Asean morning news for February 15

Asean morning news

Compiled by Stella-maris Ewudolu @stmarisewudolu

Asean lawmakers call for charges against Philippine journalist Maria Ressa to be dropped
Lawmakers from South-east Asian nations have called for all charges against Philippine journalist Maria Ressa to be dropped.
— The Straits Times

Slowing SE Asian economies will test social cohesion
Economics is too often under-estimated as a pillar of social cohesion. Southeast Asia’s growth is slowing alongside that of its biggest investor, China. And that will test a region united by a trading bloc but divided by religion, ethnicity, and forms of government.
— UCA News

Asian organized crime doubles down on casinos
When a major government designates a business as a front for organized crime, the accused normally go into hiding and tell their lawyers to get ready.
— CNN

Asean to rely on domestic demand for 2019 growth: HSBC
With weaker global growth and a downturn in the electronics trade cycle, Asean markets must rely on domestic demand to drive growth in 2019 — though the effectiveness of this driver will vary across countries, said HSBC economists in a note on Feb 13.
— The Business Times

US-China trade tension pushes supply chains from China to Asean
THE threat of a US-China trade war is speeding up the migration of supply chains from China to Asean, with Malaysia, Thailand, Vietnam and the Philippines the main beneficiaries.
— The Business Times

ASEAN and Korea set to sail another 30 years ahead
This year, we will celebrate the 30th anniversary of ASEAN-Korea relations as well as the 70th anniversary of the Philippines-Korea relations.
— The Philippine Star

S’pore can serve as platform to Asean as companies seek ‘huge growth opportunities’
As companies turn increasingly to Asia — including South-east Asia — to learn about best practices instead of looking to Western countries such as United States and those in Europe, that puts Singapore in a “unique position” to function as a platform to the region.
— Today Online

DHL Global Connectedness Index: Southeast Asian nations beat expectations as globalization hits new record high
DHL has released the fifth edition of the DHL Global Connectedness Index (GCI) — a detailed analysis of globalization, measured by international flows of trade, capital, information and people.
— Viet Nam News

US-Asean Partnership Forum: Common values or shared interests? Experts weigh in
Two differing views emerged from discussions at an international relations forum yesterday on what kind of concept the new regional Indo-Pacific initiative should adopt: Should it stress common values, such as democracy and human rights, or should it go bold on shared interests like economic benefits?
— The Straits Times (paywall)

EU and Asean: Advancing partnership for sustainability
As global stakeholders, the EU and Asean have the responsibility to advance the international rules-based order and preserve their ‘global commons’, writes Francisco Fontan.
— Khmer Times

Southeast Asian billet prices extend rally on higher offers, cancelled bookings
Import prices for steel billet in Southeast Asia climbed further on Thursday February 14, supported by higher offers and an uptick in spot trading after the Lunar New Year lull.
— Fastmarkets MB

Valentine’s Day: Southeast Asians are spending more
Southeast Asians are spending more on Valentine’s Day, with new research confirming that the most romantic day of the year is becoming increasingly commercialised.
— The Asean Post

Nature / The weird and wonderful sex lives of 5 Southeast Asian animals
If your love life is getting you down this Valentine’s Day, spare a thought for these Southeast Asian animals whose practices range from endearing to promiscuous to downright brutal.
— Southeast Asia Globe

Folklore / 3 Southeast Asian love stories to fill your Valentine’s Day void
Every country has folk stories. Some speak of heroes, some of villains, but more often than not, they speak of love.
— Southeast Asia Globe

Cambodia morning news

Compiled by Piseth Pov @piseth6666

SMEs bemoan gov’t tax exemption requirements
Small and medium enterprises (SMEs) are finding it difficult to meet the requirements to apply for tax exemption from the General Department of Taxation ’s (GDT) said Federation of Association for Small and Medium Enterprises of Cambodia (Fasmec) president Te Taingpor.
— The Phnom Penh Post

Opposition Party Destroyed If EBA Withdrawn, PM Hun Sen Warns (Video inside)
Cambodian Prime Minister Hun Sen on Thursday said that the withdrawal of EU’s Everything But Arms (EBA) trade scheme would put an “end” to the opposition party, speaking at the annual meeting of the ministry of interior.
— Fresh News

Cambodia can achieve SDGs, but deep fiscal reform needed: ADB report
Cambodia has a good chance of achieving its social protection agenda under the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) but will need to balance different social protection investments, according to a report published on Wednesday by the Asian Development Bank (ADB)
— Khmer Times

See here for more of today’s Cambodia morning news

Indonesia morning news

Compiled by Stella-maris Ewudolu @stmarisewudolu

Indonesia and Australia will sign trade deal in March, minister says
Indonesia will sign a trade and investment partnership deal with Australia in March, Indonesia’s Trade Minister said on Thursday, three months later than expected and following diplomatic friction between the two countries over Middle East policy.
— The Sydney Morning Herald

Govt to issue sharia sovereign bonds worth US$2 billion
The Indonesian government is set to issue US$2 billion worth of State Sharia Sovereign Bonds (SBSN), or sukuk wakalah global, to continue its commitment to sustainable green financing.
— Antara News

14 students with HIV expelled from school in Indonesia
Fourteen students with HIV have been expelled from a public elementary school in Indonesia following demands from parents of other students, the school’s headmaster and a local group that assists HIV-infected children said on Thursday.
— Bangkok Post

See here for more of today’s Indonesia morning news

Lao PDR morning news

Compiled by Piseth Pov @piseth6666

E-Commerce Benefits Require Access, Digital Connectivity At Right Cost in Laos
Technology, e-Commerce, and connectivity mean the potential for exporting goods and services from Laos has never been greater, yet obstacles remain to fully comprehend and grab some of the many opportunities on offer, according to research released by the multilateral financier, the World Bank.
— The Laotian Times

Lao State Workers Go Without Salaries, Even After PM’s Directive to Pay Them Monthly
State employees in many provinces of Laos have not received their January salaries in violation of a recent government mandate that the workers be paid on the 25th of every month, indicating that the directive may be a toothless effort to resolve a longstanding problem of lack of regional funds to pay workers on time.
— Radio Free Asia

Laos moves to streamline apparatus of state agencies
Lao Prime Minister Thongloun Sisoulith has asked the country’s Ministry of Home Affairs (MoHA) to take prompt action to streamline the apparatus of state organisations so as to improve the performance of officials and public employees.
— Vietnam Plus

See here for more of today’s Lao morning news

Malaysia morning news

Compiled by Sreypov Men @MenSreypov

Malaysia’s FDI rises 1.3% to RM631.2b in Q4 2018
The foreign direct investment (FDI) in Malaysia increased 1.3% to RM631.2 billion in the fourth quarter (Q4) in 2018 from RM623.1 billion in Q3 2018, according to the Department of Statistics (DoS).
— The Sun Daily

Mahathir’s return sees Singapore-Malaysia relations navigating choppy waters
Having returned to the Malaysian prime ministership, Mahathir Mohamad is implementing a much-welcomed reform agenda and correcting governance ills introduced during his earlier reign.
— AEC News Today

Energy Commission announces 500MW large scale solar tender
The Energy Commission (EC), today announced it is requesting proposals for the development of large scale solar photovoltaic plant (LSS).
— The Star Online

See here for more of today’s Malaysia Morning News

Myanmar morning news

Compiled by Sreypov Men @MenSreypov

Opium cultivation business squeezed by market shift towards meth
Myanmar’s opium business has shrunk by more than 3000 hectares (ha) over the last 12 months as the market shifted towards synthetic drugs, a UN study stated.
— Myanmar Times

Garment industry creates most job opportunities: Minister
The garment industry is the livelihood that can create job opportunities the most, said Thein Swe, Union Minister for Labour, Immigration and Population at a ceremony to present the wards to the most outstanding trainees from the garment training schools and the best garment factories at the UMFCCI on February 9.
— Eleven Myanmar

QR code payment system set to launch this year
The Central Bank of Myanmar is set to implement a standardised national payment system by this year, says CBM Vice Governor U Bo Bo Nge.
— Myanmar Times

See here for more of today’s Myanmar morning news

Philippines morning news

Compiled by Stella-maris Ewudolu @stmarisewudolu

‘Hot money’ inflows hit $762.8 million in January
POSITIVE sentiment flowed into the Philippines at the start of the year, as short-term investments made by foreign players surged in January, according to the latest data from the Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas (BSP).
— Business Mirror

Political ads of top spenders worth more than their declared wealth
The Philippine Center for Investigative Journalism (PCIJ) tracked senatorial candidates’ spending on political advertisements and found something odd: the top spenders’ expenses exceeded their net worth.
— Rappler

See here for more of today’s Philippines morning news

Singapore morning news

Compiled by John Le Fevre @photo_journ

Agreement with Singapore set to give a boost to EU-Asia trade
The trade and investment agreements between the EU and Singapore have today received the approval of the European Parliament.
— Fresh Plaza

Singapore retailer targets 100 halal groceries across island in the next year
Singapore’s “halalpreneur” has resurrected his dream of developing a nationwide chain of Islamic compliant food stores after his hopes were dashed last year.
— Food Navigator

See here for more of today’s Singapore morning news

Thailand morning news

Compiled by John Le Fevre @photo_journ

High pressure increases PM2.5 dust particles in and around Bangkok today and tomorrow
After a brief respite, air quality in Bangkok and surrounding provinces deteriorated today, with PM2.5 dust particulate rising. The arrival of a moderate high pressure front from China and stale…
— Thai PBS World

Bill on protection of fishing crew sails through, despite protests from operators
A DRAFT bill for the better protection of fishing-vessel crews sailed through the National Legislative Assembly (NLA) yesterday.
— The Nation (very annoying popups)

Decision on Minimum Wage increases due in March
The final decision on Minimum Wage increases will be made in March, with new rates to vary in accordance with economic conditions in each province.
— NNT

See here for more of today’s Thailand morning news

Vietnam morning news

Compiled by Sreypov Men @MenSreypov

Vietnam to include underground economy in GDP data in 2020
Prime Minister Nguyen Xuan Phuc has approved a scheme to measure non-observed economic activity in Vietnam, with data beginning to be released in 2020.
— Nhan Dan Online

Ministry to support domestic automobile industry projects
The Ministry of Industry and Trade (MoIT) will implement solutions to support and promote the automobile industry projects of companies such as Truong Hai Automobile Company (Thaco), Thanh Cong Group, VinFast and others.
— VietnamPlus

Cambodia and Vietnam agree to drop import duties
Trade ties between Cambodia and Vietnam were strengthened on Wednesday following a meeting between high-ranking commerce officials in which both countries agree to drop tariffs on a number of goods.
— Khmer 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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