Asean morning news
Compiled by Stella-maris Ewudolu @stmarisewudolu
ASEAN member states adopt 3 key documents for region-wide employees
At the 25th ASEAN Labour Ministers’ Meeting in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia’s Human Resource Minister M. Kulasegaran announced the adoption of three vital documents.
— Human Resources
Chinese military official suggests attack vs US ships in South China Sea
A ranking Chinese military official called for a more aggressive approach against United States warships conducting freedom of navigation operations in the disputed South China Sea.
— Philippines Magazine
The Digital Transformation of Infrastructure
Southeast Asia is one of the world’s fastest growing regions, and its cities are at the heart of this growth.
— Reuters
Q3 highlights for Asia-Pacific travel
International visitor arrivals to 30 Asia-Pacific destinations hit a record 97.3 million in the third quarter of the year, increasing by 6 .2% according the Pacific Asia Travel Association quarterly tourism monitor.
— TTR Weekly
TAT pivots to niche markets across Asia
The Tourism Authority of Thailand (TAT) has a new scheme to micro-target niche tourist markets like Indonesian women and Japanese students.
— Bangkok Post
Cambodia’s key role in regional security
Last month, Asia Times, citing unnamed diplomatic sources, reported that China has lobbied Cambodia for a naval base in Koh Kong province on the Gulf of Thailand, prompting the Cambodian government to deny the news.
— Bangkok Post
Bride trafficking: Mekong women pressed into marriage in China
Everyone did well from Nary’s marriage to a Chinese man, except the young Cambodian bride herself, who returned home from the six-year ordeal destitute, humiliated and with little prospect of seeing her son again.
— Bangkok Post
What Are the Stakes for ASEAN in Paris 2.0/COP24?
The ongoing UN Climate Change Conference in Katowice, Poland, (COP24) is seen by many as the most important climate negotiation since 2015, when 196 countries agreed on a vision for a climate-neutral future by adopting the landmark Paris Agreement.
— Brink Asia
Regional rubber listcos expected to finish 2018 on steady note
SOUTH-EAST Asia rubber companies listed in Singapore are on track for a solid full-year performance, with the sector spurred on by rising demand and support from prices.
— The Business Times
Social media’s journey to Southeast Asia
In March, multiple media outlets broke the news of Cambridge Analytica’s business practices.
— The Asean Post
Is the BRI debt trap real?
China’s ambitious Belt and Road Initiative (BRI) celebrates its fifth anniversary this month.
— The Asean Post
India’s FTAs with ASEAN, Japan and Korea have widened trade deficit: Study
India’s three free trade agreements with the ASEAN, Japan and South Korea have not turned out to be favourable for the country as these resulted in growing deficits in merchandise trade, according to a study published by think-tank Third World Network.
— The Hindu BusinessLine
Grab Makes $100 Million Investment In OYO To Expand Hotel Service In Southeast Asia
Grab, a ride-hailing service based in Southeast Asia, has made a $100 million investment in budget hotel network company OYO.
— Pulse 2.0
NU stuns defending champion Thailand at ASEAN University Games
The Philippines, represented by reigning UAAP men’s champion National University, stunned titleholders Thailand, 30-28, 25-23, 25-19, in the curtain-raiser of the 19th ASEAN University Games volleyball tournament in Naypyitaw, Myanmar.
— ABS-CBN News
Cambodia morning news
Compiled by Sreypov Men @MenSreypov
Cambodia union leaders convicted over protests, jail terms suspended
A Cambodian court found six union leaders guilty on Tuesday (Dec 11) of instigating violent protests against the government in 2013 and 2014, but suspended their jail terms.
— Channel News Asia
‘Sold by my brother’: the Mekong women pressed into marriage in China
Everyone did well from Nary’s marriage to a Chinese man, except the young Cambodian bride herself, who returned home from the six-year ordeal destitute, humiliated and with little prospect of seeing her son again.
— Channel News Asia
Thailand to deport Cambodian union leader who helped produce sex trafficking documentary
Thailand is set to deport the president of a construction workers union who helped produce a documentary about sex trafficking back to Cambodia, where his wife said Tuesday he will face political persecution amid a wider crackdown on labor activists by Prime Minister Hun Sen.
— Radio Free Asia
See here for more of today’s Cambodia morning news
Indonesia morning news
Compiled by Stella-maris Ewudolu @stmarisewudolu
Jakarta rejects separatist rebels’ demands
Indonesia has rejected a demand by Papuan rebels to hold negotiations on their territory’s self-determination.
— The Australian
Exclusive – Red tape, funding problems hamper Lion Air black box search
Bureaucratic wrangling and funding problems have hampered the search for the cockpit voice recorder of a crashed Lion Air jet, prompting investigators to turn to the airline to foot the bill in a rare test of global norms on the probe’s independence.
— Reuters
Businesses Reject Ban on Plastic Bags
The Indonesian Plastic Industry Association (Inaplas) deputy chairman Suhat Miyarso rejected the ban on plastic bags regulated by several regional heads.
— Tempo.co
See here for more of today’s Indonesia morning news
Lao PDR morning news
Compiled by Mark Roy @electricnerve
Laos to mobilize aid to social sector development
The Lao government is working with development partners to draw up a strategy to mobilize assistance to help develop the social sector amid current aid cuts, the government told to the National Assembly (NA).
— Xinhua
Lao Defence Minister promoted to General rank
Lao President Bounnhang Vorachit on December 10 issued a decree on promoting the military rank of Defence Minister Chansamone Chanyalath from Senior Lieutenant General to General.
— Vietnam+
Government, UNICEF Assess Improvements On Children’s Lives In Laos
The government of the Lao PDR, under the leadership of the Ministry of Planning and Investment, and UNICEF met today, Dec 11, to assess progress towards improving children’s lives in the country.
— KPL
See here for more of today’s Lao morning news
Malaysia morning news
Compiled by Sreypov Men @MenSreypov
Malaysia is the biggest gainer in corporate governance ranking
Malaysia ranked fourth out of 12 Asia-Pacific economies in terms of market accountability and transparency, according to the recent 2018 CG Watch Report published by the Asian Corporate Governance Association (ACGA) and CLSA.
— New Straits Times
Malaysia may stop or limit egg exports to maintain local market supply: Minister
Malaysia is looking into limiting or stopping the export of eggs to ensure there is sufficient supply for its domestic market, Domestic Trade and Consumer Affairs Minister Saifuddin Nasution Ismail said on Monday (Dec 10).
— Channel NewsAsia
Malaysia: Over 155 people lost RM 3.1 million in durian investment scam
Recently, somebody misused the love that Malaysians have towards the king of fruits by using it to scam people for their money. The ‘Musang King investment plan’ promised low investments with high returns and managed to con 155 victims out of a total of RM 3.1 million (€650,750) over the past four months.
— Fresh Plaza
See here for more of today’s Malaysia Morning News
Myanmar morning news
Compiled by Mark Roy @electricnerve
Massive arched bridge to link China to Myanmar
A gigantic steel arch has been put into place over the Nujiang River in southwestern China’s Yunnan province, and before the end of 2019 bullet trains will cross the world’s longest arched railway bridge at speeds of 200 kph.
— Asia Times
‘Please have mercy.’ The wives of Reuters journalists jailed in Myanmar speak out
The last time Kyaw Soe Oo spoke with his wife before his arrest, he played a prank on her. The Reuters journalist was on a trip to Yangon, Myanmar’s former capital, but on Dec. 12, 2017, he told his wife he had returned early to their home in Sittwe, Rakhine State. “Come open the door,” he urged.
— Time
Pyu Lake residents seek to protect their natural treasure
U Kan Oo was roused from his sleep in the early morning of December by what at first sounded like a loud cries coming from his roof.
— The Myanmar Times
See here for more of today’s Myanmar morning news
Philippines morning news
Compiled by Stella-maris Ewudolu @stmarisewudolu
FDI net inflows climbed 24.2% to $8b in 3 quarters
Net inflows of foreign direct investments climbed 24.2 percent in the first three quarters to $8 billion from $6.5 billion a year ago, as investors considered the Philippines as one of the best places to invest in this year, the Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas said Tuesday.
— Manilastandard.net
House OKs draft federal constitution
The House of Representatives on Tuesday approved on third and final reading its proposed constitution that seeks to shift to a federal form of government.
— CNN Philippines
Trade deficit widens further to $33.9 B in 11 months
The country’s trade gap further widened in October as imports outpaced the growth of exports amid the Duterte administration’s infrastructure push, data from the Philippine Statistics Authority (PSA) revealed yesterday.
— Manila Bulletin
See here for more of today’s Philippines morning news
Singapore morning news
Compiled by Mark Roy @electricnerve
S’pore and M’sia to meet in January to discuss Johor Baru disputed waters
Singapore’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MFA) announced on Monday, December 10, that the government of Malaysia had agreed to meet with officials from Singapore in the second week of January in order to discuss the issues surrounding the Johor Baru port limits, with the hopes of coming to a resolution.
— The Independent sg
Carbon pricing necessary step as part of Singapore’s climate strategy: Masagos
Pricing carbon emissions first, and then adjusting it later, is part of Singapore’s strategy to meeting its climate pledges without excessively burdening the industrial sector, Minister for the Environment and Water Resources Masagos Zulkifli
— The Straits Times
Truck drivers face prison in Singapore for $1 bribes
Singapore has charged two Chinese migrant workers with soliciting one-dollar bribes from lorry drivers.
— BBC
See here for more of today’s Singapore morning news
Thailand morning news
Compiled by John Le Fevre @photo_journ
Bahraini footballer detained 60 days awaiting extradition to Bahrain
The Criminal Court today ordered a former Bahraini national footballer detained for 60 days pending an extradition process after the Bahraini government had requested his extradition to face charges of arson, illegal public gathering to incite public unrest and illegal possession of inflammatory materials.
— Thai PBS World
Vegetables and fruits in student lunches heavily contaminated with toxic chemicals
Vegetables and fruits found in lunches for students under the government-sponsored lunch programme are almost 100 percent contaminated with pesticides and 99 percent of the urine samples from students and teachers in four provinces were tested with organophosphate, a deadly toxic pesticide that attacks nervous system.
— Thai PBS World
Somkid opts out of trade treaty
Thailand will not join the Comprehensive and Progressive Agreement for Trans-Pacific Partnership (CPTPP) during this government’s term, Commerce Minister Sontirat Sontijirawong said.
— Bangkok Post
See here for more of today’s Thailand morning news
Vietnam morning news
Compiled by Sreypov Men @MenSreypov
Vietnam’s growth rate at nearly 6.8 percent this year: WB
The World Bank (WB) expects Vietnam’s economic growth this year at nearly 6.8 percent, compared to the 6.3 percent projected for East Asia and the Pacific, in a report released on December 11.
— VNA NET
Real estate to continue growing steadily in 2019
The local real estate market is projected to continue growing steadily in 2019 following a year of robust economic growth, according to experts at the Vietnam Real Estate Summit 2018, held by property platform batdongsan.com.vn in HCMC last week.
— Viet Nam Net
Growth of Vietnamese fruit and veg export slowing down
This year, the growth of vegetable and fruit exports slowed down significantly, but the target of reaching US$10 billion in revenue in 2025 was still within reach, said the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development.
— Fresh Plaza
See here for more of today’s Vietnam morning news
The Asean morning news roundup and its individual country morning news round-ups are the most comprehensive hand-curated selection of news reports from around the Asean Economic Community (AEC) published. We scour hundreds of local and international news and websites to find the things that you need to know to start your working week day.
We clearly identify the source of the story, whether it is behind a paywall, a media release, or whether the site uses annoying pop-up advertising or auto-play video, in case those things annoy you. It’s all then packaged up in an easy to read format enabling you to make an informed choice of whether you want to learn more by clicking directly through to the original source, or keep on reading the headlines. AEC News Today: Governance, not government; policies not politics.
Asean morning news for December 12 added by Digital Editor on
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