Asean morning news
Compiled by Stella-maris Ewudolu @stmarisewudolu
Asean leaders upbraid Suu Kyi in private but stand by Myanmar
THE ASEAN BLOC is standing by Myanmar for repatriation of thousands of Rohingya from Bangladesh despite grave concerns raised by leaders and partners at the summit even as the refugees yesterday continued to resist the return.
— The Nation
Asean Plus Three nations issue statement on combating antimicrobial resistance
With memories of the 2003 Sars outbreak still fresh, Asean and three regional partners – China, South Korea and Japan – have taken another step towards safeguarding healthcare in the area.
— Straits Times
Asean ‘indispensable, irreplaceable’ partner: US vice-president Pence
The Association of South-east Asian Nations (Asean) is an “indispensable and irreplaceable strategic partner” of the United States, and is central to the superpower’s vision for the region, said US Vice-President Mike Pence.
— Today Singapore
ASEAN will continue to support Myanmar in resolving Rakhine issues
en-member Southeast Asian bloc, ASEAN, has announced that it will continue its support for Myanmar in efforts to ensure “sustainable and equitable” development in Rakhine State, where violence which spurred an exodus of Rohingya Muslims to nearby Bangladesh was labeled by the United Nations as ethnic cleansing.
— The Irrawaddy
China, Asean affirm 2020 goals: $1-trillion trade, $150 billion in investments
Southeast Asian Nations and China vowed to intensify efforts to meet the joint target of $1 trillion in trade volume and $150 billion in investment by 2020 through the deepening of economic linkages and improvement in connectivity, and look forward to yielding more fruitful results in trade and investment by 2030.
— Business Mirror
Thais take Asean chair, haunted by past summit chaos
Protests, broken windows and dignitaries forced to flee by helicopter — Thailand’s last stint as host of Southeast Asia’s biggest summit was devoured by political chaos.
— Bangkok Post
ASEAN reaffirms freedom of navigation in WPS
While no specific distinctions were given, freedom of navigation and overflight in the disputed South China Sea was reaffirmed in general by the Philippines and other member states of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN), Foreign Affairs Secretary Teodoro Locsin Jr. said on Thursday.
— Philippine News Agency
Pence takes Suu Kyi to task over Rohingya
The violence which drove 700,000 Rohingya Muslims from Myanmar into Bangladesh was “without excuse”, United States (US) Vice President Mike Pence told Aung San Suu Kyi in stinging comments on Wednesday.
— The Asean Post
Whither Asean’s relevance in a changing geopolitical order?
The Asean Summit in Singapore draws to a close amid the typical fanfare and self-congratulatory atmosphere.
— The Nation
‘Considerable strides’ taken towards more united, resilient and innovative ASEAN, says PM Lee
Even as “considerable strides” have been taken towards a more united, resilient and innovative ASEAN, it is just the beginning of a new and exciting chapter for the 10-member regional grouping, Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong said on Thursday (Nov 15).
— Channel NewsAsia
Pence Announces US-ASEAN ‘Smart Cities Partnership’
In Singapore, U.S. Vice President Mike Pence has offered the Trump administration’s support for Southeast Asia’s digital and urban infrastructure development. In his remarks at the U.S. ASEAN Summit, Pence announced the new “U.S.-ASEAN Smart Cities Partnership.”
— Voice of America
ASEAN to groom 80,000 tech specialists with Japan’s help
Japan will help countries in the Association of Southeast Asian Nations groom 80,000 manufacturing and digital industry specialists over five years, part of a broader effort by Tokyo toward cooperation in the Indo-Pacific region.
— Nikkei Asian Review (paywall)
Trudeau Makes ASEAN Free Trade Pitch In Singapore, Says ‘Centre Of Economic Gravity’ Shifting To Asia
Canada wants to walk down the path toward a free-trade agreement with a bloc of 10 Asian nations as early as next spring, Prime Minister Justin Trudeau said Wednesday in his only opportunity to directly address the leaders of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations.
— HuffPost
Prayut announces 2019 Asean theme
Prime Minister Prayut Chan-o-cha on Thursday introduced “Advancing Partnership for Sustainability” as the official theme for the Asean chairmanship next year.
— Bangkok Post
‘Agriculture 4.0’ takes root in Southeast Asia
The agriculture sector in Southeast Asia is being influenced enough by the Fourth Industrial Revolution (4ID) for “Agriculture 4.0” to be established in the region, with the Asean Cooperation on Agricultural and Bio-systems Engineering (ACABE) and the Asean Universities Consortium on Food and Agro-based Engineering and Technology Education (AUCFA) providing the platform for more technology and knowledge- sharing
— The Manila Times
Japan proposes cooperation with ASEAN to tackle plastic debris
Japan on Thursday offered to cooperate with other Asian countries to address ocean pollution by reducing plastic debris.
— The Mainichi
Grab unveils new remittance service that allows people in Southeast Asia to transfer funds
Grab unveiled on Thursday (Nov 15) a new remittance service that allows people in Southeast Asia to remit money instantly and securely to receivers in another country using their GrabPay wallets.
— Channel NewsAsia
Surprising 3% Fall for Southeast Asian Smartphone Market in 3Q18
Smartphone shipments to Southeast Asia (excluding Laos, Brunei and Timor-Leste) fell by 3.0% year on year, a surprising drop for the most important market in Asia, outside of India and China.
— I-Connect007
Tobacco harm reduction can help stem Asia’s smoking epidemic
Despite strict government regulation, high taxes, and extensive public awareness campaigns, smoking remains a major public health issue in Asia, with over half of the world’s smokers.
— Antara News
The potential of 5G in Southeast Asia
Over the past two decades, Southeast Asia has shed its image of an agrarian backwater and transformed into a world leader in developing the latest technologies such as blockchain, artificial intelligence (AI), robotics, cloud computing and fintech among others.
— The Asean Post
Cambodia morning news
Compiled by Sreypov Men @MenSreypov
Cambodian parliament approves 6.7 bln USD for gov’t spending in 2019
The National Assembly of Cambodia on Thursday approved the budget of 6.7 billion U.S. dollars for the government’s expenditure in 2019, up 11.4 percent compared to that of 2018.
— Brinkwire
EU Prepares to Withdraw Cambodia From Trade Scheme
The European Union, Cambodia’s largest export market, is making preparations for the country’s expulsion from a preferential trade scheme that guarantees tariff-free access to EU markets for Cambodian goods, according to the EU ambassador.
— VOA Cambodia
US reviewing visa restrictions
An Interior Ministry spokesman yesterday said that outgoing United States Ambassador to Cambodia William Heidt told Interior Minister Sar Kheng that a request to review visa restrictions on top Cambodian foreign affairs officials has been sent to the US State Department.
— Khmer Times
See here for more of today’s Cambodia morning news
Indonesia morning news
Compiled by Stella-maris Ewudolu @stmarisewudolu
Indonesia records US$1.82 billion trade deficit in October
Indonesia has booked another monthly deficit in October after it enjoyed a $230 million surplus in the previous month, Statistics Indonesia (BPS) announced on Thursday.
— The Jakarta Post
Ninety-two victims of crashed Lion Air identified: police
Raden Said Sukanto National Police Hospital`s Disaster Victim Identification (DVI) team members have been able to identify 92 victims of Lion Air flight JT 610 that crashed into the Java Sea on Oct 29, a top-ranking police.
— Antara News
Indonesia, Japan agree on disaster mitigation cooperation
The Japanese and Indonesian governments have agreed to develop disaster mitigation cooperation following humanitarian aid and disaster mitigation programs in the wake of a powerful earthquake and tsunami in Central Sulawesi.
— Antara News
See here for more of today’s Indonesia morning news
Lao PDR morning news
Compiled by Mark Roy @electricnerve
South Korea pledges more support for Laos
President Moon Jae-in of the Republic of Korea told Prime Minister Thongloun Sisoulith in Singapore this week that Korea will extend further support and assistance to Laos, the Lao Ministry of Foreign Affairs said.
— Vientiane Times
Banana exports from Laos to China fell by 184.04% this year
The value of banana exports from Laos to China increased tenfold in the last few years, and has already become one of the most valuable export industries in Laos. However, data from the Department of Labor and Commerce in Laos shows that China only imported 30 million USD worth of commercial products from Bokeo Province in the first 9 months of 2018.
— Fresh Plaza
Germany provides funding support for small businesses
The German government has agreed to give six million euros for the second tranche of the Lao Access to Finance Fund (LAFF) through the German Development Bank (KfW) for micro and small enterprises in Laos.
— Vientiane Times
See here for more of today’s Lao morning news
Malaysia morning news
Compiled by Sreypov Men @MenSreypov
Plastic waste a RM30 billion industry, Dewan Rakyat told
Plastic waste is a RM30 billion industry, and the government can ill afford to take this lightly, the Dewan Rakyat was told today.
— FMT
What About Goldman’s Deals In Sarawak?
The full, disgusting extent of ingrained political corruption under BN continues to be displayed as more of the most prominent and vocal defenders of that regime are being rounded up to answer charges of theft and graft before the courts.
— Sarawak Report
Govt strives for more competition in local aviation sector
The government would not be protecting local airlines but rather encourage more competitions in the local aviation sector, said Transport Minister Loke Siew Fook.
— New Straits Times
See here for more of today’s Malaysia Morning News
Myanmar morning news
Compiled by Mark Roy @electricnerve
500 villagers flee as Tatmadaw, SSPP/SSA combats in Hsipaw
Over 500 internally displaced people fled and took refuge at a monastery following clashes between the Tatmadaw and the Shan State Progressive Party/Shan State Army (SSPP/SSA) in Hsipaw Township on 13 November, according to a local source.
— BNI Multimedia Group
State Counsellor rebuffs US VP Pence on northern Rakhine
Myanmar leader Daw Aung San Suu Kyi rebuffed criticism from US Vice President Mike Pence and other leaders yesterday over the treatment of the Muslim minority in northern Rakhine State.
— Myanmar Times
Asean leaders upbraid Suu Kyi in private but stand by Myanmar
THE ASEAN BLOC is standing by Myanmar for repatriation of thousands of Rohingya from Bangladesh despite grave concerns raised by leaders and partners at the summit even as the refugees yesterday continued to resist the return.
— The Nation
See here for more of today’s Myanmar morning news
Philippines morning news
Compiled by Stella-maris Ewudolu @stmarisewudolu
Remittances total $21.3B end-September – BSP
Cash remittances sent by overseas Filipinos went up by 2.5 percent year-on-year to $21.3 billion, Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas (BSP) Deputy Governor Maria Almasara Cyd N. Tuaño-Amador said Thursday.
— Manila Bulletin
China ‘already in possession’ of South China Sea, says Duterte
As the US continues to ramp up its criticisms of China’s activity in the South China Sea, Philippines President Rodrigo Duterte is cozying up ever closer to Beijing.
— Asia Times
BSP hikes benchmark rate by 25 bps to 4.75%
The Monetary Board, the central bank policy-making body, raised key rates by 25 basis points (bps) Thursday — the fifth time it adjusted rates higher since May to a cumulative 175 bps — after considering the impact of non-monetary measures to 2019 and 2020 inflation path.
— Manila Bulletin
See here for more of today’s Philippines morning news
Singapore morning news
Compiled by Mark Roy @electricnerve
NUS enters global top 10: graduates the most employable in Asean
Graduates from the National University of Singapore (NUS) are the most employable in Asean, says a global report released today (Nov 15).
— AEC News Today
Singapore snaps up lion’s share of ASEAN fintech funding at US$222m in January-October 2018
Firms specialising in SME financing and wealth management services lured significant investor interest.
— Singapore Business Review
MVL Foundation unveils cab-booking app TADA Taxi
MVL Foundation, the Singapore-based company behind blockchain-based ride-hailing app TADA, on Thursday launched TADA Taxi.
— The Business Times
See here for more of today’s Singapore morning news
Thailand morning news
Compiled by John Le Fevre @photo_journ
Bt20-bn plan to link EEC with southern corridor
APPROVAL will be sought from the Cabinet for investment of over Bt20 billion for a southern corridor that will connect with the Eastern Economic Corridor (EEC) in order to forge a massive trade hub linking the Pacific and Indian oceans.
— The Nation
Recovery of capsized boat Phoenix likely to take another 5 days
After capsizing off of Koh Hey(เกาะเฮ) on July 5 of this year and claiming the lives of 47 Chinese tourists, the Phoenix is likely to be retrieved from the ocean over the coming five days with a new team of over 100 man rescue crew contracted from Singapore.
— News Today (video)
Appeal Court fines zero-dollar tour operators B500,000
The Appeal Court has partially overturned a lower court’s decision and fined three defendants 500,000 baht each while acquitting 10 other suspects in the zero-dollar tour case.
— Bangkok Post
See here for more of today’s Thailand morning news
Vietnam morning news
Compiled by Sreypov Men @MenSreypov
Vietnam to face gas shortage in 2020: MoIT
Viet Nam may have to import gas from 2020 to produce electricity for the country’s socio-economic development, according to the Ministry of Industry and Trade (MoIT).
— Bizhub
Vietnam says no to paper manufacturing projects?
Revoking the $220 million Dai Duong paper factory invested by a Taiwanese investor raises concerns that the era of paper manufacturing projects is over due to the risk of environmental pollution.
— VietnamNet Bridge
Vietnam to be among first countries to deploy 5G: Minister
Vietnam should have locally made network devices by 2020, so that for the first time the country’s mobile network is operated based on Vietnamese devices and systems, VnExpress reported.
— The Hanoi Times
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.
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