Asean morning news
Compiled by Stella-maris Ewudolu @stmarisewudolu
Asean and China struggle to buckle Belt and Road Initiative
China’s ambitious Belt and Road Initiative (BRI) continues to draw criticism and disapproval.
— Khmer Times
Thailand to push RCEP deal this year
THAILAND, as Asean chair, will push for conclusion of the Regional Comprehensive Economic Partnership (RCEP) negotiations by the year-end in order to counterbalance the negative impacts of the US-China trade war.
— The Nation (very annoying pop-ups)
Emerging Asia market rebound in sight with China, trade caveats
This year is looking a little brighter for Asia’s emerging-market assets amid prospects of a less aggressive Federal Reserve.
— The Edge Markets
ASEAN: facing economic headwinds
The 10-members of the Association of South East Asian Nations (ASEAN) are facing a difficult year.
— Bluenotes
Growing Chinese Navy Adds to Risk of Clashes in Asia’s Major Maritime Dispute
A Chinese missile frigate returned last week from a five-day, friendly visit to the Philippines — days after a Chinese fleet had visited Cambodia and half a year after a Chinese state firm started taking bids to build a nuclear-powered aircraft carrier, a sign of Beijing’s growing power at sea.
— Voice of America
Southeast Asia’s online retail market set to grow at 23 per cent
Southeast Asia’s online retail market is expected to reach US$53 billion in the next five years, according to a recent analysis by Forrester Consulting.
— Inside Retail Asia
Asia Minute: Southeast Asia Fights Obesity with Attacks on Sugar
The link between high sugar consumption and health problems has sparked a legislative response in a number of states and overseas.
— Hawaii Public Radio
Thirteen countries from Asia and the Pacific plan scale-up of PrEP and HIV self-testing
Representatives from 13 countries across Asia and the Pacific gathered in Bangkok, Thailand, from 29 to 31 October to develop road maps to implement and expand pre-exposure prophylaxis (PrEP) and HIV self-testing in the region.
— Intellasia.net
Satisfaction With HR Technology Dips in APAC, According to Survey by Alight Solutions
Despite the increasing role of technology in the HR function, a new study from Alight Solutions, a leader in technology-enabled health, wealth and human capital management solutions, finds that companies in Asia Pacific are largely unhappy with their HR technology platforms.
— AEC News Today/ PR Newswire (media release)
Growing Asean-China trade provides opportunities for Malaysia exporters
The growing ASEAN-China trade is providing Malaysian exporters with more opportunities to tap the business potential offered by the world’s second largest economy.
— The Star Online
Asean-EU meeting in Brussels highlights ties
The Foreign Ministry on Friday said the Asean-EU Ministerial Meeting in Belgium last week, which Minister Prak Sokhonn attended, highlighted mutually beneficial cooperation to further strengthen and deepen Asean-EU dialogue relations.
— Khmer Times
Where is the Philippines in Global Hunger in ASEAN?
The Global Hunger Organization just released its 2018 results. The Global Hunger Index (GHI) has four indicators:
— BusinessWorld Online
Asean helps manage tensions in region, say panellists
Asean is a useful tool in managing tensions in the region and must remain central to Singapore’s foreign policy.
— The Straits Times
Elevating the TAC as a global code of conduct
A reference of Asean’s most well-known regional code of conduct, known as the Treaty of Amity and Cooperation in Southeast Asia (TAC), in the Chiang Mai retreat’s statement, deserves recognition.
— Bangkok Post
Asean hobbles itself
Thailand’s first test as this year’s Asean chair occurred two weeks ago in Chiang Mai.
— Bangkok Post
Southeast Asia Terribly Damaged but Lauded by West
Come to Southeast Asia and enjoy beaches, cheap sex and raunchy massage parlors.
— Dissident Voice
Cambodia morning news
Compiled by Piseth Pov @piseth6666
King Sihamoni signs off on council law amendment
King Norodom Sihamoni on Thursday signed off on an amendment to the law on municipal, provincial and district council elections, effectively increasing the number of local council seats.
— Khmer Times
‘All media outlets must pay tax’
Minister of Information Khieu Kanharith on Friday said Voice of America (VOA) and Radio Free Asia (RFA) would be allowed to reopen their offices only after fulfilling their tax obligations.
— The Phnom Penh Post
PM warns against foreign interference
Prime Minister Hun Sen has urged all Cambodians to protect hard-earned peace and oppose any possible interference into internal affairs by foreign countries, citing a political crisis in Venezuela where an opposition leader took power from the incumbent president.
— Khmer Times
See here for more of today’s Cambodia morning news
Indonesia morning news
Compiled by Stella-maris Ewudolu @stmarisewudolu
Electability Gap Between Prabowo, Jokowi is 11 Percent: Hashim
Hashim Djojohadikusumo, deputy chairman of Gerindra Party’s advisory council, said that the internal survey of the National Campaign Agency (BPN) of Prabowo – Sandiaga revealed the electability gap between the pair and Jokowi – Ma’ruf Amin is not over 11 percent.
— Tempo.co
Indonesia’s inflation in January projected to reach 0.48 pct
Governor of Indonesia’s central bank Bank Indonesia (BI) said on Friday that inflation in January was estimated to reach 0.48 percent, thanks to government’s successful administered price policy.
— Brinkwire
Tempo Poll: Over 60 Percent against Abu Bakar Baasyir’s Release
President Joko “Jokowi” Widodo planned to release convicted terrorist Abu Bakar Baasyir from prison after the 81-year-old man had served two thirds of his total 15 years’ imprisonment.
— Tempo.co
See here for more of today’s Indonesia morning news
Lao PDR morning news
Compiled by Piseth Pov @piseth6666
$US10,000 per Life Lost as PM Thongloun Orders Victim Compensation in Sanamxay
Laos’ PM Thongloun Sisoulith has ordered compensation of some 10,000 USD to be paid to relatives and next of kin for the 71 confirmed killed and missing presumed deceased in Attapeu’s Sanamxay District following July’s Flash Flooding Disaster.
— Laotain Times
A Hydropower Firm, Golfers Raise Funds For Attapeu
The Theun-Hinboun Power Company (THPC) organized the annual Charity Golf Tournament on Jan 26 at Vientiane’s Long Vien Golf Club to raise funds for people affected by last year’s flooding in Attapeu.
— KPL
Lax registration set to improve Lao business environment
INVESTORS and business operators in Laos will no longer find it so difficult to register their enterprise after the Ministry of Industry and Commerce unveiled a new plan that will cut the registration time to 10 working days.
— The Phnom Penh Post
See here for more of today’s Lao morning news
Malaysia morning news
Compiled by Sreypov Men @MenSreypov
Govt to build 100,000 affordable homes by end-2019
The Housing and Local Government Ministry is targeting to build 100,000 affordable homes by the end of this year, in line with the Pakatan Harapan government’s manifesto to provide budget housing.
— The Star Online
Malaysia is the 26th most innovative country in the world
Malaysia is the 26th most innovative country in the world according to Bloomberg’s 2019 Innovation Index.
— Soyacincau
Malaysia Boleh: working to beat Malaysia’s 4th deadliest cancer
Cancer scientist Cheong Sok Ching’s efforts to understand and eventually eliminate oral cancer are advancing research of the disease not just in Malaysia, but throughout Southeast Asia. In her capacity as a cancer researcher, Ms Cheong also seeks to remove the stigma of cancer and mentor a resilient new generation of cancer scientists.
— AEC News Today
See here for more of today’s Malaysia Morning News
Myanmar morning news
Compiled by Sreypov Men @MenSreypov
Aung San Suu Kyi to investors: Myanmar is open for business
Myanmar leader Aung San Suu Kyi on Monday (Jan 28) urged global investors to put their money into Myanmar, seeking to offset the negative impact of the Rohingya crisis and slow pace of economic reforms.
— Channel NewsAsia
Mandalay moves closer to e-government with data centre
The Mandalay regional government has launched a data centre as part of its efforts to implement an e-government system.
— Myanmar Times
Fish export prices remain low
From April to December, 2018, the fish export prices are relatively low compared with the same period last year, said Win Kyaing, Secretary General of Myanmar Fishery Federation (MFF).
— Eleven Myanmar
See here for more of today’s Myanmar morning news
Philippines morning news
Compiled by Stella-maris Ewudolu @stmarisewudolu
Senators firm up schedule to front-load budget bill
SENATORS on Monday moved to firm up the timetable for Congress to front-load passage of the P3.757-trillion 2019 budget bill, amid reports that the delayed enactment of the annual money measure, according to the Department of Finance, cut government’s spending by P46 billion, effectively denting the country’s first-quarter growth.
— Business Mirror
House okays bill lowering ‘age of social responsibility’
THE House of Representatives yesterday approved on third and final reading a bill which seeks to lower the minimum age of criminal responsibility to 12 from the current 15 years.
— Malaya
Gov’t wants big ticket infra projects exempted from election ban
The Duterte administration is planning to ask the Commission on Elections (Comelec) to exempt big-ticket infrastructure projects from the government spending ban during the campaign period.
— Manila Bulletin
See here for more of today’s Philippines morning news
Singapore morning news
Compiled by John Le Fevre @photo_journ
Leong Sze Hian: “Where is the transparency? Where is the accountability?”
The Abuse of Process Rally held Jan. 26 at the Hong Lim Park, would never be completed without the presence of socio-political activist Leong Sze Hian, who demanded transparency and accountability from the government regarding expenditures.
— The Independent
Singaporeans need to be more connected to Asean to remain competitive: Panel
Singapore needs to be more plugged into Asean and understand the region in order to seize the geographical advantage it has and stay ahead, Economic Development Board managing director Chng Kai Fong said on Monday (Jan 28).
— Straits Times
EU Parliamentarians asks Singapore for a gesture of goodwill regarding Jolovan Wham’s case, Singapore says no
On 10th January, a member of the European Parliament Jude Kirton-Darling wrote to Singapore’s Ambassador to the European Union, HE Jaya Ratnam requesting a “signal of goodwill from the Singaporean authorities in relation to Mr [Jolovan] Wham’s case”.
— The Online Citizen
See here for more of today’s Singapore morning news
Thailand morning news
Compiled by John Le Fevre @photo_journ
Bank report says 2.6 billion baht financial loss so far from smog in and around Bangkok
The ongoing smog problem in and around Bangkok has caused financial loss estimated at 2,600 million baht since late last month in term of lost opportunities in health and tourism…
— Thai PBS World
Military ordered to secure Asean meetings, prevent chaos
Leaders of the armed forces have been directed to “fully support” meetings of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations this year and not allow a repeat of the disastrous summit in Pattaya in 2009.
— Bangkok Post (annoying pop-ups)
Flight delays warning for Don Mueang airport this week
Aeronautical Radio of Thailand (Aerothai) has warned of 30-45 minute-delays to flights in and out of Don Mueang airport during runway maintenance from Tuesday to Friday.
— Bangkok Post (annoying pop-ups)
See here for more of today’s Thailand morning news
Vietnam morning news
Compiled by Sreypov Men @MenSreypov
Foreign investors pour money into food processing, drinks industry
The food processing and drinks industry has seen growth of 7 percent in recent years, with more and more foreign investors deciding to pour money into the sector.
— VNA NET
58,461 bags of rice from Vietnam unloaded
THE National Food Authority (NFA) in Negros Occidental on Sunday, January 27, reported that 58,461 bags of imported rice from Vietnam were already unloaded and stored in its warehouses in the province.
— SunStar
Tea exports down in volume and value
Việt Nam exported 120,000 tonnes of tea in 2018, earning revenue of US$219 million, a year-on-year decrease of 8.4 per cent in volume and 3.4 per cent in value, respectively.
— 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.