Asean morning news
Compiled by Stella-maris Ewudolu @stmarisewudolu
ASEAN closes ranks over South China Sea dispute
China’s new envoy to ASEAN has arrived in Jakarta facing growing pressure from the increasingly vigilant bloc as its top diplomats put more emphasis on compliance to international law in ongoing negotiations for a final and binding code of conduct (COC) on the South China Sea.
— The Jakarta Post
ASEAN foreign ministers agree to hold summit with Trump
Members of the regional Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) bloc have agreed to the United States’ proposal to hold a special summit with US President Donald Trump, Philippine Foreign Secretary Teodoro Teddyboy Locsin Jr said on Monday, January 20.
— Rappler
ASEAN ministers vow to cooperate on Rohingya, S. China Sea issues
Southeast Asian foreign ministers ended talks in Vietnam on Friday with pledges to continue cooperating on key issues, including facilitating the repatriation of Rohingya refugees to Myanmar and reducing South China Sea tensions.
— The Mainichi
Brunei upskills tourism frontliners ahead of ASEAN Summit 2021
The Brunei Association of Hotels (BAH) is working on upskilling frontliners and students in the hospitality industry, as the country readies to host the ASEAN Summit in 2021.
— TTG Asia
IMF lowers ASEAN 5, world growth forecast
The International Monetary Fund (IMF) has a lower growth estimate for the ASEAN 5 trade grouping of 4.8 percent this year and 5.1 percent in 2021, both are 0.1 percentage point lower than previous forecast, as it also revised lower its global growth forecast.
— Manila Bulletin
Kaspersky Southeast Asia: Enterprise solutions segment grew twofold in ’19
Kaspersky today announces the three-digit year-on-year (YOY) growth of its enterprise solutions segment last year in Southeast Asia.
— Manilastandard.net
The Asean wind
WHAT is to be an Asean citizen? Is there an incipient Asean identity already evolving since Asean is already 59 years old?
— The Manila Times
Asean stands to gain from US-China phase one trade deal, AMRO says
The Asean +3 Macroeconomic Research Office (AMRO) has upgraded its 2020 growth forecast for Asean + 3 nations by 0.2 percentage points to 4.9%, just a month after its previous prediction of 4.7%.
— The Edge Markets
AHRA slams event partnerships with short-term rentals
The nine-year, five-Games partnership inked last November between the International Olympic Committee (IOC) and Airbnb to provide accommodation for athletes, spectators and fans has put South-east Asian hoteliers on edge even though none of the arrangements will make it to this region.
— TTG Asia
Asean Club Championship set for inaugural season without Malaysian teams
The organisers of the new Asean Club Championship football tournament are preparing to launch this year without the participation of Malaysian clubs.
— SportBusiness
How venture capital can help stem the flow of ocean plastic waste
Asia’s exponential growth has made it into a powerful economic force, but it also has placed the region at the heart of the ocean pollution crisis.
— World Economic Forum (blog)
Indonesia introduces super-priority tourism destinations at Asean forum
The Tourism and Creative Economy Ministry formally introduced Indonesia’s five super-priority tourism destinations to 43 international journalists attending the ASEAN Tourism Forum 2020 in Brunei Darussalam on Thursday.
— ANN
Gender gap: ASEAN has much to do
The recent Gender Gap Report 2020 released by the World Economic Forum (WEF) ranked Philippines 16th globally.
— The Asean Post
UNSW Business School secures funding to strengthen relationships with countries of Southeast Asia
A UNSW Business School project to help enable women’s economic empowerment and financial inclusion in developing communities has secured funding from the Australian Government through the Australia-ASEAN Council of the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade.
— India Education Diary
Southeast Asia and Chinese Taipei PC Games Report 2019 and 5-Year Forecast to 2023 – PC & Mobile Game Revenue Projected to Pass $8.3 Billion in 2023 with 320 Million Gamers
Southeast Asia is the world’s fastest-growing region for PC online games revenue. The region is also home to the fastest-growing market for esports.
— Yahoo Finance (media release)
Cambodia morning news
Compiled by Raksmey Khoem @raksmey.aecnews
Gov’t takes steps to lower logistics, transport costs
With the threat of losing trade privileges in the EU drawing closer, the government is taking measures to reduce logistics and transportation costs to safeguard the Kingdom’s competitiveness.
— The Phnom Penh Post
Facing risks as EBA decision looms
Economic security defines national security. Economic success and social justice play a critical role in determining the legitimacy of the government.
— Khmer Times
Appeal Court Considers Ex-RFA Reporters Motion On Lower Court Ruling
The Appeal Court on Monday considered a challenge from two former Radio Free Asia reporters, who are contesting a lower court’s decision to re-investigate espionage charges against them despite completing the trial process.
— VOA
See here for more of today’s Cambodia morning news
Indonesia morning news
Compiled by Justhine De Guzman Uy @justhine.aecnews
Indonesia records US$0.03 billion trade deficit in December
Executive Director of the BI Communication Department Onny Widjanarko reported that Indonesia’s trade balance registered a US$0.03 billion deficit in December 2019, retreating significantly, from US$1.39 billion a month earlier.
— Antara News
Airports ramp up health monitoring amid Chinese pneumonia outbreak
Airport authorities in Greater Jakarta will increase health monitoring of passengers on international flights from China and Hong Kong amid growing concern about a pneumonia outbreak in Wuhan, in eastern China.
— The Jakarta Post
Indonesia tightens grip on nickel and coal exports
Indonesia started 2020 with two important policies in the mining sector: the ban on nickel ore exports and the requirement that coal companies export coal using local ships.
— The Jakarta Post
See here for more of today’s Indonesia morning news
Lao PDR morning news
Compiled by Raksmey Khoem @raksmey.aecnews
Laos faces growing inflation
Inflation continued to increase in December, sending a strong warning that serious action is needed to rein in the price of goods and services to prevent them rising further, according to a senior economist.
— Vientianne Times (paywall)
China’s Mekong River dams are generating renewable energy, but are costing locals their livelihoods
Early in January, locals in the northern Thai village of Chiang Khong woke to find the Mekong River had dropped a metre overnight.
— ABC News
More than 100 cases of human trafficking recorded in Lao province in 2019
Women in Luang Namtha province continued to fall prey to human traffickers last year, with many being tricked into fraudulent marriages.
— The Star Online
See here for more of today’s Lao morning news
Malaysia morning news
Compiled by Sreypov Men @MenSreypov
Malaysian PM Mahathir says received 5 proposals for ailing Malaysia Airlines
Malaysia has received five proposals for its debt-laden national carrier Malaysia Airlines, Prime Minister Mahathir Mohamed said at a group media briefing on Monday.
— Reuters
Malaysia returns 42 containers of ‘illegal’ plastic waste to UK
Malaysia is returning 42 shipping containers of illegally imported plastic waste to the UK, its environment minister has announced.
— BBC
Malaysia on track to commercially roll out 5G in Q3 2020: Mahathir
Prime Minister Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad (pix) said Malaysia is on track to commercially roll out 5G technology in the third quarter of 2020.
— The Sun daily
See here for more of today’s Malaysia Morning News
Myanmar morning news
Compiled by Sreypov Men @MenSreypov
Garment firms to conduct survey on minimum wage
Garment makers will conduct a survey to determine if workers are justified in asking for a steep increase in the daily minimum wage, according to the Myanmar Garment Manufacturers Association.
— Myanmar Times
Xi says China never sells weapons to Myanmar armed groups
President Xi Jinping has rejected accusations the Chinese government has sold and supplied weapons to ethnic armed groups in Myanmar’s northernmost area, some of whom have weapons that can match the country’s armed forces.
— Myanmar Times
Foreign investment inflows to double: Myanmar govt
Approved foreign direct investment (FDI) into Myanmar is expected to grow this year, the Myanmar Investment Commission (MIC) says.
— Myanmar Times
See here for more of today’s Myanmar morning news
Philippines morning news
Compiled by Stella-maris Ewudolu @stmarisewudolu
Red faces: Senate tongue lashings sees LTFRB backflip on habal-habal trial (video)
Road traffic bureaucrats in the Philippines have performed a dramatic backflip on a decision announced earlier today (Jan 20) to abruptly cancel a pilot motorcycle taxi (habal-habal) programme more than two months ahead of its scheduled end.
— AEC News Today
NEDA pushes bill protecting maritime territories in a bid to tap P1-T ‘blue economy’
The Philippine government is looking into tapping the country’s P1-trillion “blue economy” by pushing for a bill that will establish sea lanes to protect the country’s maritime territory.
— The Philippine Star
Evacuation crackdown ordered as Philippine volcano seethes
Philippine officials ordered a crackdown Monday on people being allowed daily visits to the homes they fled after Taal volcano erupted, citing threats it could still explode at any time.
— CNA
See here for more of today’s Philippines morning news
Singapore morning news
Compiled by Justhine De Guzman Uy @justhine.aecnews
Wuhan virus: All travellers arriving in Singapore from China to undergo temperature screening
Temperature screening at Changi Airport will be extended to all travellers arriving from China, the Ministry of Health (MOH) said on Monday (Jan 20), as news broke that a new virus originating from Wuhan has spread to other Chinese cities.
— Channel NewsAsia (very annoying popups)
Drug crimes cost Singapore $1.23 billion in 2015, NTU study finds
The cost of drug crime in Singapore was more than $1.2 billion in 2015 despite the Republic experiencing a lower drug abuse rate as compared with other countries, a Nanyang Technological University (NTU) study has found.
— Straits Times (annoying popups)
Global FDI flat in 2019, but surged 42% in Singapore: UN report
FOREIGN direct investment (FDI) flows into Singapore surged 42 per cent while the flows to its traditional rival Hong Kong were halved in 2019, when global FDI was flat against a backdrop of a weak global economy and trade tensions
— The Business Times
See here for more of today’s Singapore morning news
Thailand morning news
Compiled by John Le Fevre @photo_journ
Governor of Sa Kaeo announces “Absolutely no burning of sugar cane, prosecution awaits violators” as air pollution worsens in Eastern Thailand
The Governor of Sa Kaeo has announced yesterday to the associated Thai Press that he is getting tough on sugarcane burning which he states is the major cause of air pollution for his province as well as the Eastern part of Thailand, including Pattaya.
— The Pattaya News
Thai Constitutional Court to rule on disbanding government opposition Future Forward Party today
All core members and MPs of the Future Forward party will gather at the party’s head office in the Thai Summit Tower on Tuesday to monitor the Constitutional Court’s reading of the verdict on the party and its executive committee.
— The Pattaya News
More measures to support economy
Second-home buyers will find it easier to borrow, SMEs will get tax refunds sooner and foreign reserves will be prudently invested overseas.
— Bangkok Post
See here for more of today’s Thailand morning news
Vietnam morning news
Compiled by Sreypov Men @MenSreypov
Viettel becomes world’s 6th provider of 5G device
Việt Nam’s biggest telecom firm Viettel announced it is the 6th company in the world to manufacture 5G devices.
— Viet Nam News
Ministries demand more airports open to private investment
Five ministries have universally rejected a proposal by the transport ministry to restrict private investment in the country’s biggest airports and instead hand the job to a single company.
— Viet Nam News
Ford Vietnam Announces $82 Million Investment in Switch From Motorbikes to Cars
Ford Vietnam has announced it is investing $82 million to increase production, which will speed up the transition to cars in a communist nation known more for the iconic motorbike.
— VOA
See here for more of today’s Vietnam morning news
—
About Asean morning news.
Asean morning news roundup and its individual country morning news roundups are the most comprehensive hand-curated selection of Asean English language news headlines published. Each weekday we scour hundreds of local and international news sites and websites to find the most recent Asean English language news today.
We filter our the dull, the boring, the repetitive, and the click-bait and package all of the Asean daily news that you need to know to start your day into an easy to read, time saving format of Asean news headlines and first paragraphs before 7.30am Bangkok time.
We clearly identify the source of all the Asean news headlines, whether it is behind a paywall, a media release, or whether the news site uses annoying pop-up advertising or auto-play video, in case those things annoy you too. If a website uses particularly invasive pop-up adverts, we’ll tell you.
This enables you to make an informed choice of whether you want to learn more by clicking directly through to the original Asean news article, or keep on reading the remaining Asean daily news headlines.
Click here to get your Asean English language news today by email before 8am Bangkok time daily. Remember to watch out for the confirmation email from us to confirm your subscription. Check your trash folder if you do not see it.
For more immediate updates download the AEC News Today Mobile App from the Apple or Google stores, or follow us on Twitter.
#Independentmedia
Governance, not government; policies not politics.
Asean morning news for January 21 added by Digital Editor on
View all posts by Digital Editor →