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Asean morning news

Compiled by Stella-maris Ewudolu         @stmarisewudolu

ASEAN anchor to Asian trade policy strategy
As the global trade regime threatens to unravel under the Trump administration’s assault on the WTO dispute settlement disciplines and its tearing up the rules in its trade war with China, ASEAN — the motley Southeast Asian grouping that includes Indonesia, Singapore, Malaysia, Thailand, Myanmar, Vietnam, Cambodia, Laos, Brunei and the Philippines — would seem the most unlikely bloc to spring effectively to its defence.
— East Asia Forum

Southeast Asia GDP growth hit by trade war: report
Việt Nam is an exception which has benefited from some trade diversion effects caused by the trade war, according to the Institute of Chartered Accountants in England and Wales’ latest Economic Update: South-East Asia report.
— Viet Nam News

Indo-Pacific connectivity needs support for good governance
As an evolving platform for regional architecture and economic growth, the Indo-Pacific concept got a constructive nod from the leaders of 18 member countries at the 14th East Asia Summit in Bangkok.
— The Jakarta Post

ASEAN Human Rights Declaration safeguards freedom of expression: envoy
The ASEAN Human Rights Declaration protects the freedom of opinion and expression of people in Southeast Asia, according to Swiss Ambassador to Indonesia Kurt Kunz.
— Antara News

Recent developments surrounding the South China Sea
A look at recent developments in the South China Sea, where China is pitted against smaller neighbors in multiple territorial disputes over islands, coral reefs and lagoons.
— The Washington Post

Greenpeace Southeast Asia report says abuse of migrant fishers akin to modern slavery
Thirteen foreign distant water fishing vessels have been accused of abusing migrant fishers from Southeast Asia, in cases so severe it has been characterised by many as “modern slavery”.
— TOC

Asean must not give up on India … yet
Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe is flying to New Delhi next week to meet up with Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi.
— Bangkok Post

ADB commits to boosting anti-corruption measures in private sectors
The Asian Development Bank (ADB) today marked the 9th International Anticorruption Day with a commitment to strengthen engagement with the private sector to support good corporate governance and anti-corruption measures.
— Devdiscourse

Mekong River Commission issues warning about blue-green water
With parts of the Mekong River turning an unusual blue-green, an inter-governmental commission has warned of possibly serious consequences if water levels stay low in the increasing dammed river.
— The Straits Times

US engagement in South-east Asia vital: Ng Eng Hen
Singapore views the continued engagement of the United States in South-east Asia as important, Defence Minister Ng Eng Hen said at a national security forum in California on Saturday.
— The Straits Times

‘Death by plastic’ for animals must spur Southeast Asia to tackle waste crisis
The animal is dead. It can be a fish, bird, mammal or reptile.
— South China Morning Post

Zenith shows Singapore, Malaysia and Indonesia some love with its watches
Limited editions are nice. Limited editions that were made specially to celebrate the bit of land you were born on are nicer – if patriotism is your thing.
— CNA Luxury

TAT, ASEANTA join forces to promote tourism in SE Asia
The Tourism Authority of Thailand (TAT) have signed an MoU with ASEAN Tourism Association (ASEANTA) to develop tourism in South-east Asian countries, including Thailand.
— TTG Asia

Time is running out for Southeast Asia
On Nov. 23, the last Sumatran rhino (Dicerorhinus sumatrensis) in Malaysia died.
— Mongabay

SEA Games 2019: Badminton medal tally and standings
The Badminton tournament wrapped up on Day 9 of the 2019 SEA Games, with Indonesia and Malaysia dominating proceedings.
— FOX Sports

Aspiring Southeast Asian Unicorns to Watch – Singapore’s Carousell
Singapore-based online classifieds business platform startup Carousell is on the brink of becoming Southeast Asia’s next premier unicorn and is poised to become the region’s dominant digital marketplace.
— Next Unicorn

The Mekong River Dying a Slow But Most Certain Death
A confluence of drought and dams along the Mekong River has renewed concerns about the future of the 4,700-kilometer waterway.
— Chiang Rai Times

Cyber Bootcamp Project to boost cybersecurity skills in the region
The Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade (DFAT) is funding a new boot camp, which will be delivered by The Australian National University (ANU), to help better equip practitioners at the frontline of the region’s cybersecurity challenges.
— OpenGov

Thai banks’ outlook upbeat
Thailand and Vietnam are the only two countries among nine emerging markets in Asia-Pacific where the rating outlook for banks is positive, according to a new report by Fitch Ratings.
— Bangkok Post

Humanitarian Action: Southeast Asia’s Local Turn – Analysis
The 2019 ASEAN Strategic Policy Dialogue on disaster management saw salient debates over the localisation agenda.
— Eurasia Review

Why Facebook and Google must do more in Southeast Asia to combat fake news
From governments to NGOs, Facebook to Google, academics to policymakers, almost everyone agrees that disinformation and fake news are a growing problem.
— South China Morning Post

24 years of ASEAN membership
Over the past decades, Vietnam has been an active and responsible member which has a significant influence on ASEAN’s structure, contributing to maintaining unity, peace and security in the region, and the building of a people-centered ASEAN community.
— Vietnamplus

A third of Southeast Asian e-commerce traffic happens in Vietnam
Vietnam accounted for 30.9 percent of e-commerce web traffic in Southeast Asia in Q3, second only to Indonesia, a report says.
— VnExpress International

ASEAN’s renewable energy challenges
The Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) has set an ambitious target of securing 23 percent of its primary energy from renewable sources by 2025 as energy demand in the region is expected to grow by 50 percent.
— The Asean Post

Breaking Down Southeast Asia’s M&A and IPO Market in 2020
Jake Robson, partner at Morrison & Foerster, discusses his IPO outlook for 2020 in Southeast Asia and what he’s seeing in M&A.
— Bloomberg (video)

Bullish ASEAN firms are embarking on a green future: HSBC survey
South-East Asian firms top the charts globally for their bullish growth prospects as well as their sense of accountability for achieving the United Nations’ sustainability goals.
— International Investment

Southeast Asia braces for huge wave of decommissioning
More than 200 offshore fields are expected to stop producing in Southeast Asia by 2030 with total decommissioning costs estimated to range from $30 billion to as mich as $100 billion.
— Energy Voice

Southeast Asian legends highlighted in App Store’s ‘Mobile Legends’ spotlight
Southeast Asian superheroes have finally entered the gaming limelight as Apple’s App Store highlighted iconic characters from several countries in the region as featured in one of the hottest mobile multiplayer video games in recent years, Mobile Legends: Bang Bang.
— The Jakarta Post

Cambodia morning news

Compiled by Raksmey Khoem          @raksmey.aecnews

Cambodia to start opposition leader trial in January
The trial of Cambodian opposition leader Kem Sokha on treason charges will begin on Jan. 15, a court said on Monday.
— Yahoo News

ARB terminates MoU for Cambodian market entry
ARB Bhd has terminated a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) that was aimed at facilitating the group’s foray into Cambodia to implement the enterprise resource planning (ERP) system and solutions there.
— The Edge Markets 

Ministry files NGO freedom report as part of EBA review
The Ministry of Interior has submitted a report on the state of NGOs to the Foreign Affairs Ministry ahead of the latter’s imminent response to the European Union’s concerns over rights and freedom in the country in relation to the possible withdrawal of the Kingdom’s Everything-but-arms trade status.
— Khmer Times 

See here for more of today’s Cambodia morning news

Indonesia morning news

Compiled by Justhine De Guzman Uy         @justhine.aecnews

EU Fuels Indonesia Trade Tensions With 5-Year Biodiesel Tariffs
The European Union imposed five-year tariffs on biodiesel from Indonesia to counter alleged subsidies to producers in the country, a move that could prompt the Indonesian government to retaliate.
— Bloomberg

Government nickel ore export ban to hit newly listed company
The government’s export ban on nickel ore, set to take effect in January 2020, will hurt a newly listed nickel mining company, Ifishdeco, as it sells most of its products overseas.
— The Jakarta Post

‘We demand proof, not promises’: Papuans urge Jokowi to bring justice to Paniai tragedy
University students and human rights activists staged a rally on Sunday in Sorong, West Papua, demanding that President Joko “Jokowi” Widodo fulfill his vow to settle a human rights violation case in Paniai, Papua.
— The Jakarta Post

See here for more of today’s Indonesia morning news

Lao PDR morning news

Compiled by Raksmey Khoem         @raksmey.aecnews

Thanh Hoa, Lao province promote youth cooperation
The youth unions of the central province of Thanh Hoa and Houaphanh province of Laos have agreed to step up collaboration from 2019-2022 under a recently-signed agreement.
— Vietnam Plus

Vietnamese, Lao news agencies forge cooperation to raise information quality
The Vietnam News Agency (VNA) and the Laos news agency Khaosan Pathet Lao (KPL) have agreed to cooperate to improve information quality in 2020.
— Viet Nas News

GMS officials discuss opportunities in fight against HIV/AIDS, tuberculosis, Malaria
Participants from Laos, Cambodia, Vietnam, Myanmar and Thailand were reunited on Friday Dec 6 at Institut Français in Vientiane, Laos to discuss the challenges and opportunities of the new funding cycle of the Global Fund to fight AIDS, Tuberculosis and Malaria in the Greater Mekong.
— KPL 

See here for more of today’s Lao morning news

Malaysia morning news

Compiled by Sreypov Men         @MenSreypov

Lower average selling price for natural gas next year
Gas Malaysia Bhd yesterday announced a lower average natural gas selling price at RM33.65/MMBtu for the distribution segment. This represents a reduction 2.91% or RM1.01/MMBtu compared to the current average price.
— The Sun Daily

Malaysians spend 70pc of monthly income on goods, housing and transport, says minister
Almost 70 per cent of Malaysians’ monthly income are spent on goods, housing and transport, Domestic Trade and Consumer Affairs Minister Datuk Seri Saifuddin Nasution Ismail said.
— Malay Mail

Mat Sabu: Defence White Paper to serve as roadmap for Malaysia’s defence industry for the next 10 years
The Defence White Paper (DWP) is the roadmap and strategic action plan for Malaysia’s defence and security industry in addressing the increasingly challenging and sophisticated threats for the next 10 years.
— Malay Mail

See here for more of today’s Malaysia Morning News

Myanmar morning news

Compiled by Sreypov Men         @MenSreypov

Rights groups launch Myanmar boycott ahead of Hague genocide hearings
Human rights campaigners supporting Myanmar’s Rohingya Muslim minority on Monday called for a global boycott of the country, a day before genocide hearings begin at the International Court of Justice in The Hague.
— Reuters

Govt urged for negotiation with China for pineapple, avocado exports
The Myanmar Fruit, Flower and Vegetable Producers and Exporters Association (MFVP) expects a negotiation of government with China about a legal export channel for pineapples and avocados.
— The Global New Light of Myanmar

What you need to know about Aung San Suu Kyi and Myanmar’s genocide court hearing
On Dec. 10, the Rohingya ethnic group, long the target of oppressive policies by the Myanmar government, will finally see their tragic plight being taken up in an international court of law.
— Qz

See here for more of today’s Myanmar morning news

Philippines morning news

Compiled by Stella-maris Ewudolu         @stmarisewudolu

Look back: Duterte’s tussles with big business
President Rodrigo Duterte’s “war” against those he calls “oligarchs” has escalated with his latest threats against 3 big names in Philippine business – the Ayala family, tycoon Manny Pangilinan, and the Lopezes – all in the same curse-laden speech.
— Rappler

Ombudsman probing SEA Games organizers, Cayetano over corruption allegations
Organizers of the 30th Southeast Asian Games, including allies of President Rodrigo Duterte, are being probed by the Office of the Ombudsman over allegations of corruption.
— GMA Network

Tourist arrivals increased 15% to 6.8m in 10 months
International visitor arrivals rose 15 percent in the first 10 months to a record 6.8 million from 5.91 million a year ago on the back of strong tourism traffic from Korea and China.
— Manilastandard.net

See here for more of today’s Philippines morning news

Singapore morning news

Compiled by Justhine De Guzman Uy         @justhine.aecnews

Singapore among the most well-fed in the world, for second consecutive year: Study
Singaporeans are among the most well-fed populations in the world, according to a recent study.
— The Straits Times

Consumers to pay GST for Netflix and other overseas digital services: 5 other policy changes from Jan 1
From Jan 1, those who subscribe to Netflix and other overseas digital services will have to pay a 7 per cent goods and services tax (GST).
— The Straits Times

Singapore is the second hardest-working city in the Asia-Pacific region behind Tokyo, reveals Instant Offices analysis
After analysing data on 40 international cities, global serviced office provider Instant Offices have provided a work intensity score index on the most hard-working Asia-Pacific cities, taking into account several factors per city, including the length of commute, arrival time at work, hours worked per week, and vacation days taken.
— The Online Citizen

See here for more of today’s Singapore morning news

Thailand morning news

Compiled by John Le Fevre         @photo_journ

Prayut firm on stamping out corruption
The government on Monday marked International Anti-Corruption Day by pledging to revamp the country’s legal mechanisms to improve the efficiency of counter-corruption work.
— Bangkok Post

K-Research: 100,000 jobs gone in 2019
Kasikorn Research Center (K-Research) predicts at least 100,000 job losses this year and another 30,000 next year, dampened by an export slump, tepid economic growth and drought.
— Bangkok Post

Excessive PM2.5 particulate found in ten areas of Bangkok and suburbs
Air quality in Bangkok and two neighbouring provinces has been fallen below standard, with the amount of PM2.5 dust particles exceeding 50 microns, the Pollution Control Department reported today.
— Thai PBS News

See here for more of today’s Thailand morning news

Vietnam morning news

Compiled by Sreypov Men         @MenSreypov

Vietnam Ministry May Cut Some Tariffs on U.S. Agriculture
Under pressure from the U.S., Vietnam’s Ministry of Finance is proposing to reduce tariffs on some American agriculture products, from chicken to apples.
— Bloomberg

Vietnam to import more electricity from Laos
Vietnam will import an additional 200 MW of electricity from Laos next year, taking the total to 1,200 MW.
— VnExpress

Vietnam struggles to meet car localization target
Vietnam’s 20-year auto industry is still far away from meeting its localization target to better compete with regional competitors.
— VnExpress

See here for more of today’s Vietnam morning news

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About Asean morning news.

Asean morning news roundup and its individual country morning news roundups are the most comprehensive hand-curated selection of Asean English language news headlines published. Each weekday we scour hundreds of local and international news sites and websites to find the most recent Asean English language news today.

We filter our the dull, the boring, the repetitive, and the click-bait and package all of the Asean daily news that you need to know to start your day into an easy to read, time saving format of Asean news headlines and first paragraphs before 7.30am Bangkok time.

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