Bernama. Those who use the LITB must also do an RT-PCR test at least 48 hours before departing the island of Langkawi. All test results, according to Mr Khairy, must be submitted through Malaysia's Covid-19 tracking app, MySejahtera. Ms Melissa Lee, 36, a Singapore banker, said she plans to fly to Kuala Lumpur on Dec 15 to see her parents and spend time with friends after being away from Malaysia for two years. Ms Lee, a Singapore permanent resident who has worked in the nation for more than a decade, said the new daily testing regulations will cause her additional inconvenience and increase her travel costs, but she will still return home. "I'm simply delighted that the Singapore and Malaysian authorities are continuing with the VTL rather than suspending it," she said. "I think the additional testing measures are a good precaution, because even when I return home and travel freely, I'll be able to rest assured that I'm Covid-free," she added. "It'll be worth it even with the extra price because it'll be my first flight home in two years." Although the extra daily tests would add to the long list of travel requirements, Ms Hee Xin Wei, 24, who works in a healthcare software firm in Singapore, said she will continue to travel as long as the VTL stays available. She plans to return to Penang for two weeks for Chinese New Year next year, after not visiting since Chinese New Year in 2020. "I'm ready to abide by any measures as long as they assist ensure the VTL can begin," she stated after waiting so long to return. "I see it as the government attempting to keep things safe, and as long as the VTL isn't cancelled, I'm fine with it." Ms Hee went on to say that the daily antigen rapid tests aren't that much of a nuisance compared to the other paperwork, preparation, and pre-departure exams she has to go through before returning home. Travelers from five countries having Omicron cases in the community, namely the United Kingdom, the United States, Australia, France, and Norway, will be needed to get tested with an RT-PCR swab test 48 hours before departure for Malaysia, according to Mr Khairy. These travellers will also be obliged to wear a digital tracking device at all times during their mandatory quarantine period, according to him. Discover Cigna’s range of health insurance solutions created for expats and local nationals living in Thailand - click to view

Former Malaysian Prime Minister Najib Razak's guilty judgement on corruption charges stemming from a multibillion-dollar scandal at state fund 1Malaysia Development Berhad (1MDB) was maintained by a Malaysian court on Wednesday, putting an end to his political return dreams. Najib is appealing a 12-year prison sentence and a $50 million punishment given by the Kuala Lumpur High Court last year for criminal breach of trust, abuse of power, and money laundering, which is one of five corruption trials he is facing. Although Najib pled not guilty and has continuously denied wrongdoing, the court determined he had illegally taken roughly $10 million from SRC International, a former unit of now-defunct 1MDB. The appeal was keenly watched because there were concerns that ruling party figures facing criminal charges may be granted leniency after Najib's party, the United Malays National Organisation (UMNO), was re-elected to power in August. On Twitter, opposition member Wong Chen remarked, "This is a momentous decision with clear political implications." "This judgement indicates that if a quick election is called early next year, Najib will be unable to run." Appellate Court On the conviction and sentencing, Judge Abdul Karim Abdul Jalil stated he concurred with the high court. The judge stated, "We dismiss the appeal on all seven charges and affirm the conviction on all seven charges." Judge Abdul Karim agreed to Najib's plea to be released on bail again pending the appeal, and the sentence was suspended. Shafee Abdullah, Najib's lawyer, told the court that the former Prime Minister would appeal the verdict to Malaysia's highest court, the Federal Court. After the verdict, Deputy Prosecutor V. Sithambaram warned reporters that Najib's appeal to the Supreme Court might take up to nine months. Najib, who was dressed in a black suit, showed little expression as the verdict was read out and was periodically spotted taking notes during the hearing. Authorities in the United States and Malaysia estimate that $4.5 billion was taken from 1MDB, with more than $1 billion ending up in Najib's personal accounts. Najib is facing 42 criminal charges and five trials, one of which being the SRC case. He has clout within his own party, which was ousted three years ago amid massive allegations of corruption. He's also considering a political comeback, telling Reuters in September that he hasn't ruled out running for re-election to Parliament, which would need his conviction being overturned.

ConocoPhillips, the world's largest oil and gas corporation, is exiting Indonesia, selling its assets for $1.355 billion to Indonesian energy business Medco Energi Internasional, and beefing up in Australia as the country continues to transform. ConocoPhillips' move to double down on U.S. shale with a $9.5 billion purchase of Royal Dutch Shell's West Texas properties and a $13.3 billion deal for Concho Resources, as well as its exit from Canada's oil sands, U.S. offshore, and British North Sea fields, follows its exit from Canada's oil sands, U.S. offshore, and British North Sea fields. The largest independent oil producer in the United States announced on Wednesday that it would sell a subsidiary that owns a 54 percent stake in the Indonesia Corridor Block Production Sharing Contract (PSC), which includes two oil fields and seven gas fields, as well as a 35 percent stake in Transasia Pipeline Company. ConocoPhillips also announced that it was exercising its right to buy up to a 10% share in Australia Pacific LNG (APLNG) from Origin Energy for up to $1.645 billion, beating out an offer from private equity firm EIG Partners. ConocoPhillips CEO Ryan Lance stated in a statement, "The Asia Pacific area plays a vital part in our diversification advantage as an independent E&P, and these two deals improve that advantage by lowering our aggregate decline rate and diversifying our product mix." ConocoPhillips' subsidiary now owns 37.5 percent of APLNG and might own up to 47.5 percent once the transaction closes in the first quarter of 2022. Sinopec, the other APLNG partner, still has the option to match the offer for a portion of the 10% stake Origin is selling by December 17, according to Origin. The full-year 2020 production from APLNG for ConocoPhillips was around 115,000 barrels of oil equivalent per day (boepd). In comparison, the assets it is selling in Indonesia generated around 50,000 boepd. ConocoPhillips is continuing its "proactive A&D (acquisitions and divestitures) strategy to streamline and high grade its worldwide portfolio," according to RBC Capital Markets analyst Scott Hanold. He went on to say that while the update is slightly favourable for the company, it is a rather neutral event for the stock.

After the eruption of Java's Mount Semeru, search and rescue operations are still underway to locate 16 persons who have gone missing. Local officials say the death toll from Saturday's eruption of Indonesia's tallest volcano has grown to at least 34, and rescue operations are still underway. Mount Semeru, in East Java's Lumajang region, erupted suddenly, spewing thick columns of ash more than 12,000 metres (40,000 feet) into the sky, as well as scorching gas and lava down its slopes. In other places, the calamity buried entire streets in muck and ash, devouring homes and automobiles. "So far, 34 people have died, and 16 are still missing," Wayan Suyatna, the chief of the local search and rescue organisation, said state media on Tuesday, upping the death toll from 14 earlier. Nearly 3,700 people have been evacuated from the impacted region, according to him. Since the eruption, rescuers have been facing difficult conditions in the volcanic rubble, ruined buildings, and destroyed vehicles, looking for survivors and remains. On Tuesday, search and rescue dogs were dispatched to assist the effort. Since Saturday, Mount Semeru has been active, with tiny eruptions keeping emergency workers and civilians on edge. Authorities said three tiny eruptions occurred on Tuesday, each blasting ash approximately a kilometre (3,300 feet) into the sky. Locals have been cautioned not to travel within 5 kilometres (3.1 miles) of Semeru's crater since the air is severely contaminated and could harm vulnerable groups. Because it sits along the Pacific "Ring of Fire," a horseshoe-shaped sequence of fault lines, Indonesia, an island of more than 270 million people, is prone to earthquakes and volcanic activity.

Hundreds of Rohingya refugees in the United Kingdom and the United States have sued Facebook, alleging that the social media giant aided the spread of anti-Rohingya hate speech. They are seeking more than $150 billion (£113 billion) in damages, claiming that Facebook's platforms encouraged violence against persecuted minorities. During a military crackdown in Buddhist-majority Myanmar in 2017, an estimated 10,000 Rohingya Muslims were slaughtered. The charges were not immediately responded to by Facebook, which is now known as Meta. The corporation has been charged with allowing "the spread of vile and deadly falsehoods to persist for years." In the UK, a British law firm representing some of the refugees has written a letter to Facebook, seen by the BBC, alleging: Facebook's algorithms "amplified hate speech against the Rohingya people" The firm "failed to invest" in moderators and fact checkers who knew about the political situation in Myanmar The company failed to take down posts or delete accounts that incited violence against Rohingya It failed to "take appropriate and timely action", despite warnings from charities and the media In San Francisco, lawyers filed a lawsuit against Facebook, accusing the company of being "ready to trade the lives of the Rohingya people for improved market penetration in a minor Southeast Asian country." They cite Facebook messages found in a Reuters investigation, including one from 2013 that stated, "We must attack them like Hitler did the Jews." "Pour fuel and light fire so that they can meet Allah quickly," another post wrote. Myanmar has more than 20 million Facebook users. For many people, social media is their primary or sole source of news and information. In 2018, Facebook recognised that it had not done enough to prevent incitement to violence and hate speech against Rohingya Muslims. This came after a Facebook-commissioned independent assessment found that the social media network had created a "enabling environment" for the spread of human rights violations. In Myanmar, the Rohingya are considered illegal migrants and have faced discrimination from both the government and the general population for decades. After Rohingya terrorists carried out deadly attacks on police checkpoints in Rakhine state in 2017, the Myanmar military initiated a harsh crackdown.

To ensure that international places in need have equal access to Covid-19 vaccines, the authorities have decided to donate 559,200 AstraZeneca vaccine doses to Bangladesh and 283,400 doses to Laos. Only 20% of Bangladesh's population and 24% of Laos' population had been fully vaccinated against Covid-19 as of December 6, according to Health Minister Khairy Jamaluddin. He stated that both international destinations would receive their offers on December 6 and 8, respectively. Khairy further stated that, independent of contributions, Malaysia had enough vaccine shares for adult and adolescent vaccination programmes, as well as booster doses for those who were qualified. "The Ministry of Health (MOH) expects that the contribution would aid each government's efforts to halt the spread of the Covid-19 epidemic and boost immunisation rates in their particular overseas locations." "The Malaysian government, through MOH and Wisma Putra (Foreign Affairs Ministry), will continue to identify and assist international locations with poor vaccination rates by making Covid-19 vaccine contributions available," he said in a statement. According to Khairy, Malaysia has previously received a total of 2,913,790 vaccine doses from four countries, including Japan, the United States, China, and the United Kingdom. "The contribution aided in increasing the speed of vaccination protection in the country, and now Malaysia aspires to do the same for other countries in need," he added. Discover Cigna’s range of health insurance solutions created for expats and local nationals living in Thailand - click to view

THAILAND will examine reopening the Thai-Malaysia border, as advocated by southern parliament members. Its advance command dealing with Covid-19 in the southern region, the Centre for Covid-19 Situation Administration (CCSA), is due to discuss and make a decision on the topic this week. According to a storey in the Bangkok Post, deputy government spokesperson Rachada Dhnadirek said the CCSA had previously agreed in principle to the plan and had asked its forward command to investigate the details. Malaysia, on the other hand, is now watching the situation after discovering its first instance of the Omicron coronavirus variety in a foreign student quarantined after arriving from South Africa, she said. "At a meeting planned next Monday, the forward command will debate the border reopening proposal and present the topic to the CCSA for consideration," Rachada added. The advance command is officially designated as the Covid-19 resolution integration centre in the southern border provinces. Rachada stated that the government intended to restore the Thai-Malaysian border, and that the CCSA had met on November 26 to examine the Covid-19 situation in five southern provinces, including Songkhla, Satun, Narathiwat, Yala, and Pattani, with intentions to reopen border checks on December 16. Sa Dao border checkpoint in Songkhla, Sungai Kolok checkpoint in Narathiwat, Betong checkpoint in Yala, and Wang Prachan checkpoint in Satun were all originally planned for reopening, she said. "However, at its meeting next Monday, the CCSA will reach a decision on the case," she stated. She went on to say that the action had been reported to Malaysian authorities by the Foreign Ministry. She noted that the reopening of the border is likely to stimulate local tourism and economic growth in the southern region. Rachada also stated that the Omicron strain has not been detected in the southern border provinces of Songkhla, Satun, Trang, Phatthalung, Pattani, Yala, and Narathiwat, according to a Public Health Ministry inspector-general in charge of Songkhla, Satun, Trang, Phatthalung, Pattani, Yala, and Narathiwat. Pol Maj Gen Surin Palare, a Democrat Party MP for Songkhla, is one of the MPs who has asked for the Thai-Malaysian border to be reopened. As a result of Covid-19, he claimed, the border has been closed for almost two years, hurting Thai labourers who have been stranded in Malaysia.