Asean Morning News
Compiled by Kongleaphy Keam @kongleaphy1
ASEAN terror groups are sanctuaries for IS militants fleeing Syria and Iraq: Malaysian defence minister
Southeast Asia terror groups are acting as sanctuaries for Islamic State (IS) militants fleeing from Iraq and Syria as they come under intense air strikes from a Western-led coalition, said Malaysia’s Defence Minister Hishammuddin Hussein.
— Channel NewsAsia
ASEAN Ceramics Market to 2025 – Market is Anticipated to Reach USD 69.08 Billion
The ASEAN ceramics market was estimated at USD 33.98 billion in 2016, and is expected to grow at a CAGR of 8.2% from 2017 to 2025, driven primarily by the increasing need for the products in housing, construction, and industrial applications.
— PR Newswire
Growing trend among Asean tourists to use Rail Europe
There is a growing trend among Asean tourists to use Rail Europe to tour France and its neighbouring countries, with Thais and Indonesians topping the list.
— The Sun Daily
ASEAN Sees Sustained Growth
Association of Southeast Asian Nations growth will continue to outperform from a regional and global perspective, a Fitch Group unit said. The region’s “extremely large market potential,” BMI Research noted, stems from its reform prospects, integration initiatives, demographic trends and “relatively mild: economic imbalances, news outlets reported.
— Financial Tribune
Acharya calls for improving ties with ASEAN countries
Nagaland Governor PB Acharya has called for developing and strengthening connectivity of North East with the ASEAN region through trade, culture, people to people contacts and physical infrastructure.
— Morung Express
Analysis of the ASEAN Secure Content Management (SCM) Market 2017 – Forecast to 2021 – Research and Markets
Stronger Requirements for Security and Content Management Compliance and Constantly Evolving Threats are Driving the SCM Market
— Business Wire
Upcoming ASEAN summit: North-eastern states to play a major role
In a first, India’s north-eastern states are set to play a major role during the upcoming ASEAN-India summit.
— News Bytes
ASEAN moving at ‘snail’s pace’ in preventing tobacco industry interference – report
The Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) is moving at a “snail’s pace” in terms of preventing tobacco industry interference.
— Manila Bulletin
ASEAN country delegates visit XJTLU
Delegates participating in the China-ASEAN Member States Information Ministerial Meeting visited Xi’an Jiaotong-Liverpool University for the first time as part of a visit to Suzhou in Jiangsu Province, China. The meeting was aimed at enhancing information sharing and cooperation between China and the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN).
— PR Newswire
ASEAN recognizes scouting movement’s role in youth development
Recognizing the pivotal role of the scouting movement in advancing the cause of the multi-nation regional bloc, the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) secretariat acknowledged the important contribution of the scouting movement in shaping the region’s future leaders.
— PIA
ASEAN Army Ties in the Spotlight in Singapore
In November, Singapore hosted this year’s iteration of a series of regular ASEAN meetings focused on promoting greater interactions and confidence-building between Southeast Asian armies. The events put ongoing developments within this service in the spotlight amid the wide range of transnational challenges that regional states continue to face.
— The Diplomat
Cambodia Morning News
Compiled by Sreypov Men @MenSreypov
Cambodia: Hun Sen Seeks to Shut Major Rights Group
Cambodian Prime Minister Hun Sen has called for the interior ministry to investigate and shut the Cambodian Center for Human Rights (CCHR), a leading human rights group, Human Rights Watch said.
— Human Right Watch
PM Hun Sen Condemns Fake News and Hackers
Prime Minister Hun Sen claimed that Cambodian authorities are searching for hackers for Fresh News Facebook page.
— Fresh News
With CNRP gone, minor parties take their National Assembly seats
Forty-four unelected lawmakers from three parties that won less than a combined 5 percent of the vote in the 2013 elections took their seats in the National Assembly yesterday, replacing representatives from the now-shuttered Cambodia National Rescue Party.
— The Phnom Penh Post
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Indonesia Morning News
Compiled by Sreypov Men @MenSreypov
Indonesia launches sequel to tax amnesty
Under pressure to plug a looming revenue shortfall, the Indonesian government is giving taxpayers another chance to report previously hidden assets, a move dubbed by critics as “tax amnesty chapter two.”
— Nikkei Asian Review
Minister of SOE Appoints New Director of Human Capitals for Pertamina
Indonesia Minister of State-Owned Enterprises (SOE) Rini Soemarno has appointed a new Director of Human Capitals for state-owned energy company Pertamina on November 27, 2017.
— Netral News
BI Issues Regulation to Use Local Currency in Bilateral Transactions
Bank Indonesia (BI) issued provisions on the completion of bilateral trade transactions with two countries, namely Thailand and Malaysia.
— Netral News
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Lao PDR Morning News
Compiled by Leakhena Khat @leakhenakhat
Re-evaluation of Nongpaen project debts authorised
A Lao company has been authorised to assess the chronic debts incurred by Lao Asia Trading International Company (LATIC) over the stalled Nongpaen tourism development project.
— Vientiane Times
Govt raises poverty classification criteria
The government has elevated poverty lines, imposing higher standards that families, villages and districts must fulfil to rise above poverty.
— Vientiane Times
Laos-China Railway Project Makes Progress as Planned
Laos and Chinese constructers have said the construction of Laos-China railway has made progress as planned with a noticeable progress reported in tunneling activities, and the construction of bridges, roads and main stations.
— Lao News Agency
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Malaysia Morning News
Compiled by Kongleaphy Keam @kongleaphy1
Almost 800,000 Malaysians on travel blacklist, more than half are PTPTN defaulters
As many as 790,186 Malaysians have been blacklisted and prevented from leaving the country because of various offences, according to the Immigration Department.
— The Star Online
Malaysia’s central bank says it has no plans to appoint cryptocurrency exchange
Malaysia’s central bank, Bank Negara Malaysia (BNM), has denied report that it is planning to set up or appoint an official cryptocurrency exchange, as per a New Straits Times report.
—e27
What’s Malaysia’s Role in the New Islamic Anti-Terror Coalition?
On November 26, the defense ministers of a Saudi Arabia-led, pan-Islamic anti-terrorism coalition met in Riyadh for their first coalition meeting to both officially launch the coalition as well as discuss potential initiatives and partnerships. Malaysia was among those present in yet another illustration of the Southeast Asian state’s cultivation of closer ties with Riyadh as well as its broader counterterrorism efforts with external partners.
— The Diplomat
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Myanmar Morning News
Compiled by Kongleaphy Keam @kongleaphy1
U.N. rights forum to hold special session on Myanmar Rohingya – U.N. sources
The U.N. Human Rights Council is expected to hold a special session on killings, rapes and other crimes committed against Muslim Rohingya in Myanmar that have driven more than 600,000 into Bangladesh since August, U.N. sources said on Monday.
— Reuters
Myanmar accused of wiping out secret network of Rohingya reporters
Human rights groups fear military has disappeared or killed undercover journalists to starve the world of news about persecution in Rakhine state.
— The Guardian
Pope Francis Meets With Myanmar Military Chief Accused of Ethnic Cleansing
A few hours after he arrived in Myanmar on Monday, Pope Francis met with the architect of a military campaign that the United Nations and the U.S. have denounced as ethnic cleansing, and which the pope himself has described as religious persecution.
— The Wall Street Journal
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Philippines Morning News
Compiled by Leakhena Khat @leakhenakhat
ADB OKs $300M infra loan for PH
The Asian Development Bank’s (ADB) Board of Directors has approved a $300 million loan and a $500,000 technical assistance grant to support the government of the Philippines’ efforts to develop the domestic capital market to help finance infrastructure.
— Malaya
No basis to declare revolutionary government – Palace
There are no threats at the moment serious enough to prompt President Duterte to declare a revolutionary government, his spokesman Harry Roque said yesterday.
— Philstar
DICT says 4th telco player possible
The Department of Information and Communication Technology (DICT) will bid out through a “beauty contest” type of selection the slot for a third telecom player which would compete against the incumbent telecom players PLDT Inc. and Globe Telecom.
— Malaya
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Singapore Morning News
Compiled by Leakhena Khat @leakhenakhat
Civil servants to get year-end bonus of 1 month
Civil servants in Singapore will receive a one-month year-end Annual Variable Component (AVC), the highest end-of-year bonus received in four years.
— Channel NewsAsia
ASEAN Army Ties in the Spotlight in Singapore
In November, Singapore hosted this year’s iteration of a series of regular ASEAN meetings focused on promoting greater interactions and confidence-building between Southeast Asian armies.
— The Diplomat
Singapore employees fall short in global survey on taking responsibility for upgrading their own skills
Nine in 10 global employees, or 91 per cent, say that it is their personal responsibility to keep up with the best practices through learning and development opportunities.
— South China Morning Post
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Thailand Morning News
Compiled by John Le Fevre @photo_journ
Thailand’s King Creates ‘Elegant’ Military Salute (HD video)
Not believing that the generations-old standard military salute was particularly elegant, Thailand’s King Maha Vajiralongkorn Bodindradebayavarangkun last year devised a new salute for his personal guard unit.
— AEC News Today
Thailand’s Biggest IPO in 10 Years Is All About Power
Sarath Ratanavadi, the founder of Gulf Energy Development Pcl, plans to invest $4.6 billion in power plants in Thailand and neighboring countries over the next four years.
— Fortune
Junta Reforms Fail to Stem Japanese Foreign Investment Flight
The Thai junta is unhappy with Thailand’s current economic paradigm and is attempting to shift the fundamental base of the country’s economy. Various branches of the Thai state are attempting to create what is vaguely referred to as ‘Thailand 4.0’ by the government, the ‘next growth phase’ by the Ministry of Finance (MoF), and the ’20 Year Strategy’ or the ‘6–6–4 plan’ by the Ministry of Commerce (MoC).
— AEC News Today
See here for more of today’s Thailand Morning News
Vietnam Morning News
Compiled by Sreypov Men @MenSreypov
15 VN banks listed among Asia Pacific’s strongest
Fifteen Vietnamese banks have recently been named in The Asian Bankers’ AB500 ranking and survey of Asia Pacific’s strongest banks.
— Bizhub
VN’s retail sales to touch over $1.9 trillion
The revenue of Viet Nam’s retail sales market will reach over VND11 quadrillion (US$484.58 billion) by 2025 and nearly VND44 quadrillion ($1.938 trillion) by 2035.
— Bizhub
Petrolimex to sell diesel under Euro standard 5
Việt Nam National Petroleum Group (Petrolimex) will begin selling diesel under Euro 5 standard, the highest quality of the product in Việt Nam, from the beginning of 2018.
— Viet Nam News
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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.