Asean morning news
Compiled by Stella-maris Ewudolu @stmarisewudolu
Deputy PM highlights ASEAN’s priorities at 50th WEF meeting
Permanent Deputy Prime Minister Truong Hoa Binh highlighted the theme and priorities of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) and Vietnam as ASEAN Chair in 2020 while speaking at a plenary session of the 50th World Economic Forum (WEF) meeting in Davos, Switzerland, on January 21.
— Vietnamplus
Kidnapping: Indonesia hits out at Malaysia’s inability to secure borders
Indonesia has hit out at the “ineffective coordination” of Malaysian authorities that have resulted in the repeated kidnapping of its fishermen operating legally off Sabah.
— Daily Express
Air pollution plagues Southeast Asia
Southeast Asia needs to urgently tackle the issue of air quality and pollution, which has become among the main cause of death and health deterioration among the population, while also affecting economic growth and investment, according to reports.
— New Straits Times
In the competition for Southeast Asia influence, Japan is the sleeper
It is difficult to appreciate Southeast Asia’s importance for Asia and the world as a whole.
— The Japan Times
British Council reopens arts mobility grant in SE Asia
The British Council has opened its third round of art mobility grant program in a bid to promote art and cultural exchange between the United Kingdom (UK) and Southeast Asia.
— Inquirer.net
Promise of digital financial services in Southeast Asia
Robust business: A sales officer promotes an app-based loan service to potential customers during an expo in Jakarta.
— The Jakarta Post
PHL slides a notch in global democracy index
THE Philippines slipped one place to No. 54 out of 167 countries in London-based think tank Economist Intelligence Unit’s democracy index for 2019, citing the Southeast Asian nation’s “flawed democracy.”
— BusinessWorld Online
Asean permanent reps hold 1st meeting in 2020
The Permanent Mission of the Philippines to Asean, headed by Ambassador Noel M. Servigon, joined other member-states’ delegates in the first Committee of Permanent Representatives (CPR) meeting for 2020 under the chairmanship of Vietnam at the Asean Secretariat in Indonesia’s capital on January 9.
— Business Mirror
Southeast Asia and the Major Powers: How Does Public Opinion Matter?
Last week, the Institute for Southeast Asian Studies (ISEAS) released the latest iteration of a survey of Southeast Asian elites.
— The Diplomat
Mobile dominates Southeast Asian internet, says Google’s Year in Search report
Google has released its Year in Search 2019 report for Southeast Asia, showing that 90 per cent of the region’s 360 million internet users now connect primarily via mobile phones.
— Inside Retail Asia
Deputy PM urges enhancing ASEAN identity
Deputy Prime Minister Trương Hòa Bình highlighted the necessity to enhance ASEAN identity and community awareness at a discussion on ASEAN during the 50th annual meeting of the World Economic Forum 2020 in Davos, Switzerland.
— Eleven
Southeast Asians confident Japan will “do the right thing”
Japan is the most trusted major power among Southeast Asian nations today as the region becomes a staging ground for a major power struggle between the United States and China.
— Asian Pacific Post
Southeast Asia is the promised land for tech startups. Here’s what we need to make that a reality
Southeast Asia has become a new investment plan for many shareholders throughout the world.
— e27
The 5 biggest ports in Southeast Asia
Asia has been the global economic engine this century and is home to some of the biggest ports in the world.
— Port Technology
Asean textile industry reps eye seamless export trade
Members of the Asean Federation of Textile Industries (Aftex) gathered in Vientiane for two days to hear reports and learn about the activities of each participating country, as well as discuss collaboration.
— The Star Online
Investing in ASEAN start-ups
Southeast Asia is proving to be one of the most successful and fastest growing digital markets in the world.
— The Asean Post
In SEA e-commerce, China-fication is only part of the story
The e-commerce scene in Southeast Asia gives an Ogilvy e-commerce expert who cut his teeth in China a distinct sense of déjà vu.
— Campaign
Cambodia morning news
Compiled by Raksmey Khoem @raksmey.aecnews
Ministry issues warning over coronavirus outbreak
The Ministry of Health on Wednesday asked the public to be on “high alert” as a new virus wreaks havoc across Asia. However, no cases have been reported in the Kingdom thus far.
— The Phnom Penh Post
Cambodian opposition leader admits US funding, denies overthrow plot
Cambodia’s opposition leader admitted in a 2013 video clip played in court on Wednesday (Jan 22) to receiving funding and advice from unspecified Americans but denied trying to overthrow the government of strongman Prime Minister Hun Sen.
— CNA
Tax collection plan in 2019 exceeded by 23%
Tax revenue last year exceeded the General Department of Taxation’s (GDT) 2019 revenue collection plan by more than 23 per cent, or $530 million, the GDT’s 2019 Results and 2020 Implementation Plan report said on Tuesday.
— 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
House of Representatives approves 50 bills in 2020
Indonesia’s House of Representatives approves 50 bills as priorities to be passed into laws in 2020 during a plenary meeting here, today.
— Antara News
Coal plant expansion wipes out Indonesia’s green energy progress
Indonesia has launched the operation of its largest coal-fired power unit to date, which offset all renewable energy power progress in the Southeast Asian country last year.
— The Jakarta Post
332,000 Indonesian-made cars sent overseas in 2019
The Indonesian Motorized Vehicle Industry (Gaikindo), Wednesday, released the data for car exports throughout the year of 2019 which reached 332,023 units, indicating a 25 percent increase compared to the year prior with 264,553 units.
— Antara News
See here for more of today’s Indonesia morning news
Lao PDR morning news
Compiled by Raksmey Khoem @raksmey.aecnews
Laos Eyes Production of Korean Rice Wine
Laos Army Import and Export Trading and a Korean firm ROAD have agreed to produce and distribute Korean rice wine in the country.
— The Laotian Times
Mekong media personnel learn new lessons from China
The programme comprised many interesting activities such as a visit to the offices of the People’s Daily, and trips to JD.com Company, Confucius Institute Headquarters (Hanban), the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the People’s Republic of China, and then two days of lectures on new media and new technology by local experts.
— ANN/Vientiane Times
Health urges preventive actions against Novel Coronavirus 2019
The cabinet of the Ministry of Health has issued a notification urging relevant authorities across the country to take preventive actions against deadly Novel Coronavirus 2019. No cases have been reported in Laos.
— KPL
See here for more of today’s Lao morning news
Malaysia morning news
Compiled by Sreypov Men @MenSreypov
Miti imposes anti-dumping duties on steel concrete from Singapore, Turkey
The government decides to impose final affirmative anti-dumping duties on imports of steel concrete reinforcing bar from Singapore and Turkey after concluding its investigation on the matter.
— The Sun Daily
EC aims for automatic voter sign-up to start mid-2021
The tender for the computerised automatic voter registration system has been awarded and is targeted for implementation by the middle of next year, Election Commission (EC) chairman Datuk Azhar Azizan Harun said.
— Malay Mail
Najib admits in court to having no plans of his own to retrieve SRC funds frozen in Switzerland
Datuk Seri Najib Razak admitted today that he did not have any plans of his own to retrieve monies belonging to SRC International Sdn Bhd from its Swiss account that was suspended in 2013 for suspected money laundering.
— Malay Mail
See here for more of today’s Malaysia Morning News
Myanmar morning news
Compiled by Sreypov Men @MenSreypov
Myanmar manufacturers oppose potential wage hike
Garment manufacturers will conduct surveys of their own to determine whether workers are justified in calling for a substantial raise to the national living wage, according to the Myanmar Garment Manufacturers Association.
— Ecotextile
China and Myanmar to build new deep-sea port
A new deep-sea port will form the core of a new economic partnership between China and Myanmar after the two countries struck a series of infrastructure deals as part of the Belt and Road Initiative (BRI).
— Pottechnology
KBZ takes Yangon port operator to court over massive debts
KBZ Bank is suing the owner of Myanmar Industrial Port over alleged unpaid debts of more than US$200 million, in a case that is symptomatic of the problems facing the country’s leading banks as they seek to resolve legacy non-performing loans.
— Frontier Myanmar
See here for more of today’s Myanmar morning news
Philippines morning news
Compiled by Stella-maris Ewudolu @stmarisewudolu
Philippines slips a spot to 54th in 2019 democracy index
The Philippines slid one spot in the 2019 democracy index of think tank Economist Intelligence Unit (EIU) and was classified as a “flawed democracy” for the 14th year in a row.
— GMA Network
Duterte signs new taxes on alcohol, e-cigarettes into law
President Rodrigo Duterte signed into law a measure that would increase taxes on alcohol and e-cigarettes.
— Rappler
Philippines DOH declares dengue epidemic ‘over’, more than 400K cases reported in 2019
After a “bad dengue year in 2019”, Philippines health officials have declared the epidemic “over”. Department of Health Secretary Francisco Duque III made the announcement today.
— Outbreak News Today
See here for more of today’s Philippines morning news
Singapore morning news
Compiled by Justhine De Guzman Uy @justhine.aecnews
Aussie-Sing exchange rate hits 11-year low on fears of central bank rate cut
INCREASED market expectations that the Australian central bank will cut rates in the face of fallout from Australia’s raging bush fires have pushed the Aussie unit down against its Singapore counterpart, with the cross-rate on Wednesday hitting its lowest since 2008.
— The Business Times
Public should use surgical masks, not N95 masks, to guard against Wuhan virus spread: Experts
A top infectious disease expert and the Ministry of Health (MOH) have said that the public should not rely on N95 masks to guard against the Wuhan virus, even as they fly off the shelves at pharmacies.
— Straits Times (annoying popups)
MOH issues travel advisory for Wuhan, recommends caution when travelling to rest of China
Singapore’s Ministry of Health (MOH) has issued a Public Health Travel Advisory advising travellers to avoid non-essential travel to Wuhan in light of the novel coronavirus that has plagued the capital of Hubei.
— Mothership
See here for more of today’s Singapore morning news
Thailand morning news
Compiled by John Le Fevre @photo_journ
Exports see 2.7% annual dip
Exports last year fell by 2.7% from 2018, weighed down by global economic malaise, low oil and farm prices and weak industrial product shipments.
— Bangkok Post
Thailand leaps up global democracy rankings
Thailand was the biggest mover in The Economist Intelligence Unit’s 2019 Democracy Index, rising 38 places in the global rankings to become a flawed democracy rather than a hybrid regime.
— Bangkok Post
Industrial confidence index falls to 91.7 in December
The Industrial confidence index for December 2019 dropped to 91.7, from 92.3 the previous month, due to industrial operators’ concerns over domestic purchasing power and this year’s drought, which is more severe than in recent years and is expected to cause extensive damage to crops and affect farmers’ incomes.
— Thai PBS News
See here for more of today’s Thailand morning news
Vietnam morning news
Compiled by Sreypov Men @MenSreypov
In Vietnam, economic success underpins literary boom
Against the colorful backdrop of Vietnam’s Tet (Lunar New Year) holidays in late January, there is plenty of evidence of rising consumerism among the country’s burgeoning middle class.
— Nikkei Asian Review (paywall)
Vietnam eyes 5G equipment sale to US
Vietnam hopes to sell locally-made 5G equipment to the U.S. as it prepares commercial launch of the telecom technology this year.
— VnExpress
Vietnam’s proposed foreign ownership limits would put domestic fintech firms at a disadvantage
The State Bank of Vietnam has proposed implementing foreign ownership limits in the country’s fintech sector. This would inhibit growth in one of the nation’s most promising industries.
— Asean Today
See here for more of today’s Vietnam morning news
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Asean morning news for January 23 added by Digital Editor on
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