Asean morning news for December 25, 2019

Asean morning news

Compiled by Stella-maris Ewudolu @stmarisewudolu

China’s BRI negatively impacting the environment
While its economic benefits and geopolitical implications are often splashed across the front pages of national newspapers worldwide, the impact of China’s Belt and Road Initiative (BRI) on the environment receives much less attention.
— The Asean Post

ASEAN to move forward under Việt Nam’s chairmanship
Despite confronting a lot of challenges, Thailand has mobilised all resources to ensure the success of its ASEAN chairmanship, said Sihasak Puangketkaew, former Permanent Secretary of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Thailand.
— Viet Nam News

China’s ambitious bid for Southeast Asia hegemony
Concerns about China’s hegemonic ambitions, mostly over the Belt and Road Initiative, are rising across Southeast Asia.
— Deutsche Welle

Drought, dams may lead to death of Mekong
The livelihood of millions of people in China, Laos, Myanmar, Thailand and Vietnam will be affected as drought and newly-built dams impede the Mekong River’s flow, drying up segments of the once fast-flowing river.
— New Straits Times

Drug crimes becoming more serious, say police
Drug-related crimes have become more and more complicated and unpredictable this year, according to the Investigation Police Department on Drug-related Crimes.
— Vietnamplus

The Chinese sneezed and south-east asian tourism caught cold
Things have gone a bit quiet on the tourist front.
— The Thaiger

Four-nation joint patrol on Mekong River starts
The 89th Mekong River joint patrol led by China, Laos, Myanmar and Thailand was launched Tuesday in southwest China’s Yunnan Province.
— Xinhuanet

Circular solution to plastic plight
We are drowning in plastics. Unless we change our behaviour, there will be more plastic by weight than fish in the ocean by 2050.
— Bangkok Post

More than 45 winners honoured at the Dot Property Southeast Asia Awards 2019
It was a celebration unlike any other as more than 200 of real estate’s best and brightest were in attendance.
— Bangkok Post

Singapore to host 5th Asia Pacific Healthcare Summit (HPAP) 2020
Dexus healthcare announces the 5th Asia Pacific Healthcare Summit (HPAP) 2020 to be held in Singapore from 16th to 17th April 2020.
— Biospectrum

Dream of single Asean asset class still alive
Bourses in the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (Asean) are continuing efforts to promote the unified region as one asset class.
— Philippine Daily Inquirer

The coolest sustainability innovations of 2019
From river trash shepherds to food waste-fighting cockroaches, here are 19 of our favourite sustainability innovations of 2019.
— Eco-Business

How Borneo state plans to lead Southeast Asia in renewable and sustainable energy
This month’s UN Climate Change Conference, widely known simply as COP25, ended in Madrid with delegates agreeing to a compromise deal on cutting greenhouse gas emissions that left many people disappointed.
— South China Morning Post

Para-athletes not fussed about Asean Games rescheduling
WHILE others may have kicked up a fuss over the rescheduling of the 2020 Asean Para Games, Malaysia’s athletics squad would rather let their performance do the talking and bring glory to the country.
— The Malaysian Insight

Stalder leads PHL firms to Bangkok Halal fair
Stalder Laboratories Inc. headed the country’s corporate delegation to the Thailand Halal Assembly from December 20-22 to promote halal-certified Philippine products in the huge Thai market.
— Manila Bulletin

ASEAN and China Strengthen and Continue Media Cooperation
The Thai Public Relations Department today hosted the closing ceremony of the “ASEAN-China Year of Media Exchanges” campaign in Bangkok, celebrating the achievements of the program.
— Newsline (video)

PC and Mobile Game Revenue for Southeast Asia is Projected to Pass $8.3 Billion in 2023 with 320 Million Gamers – ResearchAndMarkets.com
The Southeast Asia and Chinese Taipei mobile games market is booming, representing a lucrative opportunity for mobile developers and publishers.
— Business Wire (media release)

How Southeast Asia is Playing a Crucial Role in Driving Payment Flexibility
Imagine waiting for the latest release of your favorite video game.
— Entrepreneur

Cambodia morning news

Compiled by Raksmey Khoem @raksmey.aecnews

Is Cambodian infrastructure ready for real estate in 2020?
The 2019 real estate market in Cambodia has been growing due to increasing demand from both local and international buyers across different property types.
— Khmer Times

Ex-Cambodia Daily Reporters Reject Incitement Charge As Case Heads to Trial
An alleged incitement case against two former Cambodia Daily journalists will be heard by the Ratanakkiri Provincial Court on December 25, more than two years after they were first charged for reporting on a story in the province.
— VOA

Baby Dolphin Death In Kratie
WWF announced on the afternoon of December 24, that a dolphin, aged just 11 days old was found dead floating in Kratie province on Sunday. A team is continuing to investigate and search for the exact cause of death.
— CNE

See here for more of today’s Cambodia morning news

Indonesia morning news

Compiled by Justhine De Guzman Uy @justhine.aecnews

Indonesia Reduces Import Tax Threshold, Makes Life Difficult for Online Shops
The Customs Office has tightened the rules for e-commerce imports on Monday as part of a concerted effort to protect local small businesses producing shoes, bags and clothes.
— Jakarta Globe

Health officials warn of Legionnaires risk at Bali hotel
Health officials in Western Australia have warned travellers to take extra precautions when dining at or staying at a prominent Kuta, Bali hotel.
— TravelMole

Nearly $300k Worth of Unsafe Foods and Drinks Seized Ahead of Holiday Season
The National Drug and Food Control Agency, or BPOM, have seized Rp 3.9 billion, or $279,000, worth of damaged, expired or illegally sold food and drink products during a series of inspections ahead of the end-of-year holiday season.
— Jakarta Globe

See here for more of today’s Indonesia morning news

Lao PDR morning news

Compiled by Raksmey Khoem @raksmey.aecnews

Laos’ central bank set to use $300M Chinese loans for SME financing
The Bank of the Lao PDR (BOL) is gathering information on commercial banks as it expects to allocate credit for small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs).
— The Phnom Penh Post

Thai gov’t approves financial aid to 5th Thai-Lao Friendship Bridge
The Thai government on Tuesday approved financial assistance to Laos for the construction of the fifth Thai-Lao Friendship Bridge linking Thailand’s northeastern province of Bueng Kan with Lao’s central province of Bolikhamsai.
— Xinhua

PM: Vietnam willing to send experts to support Laos
Vietnam is willing to send experts to support Laos, especially in macro-economic policy consultancy, Prime Minister Nguyen Xuan Phuc said at a reception for Laos’ Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Planning and Investment Sonsay Siphandone in Hanoi on December 24.
— Vietnam Plus

See here for more of today’s Lao morning news

Malaysia morning news

Compiled by Sreypov Men @MenSreypov

Malaysian Well-Being Index up 0.8pc, says Statistics Dept
The Malaysian Well-Being Index (MyWI) rose 0.8 per cent to 122.4 index points in 2018 compared with 121.4 points in the preceding year, the Department of Statistics (DoSM) said.
— Malay Mail

What Does Malaysia’s New Islamic Summit Reveal About its Foreign Policy?
The engagement spotlighted the Malaysian government’s approach to Muslim issues within its wider global outlook.
— The Diplomat (paywall)

Halal food leaders: Malaysia, Australia and Pakistan retain top APAC spots in Global Islamic Economy report’s Top 10 list
Malaysia, Australia and Pakistan have retained their positions as the top-ranking APAC countries in the State of the Global Islamic Economy Report’s Top 10 Halal Food listing.
— Global Meat News

See here for more of today’s Malaysia Morning News

Myanmar morning news

Compiled by Sreypov Men @MenSreypov

7 new power projects aim to satisfy additional power demands
Ministry of Electricity and Energy is implementing seven new power projects in order to generate an additional 1,000 MW, said Deputy Minister for Electricity and Energy Khin Maung Win, at a ceremony to open the 66-MW gas-fired power plant in Magway Township in Magway Region.
— Eleven Myanmar

Cabinet approves B777m development loan to Myanmar
The cabinet has approved a low-interest 777-million-baht loan under a 30-year contract to Myanmar for infrastructure development in Myawaddy.
— Bangkok post

Myanmar to Debut Trademark Office as Part of Economic Revamp
Myanmar is preparing to open a trademark office in January, part of a legal transition to parallel the country’s broader move from military dictatorship to a semi-democratic state.
— Bloomberg Law

See here for more of today’s Myanmar morning news

Philippines morning news

Compiled by Stella-maris Ewudolu @stmarisewudolu

Typhoon Ursula: Over 23,000 stranded on Christmas Eve
Over 23,000 passengers are stranded on Christmas Eve Tuesday, December 24, due to the suspension of sea travel.
— Rappler

Manila Vice: Xi and Duterte grapple with online casino crime
With its marble walls, gilded lobby and sign with Chinese characters that can mean “paradise on earth,” the Skytop International Club never tried to be subtle.
— Nikkei Asian Review (paywall)

2,939 villages in Luzon, Visayas prone to landslides, warns NDRRMC
A total of 2,939 villages in Luzon and Visayas are highly susceptible to landslide as severe tropical storm Ursula entered the country, the National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council (NDRRMC) warned on Tuesday.
— Manila Times

See here for more of today’s Philippines morning news

Singapore morning news

Compiled by Justhine De Guzman Uy @justhine.aecnews

SFA recalls 2 Waitrose pesto products due to undeclared peanut allergen
Two Waitrose pesto products from Italy is being recalled by the Singapore Food Agency (SFA).
— Straits Times (annoying popups)

New cyber-security measures in place after server breach at HMI Institute affects Mindef staff, SAF servicemen
The private healthcare training provider said its e-mail host server has been made more secure and hard disk encryption has been put in place.
— Straits Times (annoying popups)

See here for more of today’s Singapore morning news

Thailand morning news

Compiled by John Le Fevre @photo_journ

Reporter gets jail in libel case filed by poultry farm
A court on Tuesday sentenced a reporter to two years in prison for criminal libel for a comment she tweeted about a labour abuse grievance at a poultry farm.
— Bangkok Post

Learn & earn: Unesco Learning Coin initiative fulfilling migrant children’s dreams (video)
It is no secret that education is the key to breaking the poverty cycle, but for some of the most vulnerable members of society, the children of migrant workers, household financial pressures often mean that dreams of higher achievements in life remain out of reach.
— AEC News Today

Prayuth Slams Reporters’ Nicknames Satirizing Gov’t
Prime Minister Prayuth Chan-ocha said Monday night he was not amused by a list of nicknames mocking his government released by a media club.
— Khaosod English

See here for more of today’s Thailand morning news

Vietnam morning news

Compiled by Sreypov Men @MenSreypov

Vietnam ranks 4th in the number of pollution-linked deaths in the Western Pacific region
An estimated 71,365 Vietnamese people lost their lives to pollution in 2017, the latest year for which data was available, according to the Pollution and Health Metrics report by the Global Alliance on Health and Pollution.
— Vietnam Insider

Vietnam aims for 20.5 million foreign tourists in 2020
The tourism sector has set the goal of attracting 20.5 million international visitors in 2020 and serving 90 million domestic travellers, it was said at a review meeting of the Vietnam National Administration of Tourism (VNAT) in Hanoi on December 23.
— VietnamPlus

Vietnam is the third most active tech ecosystem in Southeast Asia
Using a mobile app, truck drivers in Vietnam can now opt to pick up cargo from nearby locations on their empty vehicles during their return trip, thus earning extra income. In the past, up to 70% of trucks return home empty.
— Vietnam Insider

See here for more of today’s Vietnam morning news

—

About Asean morning news.

Asean morning news roundup and its individual country morning news roundups are the most comprehensive hand-curated selection of Asean English language news headlines published. Each weekday we scour hundreds of local and international news sites and websites to find the most recent Asean English language news today.

We filter our the dull, the boring, the repetitive, and the click-bait and package all of the Asean daily news that you need to know to start your day into an easy to read, time saving format of Asean news headlines and first paragraphs before 7.30am Bangkok time.

We clearly identify the source of all the Asean news headlines, whether it is behind a paywall, a media release, or whether the news site uses annoying pop-up advertising or auto-play video, in case those things annoy you too. If a website uses particularly invasive pop-up adverts, we’ll tell you.

This enables you to make an informed choice of whether you want to learn more by clicking directly through to the original Asean news article, or keep on reading the remaining Asean daily news headlines.

Click here to get your Asean English language news today by email before 8am Bangkok time daily. Remember to watch out for the confirmation email from us to confirm your subscription. Check your trash folder if you do not see it.

For more immediate updates download the AEC News Today Mobile App from the Apple or Google stores, or follow us on Twitter.

#Independentmedia

Governance, not government; policies not politics.