Asean morning news
Compiled by Stella-maris Ewudolu @stmarisewudolu
Trade war: Focus turns to Thailand to conclude $7 trln RCEP
Six years in the making, the Regional Comprehensive Economic Partnership (RCEP) is slated to transform the region into an Asean-centric, comprehensive free trade area, poised to make a large contribution to Asian and global economic cooperation.
— AEC News Today
Vietnam, Laos, Cambodia boost anti-drug cooperation
The 17th trilateral-bilateral ministerial meeting on drug control cooperation between Vietnam, Laos, and Cambodia took place in Vientiane on December 6.
— Vietnam Plus
PHL logistics costliest among 4 Asean nations
THE Philippines has the most expensive logistics cost among four Southeast Asian competitors, mostly caused by the country’s archipelagic feature and reliability issues on the industry.
— Business Mirror
ASEAN to open markets for regional startups
Member countries of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) are expected to open their markets for startup companies from the region, especially unicorn startups, to boost development of the regional digital economy.
— Antara News
Singapore to offer grants for Southeast Asian co-production
Singapore Film Commission (SFC) is planning to introduce a new grant for co-production within Southeast Asia, which will offer $183,000 (S$250,000) per film project.
— Screen Daily
Asean-EU Air Transport Deal Near Completion
The Association of Southeast Asian Nations (Asean) and the European Union are close to finalizing a Comprehensive Air Transport Agreement (CATA) between the two blocs, following an eighth round of negotiations in Salzburg, Austria.
— AIN Online
Meeting outcomes aim to promote ‘green jobs’
The 25th Asean Labour Ministers’ Meeting (ALMM) and its related meetings/conference, which concluded on November 29, have adopted three outcome documents which were released to the media late on Tuesday.
— The Phnom Penh Post
Socio-economic benefits of energy transition
As thousands of national, sectoral, business and community leaders gathered in Katowice, Poland, for the 24th Conference of the Parties (COP24) to the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC), the focus heightened again on the issue of decarbonising the energy system.
— The Asean Post
Japan’s Sansan raises $26.5M to help Southeast Asia get more from business cards
The humble business card is a target for disruption in Southeast Asia after Japanese contacts management startup Sansan raised JPY 3 billion ($26.5 million) to expand its business into the region.
— TechCrunch
Chinese billet market rebound fails to deter trading lull in Southeast Asia
Import prices for steel billet in Southeast Asia were unchanged on Thursday December 6, with the uptick in domestic Chinese billet prices early this week failing to revive trading activity in the region.
— Fastmarkets MB
Reimagining Southeast Asia 2018: A recap
Last week, The ASEAN Post held its inaugural forum, titled Reimagining Southeast Asia 2018.
— The Asean Post
Property: Best condo developments in Southeast Asia
BUYING real estate is one of the most common and reliable ways to invest your money, whether it’s your first home or purely an investment property.
— Asian Correspondent
Southeast Asia places more Japanese bread in its basket
Japanese businesses look to feed the growing hunger for baked goods in Southeast Asia, where the style of soft and spongy bread made in Japan is winning a bigger helping of followers.
— Nikkei Asian Review (paywall)
Cambodia morning news
Compiled by Sreypov Men @MenSreypov
EU companies voice concern over impact of possible EBA withdrawal
European companies operating in Cambodia voiced concern over the potential repercussions of removing the Kingdom’s Everything But Arms (EBA) preferential scheme, as the EU Ambassador to Cambodia, George Edgar, led an EU-organised media trip this week.
— The Phnom Penh Post
Taiwan protests after nationals arrested in Cambodia sent to China
Taiwan’s government on Thursday strongly protested Cambodia’s decision to deport 46 Republic of China (Taiwan) citizens, arrested last month for their alleged involvement in telecommunications fraud, to China earlier that day.
— Focus Taiwan
Kem Sokha’s daughters slam ‘liar’ Sam Rainsy over ‘smears’
The daughters of former opposition leader Kem Sokha hit out at Sam Rainsy on Tuesday, accusing the newly nominated “acting president” of the Cambodia National Rescue Party (CNRP) of leading a “smear campaign” against their father
— The Phnom Penh Post
See here for more of today’s Cambodia morning news
Indonesia morning news
Compiled by Stella-maris Ewudolu @stmarisewudolu
Indonesia to inject $357 mln into state health insurer
Indonesia will inject more capital into cash-strapped state health insurer BPJS Kesehatan this month, a senior finance ministry official said on Thursday, although questions remain on how to ensure the firm no longer operates at a loss.
— Reuters
16 bodies found after attack in Indonesia’s Papua
Indonesian security forces have retrieved the bodies of 16 people in the aftermath of a massacre by suspected separatist rebels in restive Papua province, the military said Thursday.
— New Straits Times
News Focus – Indonesia`s economy continues to face uncertainties in 2019
Indonesia`s economic growth will continue to be affected by uncertain global economic conditions, so it would be difficult for the country to achieve a growth of 5.
— Antara News
See here for more of today’s Indonesia morning news
Lao PDR morning news
Compiled by Mark Roy @electricnerve
Laos to export over 14,000 MW of electricity by 2030
Laos’ electricity exports will hit 14,600 MW by 2030. At present, Laos is exporting 4,415 MW to five neighboring countries.
— China Economic Net
Nation’s visitor shortfall put down to multiple causes
Annual visitor arrivals are expected to reach just 4 million, well short of the government’s target of around 5 million to mark its Visit Laos Year 2018, a minister has told the National Assembly.
— Vientiane Times
Lao parliament approves government reshuffle
The ongoing Lao National Assembly (NA) session has approved a reshuffle and appointments in public security, national defence and the banking sectors.
— Xinhua
See here for more of today’s Lao morning news
Malaysia morning news
Compiled by Sreypov Men @MenSreypov
Murky: Najib Razak, 1MDB, 100 grand, a couple of feuding prince’s & a dead journalist
Early this week a sizzling string of emails led investigative journalists to uncover the explosive link between conspirators in the 1Malaysia Development Berhad (1MDB) financial scandal, former Malaysian prime minister Najib Razak, and feuding royal families under Saudi crown prince Mohammed Bin Salman. That link: murdered Saudi dissident and journalist Jamal Khashoggi.
— AEC News Today
Bank Negara states digital assets not legal tender in Malaysia
Bank Negara Malaysia reiterates digital assets are not legal tender in Malaysia and advised the public to carefully evaluate the risks associated with dealings in these assets.
— The Star Online
Exports of made-in-Malaysia medical devices to cross RM23b in 2019
The Association of Malaysian Medical Industries (AMMI) is projecting exports of medical devices from Malaysia to record a year-on-year growth of eight percent and cross RM23 billion in 2019.
— Malaysiakini
See here for more of today’s Malaysia Morning News
Myanmar morning news
Compiled by Mark Roy @electricnerve
Myanmar moves to legalise casinos
Some casinos already operate under special provisions but changes to law proposed to encourage more tourism and revenue. A Chinese company is now working with a militia to help it develop a large border region in the southeast.
— Al Jazeera
Bangladesh seeks action against Myanmar minister over Rohingya ‘brainwashed’ remark
Bangladesh summoned the Myanmar ambassador on Wednesday (Dec 6) to condemn “irresponsible remarks” made by Myanmar’s religion minister about Rohingya Muslims, and called for action against him, senior officials at the Bangladesh foreign ministry said.
— Channel News Asia
Details of alleged bribery heard in Yangon judicial corruption case
Plaintiff U Moe Naing of the Anti-Corruption Commission gave a detailed account at the Yangon Region High Court on Friday of how former Yangon advocate general U Han Htoo and four other defendants had accepted bribes before dropping a case against the alleged murderers of popular comedian Aung Yell Htwe.
— Frontier Myanmar
See here for more of today’s Myanmar morning news
Philippines morning news
Compiled by Stella-maris Ewudolu @stmarisewudolu
Foreign investment pledges rise 6.5% to P45.9 billion in Q3
Foreign investment pledges approved by the country’s investment promotion agencies rose 6.5 percent in the third quarter, the Philippine Statistics Authority (PSA) reported yesterday.
— The Philippine Star
Cebu airport posts 14.6% growth in passenger volume
Passenger volume at Mactan-Cebu International Airport grew 14.6 percent year-on-year in the first nine months, the airport’s operator said Thursday.
— Manilastandard.net
Duterte says no more opening of bags in airports
President Rodrigo Duterte said Thursday bags of travelers will no longer be opened during airport screening and “human contact” would be minimized.
— CNN Philippines
See here for more of today’s Philippines morning news
Singapore morning news
Compiled by Mark Roy @electricnerve
Khaw tells Malaysia to ‘back off’ as Singapore expands port limits
That was the firm message from Transport Minister Khaw Boon Wan yesterday, as he urged Singapore’s closest neighbour to pursue dialogue instead of “blatant provocation” to resolve the row over port limits and territorial waters.
— The New Paper
Singapore authorities block Noble’s relisting plans
Singapore’s central bank and exchange regulator have barred commodities trader Noble Group from transferring its listing status to New Noble as proposed under its restructuring plan.
— Channel News Asia
Exclusive: Singapore to use biometrics for emergency services
The Singapore Civil Defence Force (SCDF) will use biometrics for emergency services to cut errors and save time for emergency service (EMS) patients … The biometrics system will be linked to the national electronic healthcare records
— Gov Insider
See here for more of today’s Singapore morning news
Thailand morning news
Compiled by John Le Fevre @photo_journ
Report: Thailand most unequal country in 2018
Thailand has overtaken Russia and India as the most unequal country in the latest survey by a Swiss bank.
— Bangkok Post
Trade war: Focus turns to Thailand to conclude $7 trln RCEP
Six years in the making, the Regional Comprehensive Economic Partnership (RCEP) is slated to transform the region into an Asean-centric, comprehensive free trade area, poised to make a large contribution to Asian and global economic cooperation.
— AEC News Today
‘Rotor pedals failed’ on Leicester crash helicopter
Disconnected cockpit pedals caused the helicopter crash that killed five people including the billionaire owner of King Power and Leicester City Football Club on Oct 28, a British investigation reported on Thursday.
— Bangkok Post
See here for more of today’s Thailand morning news
Vietnam morning news
Compiled by Sreypov Men @MenSreypov
Vietnam to continue removing 50% business conditions in 2019
The success of the business community would bring prosperity for Vietnam in the next decades.
— The Hanoi Times
Vietnam among top five for private participation in infrastructure, pushing by foreign investors
According to a World Bank (WB) report released this week, thirty-four countries received PPI investments in the first half of 2018, with the top five countries – China, Turkey, India, Vietnam and Brazil – accounting for 66 percent of the global total, 10 percent higher than in 2017. Anh Hong reports on Hanoitimes.
— Vietnam Insider
Vietnam’s first aircraft engine parts factory put into operation
By 2024, the factory would have around 900 employees with investment capital of US$370 million, which could be a symbol for technology transfer between South Korean and Vietnamese enterprises.
— The Hanoi Times
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.
Asean morning news for December 7 added by Digital Editor on
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