Asean morning news

Compiled by Stella-maris Ewudolu          @stmarisewudolu

 

Asean task force aims for consensus on joining trade pacts
With few tangible and immediate results, Asean members agreed this week to tackle new challenges that arise in joining free trade agreements (FTAs) and increase its role in the World Trade Organisation (WTO).
— The Nation (very annoying pop-ups)

Indonesia Synergizes with ASEAN for Talks on Boeing 737 Max 8
The Indonesian government has formed ties with aviation authorities of Southeast Asian countries, grouped in ASEAN, in the wake of two deadly crashes of Boeing 737 Max 8 in less than six months.
— Tempo.co

AIPA aims to strengthen drug-free environment
Thailand, as this year’s chair of the Asean Inter-Parliamentary Assembly, is hosting a four-day anti-drugs consultation session.
— The Nation (very annoying pop-ups)

Report: Southeast Asia tourist arrivals to reach 155M by 2022
According to analytics company GlobalData, the number of international visitors to the ASEAN (Association of Southeast Asian Nations) region is expected to expand at a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 4.72 percent from 129.2 million in 2018 to 155.4 million in 2022.
— Hotel Management

Phase-out of palm oil biofuel puts Asean-EU FTA in jeopardy
The European Union’s (EU) decision to phase out palm oil from being used in biofuel within the bloc is putting the Asean-EU free trade agreement (FTA) negotiations in jeopardy.
— Malay Mail

Time to speak up about the South China Sea
There appears to be a collective aversion among government officials and heads-of-state in Southeast Asia to speak up in public about Chinese transgressions and coercion in the South China Sea.
— East Asia Forum

Southeast Asian young voters to decide on their countries’ fate
In early 2019, Thailand, Indonesia and the Philippines will go to polls in elections that will either continue the populist/authoritarian dynamics that has gripped the region, and the world, over the past few years or begin to halt it.
— The Jakarta Post

Economic diplomacy: trade and traps in ASEAN
Southeast Asian countries are about to become the primary focus of Australia’s public diplomacy this year as the “Australia now” program stretches its budget from the usual single country approach to all ten countries of the ASEAN group.
— The Interpreter

AI and big data in the legal profession
Although widespread in industries from aerospace to waste management, Artificial Intelligence (AI), machine learning and big data are cutting-edge technologies not usually associated with the legal profession.
— The Asean Post

The key to sustainable development
ASIA and the Pacific’s phenomenal development has been a story of rapid urbanisation.
— New Straits Times

Asean has gained from US Asia policy: researchers
SOUTH-EAST Asian states have gained from the Trump administration’s policy in Asia so far, said ISEAS-Yusof Ishak Institute senior fellows Malcolm Cook and Ian Storey in a March 14 edition of ISEAS Perspective.
— The Business Times

ASEAN agencies unite to offer 360-degree comms in region
Leading ASEAN agencies of the Public Relations Organization International (PROI) Worldwide have teamed up to deliver quality communications solutions that can be carried seamlessly across the region.
— Manilastandard.net

India-ASEAN fastest growing in e-com, digital trade: study
India and the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) are among the fastest growing nations with even faster growth rates for e-commerce and digital trade sectors, says a report by the Federation of Indian Chambers of Commerce and Industry (FICCI) and consulting firm KPMG.
— Fibre2Fashion.com

IT Priorities 2019: ASEAN organisations lay digital foundations
IT decision-makers in the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) are laying the foundations for their digital transformation initiatives in a bid to become more nimble and customer focused.
— ComputerWeekly.com

ASEAN Foundation and Microsoft Launch a Joint Initiative to Create a Generation of Future-Ready ASEAN Youth
The ASEAN Foundation and Microsoft today announced the launch of the ASEAN Digital Innovation Programme, aimed at equipping underserved ASEAN youth aged 15 to 35 with future-ready skills.
— India Education Diary

Taiwan’s wooing of Asean is pointless. It should just accept China and the 1992 consensus again
In 2016, President Tsai Ing-wen announced a plan to improve Taiwan’s trade and investment ties with a total of 18 countries in Southeast Asia, South Asia and the Pacific.
— South China Morning Post

Southeast Asian billet import prices up on trading uptick, costlier scrap
Import prices for steel billet in Southeast Asia moved up on Thursday March 14, amid an uptick in trading activity and higher scrap values, market participants said.
— Fastmarkets MB

Cambodia morning news

Compiled by Piseth Pov          @piseth6666

 

Cambodia launches national strategy on combating money laundering, financing of terrorism
Cambodia on Thursday launched a 5-year national strategy for combating money laundering and financing of terrorism (2019-2023), said a National Bank of Cambodia (NBC) statement.
— Global Times

Hun Sen orders Sao Sokha to curb timber smuggling across the borders
Prime Minister Hun Sen has called on relevant authorities to continue curbing illegal smuggling of timer across borders and protect natural resources.
— Khmer Times

Hun Sen to file about 32 lawsuits against Rainsy
Prime Minister Hun Sen yesterday said his lawyers are preparing to file dozens of lawsuits against former opposition leader Sam Rainsy over his insults and will seek to seize his property as compensation.
— Khmer Times

See here for more of today’s Cambodia morning news

Indonesia morning news

Compiled by Piseth Pov          @piseth6666

 

Indonesian polls under attack by foreign hackers: Official
Chinese and Russian hackers are attacking Indonesia’s voter database in a bid to disrupt the country’s upcoming presidential election, according to a senior election commission official.
— Straits Times (annoying popups)

Indonesia aims to be top ‘halal’ destination
As the most populous Muslim-majority nation, the country is aiming for the top spot on the Global Muslim Travel Index (GMTI), as part of an effort to achieve the foreign tourist arrival target of 20 million this year.
— The Jakarta Post

Indonesia ratchets down target of non-oil gas export on weakening global demand
Indonesian trade ministry has set a lower target of non-oil and gas exports this year as slower projection global economic growth will edge off demand.
— Xinhua

See here for more of today’s Indonesia morning news

Lao PDR morning news

Compiled by Sreypov Men           @MenSreypov

 

Lao gov’t, development partners discuss LDC status graduation
The Lao government officials and development partners are meeting here to discuss the efforts Laos needs to take to graduate from the Least Developed Country (LDC) status.
— China.org

Laos supports Mekong-Lancang cooperation, a bright future expected
Laos will do everything it can to help the Mekong-Lancang Cooperation (MLC) deliver as many tangible benefits as possible to the people of the Mekong region.
— Vientiane Times

Lao Government Slaps Wrists of 7 Vientiane Officials for Public Project Fraud
Seven high-ranking current or formal officials in Laos’ Vientiane province have been warned and publicly identified for their involvement in several fraudulent development projects.
— Radio Free Asia

See here for more of today’s Lao morning news

Malaysia morning news

Compiled by Sreypov Men           @MenSreypov

 

Malaysia eyes RM200bil in approved investments this year
Malaysia’s approved investments was flattish in 2018, despite a strong surge of investments in the domestic manufacturing sector.
— The Star Online

Malaysia to keep death penalty, but no longer mandatory
Malaysia has rowed back on an earlier plan to completely repeal the death penalty, saying that while the government will abolish mandatory capital punishment, it will leave it for courts to decide whether a person convicted of a serious crime will hang.
— Channel NewsAsia

Malaysia’s Richest 2019: Infrastructure-Linked Fortunes Falter
Malaysian equities have had a volatile year, with the benchmark KLSE index down 8% in the year to March 1. One big reason: investor uncertainty created by Mahathir Mohamad’s victory, at age 92, in last May’s elections.
— Forbes

See here for more of today’s Malaysia Morning News

Myanmar morning news

Compiled by Sreypov Men           @MenSreypov

 

Govt draft roadmap to develop and support digital economy in Myanmar
Myanmar has released its official strategy for developing its digital economy over the next six years, according to the Ministry of Planning and Finance.
— Myanmar Times

Myanmar, China sign documents on industry, transport projects
The Myanmar government signed the exchange of letters with China International Development Cooperation Agency (CIDCA) Thursday on industry and transportation projects in the capital of Nay Pyi Taw.
— Xinhua

Myanmar dispatches about 1,000 workers to Thailand under zero-cost system
Myanmar has sent about 1,000 workers to Thailand under the zero-cost system, according to the office of Myanmar labour attaché in Bangkok in Thailand on March 13.
— Eleven Myanmar

See here for more of today’s Myanmar morning news

Philippines morning news

Compiled by Stella-maris Ewudolu          @stmarisewudolu

 

‘Hot money’ flowed into PHL for second straight month
FOREIGN investors continued to place “hot money” in the Philippines in February, as the latest data from the Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas (BSP) showed sustained foreign portfolio investments (FPI) net inflow for the month.
— Business Mirror

Palace: Philippines won’t cooperate with ICC on probe vs Duterte
THE Philippine government will not cooperate with the International Criminal Court (ICC) should the latter proceed with its investigation on President Rodrigo Duterte’s anti-narcotics drive, Malacañang said Thursday, March 14.
— Sun Star

1.2M households without water
The bad news is all customers of Manila Water in Metro Manila and Rizal province will now experience service interruptions every day until the rains come.
— The Manila Times

See here for more of today’s Philippines morning news

Singapore morning news

Compiled by Piseth Pov          @piseth6666

 

Singapore and Malaysia agree to revert to original port limits
Governments of Malaysia and Singapore have agreed to revert to their original port limits after both governments agreed to suspend the previous extensions of their port limits within a month from Thursday (March 14).
— The Online Citizen

Singapore may impose new legislation to counter foreign interference, says Edwin Tong
Senior Minister of State for Law Edwin Tong said on 12 February (Tuesday) that Singapore may consider coming up with new laws to counter foreign interference, as it is “especially vulnerable” to these exploits which stir up distrust and threaten its democratic processes.
— The Online Citizen

More than 2,200 units to go on sale in S’pore’s largest condo development
The Republic’s largest condominium development — with more than 2,200 units on offer — is set to launch on Friday (March 15).
— Today Online

See here for more of today’s Singapore morning news

Thailand morning news

Compiled by Piseth Pov          @piseth6666

 

WARNING: Dengue cases four times worse than last year
A nationwide alert has gone up about a big rise in Dengue cases across the country.
— The Thaiger

Nine northern provinces face health threat from PM.25
The haze problem, caused by forest fires, in nine northern provinces of Thailand is now posing a serious threat to health, with the level of PM2.5 particles recorded at 66-200 microns, the Pollution Control Department reported today.
— Thai PBS News

Thailand’s Cyber Law Raises Fear Military Could ‘Cage’ the Internet
A cyber-security bill introduced just weeks ahead of Thailand’s first democratic election since a 2014 military coup has stoked concerns that it could be used as a weapon to stifle political dissent.
— Bloomberg

See here for more of today’s Thailand morning news

Vietnam morning news

Compiled by Sreypov Men           @MenSreypov

 

Vietnam Ranked Among the Best Countries for Business: Forbes
Vietnam has been ranked at #84 among the best countries for business, U.K. on Top, U.S. Down in Forbes’ 13th annual look at the Best Countries for Business, which measures countries that are most hospitable to capital investment.
— Vietnam Insider

Health insurance coverage expanded to 87.7 percent
The Vietnam Social Security (VSS) reported that the number of participants in health insurance has increased to 83.6 million, or 87.7 percent of the population.
— VNA NET

China bans imports of Vietnamese pigs to prevent African swine fever
China has banned imports of pigs, wild boars and related products from Vietnam after a series of outbreaks of African swine fever.
— VnExpress

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.