Asean morning news
Compiled by Stella-maris Ewudolu @stmarisewudolu
China calls for peaceful dialogue after Vietnam’s leader accuses it of violating its sovereignty
Beijing has called for peaceful dialogue to resolve disputes in the South China Sea after Vietnam stepped up its rhetorical attacks, accusing Beijing of violating its sovereignty.
— South China Morning Post
Countdown to ASEAN-Korea summit begins with no word on Kim Jong-un’s attendance
The 40-day countdown for the ASEAN-Korea Commemorative Summit has kicked off with emphasis on the three Ps – People, Prosperity and Peace – coined by South Korean President Moon Jae-in.
— The Jakarta Post
Need someone to talk to? Here are some Southeast Asia mental health hotlines.
Mental health has become a hot topic in recent years. For better or for worse, the discussion around the once-taboo topic has been normalized.
— Mashable SE Asia
20 unicorns will emerge in Southeast Asia by 2030, predicts Asia Partners’ Nick Nash
It’s a “golden age” for aspiring unicorns in Southeast Asia, according to Nick Nash, co-founder of growth equity investment firm Asia Partners.
— Tech in Asia (paywall)
NE to open up trade with ASEAN, BIMSTEC nations through ‘tea and khadi diplomacy’: Jitendra Singh
Union Minister Jitendra Singh on Tuesday said the Northeastern states will open up trade and commerce with ASEAN and BIMSTEC nations through ‘tea and khadi diplomacy’.
— Yahoo India News
Southeast Asia ‘fake news’ laws open the door to digital authoritarianism
A wave of recently introduced laws in countries across Southeast Asia has increased authorities’ control over the internet and criminalized any online activity deemed to be “subversive.”
— Deutsche Welle
How Close Is RCEP to Reality?
Over the past few years, one of the few bright spots in trade that has been in the spotlight is the Regional Comprehensive Economic Partnership (RCEP).
— The Diplomat (paywall)
Southeast Asian conglomerates to pump US$30 million into renewable projects in Myanmar
Two Southeast Asian business conglomerates have teamed up to invest at least US$30 million in renewable energy projects in Myanmar, which has one the region’s lowest rates of access to grid electricity.
— Eco-Business
Southeast Asia Has a Weight Problem
Starting next year, Singapore will treat packaged sugary drinks such as Coca-Cola the way that other countries treat cigarettes.
— Bloomberg
Poor nutrition hurting ASEAN’s kids
Nutrition is central to the growth, cognitive development, school performance and future productivity of children.
— The Asean Post
A train to Gwangju: A new milestone in ASEAN-Korea ties
The ASEAN-Korea Train set off from Seoul Station in the South Korean capital on Wednesday at 8:45 a.m., marking the 40-day countdown to the 2019 ASEAN-Korea Commemorative Summit.
— The Jakarta Post (paywall)
Water war risk rising on the Mekong
The Mekong River, a waterway that originates in China and snakes through five Southeast Asian countries, is emerging as a new security flashpoint, similar in dynamic to escalating conflicts in the South China Sea.
— Asia Times
Grab remains focused on Asean, HK unrest does not deter Klook and Razer: Panel
The Asean region is a goldmine of opportunities, and it is a region that technology company Grab calls home and knows best, said the company’s co-founder Tan Hooi Ling.
— The Straits Times
Htamanthi Wildlife Sanctuary declared newest ASEAN Heritage Park
The environment ministers of the 10-country Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) classified the 215,072-hectare sanctuary in northern Myanmar as a heritage park during the 15th ASEAN Ministerial Meeting on the Environment (AMME) in Siem Reap last week.
— Myanmar Times
Dams a threat to Mekong
Almost a decade ago, Vietnam was the most vocal neighbour in opposing Laos’ first dam on the Mekong River.
— Bangkok Post
Food production needs innovation —ASEAN biodiversity center
It is “high time” to start innovation in food production to address global food security, ASEAN Center for Biodiversity (ACB) Executive Director Theresa Lim said Wednesday.
— GMA News
Early-stage founders in Southeast Asia – now is your time
A little more than 10 years ago, four in five Southeast Asians had little or no access to the internet.
— Tech in Asia
Southeast Asia has great potential for growth: unicorn entrepreneurs
When asked if ride-hailing giant Grab is keen on expanding beyond southeast Asia, Grab co-founder Tan Hooi Ling said the company is lucky to be sitting on a “gold mine of untapped opportunity” in the region.
— Xinhuanet
Southeast Asian organisations warm to Anthos
The growing use of Kubernetes to orchestrate containers in a hybrid cloud environment will drive demand for multi-cloud management platforms, according to a regional Google Cloud executive.
— ComputerWeekly.com
South-east Asia a ‘goldmine of untapped opportunity’, says Grab co-founder
EVEN though South-east Asia remains underserved, solutions that are “copy and paste” from developed markets would not work well here, ride-hailing giant Grab’s co-founder Tan Hooi Ling said.
— The Business Times
Cambodia morning news
Compiled by Raksmey Khoem @raksmey.aecnews
How relatives and allies of Cambodia’s leader amassed wealth overseas
Cambodia’s ruling elite are patriots who would never hide money abroad, says the country’s leader, Hun Sen. But a Reuters investigation shows that Hun Sen’s family and officials have overseas assets worth tens of millions of dollars, and some have bought themselves European citizenship.
— Reuters
Vietnam makes list of top three investors in Cambodia
According to the latest report of the Council for the Development of Cambodia (CDC), the Cambodian Government approved 222 foreign direct investment (FDI) projects in the first eight months of 2019 with a total investment of US$6 billion, an increase of 81 projects and US$4.12 billion compared to the same period last year.
— Nhan Dan
National Geological Laboratory officially opened in K Chhnang
The National Geological Laboratory of Cambodia, which is a project funded through a $3 million grant from China, was launched in Longvek commune, Kampong Tralach district in Kampong Chhnang province on Wednesday.
— The Phnom Penh Post
See here for more of today’s Cambodia morning news
Indonesia morning news
Compiled by Justhine De Guzman Uy @justhine.aecnews
Indonesia needs $6 billion to boost oil production to 1 million bpd
Indonesia needs to raise at least US$6 billion in investment over the next 10 years to boost domestic oil production to 1 million barrels per day (bpd) by 2030 as targeted by the government, a business association has estimated.
— The Jakarta Post
Five more soldiers punished for negative comments on Wiranto attack
The Indonesian Military (TNI) has handed down disciplinary sanctions against five more serving Army personnel in relation to negative social media posts about the recent attack on the country’s chief security minister, following the removal of two soldiers from their positions last week for similar reasons.
— The Jakarta Post
Police confirm arrests of 26 terror suspects on Oct 10-15
The Indonesian Police’s counterterrorism squad Densus 88 has placed in detention 26 terror suspects in several regions on October 10-15, 2019.
— Antara News
See here for more of today’s Indonesia morning news
Lao PDR morning news
Compiled by Raksmey Khoem @raksmey.aecnews
Laos, UN celebrate World Food Day, poverty eradication efforts
The Ministry of Agriculture and Forestry and UN agencies in Laos on Wednesday kicked off events to mark World Food Day and International Day and National Week for the Eradication of Poverty at Lao-ITECC.
— Vientiane Times (paywall)
Coalition of Overseas Lao Organizations Demand Release of Woman Jailed for Criticizing Lao Government on Facebook
Eleven overseas Lao organizations that gathered for a conference in the United States have called for the release of a Lao woman who was arrested last month on charges of defaming the one-party communist country.
— RFA
EU provides € 200,000 to assist storm victims in Laos
The European Union is allocating € 200,000 (LAK 1.95 Billion) to provide essential humanitarian assistance to families affected by the recent tropical storm Podul and tropical depression Kajiki, which wreaked havoc across large parts of Lao People’s Democratic Republic in early September.
— ReliefWeb
See here for more of today’s Lao morning news
Malaysia morning news
Compiled by Sreypov Men @MenSreypov
Malaysia’s digital economy contributes 18.5% to GDP in 2018
Malaysia’s digital economy expanded RM267.7 billion in 2018, contributing 18.5% to the national economy, according to the Department of Statistics.
— The Sun Daily
S’wak timber exports dropped by 12 per cent, says Deputy Chief Minister
Facing global economic uncertainty and declining log production, Sarawak’s timber exports dropped by 12% in the first three quarters of this year.
— The Star Online
Boosting Indian imports not due to palm oil boycott campaign
Malaysia’s proposal to increase its sugar and buffalo meat imports from India is not solely due to a reported campaign to boycott Malaysian palm oil by the country.
— The Sun Daily
See here for more of today’s Malaysia Morning News
Myanmar morning news
Compiled by Sreypov Men @MenSreypov
Foreign investment volume in Thilawa SEZ reaches more than US$ 1.86 billion till 2019 September
Foreign investment volume from 19 countries in Thilawa Special Economic Zone (SEZ) reached more than US$ 1.86 billion till 2019 September with Japan topping more than 36 %, said the source from the Department of Investment and Company Administration (DICA).
— Eleven Myanmar
Lower tax rates, higher liquidity expected to boost property market
Real estate developers in Myanmar are expecting a boost in the number of property transactions in fiscal 2019-20, which they hope will help jumpstart the local property market.
— Myanmar Times
Mineral export volume reaches more than US$ 1. 4 billion till 2019 end
Mineral export volume reached more than US$ 1.4 billion at the end of 2018-2019 financial years, down US$ 700 million, compared with the same period of last year, according to the official statistics released by the Ministry of Commerce.
— Eleven Myanmar
See here for more of today’s Myanmar morning news
Philippines morning news
Compiled by Stella-maris Ewudolu @stmarisewudolu
Philippines’ top diplomat calls for cut to ‘Abominable’ over China map
The foreign minister of the Philippines called on Wednesday for a cut to a scene in DreamWorks’ animated film “Abominable” that shows China’s unilaterally declared “nine-dash line” in the South China Sea.
— Euronews
Magnitude 6.4 earthquake rattles Philippines’ Mindanao
A magnitude 6.7 earthquake struck Philippines’ Mindanao on Wednesday (Oct 18), according to the United States Geological Survey.
— CNA
Autopsy awaited on OFW who ‘jumped to death’ in UAE
The Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) said it would wait for the official autopsy before it “responds appropriately” to the suspicious death of an overseas Filipino worker in the United Arab Emirates (UAE).
— Philippine Daily Inquirer
See here for more of today’s Philippines morning news
Singapore morning news
Compiled by Justhine De Guzman Uy @justhine.aecnews
NTUC eyes new taskforce to protect workers at ‘pre-retrenchment’ phase, sets 1.5 million membership goal
With those in their 40s and 50s increasingly worried about losing their jobs amid economic uncertainties, the National Trades Union Congress (NTUC) will set up a new work security taskforce to offer older workers better protection.
— Channel NewsAsia (very annoying popups)
Wheelchair users can board nearly all public buses, with unveiling of new electric bus
Boarding a bus in a wheelchair has become even easier.
— Straits Times (annoying popups)
Chief Justice Menon: International rule of law lies at the heart of S’pore’s foreign policy
An alternative where brute force dictates, rather than reason and justice, spells doom for much of humanity.
— Mothership
See here for more of today’s Singapore morning news
Thailand morning news
Compiled by John Le Fevre @photo_journ
Analyst: Government’s stimulus measures boost economic growth by 3%
An analyst has indicated that the government’s ‘taste, shop, spend’ campaign boosted domestic spending, amid the ongoing trade war between the U.S. and China and the local flood disaster.
— Newsline (video)
Bangkok readies for Asean Summit
Thailand is preparing to welcome the leaders of 10 Asean nations and their dialogue partners, including US President Donald Trump — if he decides to come to the Asean Summit himself.
— Bangkok Post
Thailand near bottom of privacy protection table
Thailand placed in the bottom five out of 47 countries ranked for privacy protection, according to a study by Comparitech, a website that researches and compares technology services.
— Bangkok Post
See here for more of today’s Thailand morning news
Vietnam morning news
Compiled by Sreypov Men @MenSreypov
Vietnam acts to stabilise pork prices until Tet holidays
Deputy Prime Minister Vuong Dinh Hue, who is also head of the National Steering Committee on Price Management, has recently issued instructions to authorities to cope with rising pork prices.
— VietnamPlus
U.S. Presses Vietnam on Food Imports to Narrow Trade Gap
Vietnam must clear the backlog of U.S. imports, especially farm goods, to narrow the two countries’ trade imbalance, a U.S. agricultural official said as U.S. farmers seek to make up for lost sales in the trade war with China.
— BloombergTax
Local leaders responsible for stopping illegal fishing
Local authorities played a crucial role in Vi?t Nam’s campaign to combat illegal, unreported and unregulated (IUU) fishing and therefore must be held responsible and accountable for setbacks and violations committed in their localities, said Deputy Prime Minister Tr?nh Ðình Dung at a meeting yesterday in Hà Noi.
— Viet Nam News
See here for more of today’s Vietnam morning news
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