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Asean Morning News

Compiled by Kongleaphy Keam    @kongleaphy1

‘Northeast policy to aid trade with ASEAN’
The new Industrial Policy being framed for the development of industries in the northeast would prove catalytic to the trade with southeast Asian nations, according to the government.
— The Hindu

House panel wants government to take up barriers to movement of professionals issue with ASEAN
A parliamentary standing committee on commerce has asked the government to revoke a review clause in the India-ASEAN free trade agreement to define ‘independent professionals’ for greater movement of natural persons in the ASEAN region
— The Economic Times

DOST EYES ASEAN COLLABORATION ON PACKAGING TECHNOLOGY DEVELOPMENT
The importance of product packaging cannot be ignored because of the increasing market competition especially in the ASEAN region. The Department of Science and Technology (DOST) and its line agency, the Industrial Technology Development Institute (ITDI), have fully supported local initiatives to better improve packaging materials for Philippine made products.
— Department of Science and Technology (DOST)

Behiang to be developed as state’s second gateway to ASEAN: CM
Speaking at the Zou Gal Centenary Commemoration, 2017 function held at Behiang village in Churachandpur district today, Chief minister, N. Biren Singh stated that Churachandpur – Behiang road via Singhat will be developed as the second corridor of the State to South East Asian Nations in the light of implementation of government of India’s Act East Policy.
— Imphal Free Press

‘The ASEAN Miracle’: An Optimistic Assessment of ASEAN’s Contribution to Regional Peace and Prosperity
The success of ASEAN as the world’s most important regional organisation after the European Union is reiterated several times in the book.
— The Wire

The insurance regulators of Asean
The Philippine insurance regulator is the only regulator within the Association of Southeast Asian Nations that carries the official title of “insurance commissioner.”
— Business Mirror

Ties With ASEAN Not Influenced By Any Third Country: India
Ministry of External Affairs spokesperson Raveesh Kumar said Myanmar acts as a bridge with ASEAN countries which is why India has initiated the Kaladan Multi-Modal Transit Transport Project that includes the India-Myanmar-Thailand tri-lateral highway.
— NDTV

Laos eyes Asean hotel Mice accreditation
Officials from the Tourism Management Department under the Ministry of Information, Culture and Tourism in charge of selecting the five hotels met with representatives from various hotels in Vientiane on Monday to disseminate the measures and other requirements agreed to by Asean for Meetings.
— Eleven Myammar

Indonesia commits to fostering ASEAN’s development
Indonesia always attaches importance to its cooperation with other ASEAN member countries and will work with them to boost the bloc’s development, said Indonesian Foreign Minister Retno Marsudi.
— Vietnam Plus

ASEAN and India Converge on Connectivity
India hosted the ASEAN-India Connectivity Summit (AICS) on December 11-12, with the theme of “Powering Digital and Physical Linkages for Asia in the 21st Century.” This summit came month after the 15th ASEAN-India Summit, in which connectivity was one of the major issues for discussion.
— The Diplomat

China steps back from islet blasting plan
China has agreed not to blast islets along the Mekong River because it would adversely affect Thais living along the watercourse, Foreign Minister Don Pramudwinai said Tuesday.
— Bangkok Post

Lizard, turtle among more than 100 new species found in Mekong region
A Vietnamese ‘crocodile lizard’ and a Thai turtle found on sale in a local market are among more than 100 new species discovered in the ecologically diverse but threatened Mekong region last year, researchers said Tuesday (Dec 19).
— Channel NewsAsia

Cambodia Morning News

Compiled by Sreypov Men    @MenSreypov

US democracy ‘not a good fit for Cambodia’, says academic
Pro-government academic and head of Cambodia’s Royal Academy Sok Touch yesterday continued to voice support for the government’s recent actions against the opposition while dismissing US pressure for Cambodia to maintain democratic principles, claiming the “American democracy” model was not palatable to the “culture and norms” of the Cambodian people.
— The Phnom Penh Post

Former deputy prime minister calls for protests
Former Funcinpec Deputy Prime Minister Lu Lay Sreng could be facing a new court case after calling for peaceful protests against the government in a video posted to Facebook yesterday, issuing comments similar to ones that recently saw former opposition leader Sam Rainsy slapped with a lawsuit earlier this month.
— The Phnom Penh Post

Cambodia to Launch First AGT System
The first ever 18-kilometer automated guideway transit (AGT) system running on six lines in the central and outskirt of Phnom Penh will be constructed.
— Fresh News

See here for more of today’s Cambodia Morning News

Indonesia Morning News

Compiled by Sreypov Men    @MenSreypov

Indonesia set to suspend 2,500 mining licenses
Indonesia is to suspend activities at more than 2,500 mines by the end of the year, a move environmentalists say does not go far enough.
— UCA News

Indonesia labels calls for U.S. boycott over Jerusalem move “misguided”
Indonesia’s vice president said on Tuesday that calls for a boycott of U.S. goods over President Donald Trump’s decision to recognise Jerusalem as the capital of Israel were misguided – not least because of the country’s reliance on U.S. technology.
— Reuters/Business Insider

PPATK Sees Signs of Money Laundering through Digital Currencies
The Center for Financial Transaction Reporting and Analysis (PPATK) discovered indications of money laundering through digital currency.
— Tempo

See here for more of today’s Indonesia Morning News

Lao PDR Morning News

Compiled by Leakhena Khat    @leakhenakhat

Restoring the Phou Phanang forest: Lao youth dig in
Digging the soil and planting saplings in the hot outdoors is hard work, but brings personal satisfaction for the many young people who are trying to restore the forest areas in their native villages in Phou Phanang forest in Lao PDR. One of the young female volunteers, 16-year-old Nanthana Vongmeunka said: “We have been living near the Phou Phanang forest since we were born. It is now time for us to serve our community to restore these forest areas for their benefit.”
— Mekong Commons 

Agriculture survey to be broadened in 2019
A nationwide agriculture survey to be carried out in 2019 will be widened and farmers will be questioned about the various practices they use.
— Vientiane Times 

President Bounnhang Visits Vietnam to Strengthen Ties, Cooperation
Party Secretary General and State President Bounnhang Vorachit arrived in Hanoi, Vietnam, on 19th December for a three-day visit to the neibouring country at the invitation of the General Secretary of the Communist Party of Vietnam Nguyen Phu Trong and Vietnam’s President Tran Dai Quang.
— Lao News Agency 

See here for more of today’s Lao Morning News

Malaysia Morning News

Compiled by Kongleaphy Keam    @kongleaphy1

How will China investments impact GE14?
We cannot deny that the fairly recent influx of Chinese investments in Malaysia has been a game changer of sorts.
— Free Malaysia Today

Axiata has invested over RM9 billion in Sri Lanka
Axiata Group Bhd through its subsidiary Dialog Axiata PLC has invested over US$2.2 billion (RM9 billion) in Sri Lanka to spearhead the rapid development of the nation’s telecommunication industry.
— The Sun Daily

AirAsia, Firefly stewardesses’ uniforms too sexy: Malaysian MPs
Two Malaysian ruling-party lawmakers have chided homegrown airlines AirAsia and Firefly for dressing their stewardesses in uniforms that are “too revealing”.
—The Straits Times

See here for more of today’s Malaysia Morning News

Myanmar Morning News

Compiled by Kongleaphy Keam    @kongleaphy1

Bangladesh, Myanmar Agree on Joint Group to Oversee Rohingya Repatriation
Bangladesh and Myanmar agreed Tuesday to establish a bilateral group to oversee the voluntary repatriation, starting next month, of as many as 700,000 Rohingya Muslims who fled violence in Rakhine state since October 2016.
— Radio Free Asia

A Mass Grave Has Been Found in Western Myanmar, the Military Says
Myanmar‘s army said on Monday that security forces have discovered a mass grave on the edge of a village in Rakhine State, and have launched an investigation.
— Time

Rape and murder of 100s of Rohingya detailed in new report
Human Rights Watch claims Myanmar army atrocities were ‘not just brutal, but systematic’. The Myanmar military has been acused of the rape and murder of hundreds of people in the village of Tula Toli, in a new report by Human Rights Watch.
— UCA News

See here for more of today’s Myanmar Morning News

Philippines Morning News

Compiled by Leakhena Khat    @leakhenakhat

Duterte signs P3.8-trillion 2018 national budget into law
After vetoing some line items, President Rodrigo Duterte signed the P3.767-trillion national budget for 2018 into law on Tuesday, December 19.
— Rappler

Income tax cut, but prices seen to go up
Wage earners can expect bigger take-home pay – but also bigger expenses on fuel, fares and goods such as sweetened beverages after President Duterte signed into law yesterday the first package of the Tax Reform for Acceleration and Inclusion (TRAIN).
— Philstar 

PH is Asia’s most dangerous country for reporters
The Philippines has become Asia’s most dangerous country for reporters, with at least five journalists being shot in the last year, four of whom died of their injuries.
— The Manila Times 

See here for more of today’s Philippines Morning News

Singapore Morning News

Compiled by Leakhena Khat   @leakhenakhat

1MDB scandal: Singapore issues more financial bans
Singapore’s central bank said on Tuesday (Dec 19) it has issued more financial bans in its 1MDB investigation.
— Channel NewsAsia 

Singapore issues cryptocurrency warning
Singapore Tuesday issued a warning about cryptocurrencies after a recent surge in prices sent investors flocking to bitcoin.
— The Star Online 

Singapore’s deepest tunnel system almost ready, will ensure reliable electricity supply
A warren of giant tunnels which will safeguard Singapore’s electricity supply for the future has been completed.
— The Straits Times (paywall)

See here for more of today’s Singapore Morning News

Thailand Morning News

Compiled by John Le Fevre    @photo_journ

Poll: Thailand November export growth seen slowing to 6.4 percent year-on-year
Thailand’s customs-cleared annual exports likely grew for a ninth straight month in November, but at a much slower pace than in October, a Reuters poll showed.
— Reuters

Investor confidence up as FETCO sees growth next year
The Federation of Thai Capital Markets Organization (FETCO) is forecasting economic expansion in Thailand of 4.2 percent next year with exports and investment to continue growing while also assessing that investor confidence over the next 3 months may temper somewhat but continue on an uptrend.
— NNT

NLA proposes phone tapping to prevent corruption
The junta’s lawmakers have proposed a law which will allow authorities to tap the phones of politicians suspected of corruption.
— Prachatai English

See here for more of today’s Thailand Morning News

Vietnam Morning News

Compiled by Sreypov Men    @MenSreypov

Ministries mull over easing automobile import rules
As expected by foreign automobile manufacturers, Vietnam is considering delaying the effective date of Decree No.116/2017/ND-CP for possible revisions to ease import rules.
— VietnamNet Bridge

Vietnam’s Corruption Crackdown Is All About Protecting Its Economic Miracle
Vietnam’s export-led economy has grown at an enviable 6% or so since 2012 and shows no signs of stopping, if you listen to analysts on the ground.
— Forbes

Licensing uncertainties grip foreign-invested enterprises
Pham Dinh Thuong, deputy director of the Ministry of Industry and Trade (MoIT)’s Legislation Department, told VIR that all FIE commercial processing activities are now subject to Decree 23, not Circular 04.
— VietnamNet Bridge

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.

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