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Asean Morning News

Compiled by Kongleaphy Keam    @kongleaphy1

Child sex abuse rising with Internet use in Southeast Asia
Rising internet use in Southeast Asia is fuelling the spread of material that is abusive and sexually exploitative of children, particularly as growing numbers of young people put footage of themselves online, an Australian police expert said on Tuesday.
— Reuters

Freedom of expression necessary for ASEAN economy: UN rapporteur
A UN rapporteur argues that Southeast Asian countries are undermining their economic potential due to the lack of freedom of expression, adding that social media companies should be more concerned about protecting customers’ privacy.
— Prachatai English

Initiative aims to create ASEAN leaders
In today’s world, China remains the giant in the east, but lately investors have been watching the rising economic power of the 10 Southeast Asian countries that make up ASEAN.
— The Jakarta Post

RCEP Negotiations: Will Industry Benefit?
The 20th Round of negotiations for the 16-nation Regional Comprehensive Economic Partnership (RCEP) Agreement started in Seoul, Korea early this week. The original objective was to have the RCEP in place by the end of this year so that countries could benefit.
— The Pioneer

International Labour Organisation must cut ties with Big Tobacco
The International Labour Organisation (ILO) is among the last remaining UN agencies to enjoy a partnership with Big Tobacco.
— The Nation

Southeast Asian nations on a spree buying Chinese weapons
Barges carrying made-in-China tanks have been plying Thai waterways and ports this month, after 28 VT-4 battle tanks were delivered to the Royal Thai Army, according to media reports in both countries.
— Asia Times

Asean edges closer to common market
ASEAN is moving further closer to creating a common market, but member nations are concerned that the normalisation of monetary policy rates in the United States would hinder growth in the region, Philippine Finance Secretary Carlos Dominguez said.
— The Nation

ASEAN offers opportunities with Singapore as gateway
The Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) comprises 10 countries, namely, Singapore, Malaysia, the Philippines, Indonesia, Myanmar, Laos, Brunei, Thailand, Cambodia and Vietnam. With total GDP estimated at US$2.55 trillion in 2016, it would rank sixth in the world if it were a single country, according to the IMF. ASEAN and each of its members present diverse opportunities for investment and trade cooperation.
— India Business Law Journal

Europe offers Asean a lesson in the dangers of open borders
While the signing of the Facilitation of Cross-Border Transport of Passengers by Road Vehicles is a laudable boost to cooperation among Asean member states (“Asean to boost land, sea, air links in region”, Straits Times/ANN, October 13), there is a danger that it may pose a security threat.
— The Nation

Tropic Science Co., Ltd. and China-ASEAN Information Harbor Co., Ltd. announced the investment to PEACE submarine cable project
Tropic Science Co., Ltd. and China-ASEAN Information Harbor Co., Ltd. today announced the investment to PEACE submarine cable project. During the 3rd Asia Pacific Submarine Networks Forum, Tropic Science, China-ASEAN Information Harbor, China Construction Bank and Huawei Marine Networks signed an MOU for the construction of PEACE submarine cable project.
— Markets Insider

Asia’s energy ministers to tackle industry challenges
THE Ministry of Energy will host the 7th Asian Ministerial Energy Roundtable with the participations of 36 energy ministers and 20 heads of international organisations from November 1-3 under the theme “Global Energy Markets in Transition: From Vision to Action”, at the Shangri-la Hotel.
— The Nation

ASEAN plus 3 meeting in Bangkok
he opening ceremony for the ASEAN+3 Symposium on Promoting Regional Connectivity’s was hosted at the Dusit Thani, Bangkok.
—TR Weekly

Duterte’s pro-China shift fractures anti-Beijing alliance in Southeast Asia
One of the major unintended consequences of Philippine President Rodrigo Duterte’s foreign policy is the fracturing of an emerging regional alliance in the South China Sea. By cozying up to China and turning away from allies in Southeast Asia, the Filipino leader has almost single-handedly undermined resistance within the Association of Southeast Asian Nations to Beijing’s expansionary moves in regional waters.
— Nikkei Asian Review

Cambodia Morning News

Compiled by Sreypov Men    @MenSreypov

Parliament Approves Plan to Redistribute Opposition Seats
Ruling party lawmakers on Monday voted to approve amendments to four election laws that would see the opposition’s seats in the National Assembly handed out to minority parties if it is dissolved by the Supreme Court in a case lodged by the government.
— VOA

Cambodia hopes to launch first satellite in 2021
Cambodia hopes to launch its first communications satellite into orbit as early as 2021, at an estimated cost of US$150 million, according to a senior official at the Telecom Regulator of Cambodia (TRC).
— Bangkok Post

Firm behind Kirirom resort gets new funding
Japanese development firm A2A Town Cambodia, which operates the vKirirom Pine Resort in the Kirirom National Park in Kampong Speu province, has successfully secured $5.3 million in fresh investment through the third party allocation of new shares, according to a release yesterday in the Japan Times.
— The Phnom Penh Post

See here for more of today’s Cambodia Morning News

Indonesia Morning News

Compiled by Sreypov Men    @MenSreypov

Jokowi scouting for private investment as Freeport row lingers
Indonesia will turn to private investors for the hundreds of billions of dollars in investment needed to develop the archipelago’s infrastructure and natural resources, President Joko Widodo said, brushing off claims he was increasingly becoming an economic nationalist.
— Gulf Times

Bank Indonesia Releases Rules to Boost Local Currency Use for Trade in Asean
Bank Indonesia, the country’s central bank, released a regulation on Monday (16/10) that will allow banks to facilitate Indonesian traders conducting transactions with foreign counterparts in their respective currencies instead of the US dollar to reduce a reliance on the greenback and mitigate impacts from a volatile global market.
— Jakarta Globe

Indonesia takes steps to expands export to new markets
Indonesian trade ministry has set up a plan to boost exports to non-traditional markets which have shown higher growth recently, Trade Minister Enggartiasto Lukita said on Tuesday.
— Xinhua

See here for more of today’s Indonesia Morning News

Lao PDR Morning News

Compiled by Leakhena Khat    @leakhenakhat

Illicit substances torched to mark National Day Against Drugs
A massive quantity of illicit drugs was burnt at Don Chan Square in Vientiane yesterday to mark the 16th Anniversary of the National Day Against Drugs.
— Vientiane Times

Govt pledges fairer compensation
The government has pledged to offer fairer compensation for properties of local people impacted and displaced by domestic and foreign investment projects.
— Vientiane Times 

Legislators call for greater state investment in critical sectors
Members of the National Assembly (NA) have called the government to increase state investment into critical sectors, catalyse improvements in the ease of doing business and pursue an increasingly transparent approach to public governance.
— Vientiane Times 

See here for more of today’s Lao Morning News

Malaysia Morning News

Compiled by Kongleaphy Keam    @kongleaphy1

More Norwegian firms to invest in Malaysia, says envoy
The number of Norwegian companies in Malaysia is expected to increase in the next two to three years from the existing 50 as Malaysia is seen as an important market for the Scandinavian country, especially in oil and gas (O & G) sector.
— The Star Online

Malaysia’s trade volume up 26% this year
The country’s trade volume for the first eight months of this year reached RM1.163tril.
— The Star Online

Malaysia to ramp up initiatives and internationalise halal concept
Malaysia will ramp up its initiatives to internationalise its halal concept and show that the market extends beyond mere halal food products.
— New Straits Times

See here for more of today’s Malaysia Morning News

Myanmar Morning News

Compiled by Kongleaphy Keam    @kongleaphy1

The Latest: Amnesty says Myanmar killed 100s of Rohingya
Amnesty International says Myanmar security forces killed at least hundreds of people during a systematic campaign to expel Rohingya Muslims.
— ABC News

No progress on aid, refugee return in UN-Myanmar talks
A senior UN official on Tuesday returned empty-handed from five days of talks in Myanmar where he appealed for the safe return of Muslim Rohingyas sheltering in Bangladesh and access for aid workers.
— Daily Mail

Satellites reveal hundreds of villages destroyed in Rakhine
Nearly 300 villages in northern Rakhine State, Myanmar have been partially or totally destroyed by fire since Aug. 25, reported Human Rights Watch (HRW) citing satellite images.
— UCA News

See here for more of today’s Myanmar Morning News

Philippines Morning News

Compiled by Leakhena Khat    @leakhenakhat

PH exports to EU seen topping $10B
Philippine exports to the European Union could top $10 billion with companies continuing to benefit from the Generalized System of Preferences Plus (GSP+) scheme.on with companies continuing to benefit from the Generalized System of Preferences Plus (GSP+) scheme.
— The Manila Times 

Vehicle sales zoom 16% in 9 months
Vehicle sales accelerated double digits in the first three quarters this year despite a slowdown in September.
— Philstar 

Can PHL wean itself off coal?
A REPORT for educational and informational purposes by the Institute for Energy Economics and Financial Analysis (IEEFA) and the Institute for Climate and Sustainable Cities (ICSC) provides an overview of the country’s coal sector.
— BusinessMirror 

See here for more of today’s Philippines Morning News

Singapore Morning News

Compiled by Leakhena Khat   @leakhenakhat

Survey: Singapore households throw away S$200m of food and beverage a year
Singapore households trash about S$200 million worth of food and beverage each year, the equivalent of S$170 per home a year.
— FoodNavigator-Asia 

Singapore exports fall 1.1% after 4 months of growth
Shipments of locally produced goods declined in September after four months of expansion, as exports of electronic products came in short.
— Channel NewsAsia 

NTU beats NUS in university ranking – again
Nanyang Technological University (NTU) affirmed its rise over the National University of Singapore (NUS) in another university ranking by London-based education consultancy Quacquarelli Symonds ee
— The New Paper 

See here for more of today’s Singapore Morning News

Thailand Morning News

Compiled by John Le Fevre    @photo_journ

Thailand’s Sept tourist arrivals up 5.75 pct y/y – ministry
International tourist arrivals in Thailand rose 5.75 percent in September from a year earlier, led by visitors from East Asia, the government said on Tuesday.
— Reuters

Prayut orders army to be prepared for flooding Oct 17-19
Prime Minister Prayut Chan-o-cha, in his capacity as chairman of the National Council for Peace and Order (NCPO), has instructed army chief Gen Chalermchai Sitthisad to order all regional army commanders to closely monitor the situation and get ready to help the people affected by floods, Maj Gen Piyapong Klinphan, a spokesman for the NCPO, said on Tuesday (Oct 17).
— Thai PBS

Bangkok residents told to prepare for more rain as flood threat persists
The Royal Irrigation Department (RID) has warned of heavy rain today in Bangkok with the Chao Phraya River overflowing in several areas.
— NNT

See here for more of today’s Thailand Morning News

Vietnam Morning News

Compiled by Sreypov Men    @MenSreypov

Economic committee prepares reports for NA’s coming session
The National Assembly (NA)’s Committee for Economic Affairs commenced a two-day meeting in Da Nang city on October 17 to prepare for verification reports to be submitted to the parliament’s fourth session, slated for later this month.
— VietnamPlus

Vietnam floods killed 83 and more rain on the way
Floods in Vietnam last week killed 83 people and 20 were missing, officials said on Tuesday, with thousands of homes submerged or destroyed and several towns cut off.
— Reuters/Business Insider

BSR to earn $88m via IPO
Bình Sơn Refining and Petrochemical Company Limited (BSR) plans to sell some five to six per cent stake to domestic and foreign investors, collecting estimated revenue of nearly VNĐ2 trillion (US$88 million) through its initial public offering (IPO) in November 2017.
— Viet Nam News

See here for more of today’s Vietnam Morning News

Asean Morning News is the most comprehensive selection of reports on what you need to know from around the Asean Economic Community (AEC) published. All articles are hand curated by the team at AEC News Today. It is published M-F by AEC News Today: Governance, not government; policies not politics.

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