Asean morning news for October 21

Asean morning news

Compiled by Stella-maris Ewudolu         @stmarisewudolu

 

‘Grey zone’ tactics are raising risk of military conflict in the South China Sea, observers say
The United States’ increased use of “grey zone” operations in the South China Sea to counter Beijing’s rise in the disputed region has significantly increased the chance of military conflict between the two powers, Chinese observers say.
— South China Morning Post

‘Act East’ policy puts ASEAN at centre of engagement with Indo-Pacific — President
Underlining that ASEAN-India relations are special, President Ram Nath Kovind on Saturday said India’s “Act East” policy puts the region at the centre of its engagement with the Indo-Pacific.
— Eastern Mirror

India has breached a key norm in Asean and triggering a fire storm to engulf it — Rais Hussin
Prime Minister Nahedra Modi, ought to be congratulated, for winning handsomely in his May 2018 re-election campaign. But the plaudits, for now, stops there.
— Malay Mail

Cambodia to Host the ASEM Summit
This will be the first time that the country holds ASEM, which is described as an “intergovernmental process” meant to encourage Asian-European relations and cooperation on economic, political, social, cultural and educational matters.
— Themy Themy

Leaders from 17 countries, including PM Lee Hsien Loong, attend Indonesian President Joko Widodo’s inauguration
Leaders from 17 countries gathered in Indonesia’s capital city on Sunday (Oct 20) to witness the inauguration of Mr Joko Widodo for his second and final term as President of Indonesia.
— The Straits Times

Mega-projects cast shadow over Southeast Asia property market
Massive building developments are springing up across Southeast Asian skylines, with historic projects underway in Thailand and Indonesia backed by free-flowing cash from overseas.
— Nikkei Asian Review (paywall)

South China Sea: Opportunities for ASEAN?
Malaysia’s foreign minister said on Sunday that his country must boost its naval capabilities to face the worst-case scenario of the South China Sea conflict.
— Anadolu Agency

Train ride consolidates 30 years of ASEAN-Korea friendship
On a southbound train from Seoul, Oct. 16, two beauty pageant winners from Indonesia and South Korea ― Karina Syahna and Keum Na-na ― were sharing experiences from their highly competitive contests.
— The Korea Times

Asean trade in services lib to boost PHL semi-skilled labor
LIBERALIZING trade in services in Southeast Asia will increase the demand for semi-skilled Filipino workers, according to a trade expert.
— Business Mirror

China’s Belt and Road Initiative as globalization
This is a long article that could not fit in the column space I am allotted. It answers only the most important questions that ordinary Filipinos should know.
— The Philippine Star

Japan leads the way in trade with ASEAN
Tens of thousands of Japanese companies operate in ASEAN and their number is increasing year by year.
— East Asia Forum

No one dominant Southeast Asian eCommerce player as loyalty lacking, says new study
There is immense potential for companies in Southeast Asia to build brand loyalty and growth as there is no dominant player in the eCommerce market, according to a new study titled “Riding the Digital Wave: Southeast Asia’s Discovery Generation” by Bain & Company and Facebook.
— Marketing Interactive

India eyes stronger business ties with ASEAN, at par with political relations: Ram Nath Kovind
India has deep political and people-to-people relations with each and every country in the ASEAN and wish to bring economic and business relations up to the same level, suggested President Ram Nath Kovind.
— The Economic Times

Bay Area, SE Asia poised to boost links
The rise of the Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macau Greater Bay Area to become a world-class city cluster means huge opportunities for Southeast Asian entrepreneurs for investment and collaboration, speakers told a Bay Area forum in Macao last week.
— The Phnom Penh Post

Online spend in S-EA to outpace growth of digital consumers
ONLINE spend in South-east Asia is projected to outpace the growth of digital consumers by a factor of three, with clothing and personal care emerging as two of the leading categories.
— The Business Times

18 SE Asians found proselytising on touris ..
Days after 14 foreigners were asked to leave Bijnor for illegally preaching their religion on tourist visa — which is illegal — on Sunday, 18 more foreign tourists were found proselytising their religion.
— The Times of India

ASEAN auto industry on a downturn
The ASEAN automotive industry is experiencing a downturn both in production and sales with major countries including the Philippines posting declines, data from the ASEAN Automotive Federation showed.
— Manila Bulletin

Cambodia morning news

Compiled by Raksmey Khoem          @raksmey.aecnews

 

Disappeared: Cambodia Interior Ministry blamed for missing Mexican educator Osman Karaca (video) *updated
A Mexican woman and her friends have taken to social media to try and prevent the forced deportation to Turkey of her husband following his enforced disappearance from the streets of the Cambodia capital, Phnom Penh, earlier this week.
— AEC News Today

Cambodia, Turkey set to grow bilateral trade to $1B annually
Cambodia and Turkey have renewed their pledge to boost bilateral trade and investments to $1 billion annually, the Ministry of Commerce said.
— The Phnom Penh Post

Remittances Partnership to Use Cambodia Central Bank’s Blockchain System
Malayan Banking Bhd (Maybank) has signed a memorandum of understanding (MoU) with the National Bank of Cambodia (NBC) on cross-border payments and remittances.
— Coin Telegraph

See here for more of today’s Cambodia morning news

Indonesia morning news

Compiled by Justhine De Guzman Uy         @justhine.aecnews

 

Indonesia Launches $212M International Development Aid Fund
The government has launched the Indonesian Agency for International Development, an endowment and development fund to help reduce poverty and social inequality around the world.
— Jakarta Globe

Government finally passes IMEI regulation to block ‘illegal’ cellphones in Indonesia, set to take effect in April 2020
We’ve been through this before, but this time it’s official: cell phones obtained outside of legally recognized means may soon no longer function in Indonesia, as the government today passed a new regulation in a bid to curb the spread of illegal phones in the country.
— Antara News

Jokowi Convey 5 Work Programs in Presidential Inauguration Speech
President Joko Widodo or Jokowi delivered a speech after being sworn in at the MPR building, on Sunday, October 20, 2019.
— Tempo.co

See here for more of today’s Indonesia morning news

Lao PDR morning news

Compiled by Raksmey Khoem         @raksmey.aecnews

 

Laos Urged to Cancel Latest Dam for Mainstream Mekong
Environmental rights groups are calling on Laos to cancel the latest hydro-electric dam it has approved for construction across the Mekong River, warning of dire consequences for the millions of people who rely on the waterway for a living.
— VOA

Lao Samsung Electronics Partners with WFP to Assist Deaf Students
Lao Samsung Electronics in cooperation with the World Food Program has created educational opportunities for deaf and speech-impaired students, equitable with the general public, through technology.
— The Laotian Times

LOCA, Lanexang Insurance Join Hands for Better Protection Standard
Laos’s first ride-hailing service LOCA has signed a cooperative agreement with Vientiane-based insurance firm Lanexang Assurance Public Company in a move to enhance the protection standard of the service.
— The Laotian Times

See here for more of today’s Lao morning news

Malaysia morning news

Compiled by Sreypov Men         @MenSreypov

 

Malaysia wants companies wishing to send plastic waste to first get their government’s support
The Malaysian government will impose a new condition on foreign companies wishing to export plastic waste into the country next year, said Housing and Local Government Minister Zuraida Kamaruddin.
— The Straits Times

RM10.6 million for three development projects in Muar: Azmin
The government has allocated RM10.6 million to finance three development projects in the Muar district in efforts to provide more comfortable facilities to meet the needs of the local population.
— The Sun Daily

Malaysia wants to regulate e-cigarettes
E-cigarettes and vaping devices (EVC) have dominated the public and academic debate on tobacco control since its introduction into the market.
— The Asean Post

See here for more of today’s Malaysia Morning News

Myanmar morning news

Compiled by Sreypov Men         @MenSreypov

 

Myanmar citizen investment volume reaches K 19,000 billion including US$ 10 billion in 11 economic sectors
Myanmar citizen investment volume reached K 19,000 billion including US$ 10 billion in 11 economic sectors of Myanmar within 31 years, with the most investment in real estate accounting for 22 %, according to the official statistics of the Department of Investment and Company Administration (DICA).
— Eleven Myanmar

Traffic with Myanmar int’l airport grows in 9 months this year
Traffic with Myanmar’s Yangon International Airport hit 4.6 million in the first nine months of this year, up 6.5 percent from the same period of last year when it registered 4.32 million, said Sunday an announcement of the Yangon Aerodrome Company (YACL), which is the operator of the airport.
— Xinhua

Over $360m earned from animal product exports in 2018-2019 FY
Myanmar earned more than US$360 million from exporting animal products in 2018-2019 fiscal year exceeding over US$130 million compared to 2017-2018 FY, according to figures from 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

 

Duterte’s ‘free to kill’ order draws concern
Prelates and human rights advocates have raised concerns over President Duterte’s statement on Thursday that the controversial police official, Lt. Col. Jovie Espenido, was “free to kill” in Bacolod City.
— Philippine Daily Inquirer

Seoul’s push on tariff cuts stalls FTA talks with PHL
THE Philippines will no longer see its second bilateral free-trade agreement (FTA) materialize by November, as negotiators slow down talks after South Korea reportedly became more aggressive in pushing for tariff cuts.
— Business Mirror

Marawi rehab to be 90%-95% complete by December 2021, says task force chief
The rehabilitation of the areas in Marawi City most affected by the siege will be 90 to 95 percent completed by December 2021, the chief of Task Force Bangon Marawi said Sunday.
— GMA Network

See here for more of today’s Philippines morning news

Singapore morning news

Compiled by Justhine De Guzman Uy         @justhine.aecnews

 

Singapore keeps top spot in Asia for IP rights protection
SINGAPORE is tops in Asia again in the strength of the protection it offers for intellectual property (IP) rights.
— The Business Times

Singapore has wealth of new opportunities to exploit: Chan Chun Sing
They include efficiently farmed food and ecotourism; emerging trends play to nation’s strengths.
— Straits Times (annoying popups)

Changi Airport to break passenger records in 2019 thanks to Jewel: PM Lee
AN ALL-TIME high of 65.6 million travellers passed through Changi Airport in 2018, and Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong is confident that the record will be broken again this year because of the new Jewel Changi Airport complex.
— The Business Times

See here for more of today’s Singapore morning news

Thailand morning news

Compiled by John Le Fevre         @photo_journ

 

Bangkok Airways staff ‘deport’ Kenyans from Suvarnabhumi: racial profiling claimed
A Kenyan travel agent who was unlawfully ‘deported’ from Bangkok’s Suvarnabhumi Airport by Bangkok Airways staff intends to petition Kenya’s foreign ministry, the UN Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights (UN-OHCHR), and Thai Prime Minister General Prayut Chan-o-cha, amongst others, over what she claims was racial profiling. A civil claim for damages is also being contemplated.
— AEC News Today

Senate passes executive decree on troop transfer to Royal Security Command
Thailand’s Senate overwhelmingly voted in favour of the executive decree to transfer some army units and budget to the Royal Security Command, which is tasked with providing security to the Royal Family.
— Thai PBS News

Bryde’s whale set free by drilling team in Gulf of Thailand
Following an offshore drilling team’s rescue of Boonrod the dog earlier this year, a drilling team working on another platform off the southern coast has saved a Bryde’s whale.
— Bangkok Post

See here for more of today’s Thailand morning news

Vietnam morning news

Compiled by Sreypov Men         @MenSreypov

 

USDA trade chief considered Vietnam major potential importer of US products
Last year, Vietnam was the seventh largest market for US agricultural products at US$4.2 billion.
— The Hanoitimes

Vietnam set to be biggest contributor to growth of SE Asia digital spending
The rapid digitalization of communities in Indonesia, Thailand and Vietnam made these countries the top contenders for the region`s digital spending crown.
— The Hanoitimes

African swine fever outbreak has cut Vietnam hog herd by 20%: USDA undersecretary
African swine fever has killed off about 20 per cent of Vietnam’s hog herd, and it is not clear whether the outbreak has been contained, US Department of Agriculture Undersecretary Ted McKinney said on Friday.
— Channel NewsAsia

See here for more of today’s Vietnam morning news

 

 

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