Asean morning news
Compiled by Stella-maris Ewudolu @stmarisewudolu
Breakthrough in US-China trade war is good news for southeast Asian property markets, say developers
A stabilisation in relations between the US and China after almost two years of their bruising trade war will help bolster Southeast Asia’s property market in 2020, according to industry players attending a conference in Beijing.
— South China Morning Post
UOB extends online travel marketplace to Malaysia, Indonesia, Thailand customers
UNITED Overseas Bank (UOB) is launching its online travel marketplace, The Travel Insider, for customers in Malaysia, Indonesia, Thailand, it said on Monday.
— The Business Times
Beijing must not be allowed to bully Southeast Asian nations in the South China Sea
Donald Trump and Xi Jinping are the two biggest threats to global peace today.
— South China Morning Post
India has left RCEP behind, but not its ambition in Southeast Asia
India’s decision in the final months of last year to withdraw from negotiations for the mega-regional trade agreement known as the Regional Comprehensive Economic Partnership (RCEP) disappointed the countries of Southeast Asia, which are also members of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN).
— The Interpreter
Nation to host crucial Asean tourism forum in year 2021
Cambodia will host a week-long regional tourism forum in January 2021 where leaders in the business, key experts and private sector interest groups will gather to discuss its development.
— Khmer Times
Prioritised orientations in ASEAN economic pillar in 2020 unveiled
Three prioritised orientations in the economic pillar of ASEAN in 2020 was revealed during the first meeting of ASEAN Senior Economic Officials in 2020 (SEOM 1/51), which is underway in Hanoi from January 12-14.
— Vietnamplus
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 waters are a major shipping route for global commerce and are rich in fish and possible oil and gas reserves.
— The New York Times
ASEAN Chairmanship 2020: For a cohesive and responsive ASEAN
Advancing ASEAN’s contribution to maintaining regional peace, security and stability has been identified as one of five key priorities for Việt Nam’s ASEAN Chairmanship 2020, wrote Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs Phạm Bình Minh in an article recently distributed by the Ministry of Foreign. Below is a translation of the article.
— Viet Nam News
Energy transition: ASEAN on track
In March last year, the World Economic Forum (WEF) launched the fifth edition of their Energy Transition Index (ETI), ranking 115 economies on how well they are able to balance energy security and access with environmental sustainability and affordability.
— The Asean Post
Discourse: UK, ASEAN to step up relations: First British envoy to regional bloc
The United Kingdom will open a new mission to ASEAN in Jakarta on Wednesday as part of its expanded commitment to the Southeast Asian region.
— The Jakarta Post
An electrified future for Asean: turning on tomorrow’s power, today
ASIA has made vast strides this past decade as the region transitions towards a digital economy.
— The Business Times
DPEX identifies seven data protection trends in Asean for 2020
The Data Protection Excellence Centre, the learning and research arm of Straits Interactive, of which European Innovation, Technology and Science Center (EITSC) Foundation is a partner, identified seven data protection trends for organizations in Asean to look out for in 2020.
— Business Mirror
Is Asean doing enough for migrant workers?: Inquirer contributors
Labour mobility has been a key feature of the socioeconomic landscape of Asean economies from the 1980s.
— The Straits Times
How is technology influencing Southeast Asia’s fintech industry in 2020
Last year was all about fintech rising to the digital demands of financial services, and this year the trend will continue, but with a tweak of technologies that are developing fast.
— e27
The Entrepreneurs Behind Southeast Asia’s Top Co-Working Spaces
For those old enough to remember, the antics we watched in The Office or read about in Dilbert made us laugh because we could identify with them.
— Unreserved
Fake news in Southeast Asia: a problem or an excuse?
Many governments in Southeast Asia claim to be extremely concerned about ‘fake news”.
— e27
2 Indonesians, 1 Malaysian arrested after boat intercepted entering Singapore illegally
Two Indonesians and a Malaysian have been arrested for entering Singapore illegally on a boat on Sunday (Jan 12) night.
— CNA
Cambodia morning news
Compiled by Raksmey Khoem @raksmey.aecnews
Never Again Children on Construction Sites
Some of them were there not because they had broken into the site to play children’s games as children the world over might do, oblivious to the possible danger.
— Thmey Thmey
Cambodian Protester Dies in Custody, Police Deny Abuse
A Cambodian rights group is calling for an investigation into the death of a jailed land-rights protester, saying that witness accounts of events leading to the man’s death contradict official denials of abuse by police.
— Radio Free Asia
More than 500 animals saved in Kampong Thom
NGO Wildlife Alliance, in cooperation with Forestry Administration officials and local authorities, on Friday rescued 526 wild animals from a store in Kampong Thom province.
— The Phnom Penh Post
See here for more of today’s Cambodia morning news
Indonesia morning news
Compiled by Justhine De Guzman Uy @justhine.aecnews
TNI confirms Chinese vessels have exited Indonesian EEZ
Joint Defense Regional Commands (Kogabwilhan) Commander I Rear Adm. Yudo Margono made assurance of the Chinese coast guard and fishing vessels having departed from Indonesia’s exclusive economic zone (EEZ) near Natuna waters, Riau Islands Province.
— Antara News
EU Alcohol Imports Blocked in Indonesia
Indonesia is clamping down on imports of European wine, spirits and dairy products in an escalating dispute over the Asian country’s palm oil.
— The Drinks Business
No more new plantations in protected forests, rules Supreme Court
The country has been losing its forests to plantation companies for years, with a large chunk of Indonesian rainforests across the archipelago converted into plantations of all kinds.
— The Jakarta Post
See here for more of today’s Indonesia morning news
Lao PDR morning news
Compiled by Raksmey Khoem @raksmey.aecnews
Laos aims to cut number of poor familes to 5% in 2020
An article in Kao Today, published on January 7, discussed the target, referring to a government report delivered at the most recent National Assembly session.
— ANN/Vientiane Times
Chinese investors keen to find investment opportunities in Laos
Their target sectors include information technology, hydropower, sand and stone excavation, paper production, mining, and infrastructure.
— ANN/Vientiane Times
US launches new initiative to help counter trafficking in persons
The United States has made a new commitment to support Laos to end human trafficking and has partnered with the Ministry of Labour and Social Welfare to launch a new three-year Laos Counter Trafficking in Persons (CTIP) programme.
— Vientiane Times (paywall)
See here for more of today’s Lao morning news
Malaysia morning news
Compiled by Sreypov Men @MenSreypov
Malaysia’s shadow economy is 21% of GDP: Guan Eng
Malaysia’s shadow economy accounts for 21 per cent of gross domestic product (GDP) and amounts to an estimated RM300 billion, says Finance Minister Lim Guan Eng.
— The Sun Daily
Malaysia’s labour force participation rate up in Nov 2019, new govt data reveals
The labour force participation rate in November 2019 increased 0.1 per cent to 68.8 per cent as compared to the previous month, according to the Key Statistics of Labour Force in Malaysia.
— Malay Mail
Najib shows off Arab prince’s RM93 billion Indonesia deal
Former Prime Minister Najib Razak has highlighted news about a RM93 billion investment by Abu Dhabi in Indonesia while questioning Pakatan Harapan’s handling of Crown Prince Sheikh Mohammed Zayed Al Nahyan.
— FMT
See here for more of today’s Malaysia Morning News
Myanmar morning news
Compiled by Sreypov Men @MenSreypov
Yangon airport installs digital concierge to help passengers
The Yangon International Airport on Sunday launched a digital-concierge system aimed at helping travellers in the country’s premier airport, a senior official said.
— Myanmar Times
Myanmar adds more countries to visa-on-arrival list
Myanmar government has added more countries to its list of countries whose citizens would be extended the visa-on-arrival (VoA) facility, reports said.
— WIO News
Yangon starts project to supply water for growing population
The Yangon government has begun a project aimed at supplying more water to the region’s fast growing population by tapping the Toe River, which is one of the eastern most distributaries in the Ayeyarwady Delta.
— Myanmar Times
See here for more of today’s Myanmar morning news
Philippines morning news
Compiled by Stella-maris Ewudolu @stmarisewudolu
Batangas declares state of calamity due to Taal Volcano eruption
The provincial government of Batangas on Monday, January 13, declared state of calamity in the province due to the eruption of Taal Volcano .
— Rappler
PNP declares full alert status for Taal Volcano eruption
The Philippine National Police (PNP) has declared full alert status for Metro Manila, Calabarzon, and Central Luzon so that cops may fully respond to the eruption of the Taal Volcano .
— Rappler
Trade deals ease health worker mobility — WTO
PHILIPPINE trade deals that grant access to health workers in partner countries represent a “substantive commitment” to allow a measure of worker mobility in the health care sector, the World Trade Organization (WTO) said in a working paper.
— BusinessWorld
See here for more of today’s Philippines morning news
Singapore morning news
Compiled by Justhine De Guzman Uy @justhine.aecnews
Singapore port container throughput hits record high in 2019: MPA
CONTAINER throughput at the Port of Singapore hit an all-time high of 37.2 million twenty-foot equivalent units (TEUs) in 2019, the Maritime and Port Authority of Singapore (MPA) announced in a press release on Monday.
— The Business Times
Singaporeans advised to defer travel to area near Taal volcano in the Philippines: MFA
Singaporeans are advised to defer travel to the areas near the Taal volcano island in the Philippines amid the threat of a hazardous explosive eruption, said the Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MFA) on Monday (Jan 13).
— Channel NewsAsia (very annoying popups)
10 Singapore-Manila flights cancelled or rescheduled
At least 10 flights between Singapore and Manila were cancelled or rescheduled yesterday after a volcano erupted south of the Philippine capital, Manila, forcing the closure of the Ninoy Aquino International Airport.
— Straits Times (annoying popups)
See here for more of today’s Singapore morning news
Thailand morning news
Compiled by John Le Fevre @photo_journ
UTCC trims 2020 growth
Myriad negative factors, including lower exports, widespread drought, baht strength, political uncertainty and poor business sentiment have prompted the University of the Thai Chamber of Commerce (UTCC) to lower its economic growth forecast to 2.8% for this year.
— Bangkok Post
Thailand Hotel Association head says year over year bookings look to be down 15 percent in January
The head of Thailand’s hoteliers’ association has predicted a tough year ahead for Thai tourism if bookings for the upcoming Chinese New Year are anything to go by.
— The Pattaya News
Despite bans, farmers in Nakhon Sawan continue to burn sugarcane fields contributing to air pollution
Local sugarcane growers in this central plains province have been seen burning their fields at night despite authorities’ ban on the practice to curb smog.
— The Pattaya News
See here for more of today’s Thailand morning news
Vietnam morning news
Compiled by Sreypov Men @MenSreypov
Vietnam jails Danang ex-chairmen over economic mismanagement
A court in Vietnam handed lengthy jail terms on Monday to two former chairmen of Danang city, accused of economic mismanagement, state media reported on Monday.
— FMT
Vietnam 2019 trade surplus $11.12 billion, beating $9.94 billion forecast: customs
Vietnam recorded a trade surplus of $11.12 billion last year, widening from a surplus of $6.8 billion in 2018, customs data released on Monday showed, with smartphones, garments and electronic home appliances among the largest export earners.
— Reuters
Vietnam receives US$16.7 billion of remittances in 2019
According to statistics by the World Bank (WB), overseas remittances transferred to Vietnam are estimated at US$16.7 billion in 2019, an increase of 4.4 percent compared to that in 2018.
— Sggp News
See here for more of today’s Vietnam morning news
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