Asean Morning News
Compiled by Kongleaphy Keam @kongleaphy1
South China Sea Harmony: Beijing’s For The Taking
The Philippines is on the front line of China’s entry into a strategic theatre in Asia that has been dominated by the United States since World War II. Its experience of China’s rise is a sometimes fraught daily reality.
—AEC News Today
Myanmar’s Suu Kyi now benefits from Southeast Asia’s silence
When Aung San Suu Kyi led the fight for democracy against Myanmar’s military rulers two decades ago, she bristled at the reluctance of Southeast Asian governments to intervene in her nation’s plight.
— The Republic
Asean to discuss Rohingya crisis, South China Sea
Manila summit expected to see Myanmar and south china sea take centre stage as national leaders urge restraint.
— The Nation
ASEAN leaders likely to debate Rohingya,skip South China Sea
The Southeast Asian leaders during their summit meeting here on Monday could skip major deliberations of South China Sea dispute, but are expected to raise the Rohingya refugee crisis that hit its member nation Myanmar in a big way.
— United News of India
ASEAN to discuss next month admitting East Timor as new member
The Association of Southeast Asian Nations will convene a meeting of senior officials next month to discuss admitting East Timor as a member, ASEAN officials said Sunday
— Nikkei Asian Review
Asean businessmen to talk infra
World leaders and the industry captains in member-states of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations will discuss key economic issues, such as the Duterte administration’s infrastructure program and the state of entrepreneurship in the Philippines on Monday.
— Business Mirror
Asean execs to decide on mega trade deal
Asean Economic Ministers (AEM) are expected to announce this week whether or not they have reached a substantial conclusion of the Regional Comprehensive Economic Partnership (RCEP), a mega trade deal among countries that account for around 30 percent of the global economy.
— Philippine Daily Inquirer
In a nutshell: Issues up for discussion at 31st ASEAN Summit
The many issues confronting the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) are complex and difficult to capture in their entirety.
— Rappler
It’s a small world after all: The case for Asean banking integration
With the ongoing 31st Asean summit in Manila, it would be timely to share some thoughts on the importance of the Asean integration, particularly in the area of banking and finance.
— Business Mirror
Hong Kong’s Asean deals are ‘loud and clear’ vote against rising regional trade protectionism
Secretary for Commerce and Economic Development Edward Yau Tang-wah, representing Hong Kong at the talks, called the agreement a “loud and clear” vote against rising regional trade protectionism.
— South China Morning Post
Justin Trudeau Attends East Asia Summit And ASEAN Hoping To Bolster Asia-Pacific Ties
Justin Trudeau landed in the Philippines on Sunday with the goal of raising Canada’s profile in the Asia-Pacific region, especially on security issues and trade.
— HuffPost
Cambodia Morning News
Compiled by Sreypov Men @MenSreypov
Cambodia’s Hun Sen Dismisses Threats of US Sanctions, Need For International Recognition
Cambodia’s Prime Minister Hun Sen on Friday dismissed threats of sanctions by U.S. Senator Ted Cruz over the jailing of opposition leader Kem Sokha on charges of treason, saying American laws cannot be applied to his country and rejecting the need for international recognition of elections set for 2018.
— Radio Free Asia
Cambodian Netizens Face New Risks as Government Tightens Online Controls
In Cambodia, one of Asia’s poorest countries, the rapid improvement in internet connectivity and availability of affordable smartphones has been a great leveler.
— VOA
Cambodia, China sign deal on e-commerce cooperation
Cambodia and China signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) on e-commerce cooperation here on Friday, with the aim of assisting Cambodia to develop its online business operations.
— Xinhua
See here for more of today’s Cambodia Morning News
Indonesia Morning News
Compiled by Sreypov Men @MenSreypov
Jokowi Touches on Digital Economy During APEC Summit
President Joko ‘Jokowi’ Widodo brought up the issue of digital economy in the first session of the 25th APEC Economic Leaders Meeting in Da Nang on Saturday (11/11).
— Tempo
CPO Price Rises to US$ 724.9 as Domestic Stock Dwindles
Indonesian Palm Oil Producers Association (Gapki) Secretary General Togar Sitanggang stated that the dwindling domestic stock of palm oil (CPO) indirectly caused an increase in the global price of the commodity.
— Tempo
Indonesia has potential to become leading coffee exporter: expert
An expert on renewable energy, Associate Professor Maizirwan Mel from International Islamic University Malaysia said Indonesia had the chance to become a world coffee exporter, because its geographical condition was suited to coffee plantations.
— Antara
See here for more of today’s Indonesia Morning News
Lao PDR Morning News
Compiled by Leakhena Khat @leakhenakhat
Laos working hard to rise above LDC status
Laos may achieve some of the criteria required for graduation from Least Developed Country (LDC) status next year, but the government faces many challenges in its development efforts.
— Vientiane Times
President highlights connectivity as vital for international cooperation
President Bounnhang Vorachit highlighted the need for stronger regional and international connectivity while attending the APEC 2017 Economic Leaders’ Meeting which ended in Danang, Vietnam, on Saturday.
— Vientiane Times
President Xi Jinping to arrive in Vientiane today
Chinese President Xi Jinping arrives in Vientiane today on a state visit to Laos from November 13-14.
The two-day state visit by President Xi and his delegation is in response to an invitation from Lao President Bounnhang Vorachit.
— Vientiane Times
See here for more of today’s Lao Morning News
Malaysia Morning News
Compiled by Kongleaphy Keam @kongleaphy1
Malaysia’s 14th general election will take place within next 180 days: DPM Zahid
Malaysia’s Deputy Prime Minister Ahmad Zahid Hamidi has announced that the general election will take place within the next 180 days, reported Malaysian Insight website.
— The Straits Times (paywall)
Malaysia’s largest power plant project to begin operations in 2021
Malaysia’s largest combined cycle gas turbine power plant in Alor Gajah, Melaka is expected to begin operations in 2021.
— Malay Mail Online
Malaysia firm gets first right over gov’t hub in Clark
Malaysia-based investment holding company MTD Capital Berhad has been given the original proponent status (OPS) for a P12.7-billion development of a portion of the highly anticipated New Clark City.
— Inquirer
See here for more of today’s Malaysia Morning News
Myanmar Morning News
Compiled by Kongleaphy Keam @kongleaphy1
After Hearing Accounts of Sexual Violence, UN Official to Bring Rohingya Case to ICC
Survivors who fled Myanmar told UN representative Pramila Patten about their experiences with “gang-rape by multiple soldiers, forced public nudity and humiliation, and sexual slavery in military captivity”
— Common Dreams
Accounts of rape, burning children and murder
Discarded and left for dead, Mumtaz says she found herself on top of a mound of charred, entangled bodies.
— CNN (video)
UN chief’s special envoy calls for Myanmar military’s punishment for raping Rohingya women
The UN Secretary-General’s special representative on sexual violence in conflict has said that the Myanmar armed forces must be held to account for the alleged sexual violence against civilians in Rakhine State
— BDNews24
See here for more of today’s Myanmar Morning News
Philippines Morning News
Compiled by Leakhena Khat @leakhenakhat
South China Sea Harmony: Beijing’s For The Taking
The Philippines is on the front line of China’s entry into a strategic theatre in Asia that has been dominated by the United States since World War II. Its experience of China’s rise is a sometimes fraught daily reality.
— AEC News Today
Trump to ‘re-energize’ Philippines-US partnership
The United States seeks to re-energize its relationship with the Philippines during President Donald Trump’s visit here for the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) and East Asia summits this week even as it plans to discuss counterterrorism, the war on drugs and the South China Sea issue.
— Philstar
Xi to Rody on South China Sea military buildup: It’s nothing
Chinese President Xi Jinping has downplayed Beijing’s buildup in the South China Sea and has dismissed the possibility of war breaking out over the maritime dispute, President Duterte said yesterday.
— Philstar
See here for more of today’s Philippines Morning News
Singapore Morning News
Compiled by Leakhena Khat @leakhenakhat
Singapore’s draft Cybersecurity Bill tweaked to include public feedback
The public consultation for the draft Cybersecurity Bill has closed, and attracted a more-than-expected 92 submissions from a “wide and diverse range of stakeholder groups”, according to the Ministry of Communications and Information (MCI) and the Cyber Security Agency of Singapore (CSA).
— Channel NewsAsia
Singapore to officially take over chairmanship at 31st ASEAN summit
The three-day ASEAN summit taking place in the Philippines from Sunday (Nov 12) will culminate in Singapore taking over chairmanship of the regional bloc.
— Channel NewsAsia
HOW MANY SINGAPORE MRT BOSSES DOES IT TAKE TO FIX A BROKEN CULTURE?
Like the dreaded vote of confidence handed down to an embattled football club manager just before a sacking, Desmond Kuek, the under-fire chief executive of Singapore’s metro operator SMRT, received uncannily reassuring words from his boss this week.
— South China Morning Post
See here for more of today’s Singapore Morning News
Thailand Morning News
Compiled by John Le Fevre @photo_journ
Government says more confidence in Thailand’s forecast 4% economic growth next year
The government has forecast that the Thai economy will grow by four percent next year, with the latest economic confidence index continuing to rise.
— News Today (HD video)
You Had One Job: Thailand Road Crash Rescue Fail (HD video)
Straight out of the pages of the ‘You Had One Job’ book is the video above, recorded last Wednesday (November 8) evening on the Bangna-Trad road (Debaratana Road), in Samut Prakan Province, just outside of Bangkok.
—AEC News Today
Head Kicking Monk The Latest Thailand Buddhism Embarrassment (video)
Video’s, photos, and stories of Buddhist monks behaving badly in Thailand are nothing new. Reports of everything from drug-fuelled parties to sex with underage boys and girls are so routine that it barely raises an eyebrow among expats, while the majority of Thais try to pretend that there is nothing amiss with Buddhism in the ‘land of smiles’.
—AEC News Today
See here for more of today’s Thailand Morning News
Vietnam Morning News
Compiled by Sreypov Men @MenSreypov
Transparent policies needed to draw foreign capital
According to the State Securities Commission (SSC), the local market is valued at US$124 billion and has been among the seven fastest-growing in the world in the past two years.
— VietnamNet Bridge
Vietnam, US firms sign MoUs during Trump’s visit
Vietnamese and US companies on Sunday signed memorandums of understanding on gas development, automobiles, as well as aircraft engine purchase and support during US President Donald Trump’s visit to Vietnam.
— Bangkok Post
Electricity prices to rise by lowest level
Deputy Prime Minister Vuong Dinh Hue has asked the Ministry of Industry and Trade (MoIT) to quickly complete its plan to raise electricity prices by the lowest level.
— Vietnam Economic Times
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.