Asean morning news

Compiled by Stella-maris Ewudolu          @stmarisewudolu

 

Japan makes infrastructure push into Southeast Asia
Japan Inc. is launching a plan intended to make it a bigger development player in Southeast Asia, a region increasingly awash in Chinese money.
— Nikkei Asian Review (paywall)

US-ASEAN Forum shows the need for concrete plans on economic integration and human rights
Last week in Jakarta, the US-ASEAN Partnership Forum brought policy experts, young leaders, and ASEAN and government representatives together to discuss the future of US-ASEAN relations.
— Asean Today

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

Southeast Asia stumbles over politics
These are challenging times for Southeast Asia. Despite buoyant economies, healthy investment and growing trade ties, predictability and certainty in the political sphere seem elusive for the ten member countries of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations.
— Nikkei Asian Review (paywall)

AJWELP to Support and Empower Women Startups in the ASEAN Member States
The ASEAN-Japan Centre (AJC) organized the 3rd ASEAN-Japan Women Entrepreneurs’ Linkage Program (AJWELP), a program to empower startup women entrepreneurs, in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia on January 27 – 30, 2019.
— Business Wire (media release)

Cost pressure to pharmaceutical and healthcare industries is increasing in Southeast Asia: study
The cost pressure to pharmaceutical and healthcare industries is increasing in Southeast Asia, where traditionally companies enjoyed a lucrative private sector, according to a Roland Berger study.
— New Straits Times

Blockchain helps businesses to profit from social progress
After wiping the sweat off her brow and adjusting her straw hat, Liswati walks along one of her fields under Indonesia’s hot tropical sun, eventually squatting down to inspect her crops.
— Nikkei Asian Review (paywall)

S. Korea gears up for special summit with ASEAN in November
South Korea will start preparations in earnest this week for a special summit with Southeast Asian nations slated for November, according to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs on Tuesday.
— Yonhap News Agency

Vibhavadi looks for investment opportunities in Asean hospitals
VIBHAVADI Medical Centre Plc will expand its investments overseas by focusing on Asean countries, including Myanmar, Cambodia, and Laos, by holding at least a 25-per-cent stake in local hospitals, the company’s chairman of the executive board and managing director, Chaisith Viriyamettakul, said recently.
— The Nation (very annoying pop-ups)

China: Dominant, distrusted in ASEAN
“We know that you’re a dominant superpower right in our neighborhood, so we must deal with you. But trust you? Umm, not quite.”
— Rappler

Coastal welfare key to suppressing threats in Southeast Asia
Cases of piracy, armed robbery and kidnapping for ransom in Southeast Asian seas have been declining rapidly thanks to the region’s economic improvement and maritime enforcement initiatives.
— The Jakarta Post (paywall)

Korea spreads health insurance system to Asia
Korea’s efforts to promote the excellence of its health insurance system among the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) countries have born some fruits.
— Korea Biomedical Review

India holds first-ever Regional Maritime Safety Conference with ASEAN
The two-day Regional Maritime Safety Conference organized by the National Maritime Foundation(NMF),in coordination with Ministry of Shipping and Ministry of External Affairs, kicked off here on Tuesday.
— United News of India

Southeast Asian Games organisers in Manila sign seven sponsorship deals as try to make up funding shortfall
Philippine officials of the this year’s Southeast Asian Games (SEA) in Manilla have signed sponsorship agreements with seven different firms.
— Insidethegames

 

Cambodia morning news

Compiled by Piseth Pov          @piseth6666

 

Government prepares for water shortages
As the dry season takes hold, the government is preparing to tackle a water shortage in six provinces, according to a senior official at the Ministry of Water Resources and Meteorology.
— The Phnom Penh Post

US, Cambodia in War of Words Over Detained Opposition Leader
Cambodia and the United States sparred this weekend over comments appearing on a U.S. embassy Facebook page criticizing the Cambodian government’s continued detention of the leader of a now-banned opposition party.
— Radio Free Asia

Higher Student Dropout Rates Along Cambodia’s Border with Thailand
A Cambodian official reported last week that about 23 percent of children in three provinces along the border with Thailand have stopped attending school.
— VOA News

See here for more of today’s Cambodia morning news

Indonesia morning news

Compiled by Stella-maris Ewudolu          @stmarisewudolu

 

$76 Billion Fund Gives Contrarian Call for Indonesia Rate Cut
Indonesia’s central bank should signal interest-rate cuts to draw more foreign money into the nation’s bonds, according to a top emerging markets asset manager.
— Bloomberg

Government ready to spend $1.1 billion on addressing oil and gas deficit
The Indonesian government is ready to spend US$1.1 billion on oil and gas exploration to address a rising deficit of oil and gas, which is expected to begin in 2015 and reach its peak in 2050.
— Antara News

Indonesia sees $1.6bn gain from halal labelling rule
Indonesia is set to make halal labelling mandatory for consumer products and services this year with the government assuming greater control of the certifying process from the Muslim-majority nation’s Islamic cleric council.
— Gulf Times

See here for more of today’s Indonesia morning news

 

Lao PDR morning news

Compiled by Piseth Pov          @piseth6666

Laos-Vietnam border a pivotal part of development
Vehicles regularly carry goods into Laos from the sea port in Thanh Hoa province of Vietnam, about 250 kilometres from Huaphan province.
— Vientiane Times

Hanoi, Vientiane police cooperate more effectively: Lao official
The recent signing of the cooperation minutes between Hanoi and Vientiane police, as witnessed by the Vietnamese and Lao Ministers of Public Security, will lay a legal foundation for the two sides to support each other in all fields, he said.
— Nhan Dan

Lao Uni. Students Head To Japan For Japan-ASEAN Student Conference
On 18 February 2019, twelve Lao university students departed Wattay International Airport for Japan to participate in the Japan-ASEAN Student Conference, or a programme conducted under the framework of JENESYS 2018, which is supported by the Japanese Government.
— KPL

See here for more of today’s Lao morning news

Malaysia morning news

Compiled by Sreypov Men          @MenSreypov

 

Malaysia to end bauxite mining ban despite environment fears
Malaysia will next month lift a ban on bauxite mining that has been in place for three years, a minister said Tuesday (Feb 19), despite warnings the move may cause serious environmental damage.
— Channel NewsAsia

Putrajaya launches national wage index for productivity, wage benchmark
The first National Wage Index (NWI) was launched by Human Resources Minister M. Kulasegaran today, the culmination of a study that has taken the better part of two years at least.
— Malay Mail

Malaysia property market to see ‘further stagnation’ in 2019 — Rahim & Co
Property consultant Rahim & Co expects 2019 to be a year of further stagnation for the property market in Malaysia, before any meaningful recovery can be seen in one to two years’ time from now.
— The Edge Markets

See here for more of today’s Malaysia Morning News

 

Myanmar morning news

Compiled by Sreypov Men          @MenSreypov

 

Fresh milk producers face competition from imported condensed milk
The Myanmar dairy industry has been growing over the past few years as access to electricity, which is essential for the development of the sector, improves, U Khin Maung Win, chair Myanmar Livestock Federation, told The Myanmar Times.
— Myanmar Times 

Yangon threatens to sue firm for illegal collection of tolls
The Yangon government has threatened to sue a local real estate company for collecting fees from vehicles that pass through its compound, Yangon Mayor U Maung Maung Soe told parliament on Monday.
— Myanmar Times

Myanmar picks panel to reform army-scripted constitution
Myanmar set up a committee to discuss reforming the country’s military-drafted constitution on Tuesday (Feb 19), pitting Aung San Suu Kyi’s civilian government openly against the powerful armed forces for the first time over the incendiary issue.
— Channel NewsAsia

See here for more of today’s Myanmar morning news

 

Philippines morning news

Compiled by Stella-maris Ewudolu          @stmarisewudolu

 

BoP surplus hits 6-year high in Jan
The country’s balance of payments (BoP) surplus hit a six-year high in January, the Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas (BSP) reported on Tuesday.
— The Manila Times

DOH Eastern Visayas reports rising measles cases
Measles cases in Eastern Visayas continue to surge as the outbreak has already killed 16 children while nearly 200 cases have been added in more than a week, the Department of Health (DOH) reported on Monday.
— Philippine News Agency

Philippines revokes Sanofi’s product license for dengue vaccine
The Philippines has permanently halted the sale, distribution and marketing of Sanofi’s dengue vaccine in the country after the French drug maker failed to meet the directives of regulators.
— Reuters

See here for more of today’s Philippines morning news

Singapore morning news

Compiled by John Le Fevre          @photo_journ

 

Singapore names newest warship RSS Invincible (video)
Dr Ivy Ng, chief executive of SingHealth and the wife of Singapore Defence Minister Dr Ng Eng Hen, has named the city-state’s newest warship, a S$800 million (about US$589 mln) German built submarine, the RSS Invincible at a ceremony in Kiel, Germany.
— AEC News Today

Services sector to face ‘challenge’ of tighter foreign worker quota, but adapting firms will benefit
It will be a “challenge” for companies in the services sector to cope with the upcoming tightening of supply to foreign workers, but forward-looking companies will likely fare better, industry watchers said.
— Channel NewsAsia (very annoying popups)

Top-ups for students, GST Vouchers part of S$1.1b Bicentennial Bonus
About 1.4 million lower-income Singaporeans will receive up to S$300 in GST Vouchers at the end of this year, as part of the S$1.1 billion Bicentennial Bonus announced by Finance Minister Heng Swee Keat on Monday (Feb 18).
— Today Online

See here for more of today’s Singapore morning news

 

Thailand morning news

Compiled by John Le Fevre          @photo_journ

 

Thailand tops global digital rankings
Thailand ranked No.1 for mobile banking users, second for ownership of cryptocurrency, and third in mobile commerce, according to the Global Digital Report 2019.
— Bangkok Post (annoying pop-ups)

$1.3 Million Bitcoin Scam Swindles Victims in Thailand. Are Tougher Crypto Regulations Necessary?
A virtual bitcoin mining farm in Thailand has allegedly scammed users out of 42 million baht (approximately $1.35 million), according to a report in the Bangkok Post.
— CCN (video)

Puea Chat insists Prayut must step down
The Puea Chat Party has joined a chorus of calls for Gen Prayut Chan-o-cha to step down to show his sincere belief in a free and fair election as he bids to return as prime minister after the March 24 election.
— Bangkok Post (annoying pop-ups)

See here for more of today’s Thailand morning news

 

Vietnam morning news

Compiled by Sreypov Men          @MenSreypov

 

HCM City selective about high-rise apartment projects
The Ho Chi Minh City Real Estate Association (HoRea) has recommended that the municipal People’s Committee should be more selective about giving licences to high-rise buildings.
— VNA NET

Foreign investors pump US$6 billion into HCM City via M&A
As a popular investment channel for foreign investors in recent times, mergers and acquisitions (M&A) secured Ho Chi Minh City US$6 billion in foreign direct investment (FDI) projects in 2018.
— Nhan Dan Online

Electricity, aviation companies forecast for a great 2019
Power and aviation companies are among the industries forecast for better things this year, according to industry analysts.
— Viet Nam News

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.