(AFP)Malaysia leads growth downgrades by economists across Southeast Asia as the Delta variant forces countries to reimpose pandemic restrictions. The rapid spread of the highly infectious Delta variant and low vaccinate rates have caught much of Southeast Asia off guard. For the current quarter, forecasts for Malaysia’s GDP growth were slashed by the most in the region, by 2.8 percentage points from May’s survey. Thailand was second-worst, cut by more than 2 percentage points in both the third and fourth quarters. The Asian Development Bank last month downgraded its Southeast Asian growth forecast in its outlook supplement to 4% from 4.4%.

Indonesia seizes tanker wanted over Cambodian oil heistThe Bahamian-flagged MT. Strovolos is seen near the Riau islands after Indonesia's navy said it had seized the tanker and its crew who were wanted on charges of stealing nearly 300,000 barrels of crude oil from Cambodia's reserves. (AFP PHOTO / INDONESIAN NAVY)Indonesia's navy said Wednesday it has seized a tanker and its crew who were wanted on charges of stealing nearly 300,000 barrels of crude oil from Cambodia's reserves. Indonesia's navy said it was questioning the crew of 13 Indians, three Bangladeshis and a trio from Myanmar at its base near Singapore. But the company was unable to pay its debts and filed for liquidation in June, still allegedly owing money to the tanker crew, they added.

US, China trade fresh barbs over disputed seasUS Vice President Kamala Harris and Vietnam's Vice President Vo Thi Anh Xuan meet in the Gold Room of the Presidential Palace in HanoiHANOI - Vice President Kamala Harris said Wednesday the US would find new ways to "raise the pressure on Beijing", accusing China of bullying in hotly disputed Asian waters for the second time in two days. During a meeting with Vietnam President Nguyen Xuan Phuc, Harris said the US would continue to challenge Beijing's "bullying and excessive maritime claims" in the South China Sea. During the Singapore leg of her regional trip Tuesday, Harris also accused China of intimidation in the resource-rich waterway. - China 'intimidation' -In Singapore, Harris said Beijing "continues to coerce, to intimidate" and make unreasonable claims to large areas of the South China Sea. But in Singapore, Harris sought to allay fears that growing tensions could force countries that have strong ties with both of the world's top economies to choose sides.

Death toll crosses 2,000 in quake-hit HaitiThe number of people killed in Saturday's devastating quake has risen by almost 250 to 2,189, Haiti's civil protection agency says. (AFP photo)PORT-AU-PRINCE: The death toll from a massive earthquake in Haiti soared past 2,000 on Wednesday as relief workers warned of challenges to aid efforts five days after thousands of people were left homeless. The number of people killed in Saturday's devastating quake has risen by almost 250 to 2,189, the country's civil protection agency said. Even before the powerful earthquake, Haiti, one of the world's poorest countries, was wracked by a mounting Covid-19 crisis and political chaos that culminated last month with the assassination of president Jovenel Moise. Haiti's civil protection agency said Wednesday that at least 332 people are still missing.

Singapore jails Briton for not wearing maskBritish national Benjamin Glynn arrives at the Singapore State Court. He was sentenced to six weeks' jail for not wearing a mask and harassing police. (Photo: Straits Times/AFP)SINGAPORE: A British man was sentenced to six weeks' jail in Singapore for not wearing a mask and harassing police, officials confirmed on Thursday. Benjamin Glynn was arrested after footage of him not wearing a mask on a train in May went viral. In May, nine Britons were banned from working in Singapore after breaking coronavirus rules while partying on a yacht in Santa hats.

Kang Hyo-won, known professionally as Pdogg, is a producer, composer, and lyricist for Big Hit Music who has worked with BTS since the boy band’s debut. (Photo: Big Hit Music via South China Morning Post)HONG KONG: South Korean music producer Pdogg is one of the highest earning individuals in South Korea in 2021 so far, a financial report revealed this week. According to Korean media, Pdogg’s earnings outranked those of Chung Mong-koo, the honorary chairman of South Korean automotive giant Hyundai Motor Group. Hybe was founded as Big Hit Entertainment in 2005, and is one of the fastest growing South Korean companies. On Aug 5, Hybe reported that in the second quarter of 2021 the company’s revenue exceeded 278 billion won, with operating profit surpassing 28 billion won.

Britain's cannabis market booms on Covid demandThe National Health Service warns there is "no guarantee" that products claiming to be medical cannabis and sold in health stores as food supplements are of "good quality or provide any health benefits". (AFP photo)LONDON: Britain's legal cannabis market has boomed during the coronavirus pandemic to become the second biggest after the United States, as consumers rushed to alleviate Covid-linked symptoms, industry experts say. Cannabidiol or CBD, which is most commonly sold as oil at high street retailers, is one of the active ingredients of non-psychoactive cannabis. Britain's Food Standards Agency now regulates the sector and its marketing, after the European Union classified CBD as food in 2019. Britain has experienced a "quiet cannabis revolution" that has transformed it into "the world's second largest consumer cannabinoids market", ACI said.

MPC member: Lower rates won't help virus-hit economy muchAn area outside the Terminal 21 shopping arcade in Asoke is quiet after Bangkok is under lockdown. (Photo: Varuth Hirunyatheb)Interest rates have become less effective managing the flagging economy, with financial measures and fiscal policy currently better tools, a member of the Monetary Policy Committee (MPC) said, playing down the prospect of rate cuts. Strict curbs to contain the Southeast Asian nation's biggest Covid-19 outbreak have battered economic activity and the still struggling tourism sector. "Cutting (the policy rate) to zero from 0.50% or from 0.25% to zero, the benefits are not much as we know it's already low and liquidity is not a problem," he told Reuters. A zero percent rate would also see legal limitations and could overly impact financial institutions, Mr Somchai said.

New Zealand says it has solved Covid outbreak 'puzzle'New Zealand imposed a snap lockdown after a new Covid-19 outbreakWELLINGTON - New Zealand reported a breakthrough Thursday in tracing the source of a Covid-19 outbreak that plunged the nation into lockdown, with Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern saying it should help "stamp out" the virus. Health officials have been trying to determine how an Auckland man contracted the coronavirus this week, ending a six-month run of no community cases in New Zealand. "We believe we have uncovered the piece of the puzzle we were looking for," Ardern told reporters. Neighbouring Australia has been pursuing a similar "Covid zero" strategy, but is struggling to contain outbreaks of the Delta variant. The area is grappling with Australia's first significant outbreak in Aboriginal communities, with specialist military health teams deployed this week to boost sluggish vaccination efforts.

China imposed the sweeping security law on Hong Kong last year to wipe out dissent after the financial hub was rocked by huge and often violent democracy protests. Democracy activist Andy Li, 31, and paralegal Chan Tsz-wah, 30, admitted to a charge of "colluding with foreign forces to endanger China's national security" on Thursday. Authorities have accused Lai, 73, and a network of supporters of breaking the security law by supporting international sanctions against China over its crackdown in Hong Kong. Lai's popular newspaper Apple Daily closed down in June after authorities used the security law to freeze its assets over the content of the tabloid's reporting. Li was one of 12 Hong Kongers who made a failed attempt to flee the city by speedboat for Taiwan last summer.

The tension is immediately apparent in Ma's village in Xishuangbanna, a subtropical prefecture the size of a small country where China's elephant population congregates. Conservationists say a 1988 hunting ban and strict protection of a sprinkling of fragmented elephant reserves has turned things around. - Habitat loss -Communist Party media portrays the 14 wandering elephants -– now pointed homeward after an 18-month odyssey -- as lovable symbols of China's conservation success. But Chinese scientists say growing habitat loss is part of the problem. A Xishuangbanna elephant national park has been proposed by Chinese scientists, but it faces a key obstacle.

Fewer curbs soon, says PMLight traffic on Ratchadamri Road in Bangkok during recent lockdown measures. (Photo: Wichan Charoenkiatpakul)Some Covid-19 curbs may be eased next month if lockdown measures prove effective in slowing infections, Prime Minister Prayut Chan-o-cha said. On several days, the number of patients who have recovered was also more than new infections, the prime minister said. In light of this, Gen Prayut said, the Centre for Covid-19 Situation Administration (CCSA) decided to extend lockdown to the end of this month. However, the prime minister stressed the need for all involved to work together to help reduce the number of new cases and deaths.

301 Covid fatalities, 20,902 casesPeople stand in line for their first dose of Covid-19 vaccine at The Mall Bangkapi shopping centre in Bangkok on Wednesday. (Photo: Varuth Hirunyatheb)There were 301 new Covid-19 fatalities and 20,902 new cases over the past 24 hours, the Public Health Ministry reported on Thursday morning. Since April 1, around when the third wave of Covid-19 began, there have been 960,996 Covid-19 patients, 747,901 of whom have recovered. Since the pandemic started early last year, there have been 989,859 Covid-19 cases, 775,327 of whom recovered. The death toll was at 8,492 the third wave and 8,586 from the beginning of the pandemic early last year.

'Biggest ever' disability rights campaign launched before ParalympicsThe Paralympic Games opens in Tokyo on Aug 24, 2021. The campaign, called WeThe15, aims to "be the biggest ever human rights movement", representing the 15 percent of the world's population estimated by the UN to have a disability. Backed by corporate muscle and bringing together organisations from the worlds of sport, human rights, policy, and arts and entertainment, the launch comes less than a week before the Tokyo Paralympics open on August 24. The campaign aims to emulate other human rights movements such as Black Lives Matter and #MeToo, and comes with a slick visual identity based around the colour purple. The IPC expects billions to watch the Tokyo Paralympics, boosted by free-to-air coverage of the event provided to sub-Saharan African countries.

But he said the a la carte pricing approach is likely to be a hit over time. But some hotel owners and operators say they have little choice but to shake things up. At the same time, hotel owners have increased spending on sanitizing their properties to prevent the spread of disease. Hotels need to recoup those extra costs and losses, said Kerry Ranson, chief executive of HP Hotels, which manages about 30 hotels. The hotel industry has dabbled with a piecemeal-pricing approach before, and some lodging companies continue to do so.