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Asean morning news

Compiled by Sreypov Men          @MenSreypov

The ASEAN governments exploiting cybersecurity threats to expand authoritarian powers
ASEAN governments are seeing severe digital security breaches and violations of users’ privacy.
— Asean Today

Yearender: Belt and Road Initiative making difference in Asia-Pacific region
The China-proposed Belt and Road Initiative entered its fifth year in 2018, offering fresh impetus to economic development and integration in the Asia-Pacific region, while bringing tangible benefits to the people along the route.
— Global Times

Vietnam unseats Singapore as largest IPO fundraiser in Southeast Asia
Singapore, a major international financial hub, lost its crown as Southeast Asia’s top grossing market for initial public offerings in 2018.
— CNBC

Japanese developers fuel Southeast Asia’s luxury condo boom
Japanese real estate developers and homebuilders are tapping into growing demand for luxury condominiums in Southeast Asia, a market of 600 million increasingly wealthy consumers.
— Nikkei Asian Review (paywall)

U.S. trade war set to hurt China, but may render ASEAN winner
A trade war waged by U.S. President Donald Trump is likely to deal a further blow to China’s economy in 2019, but ASEAN may gain from the dispute between the world’s two biggest economies.
— ABS-CBN News

China, ASEAN usher in new era for deeper strategic partnership, wider pragmatic cooperation
The year 2018 marks the 15th anniversary of the establishment of strategic partnership between China and the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) featured with political trust, mutual respect and win-win cooperation.
— China SCIO

China to further cooperate with ASEAN in disaster management: FM
China is willing to enhance disaster management cooperation with the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) to further improve the capacity of preventing disasters and reducing damages in the region, a Foreign Ministry spokesperson said Thursday.
— Xinhua

Dialogue focusses on rights of persons with disabilities
THE ASEAN Intergovernmental Commission on Human Rights (AICHR) convened the 2018 Regional Dialogue on the Mainstreaming of the Rights of Persons with Disabilities in the ASEAN Community (Accessibility through Universal Design) on December 3-5, in Bangkok, Thailand.
— Borneo Bulletin

Robocash Report Says ASEAN is Best Market for Near Term Fintech Development
Online lending platform Robocash says that the ASEAN market is the best region for Fintech development during the next year. A report completed in partnership with Deloitte by Robocash states that Fintech investments in Southeast Asia will increase by more than 20-30% in 2018 compared to the previous year.
— Crowdfund Insider

Data protection: Lessons from the EU
In March this year, the world was rocked by the Cambridge Analytica scandal.
— The Asean Post

What Will ASEAN’s 2020 Navy Exercise Look Like?
Last week, Vietnam hosted a meeting aimed at planning for the second iteration of an ASEAN multilateral navy exercise first held in 2017.
— The Diplomat

Southeast Asia Pet Care Market to Witness Robust Expansion of US$1,412.7 Million By 2020
Future Market Insights (FMI) delivers incisive insights into emerging regions in its latest report titled, “Southeast Asia Pet Care Market Analysis and Opportunity Assessment, 2014 – 2020”.
— The Future Gadgets

ASEAN, Russia look to boost digital cooperation
The Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) and the Russia-ASEAN Business Council (RABC) have signed a memorandum of understanding (MoU) on mutual understanding, creating a foundation for bilateral cooperation in the time ahead, especially in the digital field.
— Vietnam Plus

Indo-Pacific: Juggling for clarity
There is no consensus on what the Indo-Pacific concept will cover. It is not clear what kind of structure is needed for such an Indo-Pacific construct.
— Khmer Times

Flexible Packaging Market – ASEAN Industry Analysis to exhibit 5.7% of CAGR during 2018 – 2024 to Reach US$6.71 bn by 2024 | Packaging Update : Amcor Limited, Bemis Company, Inc., Berry Plastics Group, Inc., Mondi Group, Sonoco Products Company, Constan
Latest Update “Flexible Packaging Market – ASEAN Industry Analysis, Size, Share, Growth, Trends, and Forecast 2016 – 2024” with Industries Survey | Global Current Growth and Future.
— openPR (media release)

Best of The Interpreter 2018: Press freedom in Southeast Asia
Independent news outlets and critical journalists have faced censorship, arrests, and beatings as increasingly autocratic rulers crackdown on dissent. Several of these leaders have gleefully appropriated the US administration’s “fake news” in their crusade against the media.
— Lowyinstitute

ASEAN Organic Cosmetics Market to Witness an Outstanding Growth of US $ 4,410.9 Mn by 2020
The ASEAN market for organic cosmetics stood at an overall valuation of US$40 billion in the year 2015.
— The Future Gadgets

High-Flying Chicken Prices Lift Southeast Asia’s Top Stock
Shares of PT Charoen Pokphand Indonesia have more than doubled this year, besting Southeast Asian peers, thanks to higher prices for chickens.
— Bloomberg

Cambodia morning news

Compiled by Mark Roy         @electricnerve

Return to Cambodia and risk getting arrested, Hun Sen warns opposition politician Sam Rainsy
Cambodian Prime Minister Hun Sen warned on Wednesday that a prominent opposition figure who lives in self-imposed exile abroad would risk being arrested if he dares to return to Cambodia as he recently promised.
— South China Morning Post

Cambodia gets over US$63-million loan from S. Korea for Takhmao waste water treatment project
The Royal Government of Cambodia has been provided with more than US$63 million in loan from the Export-Import Bank of Korea for Takhmao Waste Water Treatment Project.
— Agence Kampuchea Presse

Spotlight: Cambodia maintains political stability, robust growth after July poll
Cambodia has maintained political stability and strong economic growth after a July general election that handed a landslide victory to Prime Minister Samdech Techo Hun Sen’s ruling party.
— Xinhua

See here for more of today’s Cambodia morning news

Indonesia morning news

Compiled by Stella-maris Ewudolu          @stmarisewudolu

Thousands killed as Indonesia devastated by nearly 2,000 natural disasters in 2018
The devastating tsunami that smashed through villages and beach resorts along Indonesia’s Sunda Strait, which left at least 430 dead just days before Christmas, was the latest of what seems like an endless chain of extreme natural events to hit the country this year.
— ABC News

Insurance claims expected to reach Rp 15.9t following tsunami
Insurers will have to pay out an estimated Rp 15.9 trillion (US$1.09 billion) in claims to policyholders affected by a tsunami that struck Lampung and Banten last week, according to insurance companies PT Maskapai Reasuransi Indonesia (REI) and PT Asuransi Maipark Indonesia.
— The Jakarta Post

Indonesia raises alert level for Anak Krakatau
Indonesia yesterday ordered flights to steer clear of Anak Krakatau as it raised the danger alert for the erupting volcano to the second-highest level and widened a no-go zone around it, heightening fears of another natural disaster striking the tsunami-hit coastal areas around the Sunda Strait.
— The Straits Times

See here for more of today’s Indonesia morning news

Lao PDR morning news

Compiled by Sreypov Men          @MenSreypov

Property expert encourages investment in apartments
Laos’ real estate firms need to encourage investment in building apartments rather than investing in condominium projects, a regional property valuer said recently.
— Phnom Penh Post

BY 2019, IT WILL ACHIEVE A GROSS DOMESTIC PRODUCT OF 9.5%
The 6th ordinary session of the first Vientiane People’s Council (Vientiane) has been held until 26 December 2018 for the second day.
— Vientiane Mai

What’s Behind Laos’ New Budget Crackdown?
A closer look at the rising focus on the regulation of public expenditure and its significance.
— The Diplomat

See here for more of today’s Lao morning news

Malaysia morning news

Compiled by Sreypov Men          @MenSreypov

Malaysia to freeze toll rates for 21 highways in 2019
The Malaysian government will maintain current toll charges for 21 highways next year, as part of efforts to ease the burden of rising living costs, said finance minister Lim Guan Eng on Thursday (Dec 27).
— Channel NewsAsia

Malaysian government assures public that petrol stations will not run dry
Malaysia’s Ministry of Domestic Trade and Consumer Affairs has given assurances that there is adequate supply of petrol and diesel for sale throughout the country.
— Channel NewsAsia

Malaysia’s November vehicle sales -1.8% y/y; production +18.8%
Vehicle sales in Malaysia fell 1.8 percent from last year in November the Malaysian Automotive Association said in a statement.
— The Edge Markets

See here for more of today’s Malaysia Morning News

Myanmar morning news

Compiled by Mark Roy         @electricnerve

Myanmar army accused of detaining civilians amid clashes with ethnic forces
Villagers in areas of western Myanmar’s Rakhine state said Thursday that government army soldiers are detaining civilians they accuse of supporting Rakhine rebels amid fighting between the Arakan Army and Myanmar troops.
— Radio Free Asia

In Facebook’s reverse reality, journalists are called traitors
Social media posts about the jailed Reuters journalists shows that many users believe they betrayed the country because they reported unpalatable facts.
— Frontier Myanmar

Whistleblower police captain in Reuters case set for release next week: wife
Former police captain and whistleblower Moe Yan Naing is set to be released from prison next week after serving almost a year for violating the Police Disciplinary Act with his dramatic courtroom testimony that seemed to exculpate two jailed Reuters journalists, his wife has told Coconuts Yangon.
— Coconuts Yangon

See here for more of today’s Myanmar morning news

Philippines morning news

Compiled by Stella-maris Ewudolu          @stmarisewudolu

NG’s budget deficit widens to P39.1 B in November
The national government’s (NG) budget deficit widened in November as revenue collections moderated during the month amid the administration’s robust spending, data from the Bureau of the Treasury showed yesterday.
— Manila Bulletin

BSP expects forex reserves to improve to $77b next year
The Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas expects the gross international reserves to rise to $77 billion in 2019 from the projected $76 billion this year, as the balance of payments is seen to incur a lower deficit next year.
— Manilastandard.net

Philippine startups lag behind Southeast Asian counterparts in 2018 funding, but 2019 looks rosy
With a population of 640 million and a consumer base that is rapidly coming online, Southeast Asia is a hotbed for technology startups, attracting venture capital (VC) firms that are racing to fund the region’s next unicorns.
— KrAsia

See here for more of today’s Philippines morning news

Singapore morning news

Compiled by Mark Roy         @electricnerve

SMEs must get with the times
Small and medium sized enterprises (SMEs) in Singapore have been hailed as the driving force behind the country’s economy. The government pointed out that they make up 99 percent of all enterprises in the country and employ as many as 65 percent of the country’s workforce.
— The Asean Post

Bill on deliberate online falsehoods could be tabled by first half of 2019: Edwin Tong
The first indication of the kind of new laws Singapore could enact to stem the spread of online misinformation could be clearer by the first half of 2019. Senior Minister of State for Law Edwin Tong revealed this in an interview with Channel NewsAsia, saying that draft legislation could be tabled by then.
— Channel News Asia

Drones, robots, and flying machines: the automation of Singapore
Singapore is increasingly turning to robots, drones, and machines to address labour shortages — and to lower costs.
— AEC News Today (video)

See here for more of today’s Singapore morning news

Thailand morning news

Compiled by Mark Roy         @electricnerve

Thai anti-graft agency drops probe into ‘Rolex General’
A graft probe into the luxury watch collection of Thailand’s junta number two was dropped Thursday (Dec 27), sparking the ire of the public and political opponents of the military.
— Channel NewsAsia

Two bombs rock Songkhla in Thailand, no one hurt
Two bombs rocked the popular Samila Beach here Wednesday night, causing damage to the famous Golden Mermaid Statue and the Cat and Mouse Sculpture.
— The Star Online

Thailand records 7.5% growth in visitor arrivals
The Ministry of Tourism and Sports announced the tourism figures for January-November 2018. Thailand received 34,431,489 international visitors, up by 7.53% over the same period of last year, generating an estimated B1.8 billion in tourism revenue, up by 9.79%.
— The Phuket News

See here for more of today’s Thailand morning news

Vietnam morning news

Compiled by Sreypov Men          @MenSreypov

Vietnam Records Highest Economic Growth In A Decade
Vietnam’s economy grew by 7.08 per cent in 2018, the fastest rate in the past eleven years and beating the target of 6.7 per cent, the General Statistics Office (GSO) has announced, according to Nhan Dan newspaper.
— Investvine

Hanoi freezes Vietjet flight expansion after safety incidents
Vietnamese authorities have halted Vietjet Aviation’s planned increase in flights following a series of aircraft safety incidents, putting the country’s largest budget airline under supervision as the Tet holiday season nears.
— Nikkei Asian Review (paywall)

Vietnam’s Public Holidays in 2019
Vietnam’s public holidays are administered by the Ministry of Labour, Invalids and Social Affairs of Vietnam.
— Vietnam Briefing

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.

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