Asean Morning News
Compiled by Kongleaphy Keam @kongleaphy1
India, Japan, Australia assert Asean’s centrality in Indo-Pacific
India, Australia and Japan on Wednesday underscored their support for the Asean bloc’s centrality in the political and security architecture of the Indo-Pacific region, amid China’s growing assertiveness in the South China Sea and rising influence in the strategic Indo-Pacific region.
— Business Standard
Mekong Disaster Drills Highlight US-ASEAN Subregional Cooperation
Disaster response drills put the spotlight on the subregional component of U.S. ties with the region.
— The Diplomat
ASEAN-6 Countries To Reach 483 Million Internet Users By 2020
In total, the ASEAN-6 countries will have approximately 483 million internet users by 2020. The same report also forecast the combined size of online retail market in the ASEAN-6 to grow to US$88 billion by 2025, up more than 15-fold from US$5.5 billion in 2015.
— Thailand Business News
ASEAN focuses on education for kids with disabilities
The Government always accords top priority to the protection and care of children with disabilities, and looks to create the best conditions in education for them to integrate well into the society, a senior official said Wednesday.
— Vietnam News
Vietnam leads in salary increases in ASEAN
While salary increases in regional countries stand at around 16 per cent, in Vietnam the figure ranges from 20-24 per cent, according to a recent survey released by job portal Jobstreet.com, powered by Jora.
— Vietnam Net
Chinese diaspora serves as link to ASEAN
Singapore’s Channel NewsAsia recently aired a documentary titled Bridging Giants, which recounts the development of China’s cooperation with Southeast Asian nations.
— Global Times
India in talks with Asean to extend IMT highway up to Vietnam
Following Union Minister Nitin Gadkari’s statement that India was focused toward increasing connectivity in South East Asia, Ministry of Road Transport and Highways officials stated on Tuesday that the government is in talks with Asean countries to extend the India-Myanmar-Thailand highway up to Vietnam.
— Indian Express
Asean heads to come for Republic Day parade: Pradhan
The government is in talks with Indonesia for partnering in the oil refining and liquefied natural gas (LNG) segments, petroleum minister Dharmendra Pradhan said, as part of a plan to get involved with the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (Asean) in the hydrocarbon sector.
— Business Standard
How Asean can draw on its diversity to grow stronger
One morning in Bangkok, I was queueing outside the Myanmar embassy and couldn’t help but overhear the conversation between two migrant workers. Crouching closely and holding on to their Myanmar passports, they struggled to understand each other – until they started speaking in Thai.
— The Straits Times
PHILIPPINE MISSION TO ASEAN HOLDS EVENT ENTITLED ‘WOMEN’S HEALTH: ART AS THERAPY’
The Permanent Mission of the Philippines to ASEAN held a Gender and Development (GAD) event and ASEAN Women’s Circle (AWC) coffee morning with the theme Women’s Health: Art as Therapy in Jakarta on December 08.
— Department of Foreign Affairs
China urges utilisation of LMC scheme for boost to agriculture sector
CHINA sees an imbalance in the agriculture development among the six countries in the Mekong basin and would push for utilisation of the Lancang-Mekong Cooperation (LMC) scheme to unlock its potential, a Chinese senior official said.
— The Nation
Cambodia Morning News
Compiled by Sreypov Men @MenSreypov
US Lawmakers Call For Sanctions List, Review of Trade With Cambodia Amid Crackdown
The Committee on Foreign Affairs for the U.S. House of Representatives has called for a list of individuals and businesses in Cambodia who should be subject to sanctions and plans to review trade agreements with the country as part of a bid to pressure its government to reverse restrictions on democracy ahead of a general election next year.
— Radio Free Asia
NEC Reacts to EU Suspending the Support for Elections
The National Election Committee (NEC) issued a statement today in response to the EU statement on Tuesday decided to cut the aid for Cambodian elections.
— Fresh News
Cambodia, Vietnam to Suffer Most from Mekong Damming
The drastic reduction in sediment flow in the Mekong River is threatening the stability of the delta and the livelihoods of millions of people who depend on its resources says a new study by the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (Unesco) and the Stockholm Environment Institute (SEI).
— AEC News Today
See here for more of today’s Cambodia Morning News
Indonesia Morning News
Compiled by Sreypov Men @MenSreypov
Indonesia official says Boeing should set up shop in country
American aircraft maker Boeing should set up operations in Indonesia, given that it gets a lot of business from the country, a senior official has said.
— The Straits Times
BCA and Indonesia AirAsia X Sign Deal to Ease Ticket Purchases
Bank Central Asia, the country’s largest lender by market capitalization, signed a partnership agreement with the local unit of Malaysian long-haul budget carrier Indonesia AirAsia X in a bid to boost the lender’s digital services.
— JakartaGlobe
Indonesia’s Motorbike Sales Down 3.6 Percent in November
Motorcycle sales in Indonesia fell 3.6 percent in November from a year earlier, data from an industry association showed on Wednesday (13/12).
— JakartaGlobe
See here for more of today’s Indonesia Morning News
Lao PDR Morning News
Compiled by Leakhena Khat @leakhenakhat
1st China-Laos railway tunnel holing through
Ban Somsanook No. 2 Tunnel, the first tunnel along the China-Laos railway has been bored through in Laos’ Vientiane Province with the length of 301 meters.
— Xin Hua Net
Unexploded ordnance remains threat to Borikhamxay villagers
Unexploded ordnance (UXO) is still affecting a total 121 villages throughout Borikhamxay province, continuing to pose an everyday hidden danger to local people.
— Vientiane Times
You’re Really *Not* Having a Bad Day (video)
If you think you’re having a bad day spare a thought for the unfortunate fellow in the video above. Thought to show members of a Hmong hill tribe somewhere in Lao PDR, the video dramatically illustrates the almost crippling effects a pair of sharp pointed claws can have when seizing a man by his man bits.
— AEC News Today
See here for more of today’s Lao Morning News
Malaysia Morning News
Compiled by Kongleaphy Keam @kongleaphy1
Malaysian party calls for boycott of products linked to Israel over Jerusalem issue
A Malaysian party said on Wednesday (Dec 13) it will launch a campaign to urge businesses and the public to boycott products with links to Israel, in light of the United States’ recognition of Jerusalem as Israel’s capital.
— Channel News Asia
Zimbabwe seizes $500,000 worth of ivory on way to Malaysia
Zimbabwe’s parks agency says it has seized 200 kilograms (440 pounds) of ivory destined for Malaysia.
— The Washington Post
Malaysia’s long-term potential growth to stay robust
Malaysia will be able to maintain its strong growth trend with the economy’s long-term potential growth to stay robust at around 5%, significantly stronger than most other A-rated sovereigns, says Moody’s Investors Service.
— The Star Online
See here for more of today’s Malaysia Morning News
Myanmar Morning News
Compiled by Kongleaphy Keam @kongleaphy1
Aung San Suu Kyi has Freedom of Dublin award revoked
Dublin councillors have voted to revoke an award given to Myanmar leader Aung San Suu Kyi to protest her handling of violence against Rohingya Muslims in her country, Irish media reported.
— The Guardian
Myanmar to introduce new companies Law next year
Myanmar authorities will introduce a new Companies Law from Aug. 1 next year, U Aung Naing Oo, director-general of the Directorate of Investment and Company Administration (DICA) told a press briefing Wednesday.
— Xinhua Net
Myanmar Police Arrest Two Journalists For Allegedly Violating State Secrets Law
Myanmar police have arrested two domestic journalists working for Reuters news agency for violating the state secrets law by allegedly illegally possessing government documents, the government and a relative of one of the men said Wednesday.
— Radio Free Asia
See here for more of today’s Myanmar Morning News
Philippines Morning News
Compiled by Leakhena Khat @leakhenakhat
Congress okays 1-year martial law extension; Lawmakers vote 240-27 in joint session
CONGRESS yesterday granted President Duterte’s request to extend martial law (ML) in Mindanao for a year because of the continuing terror threats posed by ISIS-inspired groups and communist the New People’s Army which was recently declared a terrorist group.
— Malaya
PHL seen sustaining 6.7% GDP growth for the year
The Asian Development Bank (ADB) raised its forecast for the Philippines’s GDP expansion this year to 6.7 percent, although Socioeconomic Planning Secretary Ernesto M. Pernia said this is just “the minimum” growth the government is now expecting given the economy’s performance thus far.
— BusinessMirror
More Filipinos see better life, economy in 2018 – SWS
More Filipinos are optimistic that their personal quality of life and the economy will get better in 2018, the Social Weather Stations (SWS) said in its latest survey.
— Philstar
See here for more of today’s Philippines Morning News
Singapore Morning News
Compiled by Leakhena Khat @leakhenakhat
Singapore defence ministry to invite 300 hackers to test its cyber defences
International and local hackers will try to locate vulnerabilities in its Internet-linked systems.
— The Nation
Singapore’s 2017 growth forecast upgraded to 3.3%: MAS survey
Singapore’s economic growth this year is expected to come in at 3.3 per cent, according to private-sector economists polled in a quarterly survey by the Monetary Authority of Singapore (MAS) released on Wednesday (Dec 13).
— Channel NewsAsia
What’s in the New Singapore-Philippines Urban Warfare Terror Training?
The interaction is an example of indigenous capacity-building initiatives underway on the counterterrorism front.
— The Diplomat (paywall)
See here for more of today’s Singapore Morning News
Thailand Morning News
Compiled by John Le Fevre @photo_journ
ADB, Escap raise GDP outlook
Asian Development Bank (ADB) yesterday hiked its forecast for Thai GDP growth to 3.8% this year and next, while the UN Economic and Social Commission for Asia and the Pacific (Escap) upgraded its 2017 estimate to 3.5% and raised its 2018 view to 3.4%.
— Bangkok Post
Cabinet approves 1.68 billion baht for reduction of off season rice fields
The Cabinet has approved a new budget to help the country reduce the expanse of land dedicated to off-season rice growing.///
— News Today (video)
Fisheries Department introduces online port entry request platform
The Department of Fisheries (DOF) has introduced an online system for vessel operators to communicate with port authorities, allowing Thailand to effectively monitor maritime activities nationwide.
— News Today (video)
See here for more of today’s Thailand Morning News
Vietnam Morning News
Compiled by Sreypov Men @MenSreypov
E-visa programme proves huge success
The trial use of online visas for the last 10 months has been deemed a success, with the number of visitors applying increasing month by month, the Department of Immigration said yesterday.
— Viet Nam News
Ho Chi Minh City gives Uber 10 day ultimatum to pay back taxes
The tax department of Ho Chi Minh City has given Uber an ultimatum to pay VND66.68 billion (US$2.95 million) in back taxes in the next ten days after the company has failed to comply with earlier requests.
— Tuoi Tre
Businesses ask PM for transparency, fewer rules
Prime Minister Nguyen Xuan Phuc pledged the Government would continue to improve the business climate for the private sector to thrive, stressing their critical role in national growth.
— Bizhub
See here for more of today’s Vietnam Morning News
Asean Morning News is the most comprehensive selection of reports on what you need to know from around the Asean Economic Community (AEC) published. All articles are hand curated by the team at AEC News Today. It is published M-F by AEC News Today: Governance, not government; policies not politics.