Asean morning news
Compiled by Stella-maris Ewudolu @stmarisewudolu
Asean ministers seek ‘comprehensive’ Rohingya plan
Foreign ministers from 10 Southeast Asian Nations will call for a “comprehensive and durable” solution to the when they meet informally for their annual retreat in Chiang Mai later this month, according to a draft of a statement to be issued then.
— Bangkok Post
ASEAN draft statement repeats ‘concerns’ over island-building
The 10 member states of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations appear poised to express concerns about island-building in the South China Sea for a second straight year when their foreign ministers gather next week in Thailand, making another allusion to Chinese activity.
— Nikkei Asian Review (paywall)
Thailand gears up for ASEAN Senior Economic Officials Meeting
Thailand’s Department of Trade Negotiations is preparing for the ASEAN Senior Economic Officials Meeting due to take place between January 12th and 18th. The meeting will be the first such meeting since Thailand assumed the bloc’s chairmanship.
— NBT World (video)
Economic Headwinds in 2019: Navigating Priorities For ASEAN – Analysis
The New Year will likely see Southeast Asian economies face major economic headwinds namely the US-China trade tensions and the interest rate increases by the US Federal Reserve.
— Eurasia Review
Why China is determined to connect Southeast Asia by rail
When Japanese trading house Itochu and train maker Hitachi withdrew from a soon-to-be-decided $7 billion tender for a high-speed rail project near Bangkok, it appeared to be another victory for China and its grand plans to connect Southeast Asia with railways.
— Nikkei Asian Review (paywall)
Asean MPs urged to promote human rights, religious freedom
MEMBERS of parliament are urged to keep the human rights agenda in sight while focusing on freedom of religion, said Rev Dr Hermen Shastri.
— The Malaysian Insight
British Base in Southeast Asia Would Antagonize China
A British amphibious warfare ship passed through the South China Sea in August and China, Asia’s strongest military power with a claim to almost the whole waterway, expelled it.
— Voice of America
The risks of bumping Chinese tourism
Earlier this week, Lao announced a year-long plan to draw more Chinese tourists to the country through its Visit Laos-China Year 2019.
— The Asean Post
December PMI shows inflation pressures ease at Asia manufacturers
Stabler local currencies and lower oil prices have eased cost pressures at Asian manufacturers, who still face slumping external demand, according to the latest Nikkei Purchasing Managers’ Index survey.
— Nikkei Asian Review (paywall)
Trilateral Patrols in Sulu Sea Won’t Deter Terrorism, Kidnapping: Think Tank
Trilateral sea patrols are not likely to stop kidnapping by the southern Philippine militant group Abu Sayyaf or reduce the risk of terrorism, a conflict resolution think tank said in a new report released Wednesday.
— Benar News
Indonesia wants Asean to be axis of Indo-Pacific strategy
Indonesia wants to work with other Asean countries to strengthen the regional architecture under an Indo-Pacific cooperation, Foreign Minister Retno Marsudi said in her annual speech yesterday.
— The Straits Times
ASEAN-Russia: Sharing a strategic future
Last November, Russian President Vladimir Putin and the leaders of ASEAN member states met in Singapore to make a historic decision on elevating the ASEAN-Russia Dialogue Partnership to a strategic level.
— The Jakarta Post (paywall)
An ASEAN Giant Mulls the Region’s Future
Marty Natalegawa, a seasoned Indonesian diplomat who last served as foreign minister under former President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono, has long been regarded as one of the champions of the ten-member Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) regional grouping.
— The Diplomat
Southeast Asia records unusual January rain
It rained all day on Sunday in Port Blair in South Andaman Island, as the remnants of cyclone Pabuk spread over the Andaman and Nicobar Islands.
— Aljazeera
ASEAN Student Council conference at Kasetsart University
The ASEAN Student Council has organized a conference to inspire the region’s youth to protect the environment, combat corruption and be good citizens.
— NBT World (video)
Facial recognition and the big picture
From boarding a plane to paying for groceries, facial recognition has become a part of our everyday lives.
— The Asean Post
ASEAN Secretariat construction to be completed in March 2019
The construction of ASEAN Secretariat Building in South Jakarta which is now 85 percent complete is scheduled for completion in March 2019, Indonesian Minister of Public Works and Housing Basuki Hadimuljono said.
— Antara News
BRUNEI SUCCESSFULLY HOSTS THE VERY FIRST ASEAN ROVER MOOT
Over three hundred Rover Scouts from seven countries gathered in Berakas, Brunei Darussalam from the 12thto the 17thof December 2018 for the 1stASEAN Rover Moot.
— Scouts
Too little too late: ASEAN’s role in the plight of the Uyghurs
ASEAN was not hospitable to the Uyghur population when they arrived as refugees.
— Asean Today
Southeast Asia set for uptick in M&A
Southeast Asia could see a resurgence in M&A activity this year – particularly in Malaysia, Indonesia and Vietnam.
— Interfax Global Energy
Cambodia morning news
Compiled by Stella-maris Ewudolu @stmarisewudolu
Trump’s Cambodian ambassador appointment blocked
The US Senate returned the nomination of Patrick Murphy as Ambassador to Cambodia back to US President Donald Trump on Thursday, as the American government shutdown entered its third week.
— The Nation (very annoying popups)
Brands concerned Cambodia to lose EU trade benefits
Apparel Insider understands that Cambodia is set to lose huge swathes of garment production orders after Western brands became concerned the country will soon be stripped of its EU trading benefits.
— Apparel Insider
Former PM Yingluck reported to have Cambodian passport
Former prime minister Yingluck Shinawatra is the holder of a Cambodian passport, the South China Morning Post has learned, adding weight to the theory she fled Thailand in 2017 via Cambodia, despite strenuous denials by Phnom Penh.
— Bangkok Post
See here for more of today’s Cambodia morning news
Indonesia morning news
Compiled by Stella-maris Ewudolu @stmarisewudolu
Indonesia’s retail sales edge up in November on rising demand of clothes
Retail sales in Indonesia, where consumption accounts for the largest to the GDP growth, drifted higher in November year-over-year amid rising demand of clothes, fuels for automotive and recreation and cultural-linked products, a survey carried out by the central bank showed here on Wednesday.
— Xinhua
Indonesia loses 4.7 bln USD each year to traffic jams
Indonesian President Joko Widodo said on January 8 that traffic congestion in Jakarta and its nearby areas results in annual economic losses of nearly 4.7 billion USD.
— Vietnam Plus
Only 15% of foreign exchange earnings converted to rupiah: BI
Bank Indonesia has announced that only 15 percent of foreign exchange earnings to October 2018 had been converted into rupiah.
— The Jakarta Post
See here for more of today’s Indonesia morning news
Lao PDR morning news
Compiled by Sreypov Men @MenSreypov
PM urges ministries to prepare for economic challenges
Prime Minister Thongloun Sisoulith on Tuesday praised the country’s planning, investment and finance sectors and urged everyone to keep up their good performance.
— Vientiane Times
THE GROSS DOMESTIC PRODUCT IN 2018 WILL INCREASE BY 6.5%
The conference will review the implementation of the 2018 Annual Plan of Action and Finance and the 2019 plan for 2019 held at the Congress Hall Chaired by Mr. Somdy Duangdo, Deputy Prime Minister, Ministry of Finance, Deputy Prime Minister, Deputy Governor, Provincial Deputy Governor, Central and Local Finance participate.
— Vientiane Mai
Govt approves special budget for flood recovery
The government has approved a special budget of 500 billion kip (US$58 million) to repair public infrastructure that was damaged in last year’s floods, indicating that the remaining recovery work could soon begin.
— Vientiane Times
See here for more of today’s Lao morning news
Malaysia morning news
Compiled by Sreypov Men @MenSreypov
Malaysia water tariffs expected to go up: Minister
Malaysia may raise water tariff rates in stages this year, in line with the government’s efforts to restructure the water supply services industry.
— Channel NewsAsia
Malaysia’s economy to grow 4.7pc to RM1.48 trillion in 2019
The World Bank forecasted Malaysia’s RM1.41 trillion economy to grow at 4.7 per cent this year and to slow down to 4.6 per cent for next year.
— New Straits Times
Five things to watch out for in 2019 on Malaysia’s political front
2018 was a year of dramatic change for Malaysia. At the General Elections in May 2018 (GE14), Barisan Nasional (BN) was defeated by Pakatan Harapan (PH) after 61 years in power. Malaysia saw the return of Mahathir Mohamad as Prime Minister.
— Today Online
See here for more of today’s Malaysia Morning News
Myanmar morning news
Compiled by Sreypov Men @MenSreypov
Traders hope for a boost from new gem laws
The new amendments to the law governing the extraction of gemstones in Myanmar are expected to offer relief for the gem industry in Mandalay.
— Myanmar Times
New Myanmar unrest panics Rohingya in border limbo
Bandarban, Bangladesh – Panic is gripping thousands of Rohingya Muslim refugees living in no-man’s land on the Myanmar-Bangladesh border, with daily clashes between Myanmar security forces and ethnic Rakhine insurgents.
— The Nation (very annoying popups)
Average inflation rate increases at the beginning of fiscal year
The average inflation rate increased for eight consecutive months from March to November last year, according to the Ministry of Planning and Finance.
— Eleven Myanmar
See here for more of today’s Myanmar morning news
Philippines morning news
Compiled by Stella-maris Ewudolu @stmarisewudolu
2018 infra spending seen hitting 6.2% of GDP — DBM
The Department of Budget and Management (DBM) expects infrastructure spending managed to maintain its robust growth pace last year in line with the Duterte administration’s plan to bring its spending ratio to seven percent by 2022.
— Manila Bulletin
World Bank cuts 2019 growth forecast for PH to 6.5%
The World Bank on Wednesday reduced its 2019 growth forecast for the Philippines to 6.5 percent from an earlier estimate of 6.7 percent, saying “the outlook for the global economy has darkened.”
— Manilastandard.net
Demand for BSP’s P20-B term-deposit offering hits P35.34 billion
DEMAND for the Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas’s (BSP) term-deposit offering on Wednesday surged, as banks continued to flock back to the Central Bank (CB) after meeting the country’s liquidity needs during the holiday season.
— Business Mirror
See here for more of today’s Philippines morning news
Singapore morning news
Compiled by John Le Fevre @photo_journ
Probe report on SingHealth data breach points to basic failings
Staff who fell prey to phishing attacks. Weak administrator passwords. Not applying a patch that could have stopped the hacking. And an IT cyber-security team that could not even recognise a security incident.
— Straits Times
New initiative helps SMEs digitalise from the get-go
NEWLY incorporated businesses in Singapore will have access to subsidised digital solutions provided by industry players, under an initiative launched by the Infocomm Media Development Authority (IMDA) and Enterprise Singapore on Wednesday.
— The Business Times
Singapore is up from 69th to 66th in the Democracy Index rankings but still a “flawed democracy”
The latest findings of the Democracy Index rankings have just been released by the Economic Intelligence Units (EIU) showing Asia and Australasia to be making more headway in advancing democracy than any other region. However, Asian democracies continue to trail behind North America (8.56), Western Europe (8.35) and Latin America (6.22). The findings also showed […]
— The Independent sg
See here for more of today’s Singapore morning news
Thailand morning news
Compiled by John Le Fevre @photo_journ
Thai investment applications top $28bn in 2018, exceed target
Investment applications in Thailand reached a total of 902 billion baht ($28.2 billion) worth of projects in 2018, 43 percent higher than requests the previous year and beating a target of 720 billion baht, the state investment agency said on Wednesday.
— Nikkei Asian Review (paywall)
Thailand plays hard-ball defending Saudi teen’s human rights while Bahraini languishes in jail (video)
Whether emboldened by the outpouring of public support from around the globe or due to the boost it is giving the country’s stature, Thailand is continuing to play hard-ball defending the human rights of Rahaf Mohammed Mutlaq al-Qunun. At the same time Australian-based refuge Hakeem AlAraibi languishes in a Bangkok prison.
— AEC News Today
Honda Khiang Khang Thai Fund donates Bt3 mln to victims of ‘Pabuk’
Honda Thailand Foundation’s (HTFs) Honda Khiang Khang Thai Fund (HKKT Fund) is a familiar site to the nations poor and minority rural dwellers, dispensing blankets and warm clothing ahead of the cold season, and pitching in at times of natural disaster.
— AEC News Today
See here for more of today’s Thailand morning news
Vietnam morning news
Compiled by Sreypov Men @MenSreypov
Vietnam’s Economy Grows the Fastest Since 2011
Driven by the growth in exports, domestic demand, foreign investment, and the manufacturing sector, Vietnam’s GDP grew by 7.08 percent in 2018, the fastest in the last decade.
— Vietnam Briefing
Car manufacturers reduce production, increase imports
Though continuing investment in their production bases, foreign-invested automobile manufacturers in Vietnam are placing high expectations on car imports.
— Vietnam Insider
Jailed Vietnamese Environmental Activist in Declining Health-Brother
Jailed Vietnamese activist Hoang Duc Binh is suffering back pain, rashes from poor hygiene and failing eyesight from being in a dark cell in a prison in Quang Nam province, his brother told RFA’s Vietnamese service on Wednesday.
— Radio Free Asia
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 January 10 added by Digital Editor on
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