Asean morning news
Compiled by Stella-maris Ewudolu @stmarisewudolu
RCEP finale: Double U-turn intrigue
With the Regional Comprehensive Economic Partnership (RCEP) approaching its final stages, some Asean countries are revealing what can only be described as erratic behaviour.
— Bangkok Post
Natuna Conflict: DPR Says Indonesia Must Lobby Neighbors
The House of Representatives’ Commission I suggested the government make a diplomatic breakthrough in dealing with tensions with China in Natuna waters.
— Tempo.co
Year of ASEAN Identity 2020 launched
The ASEAN Secretariat launched the Year of ASEAN Identity 2020 and presented awards for winners of the Year’s logo design competition on January 21.
— Vietnamplus
Healthy Ageing APAC Summit 2020: Academic and industry experts from Singapore, India, Thailand and Malaysia join the bill
Last week we announced that Brands Suntory, Blackmores, Herbalife, Nippn, Amado and Cerecin were among the big name brands confirmed for our Healthy Ageing APAC Summit, and now we can reveal a raft of academic and industry experts have been added to the bil.
— Foodnavigator-asia
Indonesia readies town near Komodo dragon site to host ASEAN, G-20
Indonesia is preparing a town near a World Heritage site inhabited by Komodo dragons, the world’s largest lizards, to host summits of Group of 20 and the Association of Southeast Asian Nations in 2023, President Joko Widodo said Monday.
— The Mainichi
Asean Secretariat invites India for RCEP meeting next month in Bali
The Asean Secretariat has invited India to participate in a meeting called in Bali on February 3 and 4 on RCEP agreement to sort out concerns of New Delhi, an official said.
— Outlook
Direct shipping service expected to boost bilateral trade with Brunei
Strolling around the alleys of minimarkets or supermarkets in Brunei Darussalam, it feels like shopping in Indonesia.
— The Jakarta Post
Global call for applicants to the plastics data challenge by The Incubation Network
The Plastics Data Challenge is a global innovation challenge that will source, support, and scale innovative technologies, methodologies and working prototypes that help entrepreneurs and others collect, analyse and leverage data to understand and address the leakage of plastic waste into the environment.
— Eco-Business
Southeast Asia ups airport security fearing fatal virus
Travelers from China are being screened at several airports across Southeast Asia in the wake of a deadly viral outbreak which originated in the country.
— Anadolu Agency
Vietnam chairs meeting of ASEAN-IPR Governing Council
The 18th meeting of the Governing Council of the ASEAN Institute for Peace and Reconciliation (ASEAN IPR) took place in Jakarta, Indonesia, on January 21, the first during Vietnam’s ASEAN Chairmanship Year 2020.
— Vietnamplus
Snack it Right: DuPont launches research-based ASEAN campaign based on seven concepts
DuPont’s food and beverage arm has just launched a snacking campaign focused on research into ASEAN consumer trends and has identified seven food and beverage concepts to zoom into within this.
— Foodnavigator-asia
Filipinos ‘most worried’ of China’s power in SEA
China’s growing political and economic influence in Southeast Asia (SEA) has become a major concern in the region, but nowhere is that unease stronger than in the Philippines, according to a recent survey of officials, academics and other professionals in SEA.
— Philippine Daily Inquirer
Islamic State Resilience In Southeast Asia? – Analysis
Despite the death of IS’ “caliph” Abu Bakr al-Baghdadi in October 2019, events in Southeast Asia have since shown that IS networks, while weakened through the loss of key leaders and fighters, have regrouped and continued attempts to launch attacks.
— Eurasia Review
Cambodia morning news
Compiled by Raksmey Khoem @raksmey.aecnews
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
Cambodian Authorities On Alert for Novel Coronavirus During Chinese New Year
Cambodia will deploy around 2,000 officials across the country to monitor the return of Chinese nationals during the annual Chinese New Year celebrations this week, after a pneumonia outbreak in China’s Hubei province.
— VOA
Losing dolphins for more hydropower
The construction of the Don Sahong hydropower dam in Laos has affected the habitats of Mekong River dolphins, causing their numbers to dwindle in Stung Treng province.
— Khmer Times
See here for more of today’s Cambodia morning news
Indonesia morning news
Compiled by Justhine De Guzman Uy @justhine.aecnews
Government’s sovereign wealth fund plan questioned
The government’s plan to establish its own sovereign wealth fund has raised questions regarding the source of funding, as well as how the fund is managed to ensure it does not suffer the same fate as Malaysia’s 1Malaysia Development Berhad (1MDB).
— The Jakarta Post
Travelers to Korea, Japan should be wary of nCov: Ministry
The Health Ministry has appealed to Indonesians keen on traveling to Korea and Japan to exercise caution in the face of new-fangled cases of the novel coronavirus (nCov) virus being reported in the countries.
— Antara News
Trapped tiger in South Sumatra to be moved to Lampung
South Sumatra Governor Herman Deru confirmed that a Sumatran tiger (Pantera Tigris Sumatrae), trapped in Semendo Darat Ulu Sub-district, Muara Enim District, South Sumatra Province, will be moved to Lampung.
— Antara News
See here for more of today’s Indonesia morning news
Lao PDR morning news
Compiled by Raksmey Khoem @raksmey.aecnews
Activists Protest Laos’ Rights Record at UN Meeting in Geneva
Dozens of human rights activists held protests Tuesday in front of the headquarters of the U.N. Human Rights Council (UNHCR) as the council conducted Laos’ Universal Periodic Review (UPR) meeting in Geneva.
— Radio Free Asia
Govt gives stamp of approval to Hin Nam No national park
Hin Nam No’s establishment will preserve the area’s unique natural landscape and its historical significance, as well as help improve local residents’ living standards through socio-economic development.
— ANN/Vientiane Times
US backs UXO-related activities with US$5 million
The United States government will provide more than US$4.96 million in assistance to Laos from 2019 to 2022 to support an unexploded ordnance (UXO) survey as well as clearance and capacity development activities.
— Vientiane Times (paywall)
See here for more of today’s Lao morning news
Malaysia morning news
Compiled by Sreypov Men @MenSreypov
Malaysia returns plastic waste to 13 countries
Malaysia has sent back 150 containers of plastic waste to 13 mainly rich countries since the third quarter last year, with the environment minster warning on Monday that those who want to make the country a rubbish bin of the world can “dream on.”
— Columbian
Indonesia calls out Malaysia for ‘ineffective’ security
The government has lambasted the “ineffective coordination” of Malaysian authorities following the abduction of five Indonesian fishermen last week in waters off Sabah, the latest incident to underscore the lack of security in the tri-border area between Malaysia, Indonesia and the Philippines.
— The Jakarta post
Malaysia wields anti-terrorism laws to fight wildlife poaching
Malaysia is stepping up the fight to protect its critically-endangered wildlife by using tough anti-terrorism and money-laundering laws against poachers.
— The Straits Times
See here for more of today’s Malaysia Morning News
Myanmar morning news
Compiled by Sreypov Men @MenSreypov
MoEE, HISEM sign second phase of National Electrification Project
Mandalay Electricity Supply Corporation, Electricity Supply Enterprise, Ministry of Electricity and Energy, and Hitachi Soe Electric & Machinery Co., Ltd. (HISEM), a tender winner for the National Electrification Project (NEP) Phase-II, signed a contract at the ministry in Nay Pyi Taw yesterday.
— The Global New Light of Myanmar
Myanmar finds war crimes but no genocide in Rohingya crackdown
ICOE report comes days before UN’s top court issues ruling on whether urgent measures are necessary to stop genocide.
— Aljazeera
Myanmar, Japan sign Exchange of Notes on 4 projects worth about $ 1.1 bln
Myanmar and Japan signed yesterday the four Exchange of Notes for four loan projects, which will be implemented with the loan worth about 120,915 million Yen, according to the Embassy of Japan in Yangon.
— The Global New Light of Myanmar
See here for more of today’s Myanmar morning news
Philippines morning news
Compiled by Stella-maris Ewudolu @stmarisewudolu
Signs of life at ‘no-man’s land’ around Philippine volcano
A desolate landscape of ash dunes and bare trees left by the eruption of the Philippines’ Taal volcano lay in contrast with a few signs of life at ground zero of the disaster on Tuesday.
— CNA
Number of families affected by Taal unrest now over 68K
A total of 68,439 families have so far been affected by the eruption of the Taal Volcano, the National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council (NDRRMC) said Tuesday.
— Philippine News Agency
Cebu on alert as Chinese kid tested positive for ‘coronavirus’
Health authorities here are on alert following the discovery of a five-year-old child from Wuhan City, China who tested positive for a suspected coronavirus strain.
— Philippine News Agency
See here for more of today’s Philippines morning news
Singapore morning news
Compiled by Justhine De Guzman Uy @justhine.aecnews
Wuhan virus: Singapore to isolate all travellers from China with pneumonia
From Wednesday (Jan 22), Singapore will place all pneumonia patients who have been to China in recent weeks under isolation, the Ministry of Health (MOH) said on Tuesday.
— Channel NewsAsia (very annoying popups)
Singapore’s War on Diabetes: How industry has played a key role in government’s health battle
Three years after Singapore officially launched its War on Diabetes campaign, with the aim of ‘mobilising the whole nation’ to tackle the condition, we assess how the food and beverage industry has been a key ally in the battle.
— Food Navigator-Asia
NTU and HP launch corporate lab to help manufacturers move towards Industry 4.0
Manufacturing companies will get more help in adopting digital technology with a new lab that was officially opened at Nanyang Technological University (NTU) on Tuesday (Jan 21).
— Straits Times (annoying popups)
See here for more of today’s Singapore morning news
Thailand morning news
Compiled by John Le Fevre @photo_journ
Bangkok City Hall suspends classes in 437 schools on Wednesday
The Bangkok Metropolitan Administration (BMA) has suspended classes at 437 schools under its supervision for one day and introduced staggered working hours for all its officials from Wednesday, as airborne PM2.5 dust is forecast to remain excessive in most parts of the capital.
— Thai PBS News
Extra precautions as human transmission of new virus confirmed
Health officials are taking precautions to protect themselves against the new coronavirus after China confirmed it can be transmitted between humans.
— Bangkok Post
Bikers pay price for riding on paths
Bangkok Metropolitan Administration (BMA) has collected more than 21.5 million baht in fines from thousands of motorcycle riders who ignored laws and rode on pavements.
— Bangkok Post
See here for more of today’s Thailand morning news
Vietnam morning news
Compiled by Sreypov Men @MenSreypov
Vietnam’s sugar industry expected to face more difficulties this year
According to the Vietnam Sugarcane and Sugar Association (VSSA), the country produced 1.47 million tons of sugar in the 2017-2018 crop and in the 2018-2019 crop, the production dropped to 1.17 million tons with the area of sugarcanes reducing by 30-60 percent compared to the previous years and 17 out of 30 sugar refineries suffering losses.
— Sggp News
EU-Vietnam free trade deal gets green light in trade committee
The Committee on International Trade backed the free trade and investment protection agreements between the EU and Vietnam on Tuesday.
— Europal
Vietnam’s Real Estate Market: 3 Growth Drivers in 2020
Vietnam’s real estate industry in 2019 was stable. Although supply decreased a significant 65.3 percent, the occupancy rate in big cities such as Hanoi and Ho Chi Minh City (HCM City) remained high at 89.7 percent.
— Vietnam-Briefing
See here for more of today’s Vietnam morning news
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