Asean morning news for November 19,

Asean morning news

Compiled by Stella-maris Ewudolu @stmarisewudolu

ASEAN Summit concludes with leaders not issuing a joint statement
Twenty-one Asia Pacific leaders wrapped up Sunday their two-day regional summit without issuing the traditional joint statement amid the escalating trade tension between the United States and China.
— Manila Bulletin

Cambodia, Vietnam, and Thailand eye developing coastal economy
The Private sectors in Cambodia, Vietnam, and Thailand are planning to strengthen trade, transport, and tourism connectivity along the coasts and promote the Southern Economic Corridor (SEC).
— News Today (video)

Apec can set global direction on trade, do more in shaping rules for digital economy: PM Lee
Leadership from a regional forum of Asia-Pacific economies is needed more than ever given mounting pressures against multilateralism and free trade, said Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong.
— The Straits Times

Judicial Independence in Asia
The judicial system in Japan is considered to be free from the influences of the government, a significant evidence of the uncorrupt political system, according to the World Economic Forum executive opinion survey.
— The Nation

[OPINION] In seeking solutions to Rohingya crisis, ASEAN must learn from the past
The displacement of Rohingya is a regional crisis that needs regional solutions. The largest refugee camp in the world sits at the doorstep of ASEAN.
— Rappler

Apec summit ends in disarray
An acrimonious meeting of world leaders in Papua New Guinea failed to agree Sunday on a final communique, highlighting widening divisions between global powers China and the US.
— Bangkok Post

Trump’s summit no-show draws Asian nations closer together
U.S. President Donald Trump didn’t make it to this week’s summit of Asian nations in Singapore, but his influence was still keenly felt among the leaders who gathered in the city.
— Hellenic Shipping News Worldwide

Behind-the-scenes look at preparations for the ASEAN Summit | Video
As Singapore hosted some of the world’s most powerful leaders, they had to make sure everything went to plan – from arranging security measures to selecting the food menu.
— Channel NewsAsia (video)

ASEAN-China trade boosting growth
Economic relations between China and ASEAN have strengthened considerably over the past two decades, resulting in rapidly growing bilateral trade and investment flows.
— China Daily

Is an ASEAN currency crisis looming?
The rumblings of a currency crisis are being heard in emerging markets and are only getting louder. Argentina’s Central Bank raised interest rates to 40 per cent to protect its peso in May 2018.
— East Asia Forum

ASEAN rights body must be more open, proactive: CSOs
A coalition of Indonesian civil society organizations (CSOs) has urged ASEAN’s human rights body to be more open and proactive, as Indonesia and six other member states are currently selecting their representatives for the 2019-2021 period.
— The Jakarta Post (paywall)

Apec leaders discuss free trade, protectionism
day began discussing in Papua New Guinea ways to promote free trade and regional economic integration amid an unfolding trade war between the United States and China.
— Bangkok Post

US and China in APEC cruise ship clash
China and the United States (US) crossed swords Saturday ahead of an Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) summit, duelling over protectionism, trade tariffs and “chequebook diplomacy” as they laid out sharply contrasting visions for the Pacific Rim region.
— The Asean Post

Southeast Asia’s centennials prefer to shop online, pay offline: Survey
Southeast Asia’s centennials prefer to research products and shop online, while still choosing to pay with cash on delivery, a recent survey has found.
— The Jakarta Post

Clearing SE Asia’s skies will require changing consumer attitudes
While haze-filled images from India and China often dominate media coverage, pollution increasingly takes its toll across much of Asia, including Southeast Asia and even in Singapore – the site of this year’s Asean Summit.
— The Nation

Continued efforts to secure safe drinking water, sanitation in Asean
The Asean Intergovernmental Commission on Human Rights (AICHR) today held its first coordination meeting on the thematic study on the right to safe drinking water and sanitation facilities in the region.
— New Straits Times

eSIM to revolutionise telco sector?
It’s a familiar arrival routine at the airport. Clear customs, pick up your luggage, then scour available telco booths for the best available data deals.
— The Asean Post

Future directions of Asean
Although the global and regional environments are getting more complex and uncertain, Asean remains a relevant regional actor to shape regional order through Asean-centric multilateral systems.
— Khmer Times

Palace: Duterte advanced PHL national interests at ASEAN, APEC summits
Malacañang Palace on Sunday said President Rodrigo Duterte pushed for Philippine national interests at the ASEAN Summit and Related Events and the APEC Economic Leaders’ Meeting.
— GMA News

Decoding The MoU Between India And Brunei For Space Research
Brunei Darussalam or Brunei is one of the oldest continuing monarchies in the world. The ancient name “Negara Brunei Darussalam” means “State of Brunei- Abode of Peace”
— Modern Diplomacy

Cambodia morning news

Compiled by Sreypov Men @MenSreypov

Ministry of National Defense Rejects Foreign News, Accusing “Cambodia Allows Foreigners to Build Military Base in the the Kingdom”
The Ministry of National Defense issued a statement rejecting the publication of a number of foreign newspapers, including Asia Times, accusing Cambodia of allowing foreigners to use the country for military bases, according to the defense spokesman General Chum Socheat on Saturday.
— Fresh News

France and EU grant $96 million to Cambodia
The French government and the EU have granted Cambodia some $96.7 million as aid and loans for water management, agriculture, fisheries clean water and hygiene
— Khmer Times

See here for more of today’s Cambodia morning news

Indonesia morning news

Compiled by Stella-maris Ewudolu @stmarisewudolu

Australia’s minister says translation glitches delay trade deal with Indonesia
Australia’s trade minister said translation issues were behind the delay of a billion-dollar free trade agreement with Indonesia, downplaying a friction between the countries over Australia’s possible Jerusalem embassy.
— The Straits Times

Parents of Lion Air Crash Victim File US Lawsuit Against Boeing
The parents of one of the passengers of Lion Air flight JT-610 have filed a lawsuit in the United States against the manufacturer of the Boeing 737 MAX 8 jet that crashed into the Java Sea near Jakarta on Oct. 29.
— Jakarta Globe

Jakarta toughens rules on repatriating revenues from resource exports
Indonesia’s government is tightening requirements to force companies to repatriate revenue from the export of natural resources, a minister said on Friday, as authorities seek to support a fragile rupiah currency.
— BusinessWorld Online

See here for more of today’s Indonesia morning news

Lao PDR morning news

Compiled by Mark Roy @electricnerve

Many families believed to be below poverty line: minister
More families in provinces across the country are believed to have fallen below the poverty line as a result of this year’s floods – the worst in decades – a minister has told the cabinet.
— The Vientiane Times

Lao PDR’s battle against corruption
Following Prime Minister Mahathir Mohamad’s surprise victory in Malaysia’s 14th general election on 9 May, which was widely seen as a step forward for democracy, analysts and heads of government worldwide are now turning their eyes to the rest of the region in anticipation of similar political reversals.
— The Asean Post

Two Lao men nabbed for transporting drugs
Anti-drug police on Friday arrested two Lao nationals suspected of trafficking more than half a kilogram of crystal meth from Laos into Cambodia in Stung Treng province.
— Khmer Times

See here for more of today’s Lao morning news

Malaysia morning news

Compiled by Sreypov Men @MenSreypov

Malaysia did not fully benefit from rising oil prices due to gas supply disruption, says Finance Minister
Malaysia’s gas exports have been suffering from severe disruption since the second quarter of 2018 following a production breakdown in Kebabangan gas field in Sabah, according to the Finance Minister Lim Guan Eng.
— The Sun Daily

Malaysian PM calls for inclusive policies in coping with technological disruptions
Malaysian Prime Minister Mahathir Mohamad on Saturday called for better polices to prevent inequality from being widened due to the advance of new technology and automation.
— Fresh News

Budget 2019 Tax: How much is too much?
In a roundup of the new federal government’s Budget 2019, experts toe the line changes and how these affect individuals or businesses.
— The Borneo Post

See here for more of today’s Malaysia Morning News

Myanmar morning news

Compiled by Mark Roy @electricnerve

Myanmar police shoot, injure four in raid on Rohingya camp: witness
Myanmar police shot and injured four Rohingya Muslims on Sunday, after detaining two men accused of smuggling people out of a camp for displaced people in western Rakhine state, a witness and police told Reuters.
— Reuters

Authorities stop boat with more than 100 Rohingya near Yangon
More than 100 Rohingya Muslims from Rakhine State have been detained after Myanmar authorities intercepted a boat near Yangon on Friday.
— Frontier Myanmar

Germany commits 34.5 million EUR in development cooperation
Myanmar and Germany have concluded their bilateral government- to government talks on development cooperation in Nay Pyi Taw.
— mizzima.com

See here for more of today’s Myanmar morning news

Philippines morning news

Compiled by Stella-maris Ewudolu @stmarisewudolu

NG gross borrowings hit nearly P44B in September
GROSS borrowings of the national government for September have reached P43.979 billion, pushing government’s 9-month financing efforts to P683.284 billion, Bureau of the Treasury (BTr) data showed.
— Business Mirror

PH, China to sign 20 agreements
Several economic and political agreements are expected to be signed during the first state visit of Chinese President Xi Jinping to the Philippines on Nov. 20 to 21 to mark a new milestone in Manila and Beijing’s increasingly friendly ties.
— Philippine Daily Inquirer

Youth groups hold protest rally, demand Imelda’s imprisonment
Various youth and student groups on Sunday conducted a protest rally at the People Power Monument in Quezon City against former first lady Imelda Marcos’s provisional liberty, granted after she posted P150,000 in bail.
— GMA News

See here for more of today’s Philippines morning news

Singapore morning news

Compiled by Mark Roy @electricnerve

Latest profit misses trigger flurry of downgrades for Singapore stocks
A RASH of analyst downgrades rounds up the latest September-quarter corporate earnings parade, in which more companies fell short of the street’s growth forecasts and positive surprises grew rarer.
— The Business Times

Singapore boosts US ties on infrastructure, digital economy and cybersecurity
They will explore cooperation on standards development and technology partnerships.
— Singapore Business Review

First Asian ship fuelled by methanol may set sail from Singapore next year
THE first ship destined to operate in Asian waters using methanol, a fuel touted with greener potential than liquefied natural gas (LNG), is expected to set sail in Singapore late next year – that is, if a pilot project takes off as planned.
— The Business Times

See here for more of today’s Singapore morning news

Thailand morning news

Compiled by John Le Fevre @photo_journ

Salvaged Phoenix tourist ship impounded and cordoned off for investigation
The government has ordered the Phoenix tourist ship, which was salvaged off Phuket on Saturday, to be impounded for investigation after it was towed to a dockyard on the tourist island.
— Thai PBS World

High baht putting off tourists – and foreign residents
There seems to be alarm, almost bordering on panic, at the falling tourist statistics, and many sectors are commenting on ways to reverse this trend, including waiving visa fees.
— The Nation (annoying popups)

See here for more of today’s Thailand morning news

Vietnam morning news

Compiled by Sreypov Men @MenSreypov

Tax collection from tech-based business activities faces difficulties
National Assembly deputies at a discussion on the draft amendment of the law on tax administration said tax collection from technology-based business operations such as ride-hailing service and online sale is tough due to the lack of regulations governing these new types of business, Dan Tri news site reported.
— VietNamNet Bridge

New FTAs to bring benefits for garment-textile sector
The upcoming signing of Free Trade Agreements (FTAs), such as the Comprehensive and Progressive Agreement for Trans-Pacific Partnership (CPTPP) and the EU-Vietnam Free Trade Agreement (EVFTA), have special significance for the textile and garment industry because they will help to diversify the market and export products.
— Nhan Dan Online

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.