Asean Morning News
Compiled by Kongleaphy Keam @kongleaphy1
Silent Killer: Forget Cigarettes – Light up a Mosquito Coil Instead
The recent controversy generated by the Dengvaxia vaccine scandal in the Philippines will see many people returning to more traditional methods to ward off the debilitating effects of mosquito-borne disease, with mosquito coils and bed nets at the forefront of protection in mosquito-endemic areas.
— AEC News Today
Thai & Lao Entrepreneurs Win Prestigious Leadership Scholarships
Two female entrepreneurs, one from Thailand and the other from Lao PDR, are recipients of this year’s 2018 Asean Global Leadership Program (AGLP) Scholarship from regional Management Consulting firm SRW&Co.
— AEC News Today
Why India is important for Asean
As India prepares to host the leaders of the 10 ASEAN nations for a commemorative summit next month, a new book says that the election of Narendra Modi as Prime Minister has brought about a change to the relationship between India and the regional grouping and that New Delhi can provide strategic balance in the bloc given the geopolitical rivalry between Washington and Beijing.
— Hans India
2017: A year of missteps and mismanagement for Lee Hsien Loong
2017 was a horrible year for Singapore’s government — and for Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong in particular, which began with an open and vocal stoush with China.
— AEC News Today
India to link highway corridors to int’l trade points for Rs
To facilitate trade with bordering countries like Nepal and Bangladesh, India will link its major highway corridors to international trade points at a cost of Rs 25,000 crore, Union Minister Nitin Gadkari said.
— Outlook
Ahead of ASEAN-India Summit, Govt Plans Measures to Battle Air Pollution in Delhi
The Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB), the apex body for monitoring national pollution levels in India, is taking several measures to counter Delhi’s air pollution ahead of the India-ASEAN Special Commemorative Summit to be held in the city in January.
— Little India
Analyst: Malaysia best-protected in Asean against IS
Malaysia is best protected against terrorism among Southeast Asian nations, an analyst said. Compared with Indonesia and the Philippines, which have suffered multiple attacks by terror groups, only one attack was carried out on Malaysian soil by the Islamic State (IS) last year.
— Free Malaysia Today
UN endorses stand on moderation
FRIDAY Dec 8, 2017 was a landmark date for the movement of moderation when the United Nations, at the 72nd General Assembly, adopted a resolution tabled by Malaysia, and co-sponsored by 29 member nations.
— New Straits Times
WiFi and the return of unlimited data plans
There is an ever-surging appetite for data consumption in Asean, which comes as operators become better equipped to deliver faster mobile connectivity.
— Bangkok Post
Cambodia Morning News
Compiled by Sreypov Men @MenSreypov
Hun Sen says Cambodia is self-sufficient and does not need other countries to ‘destroy peace anymore’
Prime Minister Hun Sen repeated his insistence that Cambodia is self-sufficient and does not need the support of outside countries on Saturday, while continuing to equate “peace” with development.
— The Phnom Penh Post
Silent Killer: Forget Cigarettes – Light up a Mosquito Coil Instead
The recent controversy generated by the Dengvaxia vaccine scandal in the Philippines will see many people returning to more traditional methods to ward off the debilitating effects of mosquito-borne disease, with mosquito coils and bed nets at the forefront of protection in mosquito-endemic areas.
— AEC News Today
Cambodia’s Opposition Party Urges Officials to Declare Assets Following Threats of Jail
Senior officials from Cambodia’s opposition Cambodia National Rescue Party (CNRP) are encouraging colleagues to declare their assets as instructed by the country’s Anti-Corruption Unit (ACU) to avoid legal action, following a warning by Prime Minister Hun Sen that those who fail to do so will be jailed.
— Radio Free Asia
See here for more of today’s Cambodia Morning News
Indonesia Morning News
Compiled by Sreypov Men @MenSreypov
Indonesia’s Indofood buys out drink venture partner Asahi for $20m
Indonesia’s largest food company, Indofood Sukses Makmur, said Friday it will buy Japan-based Asahi Group Holdings’ stakes in two nonalcoholic beverage joint ventures for $20 million.
— Nikkei Asian Review
PLN’s electricity sales still grow at snail’s pace
State electricity firm PLN has said its electricity sales have only grown 3.62 percent annually from January to November, raising further concerns over excess capacity that could choke the company with multi-billion US dollar costs.
— The Jakarta Post
Gas Supply Distribution in Medan Disrupted
Gas supply to customer of sate-owned gas company PGN in Medan, North Sumatra has been halted for the past few weeks.
— Tempo
See here for more of today’s Indonesia Morning News
Lao PDR Morning News
Compiled by Leakhena Khat @leakhenakhat
Thai & Lao Entrepreneurs Win Prestigious Leadership Scholarships
Two female entrepreneurs, one from Thailand and the other from Lao PDR, are recipients of this year’s 2018 Asean Global Leadership Program (AGLP) Scholarship from regional Management Consulting firm SRW&Co.
— AEC News Today
Champassak breaks ground on 16-km embankment
Champassak authorities on Friday held a ground-breaking ceremony to start construction of the US$65.6-million Mekong River Integrated Management Project in the provincial capital Pakxe.
— Vientiane Times
LP. Provincial Hospital Scales up Diagnostic Imaging Capabilities with Newly Installed GE CT Scanner
GE Healthcare in collaboration with Luang Prabang Provincial Hospital unveiled its newly installed high-performance computer tomography (CT) scanner today at a launch ceremony.
— Lao News Agency
See here for more of today’s Lao Morning News
Malaysia Morning News
Compiled by Kongleaphy Keam @kongleaphy1
China’s Belt and Road Initiative opens up opportunities for Chinese firms to expand here, says Citi Malaysia
The Belt and Road Initiative (BRI) will open new opportunities for more investors from China to expand their operations in Malaysia, Citi Bhd (Citi Malaysia) chief executive officer (CEO) Lee Lung Nien said, noting that the two countries have a strong history of bilateral trade and cultural relevance.
— The Edge Markets
Increasing airport tax removes incentive for foreigners to use klia2
It is the normal practice for airports around the world to levy the passenger service charge (PSC), also known as airport tax.
— Free Malaysia Today
Challenging year for Labuan’s oil and gas in 2017
The year 2017 has been a challenging one for Malaysia’s oil and gas (O&G) hub of Labuan, with the island’s key engine of economic growth continuing to run at a slow pace.
— The Borneo Post
See here for more of today’s Malaysia Morning News
Myanmar Morning News
Compiled by Kongleaphy Keam @kongleaphy1
China and Russia oppose UN resolution on Rohingya
The UN general assembly has urged Myanmar to end a military campaign against Muslim Rohingya and called for the appointment of a UN special envoy, despite opposition from China, Russia and some regional countries.
— The Guardian
Myanmar invited to observe military drill despite criticism
The Myanmar military, which has been accused of ethnic cleansing against the country’s Muslim Rohingya minority, has been invited back as an observer in a major multinational military exercise next year led by the United States and Thailand.
— The Straits Times (paywall)
Telenor Myanmar to buy more 1800-MHz spectrum
Telenor Myanmar will pay $80 million to acquire additional 1800-MHz spectrum to help it optimize its 4G network.
— Telecomasia
See here for more of today’s Myanmar Morning News
Philippines Morning News
Compiled by Leakhena Khat @leakhenakhat
PDEA releases directives to boost drug war
The Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency (PDEA) has released its official operational directives to strengthen its lead role in the war on drugs following the return of the Philippine National Police (PNP) and other law enforcement agencies to the operations.
— Philstar
Dozens Feared Dead in Fire at Philippines Mall
Fire crews battling an enormous blaze that tore through a shopping mall in a southern city in the Philippines, trapping at least 37 people, pulled one body from the building, the mayor said on Sunday.
— The New York Times
Investors may focus on second, third-tier firms
and third-tier firms — especially those with good prospects — could dominate trading during the final week of the year, analysts said.
— The Manila Times
See here for more of today’s Philippines Morning News
Singapore Morning News
Compiled by Leakhena Khat @leakhenakhat
2017: A year of missteps and mismanagement for Lee Hsien Loong
2017 was a horrible year for Singapore’s government — and for Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong in particular, which began with an open and vocal stoush with China.
— AEC News Today
Keppel pledges to protect dividends from ‘one-off’ Brazil bribery fine
Singapore’s Keppel Corp Ltd said the impact of a mammoth fine borne by its offshore unit will be a ‘one-off’ in this year’s earnings and will not impact dividends, as analysts predicted a share-price slump when markets reopen on Tuesday (Dec 26).
— Channel NewsAsia
Singapore’s tourism industry set to finish 2017 on strong note
WITH the festive period under way, Singapore’s tourism industry looks poised to finish the year strong, bolstered by growing arrivals from China.
— The Business Times
See here for more of today’s Singapore Morning News
Thailand Morning News
Compiled by John Le Fevre @photo_journ
Drink Drive Death: 2017s Most Annoying Christmas Jingle (HD video)
The jingle in the video above is set to become one of the most annoying of the festive season. If that happens its executive producer, Thai businessman Sermsin Samalapa, will be delighted.
— AEC News Today (video)
November poll ‘impossible’
Critics slam use of article 44 as harming democracy while weakening existing political parties by essentially resetting playing field.
— The Nation (annoying popups)
Thai & Lao Entrepreneurs Win Prestigious Leadership Scholarships
Two female entrepreneurs, one from Thailand and the other from Lao PDR, are recipients of this year’s 2018 Asean Global Leadership Program (AGLP) Scholarship from regional Management Consulting firm SRW&Co.
— AEC News Today
See here for more of today’s Thailand Morning News
Vietnam Morning News
Compiled by Sreypov Men @MenSreypov
Treasury reports strong fiscal year
The Vietnam State Treasury (VNST) has fulfilled its assigned tasks of capital disbursement, monetary injection and strictly managing State Budget expenditures, says its Deputy Director General Nguyen Quang Vinh.
— Bizhub
Biotechnological products seek markets
Domestic and foreign scientists joined business owners at a workshop in the central province of Thua Thien-Hue on December 21 to seek markets for scientific research products, especially biotechnological ones.
— VietnamPlus
Vietnamese SMEs: new target for foreign investors
While multinational conglomerates and large foreign investment funds are looking for opportunities to invest in large companies, other foreign investors are eyeing small and medium enterprises (SMEs).
— 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.