Asean morning news for February 8

Asean morning news

Compiled by Stella-maris Ewudolu @stmarisewudolu

Asian banks on watch with trillion-dollar Libor transition
TRILLIONS of dollars globally are priced to Libor, the scandal-tainted benchmark that is due to vanish by end-2021 – and this massive transition may catch Asian banks wrong-footed with the speed of its phase-out.
— The Business Times

International Smuggling Ring Broken Up
An operation between enforcement agencies in Canada, Japan and Cambodia has caught the Nigerian ringleaders of a drug smuggling group hiding in the country.
— Cambodia News English

The Mekong region is caught in a tug-of-war
For the Mekong countries, including Thailand, Laos, Myanmar, Cambodia and Vietnam, 2018 was a big year both domestically and regionally.
— East Asia Forum

UK announces $43 million in programmes for Asean region
The United Kingdom’s Minister of State for Asia last week announced the launch of two programmes that will deliver a total of $43 million in funding to support low carbon transitions and economic reform in the Asean region.
— Khmer Times

Southeast Asian tourist spots risk visitors’ ire with price hikes
Tourists are paying higher prices in Southeast Asia’s key destinations as admission fees have been raised to pay for environmental conservation measures and infrastructure building.
— Nikkei Asian Review (paywall)

US and allies urged to increase digital investments in Asia to counter China’s belt and road tech projects
The United States and its allies should strengthen their investments in Asia’s digital economy to counter China’s increasing presence in the region, experts from the US and Japan have said.
— South China Morning Post

Fed, elections, oil align to revive demand for Philippine, Indonesian stocks
Bruised by global political and economic turbulence last year, foreign investors are now returning to Southeast Asian markets, encouraged by easing trade frictions, a more benign interest rate outlook and prospects of increased infrastructure spending.
— Reuters

Southeast Asia lacks a culture of preparedness in the face of natural disasters
Each year, natural disasters cost the region billions of dollars, and exact a massive toll on local populations.
— Asia News Network

Experts call for more trade within Asean to offset US-China trade war
SINCE THE US-China trade war is expected to drag on this year and further depress exports, Thailand needs to seek long-term benefits from economic integration within Asean in order to offset the wounds inflicted by the war, international relations experts and financial sector representatives said yesterday.
— The Nation (very annoying pop-ups)

Challenges and prospects of China’s Belt and Road Initiative
In the present globalized world, the economic corridors have become an important tool for regional cooperation and development.
— Modern Diplomacy

Russian arms flood Southeast Asia
Russia’s “hard” power is generally well-understood. President Vladimir Putin has ensured this is the case, particularly through his proclivity to showcase Russian strength in Ukraine and Syria.
— The Interpreter

Unleashing Asean’s full potential with data-driven governance
THE Association of Southeast Asian Nations (Asean) has a bright future ahead of it.
— The Business Times

Modi to inaugurate 3-day ASEAN Chambers of Commerce Meet
Prime Minister Narendra Modi to inaugurate the three-day ASEAN Chambers of Commerce and Industry Business Meet in Bengaluru on February 25.
— The Hindu BusinessLine

e27 Report: Malaysia sees more startups and deals than Indonesia, but far less money
Q3 2015 was a turning point for e27 when we introduced e27 Startups, e27 Investors, e27 Events and e27 Jobs, as a natural and strategic extension to our media platform.
— Yahoo News

Panelists talk state of journalism in Southeast Asia practice & scholarship series
Around 30 people showed up to the Perspectives on the State of Journalism panel Wednesday evening to hear three panelists, each representing different Southeast Asian countries, speak on their experiences as journalists.
— The Michigan Daily

Faith Colleges organizes Asean convergence secondary schools summit
Secondary schools from Indonesia, Malaysia, Singapore and the Philippines are set to meet from Feb. 21 to 23, 2019 at Lima Park Hotel in Batangas for the first Association of Southeast Asian Nations (Asean) Convergence Secondary Schools Summit (#AC3S) organized by Faith Colleges.
— The Manila Times

FIFA Rankings: Vietnam still best among ASEAN countries, Thailand move up while Philippines & India suffer heavy blow
FIFA have released their latest set of rankings and Vietnam maintain their position as the best ASEAN team in the world.
— FOX Sports

Social media’s all-seeing eye
On 17 January 2001, the Philippines witnessed the Second EDSA Revolution (EDSA II).
—The Asean Post

Cambodia morning news

Compiled by Piseth Pov @piseth6666

Cambodia, Myanmar mirror decline of democracy in Southeast Asia
Political freedom across the globe has been declining in the last 13 years, and Southeast Asia is no exception.
— Southeast Asian Press Alliance

Warning issued over crooked visas
The Foreign Affairs Ministry has called on the public and tourists not to pay e-visa fees through private tour agencies overseas because they are overcharging and cheating tourists.
— Khmer Times

See here for more of today’s Cambodia morning news

Indonesia morning news

Compiled by Stella-maris Ewudolu @stmarisewudolu

Government teams up with Australia to improve employment, workforce
The government will work together with its Australian counterpart to address employment and labor force issues, as Indonesia’s demographics could pose challenges for its economy in the long run if not well managed.
— The Jakarta Post

Bekasi records 128 dengue fever cases, one dead
With dengue fever on the rise in several regions of the country, the Bekasi Health Agency has recorded 128 cases of the mosquito-borne virus in the municipality, with one person dying in January.
— The Jakarta Post

Indonesia plans 22 pct “safeguard” tariff on aluminium foil – WTO filing
Indonesia is planning to impose a 22 percent “safeguard” tariff on imports of aluminium foil, it told the World Trade Organization in a filing on Thursday, citing a surge in imports due to surplus flows of the commodity coming from China.
— Reuters Africa

See here for more of today’s Indonesia morning news

Lao PDR morning news

Compiled by Piseth Pov @piseth6666

Tariff cuts have no significant impact on revenue collection
The government is still expecting the customs sector to play a key role in generating income even though Laos has eliminated import tariffs on most goods from Asean member countries.
— Vientiane Times

Public, Private Sectors Join Hands Improving Investment Climate
Representatives of the Ministry of Planning and Investment, the Lao National Chamber of Commerce and Industry (LNCCI) joined in Vientiane those from the private sector to discuss recently implemented regulatory reforms for improving the ease of doing business in the Lao PDR on Thursday.
— KPL

Govt commits to further reform, improved business climate
The government has committed to continued efforts in improving the nation’s business climate as it plans to diversify the economic base and secure sustainable growth.
— Vientiane Times

See here for more of today’s Lao morning news

Malaysia morning news

Compiled by Sreypov Men @MenSreypov

Sugar tax to have minimal impact on F&N’s bottom line
The impeding excise duty on sweetened beverages, starting from April 1, 2019, will have a minimal impact on Fraser & Neave Holdings Bhd’s (F&N) bottom line, according to MIDF Research.
— The Sun Daily

Gov’t only promotes own products – DPM
Deputy Prime Minister Datuk Seri Dr Wan Azizah Wan Ismail said today the government only promotes its own products but not private products.
— New Straits Times

Umno calls for Malaysia’s deputy foreign minister Marzuki to resign over his ‘Cambridge degree’
Umno leaders are calling for the resignation of Malaysia’s Deputy Foreign Minister Marzuki Yahya following claims that his business administration degree came from a degree mill.
— The Straits Times

See here for more of today’s Malaysia Morning News

Myanmar morning news

Compiled by Sreypov Men @MenSreypov

Chinese company proposes new circular railroad for Yangon
Representatives from China Railway Engineering Co Ltd (CREC) have met with the Yangon Region government to discuss the possibility of constructing of a new Yangon circular railroad, U Than Naing Oo, a member of the Yangon Region Hluttaw’s Transportation, Communications, Construction and Industry Committee told The Myanmar Times.
— Myanmar Times

Myanmar Passes Industrial Design Law
On January 30, 2019, Myanmar’s long-awaited Industrial Design Law—the first legislation specifically addressing the protection of industrial designs.
— Lexology

See here for more of today’s Myanmar morning news

Philippines morning news

Compiled by Stella-maris Ewudolu @stmarisewudolu

Philippines set to pass budget on Friday after monthlong impasse
The Philippines’ 2019 budget is set to be ratified on Friday, ending a monthlong impasse and limiting the damage to one of Southeast Asia’s fastest-growing economies.
— Nikkei Asian Review (paywall)

‘Pork funds’ still intact in 2019 budget: Lacson
The alleged congressional “pork” allocations have been retained in the bicameral version of the proposed PHP3.757-trillion national budget for 2019, Senator Panfilo Lacson revealed on Thursday.
— Philippine News Agency

Journalists, institutions decry ‘absurd legal attack’ against Rappler
A number of journalist groups and institutions slammed the Department of Justice’s (DOJ) recommendation to file cyber libel charges against Rappler Incorporated, its CEO and executive editor Maria Ressa, and former researcher Reynaldo Santos Jr over a nearly 7-year-old story written months before the cyber libel law was enacted.
— Rappler

See here for more of today’s Philippines morning news

Singapore morning news

Compiled by John Le Fevre @photo_journ

S’pore public hammering SingPost pays off as it announces ways to improve service standards
SingPost is accepting the S$100,000 financial penalty imposed on it by the Infocomm Media and Development Authority (IMDA) for failing to meet service standards on delivery in 2017.
— Mothership

Singapore: economic renewal, but old-age security & inequality unaddressed
Singapore reported a credible economic performance in 2018 amid an increasingly uncertain global environment, exemplified by the US–China trade war.
— AEC News Today

Opposition politician and former presidential candidate both agree that Malaysia’s healthcare system trumps Singapore’s
Following the news that Malaysia ranks top for its healthcare system, opposition politician Lim Tean and former presidential candidate Tan Kin Lian took to social media to very publicly concur.
— The Independent

See here for more of today’s Singapore morning news

Thailand morning news

Compiled by John Le Fevre @photo_journ

Cabinet informed of anti-PM2.5 plans
Bangkok – The Cabinet was advised on Tuesday of the short, medium, and long-term plans laid out by the National Environment Committee to address air pollution caused by particulate matter smaller than 2.5 micrometers in diameter.
— Pattaya Mail

Bahraini to make another bid for bail next week
BAHRAINI FOOTBALLER Hakeem al-Araibi will file another bail request while he awaits this extradition trial, his lawyer said yesterday.
— The Nation (very annoying popups)

A royal rumour upends Thai politics
IS THAI POLITICS about to turn upside down? For almost 20 years an endless political battle has pitted royalist elites, known as “yellow shirts”, against partisans of a populist former prime minister, Thaksin Shinawatra, known as “red shirts”.
— The Economist

See here for more of today’s Thailand morning news

Vietnam morning news

Compiled by Sreypov Men @MenSreypov

Hanoi aims for 7.6 percent economic growth in 2019
The People’s Committee of Hanoi has set a gross regional domestic product (GRDP) growth of 7.4-7.6 percent and an export growth of 7.5-8 percent for the capital city in 2019.
— VNA NET

Vietnam to create favourable conditions for private firms
Vi?t Nam will continue to hasten efforts to improve the business climate in terms of quality to create favourable conditions for the private sector to play its role as a driver in promoting rapid and sustainable economic growth.
— Viet Nam News

High-end apartment prices still lower than regional peers
High-end apartment prices in Ho Chi Minh City and Hanoi are generally still lower than regional peers such as Kuala Lumpur and Bangkok, despite much stronger growth rates in Ho Chi Minh City when compared with these markets, according to Mr. Neil MacGregor, Managing Director of Savills Vietnam.
— Vietnam Insider

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.