Asean morning news for December 10

Asean morning news for December 10
Advertisement
Online English lessons

Asean morning newsAsean morning news

Compiled by Stella-maris Ewudolu          @stmarisewudolu

 

Southeast Asia faces ‘long list’ of risks in 2019, banks say
The 90-day pause in the trade war agreed between U.S. President Donald Trump and his Chinese counterpart, Xi Jinping, was greeted with relief around the world, but the dispute remains among the biggest risks to Southeast Asia’s economy next year, according to forecasts from banks in Asia, the U.S. and Europe.
— Nikkei Asian Review (paywall)

CIMB hackathon to nurture young Asean digital talent
CIMB Group Holdings Bhd’s inaugural 3D Conquest hackathon is part of the group’s efforts to identify and nurture young digital talent across Asean.
— The Edge Markets

Opinion: BRI offers S China’s Guangxi greater development opportunities
Located in the southern part of the country, China’s Guangxi Zhuang Autonomous Region borders Vietnam and the Beibu Gulf.
— CGTN (media release)

AQRF helps promote gainful employment across ASEAN
SENIOR officer from the Malaysian Qualifications Agency (MQA) Dr Hazman Shah Abdullah, who took part in the recent ASEAN Qualifications Reference Framework (AQRF) meeting at the Radisson Hotel, said participation from ASEAN member states (AMS) should focus more on the referencing reports they prepared, along with the additional steps to be taken for further improvement.
— Borneo Bulletin

Asean middle-class consumers seen to spend more on fashion items
MIDDLE-CLASS consumers in Southeast Asian cities, particularly Jakarta, Kuala Lumpur and Bangkok, are ready to spend more money on fashion items over the next two years, presenting business opportunities for exporters and retailers.
— Business Mirror

What is the state of democracy in Asia?
Asia has made strong headways in advancing democracy but still there is a long way to go in some countries.
— Inquirer.net/ Asia News Network

Asean cities to ‘get smart’
Thailand to lead smart-city project, with Bangkok, Phuket and Chon Buri featuring prominently in cross-border partnership.
— Borneo Bulletin

Towards an energy efficient ASEAN
In tandem with a renewable energy policy, energy efficiency will be key to building a reliable and sustainable energy system for the future of Southeast Asia.
— The Asean Post

Bridging the digital divide
As an economic bloc, ASEAN is the fifth largest economy in the world.
— The Asean Post

Cambodia morning newsCambodia morning news

Compiled by Sreypov Men          @MenSreypov

 

Cambodia’s ambitious tourism plans
Last week, Cambodian Prime Minister Hun Sen claimed that the number of tourists visiting Cambodia had increased substantially over the years and now the country is expecting 12 million tourists by 2025.
— The Asean Post

Cambodian Authorities Move to Amend Laws in Effort to Protect Forests
Widespread illegal logging in Cambodia’s forests is making the government reevaluate existing laws intended to protect the country’s natural resources.
— Radio Free Asia

Cambodian Court’s Appeals Review a ‘Ploy’ to Weaken Political Opposition
Cambodia’s Supreme Court began on Wednesday to hear an appeal against the 2017 conviction in a defamation case brought against CNRP leader Sam Rainsy, now living in exile outside Cambodia, with observers calling the move a ploy by the ruling party to divide its opposition.
— Radio Free Asia

See here for more of today’s Cambodia morning news

 

Indonesia morning newsIndonesia morning news

Compiled by Stella-maris Ewudolu          @stmarisewudolu

 

$200mln from ADB to develop Indonesian higher education & skills
The Asian Development Bank (ADB) has approved a $200 million loan to upgrade four higher education institutions in Indonesia and improve the technical and vocational training programmes that will help youth obtain the job skills needed in the evolving global economy.
— AEC News Today

Four killed, over 200 displaced as floods, landslides hit Indonesia’s East Java
Four people were killed and as many as 236 villagers were forced to flee home as landslides and floods struck East Java
— The Nation

Indonesia backflips on plans to relax some foreign investment caps
Indonesia has nixed part of a recent plan to ease foreign ownership in a bid to protect its domestic small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs),
— AEC News Today

See here for more of today’s Indonesia morning news

 

Lao PDR morning newsLao PDR morning news

Compiled by Mark Roy         @electricnerve

 

Gov’t Approves Additional 500 Billion Kip For Rehabilitating Agro Sector Next Year
The government has approved additional 500 billion kip as emergency aid for 2019 for rehabilitating agro infrastructure damaged by recent floods, procuring agricultural inputs including rice seeds, fertilizers, and as a compensation for damages caused by recent insect infestation, mostly in northern provinces.
— KPL

NA members urge stricter measures to manage currency exchange
Individuals and legal entities who do not run a financial institution should not be permitted to operate currency exchange businesses as their operation has affected the value of the national currency.
— Vientiane Times

Thailand, Laos agree on border security
Thailand and Laos have agreed to strengthen cooperation on drug prevention and suppression to promote peace and cooperation in the border regions of the two countries.
— NBT World (video)

See here for more of today’s Lao morning news

Malaysia morning newsMalaysia morning news

Compiled by Sreypov Men          @MenSreypov

 

Malaysia to cut oil output by 15,000 barrels per day, says Azmin
Malaysia will reduce its total oil output by 15,000 barrels per day (bpd) in line with the proposal by the oil-producing countries to support oil prices, Economic Affairs Minister Datuk Seri Mohamed Azmin Ali said on Sunday.
— The Star Online

Blowback: Malaysia manufacturers respond to ‘soda tax’ with price rise (video)
While Singapore considers whether to place a tax or even an outright ban on sugary drinks, Malaysia is taking action. Faced with Asia’s highest rates of diabetes and obesity the Malaysian government will implement a sugar tax on sweet beverages effective April 1, 2019.
— AEC News Today

Malaysian Authorities Charge Financier Jho Low, 4 Others in 1MDB Probe
Malaysian police said Wednesday they were looking to extradite fugitive financier Jho Low and four other suspects, including former 1MDB employees, after a court filed fresh charges against them over the alleged misappropriation of billions of dollars from the state fund.
— Benar News

See here for more of today’s Malaysia Morning News

 

Myanmar morning newsMyanmar morning news

Compiled by Mark Roy         @electricnerve

 

Ethnic Army Clashes With Myanmar Forces, Leaving Casualties on Both Sides in Myanmar’s Rakhine
Myanmar troops clashed with Arakan Army soldiers in remote parts of northern Rakhine state’s Buthidaung and Rathaedaung townships, leaving casualties on both sides during fighting this week, the military-owned news service Myawady reported on Friday
— Radio Free Asia

Twitter CEO Jack Dorsey criticised for ‘tone deaf’ Myanmar tweets
Twitter’s chief executive has been criticised for promoting Myanmar as a tourist destination despite widespread allegations of human rights abuses in the country.
— BBC News

Myanmar court jails anti-war protesters for defaming military
A Myanmar court jailed three activists on Friday for defaming the military during anti-war protests, amid growing concern about a clamp-down on civil society.
— Reuters

See here for more of today’s Myanmar morning news

 

Philippines morning newsPhilippines morning news

Compiled by Stella-maris Ewudolu          @stmarisewudolu

 

External debt service up 10.46%
The country’s external debt service burden increased by 10.46 percent year-on-year to $5.238 billion as of end-August from $4.742 billion same time in 2017, according to data from the Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas (BSP).
— Manila Bulletin

DA to back Fisheries Expo with P400M in loans
FISHERMEN representing 100 communities nationwide are expected to purchase machinery and equipment at the World Trade Center, supported by P400 million worth of loans from the Department of Agriculture (DA).
— BusinessWorld Online

Coast Guard exec indicted for P689-million mess
The Court of Appeals has upheld the resolution of the Office of the Ombudsman recommending the indictment of a ranking official of the Philippine Coast Guard for illegal cash advances amounting to P689.6 million.
— Manilastandard.net

See here for more of today’s Philippines morning news

Singapore morning newsSingapore morning news

Compiled by Mark Roy         @electricnerve

 

Intrusions by Malaysian govt vessels a ‘violation of Singapore’s sovereignty’: Heng Swee Keat
In his first comments on the maritime dispute between Singapore and Malaysia, Finance Minister Heng Swee Keat said that intrusions by Malaysian vessels into Singapore territorial waters are a violation of Singapore’s sovereignty and international law.
— Channel News Asia

Noble’s Ignoble End Leaves a Stain on Singapore
The looming insolvency of the once-mighty commodities trader is a cautionary lesson to the city-state’s exchange not to drop its standards.
— Bloomberg

100% local bus a milestone for Singapore industry
Bus manufacturer SC Auto revved up the local automotive industry when it launched the first fully designed and built bus in Singapore yesterday.
— The Straits Times

See here for more of today’s Singapore morning news

 

Thailand morning newsThailand morning news

Compiled by John Le Fevre          @photo_journ

 

Pheu Thai party cries foul over reported omission of party logos from poll ballots
The Pheu Thai party has cried foul over what its spokesman described as an “election tragedy” a proposal reportedly from Prime Minister Prayut Chan-o-cha that the election ballots will show only the names and numbers of candidates without party logos.
— Thai PBS World

EC downplays furore over ballot papers
The Election Commission (EC) has said it will gather opinions on the format of the ballot paper for the Feb 24 general election from all stakeholders before finalising the design this week.
— Bangkok Post

Power plan ‘a setback for sustainable energy’
ENVIRONMENTAL watchdog Greenpeace has called Thailand’s Power Development Plan 2018 (PDP) “sugar-coated” despite its embrace of more renewable energy, saying it still hinders efforts to reduce greenhouse-gas emissions.
— The Nation

See here for more of today’s Thailand morning news

 

Vietnam morning newsVietnam morning news

Compiled by Sreypov Men          @MenSreypov

 

Vietnam’s rising healthcare spending is inevitable trend
A report from the World Bank warned that aging will likely hit Vietnam with full force within a very short time span. This transition would come in a mere 15 years and be completed well before the 2040s.
— Hanoi Times

VinTech to invest $4.5 million in decoding Vietnamese genome
The VinTech technology development company’s big data research institute announced on December 6 that it will start a 4.5-million-USD project on building Vietnamese genome data next year.
— Vietnam Insider

PM orders measures to put an end to free emigration by 2025
Prime Minister Nguyen Xuan Phuc has reiterated his viewpoint of not encouraging free emigration and ordered legal, harmonious, flexible and comprehensive measures to address the issue.
— Vietnam+

See here for more of today’s Vietnam morning news

 

The Asean morning news roundup and its individual country morning news round-ups are the most comprehensive hand-curated selection of news reports from around the Asean Economic Community (AEC) published. We scour hundreds of local and international news and websites to find the things that you need to know to start your working week day.

We clearly identify the source of the story, whether it is behind a paywall, a media release, or whether the site uses annoying pop-up advertising or auto-play video, in case those things annoy you. It’s all then packaged up in an easy to read format enabling you to make an informed choice of whether you want to learn more by clicking directly through to the original source, or keep on reading the headlines. AEC News Today: Governance, not government; policies not politics.

 

Support independent media by sharing using these tools. Do not steal our content

Make a comment

Your email address will not be published.