Asean Morning News
Compiled by Kongleaphy Keam @kongleaphy1
New funds to support B&R in Guangxi, ASEAN
China will set up funds totaling 50 billion yuan ($7.6 billion) to invest in projects related to the Belt and Road initiative (B&R) in South China’s Guangxi Zhuang Autonomous Region and countries of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN), the Xinhua News Agency reported on Sunday.
— Global Times
Asean cooperation key to anti-terror efforts, says think tank
Asean countries need to focus on domestic inter-agency and state-to-state cooperation in the fight against rising terror concerns in the region.
— Free Malaysia Today
ASEAN’s Rohingya Response — Barely A Peep Outside Of Malaysia
More than 600,000 Rohingya Muslims have been displaced from their Myanmar homes in what has been described as the “fastest growing refugee crisis in the world.” An estimated of at least 6,700 members of the minority group have met violent deaths, including 730 children below age 5, according to the latest numbers by Doctors Without Borders.
— Forbes
Assam to transform North East of India as ‘New Engine of Growth’ for the country
Assam is the largest economy in North-Eastern India and is rapidly making strides towards employment generation and inclusive growth by a balanced pattern of industrial investment. It embarks upon a new charter in the path of development, laying emphasis on new capital formation through the creation of ecologically compliant assets in a sustainable manner.
— E-Pao
Sunway Labs to help startups go regional
SOME seven months after its launch, Sunway Group’s non-profit incubator, Sunway iLabs has undertaken initiatives to increase its regional and international reach for its users.
— The Star Online
ASEAN Family Day celebrated in Cambodia
The ASEAN Family Day was held in Phnom Penh, Cambodia on December 16. The event, jointly organised by the Cambodian Ministry of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation and embassies of ASEAN members in the country, is part of activities in 2017 to mark the founding and development of ASEAN over 50 years.
— Vietnam Plus
Asean Agriculture Summit: Competitive analytics
How does the Philippines compare with its Asean peers? On Oct. 4. 2017, I spoke at the Association of Southeast Nations (Asean) Agriculture Summit upon the invitation of Asean Business Advisory Council chair, Joey Concepcion.
— Inquirer
Can Barclays succeed if it returns to Asia
In its exodus from Asia, Barclays lost several high-profile staff members and their clients to rival banks. Vivian Chan, Didier von Daeniken, and Vishal Jain, all joined Standard Chartered after lengthy careers in Barclays Asian wealth units. Srinivas Siripurapu also joined Standard Chartered from Barclays. He took over responsibility for Standard Chartered’s private banking teams in the ASEAN and Southeast Asia region.
— Asean Today
‘Malaysia must lead Asean on Rohingya crisis’
ASEAN must end its principle of non-interference in the internal affairs of a member state and get tough with Myanmar over the Rohingya crisis, experts said at an international conference in Melbourne, Australia.
— The Malaysian Insight
Cambodia Morning News
Compiled by Sreypov Men @MenSreypov
Cambodia’s Hun Sen challenges EU and U.S. to freeze assets
Cambodian Prime Minister Hun Sen encouraged the United States and European Union on Friday to freeze the assets of Cambodian leaders abroad in response to his government’s crackdown on the opposition and civil society.
— Reuters
PM Hun Sen Asks U.S: Individual Group or Country?
Prime Minister Hun Sen asked the United States if she wanted to choose a relationship with only an individual group of people or with Cambodia as a whole.
— Fresh News
PM Hun Sen Encourages Former CNRP Members to Form a New Party
Prime Minister Hun Sen recommended the dissolved opposition party members to form a new party to compete in election.
— Fresh News
See here for more of today’s Cambodia Morning News
Indonesia Morning News
Compiled by Sreypov Men @MenSreypov
LNG imports not a wise decision, PGN says
State-owned gas company PT Perusahaan Gas Negara (PGN) has reminded the government not to hastily import liquefied natural gas (LNG) amid the current oversupply situation.
— The Jakarta Post
Government prioritizes infrastructure development: President Jokowi
President Joko Widodo (Jokowi) highlighted that infrastructure development of port, railway lines, and road networks remain a priority for the government, especially in the border areas.
— Antara
Tens of thousands protest in Indonesia against US Jerusalem move
Tens of thousands of people in Indonesia protested on Sunday against US president Donald Trump’s decision to recognise Jerusalem as the capital of Israel, the latest show of support for the Palestinians in the country with the world’s largest Muslim population.
— The National
See here for more of today’s Indonesia Morning News
Lao PDR Morning News
Compiled by Leakhena Khat @leakhenakhat
Corruption causing major loss to the nation
The state lost more than 480 billion kip through corruption over the past five years, and this directly affected national development and poverty reduction efforts in Laos, the State Inspection Authority (SIA) has said.
— Vientiane Times
Occupational skills training raised via Singaporean institute
Improving and upgrading knowledge and capacity for teachers at the country’s skill development centres was the focus of discussions as Labour experts from Laos and Singapore met in the capital recently.
— Vientiane Times
Laos still attractive to Vietnamese investors: minister
Minister Dung, who is also Chairman of the Vietnam-Laos Cooperation Committee, expressed his hope at the meeting with the Lao Government leader that Laos will continue to support Vietnamese firms in the country.
— VIETNAMNET Bridge
See here for more of today’s Lao Morning News
Malaysia Morning News
Compiled by Kongleaphy Keam @kongleaphy1
Malaysia says ‘no’ to legalising narcotics — Ahmad Zahid
Malaysia will not bow to any resolution passed by any world body, including the United Nations, to legalise the use of narcotics, says Deputy Prime Minister Datuk Seri Ahmad Zahid Hamidi.
— The Borneo Post
Malaysia to delay implementation of Vehicle Entry Permit: Report
The implementation of Malaysia’s Vehicle Entry Permit (VEP) originally scheduled for January 2018 will be delayed, the country’s transport minister Liow Tiong Lai said on Sunday (Dec 17).
— Channel News Asia
‘Malaysia must lead Asean on Rohingya crisis’
ASEAN must end its principle of non-interference in the internal affairs of a member state and get tough with Myanmar over the Rohingya crisis, experts said at an international conference in Melbourne, Australia.
— The Malaysian Insight
See here for more of today’s Malaysia Morning News
Myanmar Morning News
Compiled by Kongleaphy Keam @kongleaphy1
Could Aung San Suu Kyi face Rohingya genocide charges?
Zeid Ra’ad Al Hussein, is determined that the perpetrators of the horrors committed against the Rohingya face justice.
— BBC
Rohingya refugees say no return to Myanmar without equal rights
Rohingya refugees interviewed by Oxfam in Bangladesh say they will not go back to Myanmar until their safety can be guaranteed and they have equal rights, including being able to work and travel freely. Many – especially women – were deeply traumatized by their experiences, including rape and seeing loved ones killed, and said they would commit suicide if forcibly repatriated before these conditions have been met.
— Relief Web
United Nations says genocide charges could be brought against Myanmar after campaign against Rohingya people
The United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights Zeid Ra’ad Al Hussein tells tomorrow night’s BBC Panorama: “You cannot rule out the possibility that acts of genocide have been committed.”
— Mirror
See here for more of today’s Myanmar Morning News
Philippines Morning News
Compiled by Leakhena Khat @leakhenakhat
2020 target: PH eyes 80K foreign retirees
The Philippine Retirement Authority (PRA) plans to increase the number of foreign retirees in the country to 80,000 by 2020 through various incentives, according to the agency’s top official.
— Cebu Daily News
DOE starts crafting PH nuclear power plans
Underpinned by a technical assistance from the Russian Federation State Atomic Energy Cooperation (ROSATOM), the Department of Energy (DOE) announced it is now well on its way into crafting plans for the country’s nuclear power ambitions.
— Manila Bulletin
Tropical Storm Kills 30, and Over 80,000 Flee to Shelters in Philippines
More than 30 people were killed and many others were missing after a slow-moving tropical storm spurred floods and landslides in the central Philippines, officials said on Sunday.
— The New York Times
See here for more of today’s Philippines Morning News
Singapore Morning News
Compiled by Leakhena Khat @leakhenakhat
New $6.2 million plaza for Jurong West to open end-2018
Details of this new $6.2 million building, to be known as Jurong Central Plaza, were revealed yesterday by Jurong GRC MP Ang Wei Neng.
— The New Paper
Singapore telecom firm Starhub acquires D’Crypt in $90m deal
Singapore telecom firm StarHub Ltd has further augmented its enterprise solutions offering through the acquisition of city-state-based D’Crypt Pte Ltd for a maximum consideration of up to S$122 million ($90.4 million). The acquisition will be paid in cash and funded using internal resources.
— DealStreetAsia
Singapore non-oil exports in Nov eases from Oct’s stellar growth
SINGAPORE’S exports continued to record growth in November, but has eased from October’s stellar showing due to high base effects from a year ago and slowing electronic shipments.
— The Business Times
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Thailand Morning News
Compiled by John Le Fevre @photo_journ
BBL forecasts bad-loan peak
Bangkok Bank (BBL) expects non-performing loans (NPLs) in the small and medium-sized enterprise (SME) segment to peak next quarter after increasing at a slow pace against a backdrop of economic recovery.
— Bangkok Post
Insurgents burn bus in southern Thailand
Armed insurgents stopped and torched a Bangkok-bound passenger bus on a highway in southern Thailand on Sunday, police said.
— Reuters
Thai PM content with Thailand’s removal from US Priority Watch List
The Prime Minister has expressed his satisfaction with the United States’ decision to remove Thailand from the Special 301 Priority Watch List.
— News Today
See here for more of today’s Thailand Morning News
Vietnam Morning News
Compiled by Sreypov Men @MenSreypov
ThaiBev unit seeks to buy a near $5b stake in Sabeco
Vietnam’s trade ministry said on Sunday that Vietnam Beverage Co Ltd, a unit of Thai Beverage, was the only investor seeking to buy all shares of Vietnamese brewer Sabeco on offer worth nearly $5 billion.
— DealStreetAsia
Vietnam steelmakers dig in for US battle
THE Vietnam Steel Association (VSA) has vowed to co-ordinate with the country’s Ministry of Industry and Trade to protect the rights of steelmakers that have been accused of tax evasion by the US Department of Commerce (DOC).
— The Nation
Viet Nam’s e-commerce market booming
Viet Nam is one of the world’s fastest growing e-commerce countries, Lai Viet Anh, deputy director of Viet Nam E-commerce and Information Technology Agency (Vecita) under the Ministry of Industry and Trade, said.
— Bizhub
See here for more of today’s Vietnam Morning News
Asean Morning News is the most comprehensive selection of reports on what you need to know from around the Asean Economic Community (AEC) published. All articles are hand curated by the team at AEC News Today. It is published M-F by AEC News Today: Governance, not government; policies not politics.