Asean morning news for December 23, 2019

Asean morning news

Compiled by Stella-maris Ewudolu @stmarisewudolu

Asean may need new plan to tackle ‘lowflation’
Southeast Asia is set for another year of low inflation, generating difficult choices for the region’s central banks.
— Bangkok Post

ASEAN team joined the second high-level visit in Cox’s Bazar to facilitate repatriation
An ASEAN team, consisting of the ASEAN Secretariat, the AHA Centre and the ASEAN Emergency Response and Assessment (ASEAN-ERAT) from ASEAN Member States, participated in the second high-level visit led by the Government of Myanmar with displaced persons in Cox’s Bazar on 18-19 December 2019.
— Reliefweb

Wolbachia delivers a toxin-free death blow to rocketing dengue rates (video)
As the number of confirmed deaths from dengue in the Philippines this year broke through the 1,500 barrier last month, scientists and health officials meeting in Maryland, USA, were being shown compelling evidence that the days of the debilitating disease are numbered.
— AEC News Today (video)

In 2019, has ASEAN redefined the Indo-Pacific?
After accompanying President Joko “Jokowi” Widodo for an ASEAN Summit plenary meeting one Saturday night in June this year, Foreign Minister Retno LP Marsudi immediately called for a press briefing announcing the adoption of a five-page document that would come to be known as the ASEAN Outlook on the Indo-Pacific (AOIP).
— The Jakarta Post

Asean shouldn’t be at Myanmar’s beck and call
The recent visit by a joint delegation of Myanmar and Asean to the Rohingya camps in Cox’s Bazar saw Myanmar follow the usual trail of deceptions, falsehoods and complicit silence which have come to be associated with its bid to sell its repatriation story.
— The Daily Star

The 2020 Asean Para Games postponement was unfair: Chef de Mission
Malaysia will challenge the decision to postpone the Asean Para Games (APG) 2020 taking into account the losses to be borne and the negative impact on the country’s athletes performance.
— The Sun Daily

Southeast Asia’s palm oil industry touts sustainability narrative, but activists cast doubts
Kimia Tirta Utama Junior High School is located amid 6,400ha of palm plantation owned by Indonesian palm oil producer PT Kimia Tirta Utama (KTU).
— CNA

Experts warn PHL, Asean of China’s ‘colonialism’
Some security experts have warned Southeast Asian nations of China’s “colonialist strategies” and to be wary of its investments in certain businesses, such as telecommunications, which could expose countries to cyber attacks.
— Business Mirror

‘Shaping Geographies’ showcases works by 11 regional female artists who contribute to SEA’s culture, politics and society
Gajah Gallery, one of Southeast Asia’s leading galleries, is hosting in its Singapore space an exhibition that features the works of 11 contemporary female artists from the region, which intersect culturally, geographically and ethnically.
— Options

Asean sharpens focus on gender in biodiversity conservation
Faactoring in gender roles and relations in policy-making is crucial in the success of biodiversity conservation efforts, experts in a regional training workshop conducted in Manila said.
— Business Mirror

ASEAN governments fear a return of ISIS fighters
On October 29, 2019, ISIS leader Abu Bakr al-Baghdadi died during a US military operation in Syria. He was the leader of the terrorist organisation since 2013.
— Asean Today

The gaming explosion in Southeast Asia
One of the biggest beneficiaries of the growing digital economy in Southeast Asia is the gaming industry.
— The Asean Post

NSTDA showcases 2019 research for sustainability for ASEAN
The National Science and Technology Development Agency (NSTDA) has presented research projects at the NSTDA Beyond Limits: a Sustainability Impact event, presenting Bio-Circular-Green economy development guidelines for the industrial sector to promote national and economic development.
— Newsline (video)

Cambodia morning news

Compiled by Raksmey Khoem @raksmey.aecnews

Continue to crack down on online and arcade gambling: PM
Prime Minister Hun Sen has vowed to clamp down on all online and arcade gambling operations in a move to safeguard national security and curb money laundering in the Kingdom.
— Khmer Times

Cambodia’s King Signs Controversial Treaty Defining Border With Vietnam
Cambodia’s King Norodom Sihamoni has put into effect a treaty that would complete the demarcation line between Cambodia and neighboring Vietnam, drawing criticism from opponents of Prime Minister Hun Sen who say the move violates the country’s sovereignty.
— RFA

A Jungle Airstrip Stirs Suspicions About China’s Plans for Cambodia
The Chinese military’s “string of pearls” strategy depends on far-flung regional outposts. Some think Cambodia is becoming one.
— The New York Times (paywall)

See here for more of today’s Cambodia morning news

Indonesia morning news

Compiled by Justhine De Guzman Uy @justhine.aecnews

Indonesia Provides Rp 7.5b to Support Repatriation of Rohingya Refugees
The Indonesian government has agreed to provide Rp 7.5 billion ($536,000) in grant to help the repatriation of Rohingya refugees to Myanmar.
— Jakarta Globe

BI to cut rate by 50 bps in 2020: Fitch Solutions
Bank Indonesia (BI) will further slash the nation’s benchmark interest rate by 50 basis points (bps) in 2020 to stoke economic growth amid weak domestic demand that had been dragged down by a slowdown in investment, according to projections by Fitch Solutions Macro Research.
— The Jakarta Post

Government may save $1.2 billlion foreign exchange from TPPI refinary
The Indonesian government has set itself the target of saving up to US$1.2 billion in foreign exchange per year after its stake in PT Trans-Pacific Petrochemical Indotama (TPPI) rose to 80 percent based on an agreement signed on Friday (Dec 20, 2019).
— Antara News

See here for more of today’s Indonesia morning news

Lao PDR morning news

Compiled by Raksmey Khoem @raksmey.aecnews

Laos, China Look To Bolster Trade and Agriculture Promotion
A Belt and Road China-Laos Trade Exchange and Yinbin Promotion Conference was held in Vientiane on Dec 19 to seek ways to enhance trade and agriculture promotion between Laos and China.
— KPL

Cigarettes for Pants, Panty Snatcher, Online Scam – This Week in Social Media
The Laotian Times brings our readers a round-up of some of the most shared topics this past week, based on reach and engagement on Facebook. From tanks shooting real live ammunition and people shooting darts to thieves of undergarments and jackfruits, this is a brief list of the types of content that are commonly shared on Lao social media.
— The Laotian Times

Govt pushes 2020 development plan in Laos
Prime Minister Thongloun Sisoulith presided over the opening of the two-day open government meeting at the National Convention Centre, which is scheduled to end today.
— ANN/Vientiane Times

See here for more of today’s Lao morning news

Malaysia morning news

Compiled by Sreypov Men @MenSreypov

Malaysia FM: China’s ‘nine-dash line’ claim ‘ridiculous’
Foreign Minister Saifuddin says Malaysia’s decision to take South China Sea claim to UN is its ‘sovereign right’.
— Aljazeera

100 pct water supply by 2025
Sarawak Rural Water Supply Department (JBALB) and Ministry of Utilities are committed to distributing water to remote areas which have not received clean and safe water through the Sarawak Alternative Water Supply (Sawas) project.
— New Sarawak Tribune

Govt mulls Cuepacs’ minimum pay proposal of RM1,800, says deputy minister
The government will consider the proposal of the Congress of Unions of Employees in the Public and Civil Services Malaysia (Cuepacs) which sought to fix the minimum salary of civil servants at RM1,800 a month.
— Malay Mail

See here for more of today’s Malaysia Morning News

Myanmar morning news

Compiled by Sreypov Men @MenSreypov

Over 1 bln USD foreign investment enter Myanmar’s sectors in two months
Foreign investment capital of over 1.02 billion U.S. dollars entered Myanmar’s six sectors in first two months of present fiscal year (FY) 2019-2020 which started in October, said figures released by the Directorate of Investment and Company Administration (DICA) on Saturday.
— Xinhua

Internet shutdown has been imposed on Rakhine for six months
The shutdown of all internet access in parts of northern Rakhine State entered six months today and is now one of the longest blackouts in the world.
— Myanmar Times

Myanmar earns over US$2 B from border trade
Myanmar has earned US$2.015 billion from border trade from October 11 to December 6 in this fiscal year and it is more US$500 million in compared with the same period in the last fiscal year, according to the Ministry of Commerce.
— Eleven Myanmar

See here for more of today’s Myanmar morning news

Philippines morning news

Compiled by Stella-maris Ewudolu @stmarisewudolu

BJMP frees 40 individuals acquitted in Maguindanao massacre case
The Bureau of Jail Management and Penology (BJMP) freed 40 individuals who had been acquitted in the Maguindanao massacre case, according to a Saturday report by Ian Cruz on Balitanghali Weekend.
— GMA Network

9-month TRAIN take P14B over estimates
TOTAL revenues from the Tax Reform for Acceleration and Inclusion (TRAIN) law have breached nearly 81 percent of full-year targets after nine months, as the government exceeded its estimates from January to September by P14 billion.
— Business Mirror

Government financing surges 47% to P50.3 billion in October
Government financing surged by 47.4 percent to P50.27 billion in October from P34.1 billion a year ago as the country continued to borrow more from domestic and foreign sources to fill in the funding gap, according to the Bureau of Treasury.
— The Philippine Star

See here for more of today’s Philippines morning news

Singapore morning news

Compiled by Justhine De Guzman Uy @justhine.aecnews

5G roll-out high on telecom industry’s agenda in 2020
SINGAPORE’S unprecedented bidding exercise for 5G network licences will be the hottest development for telcos in 2020 – even if it is unclear what hand each company plans to reveal.
— The Business Times

Personal data of 2,400 Mindef, SAF staff may have been leaked
The personal data of 2,400 Ministry of Defence (Mindef) and Singapore Armed Forces (SAF) staff may have been leaked through e-mail phishing by malicious malware.
— Straits Times (annoying popups)

$2.9b spent on Home Improvement Programme for HDB flats
The Government has spent about $2.9 billion on the Home Improvement Programme by the Housing Board (HDB) as of March 31.
— Straits Times (annoying popups)

See here for more of today’s Singapore morning news

Thailand morning news

Compiled by John Le Fevre @photo_journ

Severity of drought next year likely to equal that of 2015-16 in Thailand
Thailand is at risk of a drought like that in 2015 and 2016, while the volume of rainfall, from this month through May, is forecast to be 5-10% lower than normal, said Mr. Seri Suparathit, director of the Centre of Climate Change and Disaster at Rangsit University, today (Friday).
— Thai PBS News

6 TIMES IN 2019 THAIS AND EXPATS STOOD UP FOR THE ENVIRONMENT
Thais have a reputation of having little care for the environment – an image of a double-bagged banana from 7-Eleven comes to mind, and Thailand is literally the sixth worst plastic polluter of the oceans.
— Khaosod English

Particulate matter still prevails over several areas
The PM 2.5 airborne dust has still prevailed over several areas of Bangkok, causing air pollution and affecting health.
— Newsline (video)

See here for more of today’s Thailand morning news

Vietnam morning news

Compiled by Sreypov Men @MenSreypov

Vietnam needs US$10 billion a year for energy sector
The deputy PM said Vietnam needs to mobilize domestic financial sources and credits to develop 8,000 megawatts per year.
— The Hanoitimes

Vietnam 32nd most powerful country in the world: report
Surpassing several of its Southeast Asian peers in the latest global power ranking, Vietnam proves key player on world stage.
— VnExpress

See here for more of today’s Vietnam morning news

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