Asean Morning News
Compiled by Stella-maris Ewudolu @stmarisewudolu
Asean police to get better info-sharing database
With returning Islamic State in Iraq and Syria fighters passing through Asean countries, there is a need for close coordination to exchange intelligence and biometric information of known fighters.
— The Straits Times
ASEAN manufacturing improves on rising global trade
HONG KONG Buoyed by a continuing recovery in global trade, Asian manufacturing improved in August, with eight of the 12 economies surveyed by the Nikkei showing a pickup and just four in contractionary territory.
— Nikkei Asian Review
ASEAN Business Awards hail inclusive business models
Launched by the Philippine Board of Investments (BOI), the ASEAN Business Awards added a new category this year, hailing inclusive businesses (IB) that engage partners, suppliers, customers, or employees from low-income communities.
— Markets Insider
Asean cities awarded for being green
Ministers responsible for environment from all 10 Asean member countries jointly launched the AED, which is a revamp from the Asean Environment Year, celebrated every three years to highlight the region’s achievements and commitment to environmental protection, as part of the bloc’s efforts in promoting environmental awareness among its citizens.
— Eleven Myanmar
Asean unites on illegal wildlife trade
Authorities from 10 Asean members and China have pledged to join forces to combat the illegal wildlife trade.
— Bangkok Post
China, ASEAN to boost investment promotion
China and members of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN), which includes the Philippines, are expected to enhance further the cooperation on investment and production in several fields as the city hosts the 14th China-ASEAN Expo (Caexpo).
— The Philippine Star
Conserving Southeast Asia’s seas
The United Nations’ call to conserve and sustainably develop the oceans, as one of its Sustainable Development Goals, perhaps resonates most with Southeast Asia than in any other part of the world.
— Bangkok Post
Cambodia gets low marks in ‘human capital’ report
A recent report by the World Economic Forum underscored the Kingdom’s poor performance in educating and training its citizens in order to develop a competitive workforce and put their skills to productive use, ranking it for the first time in its annual review as the worst in Asean.
— The Phnom Penh Post
TAT ready to fight for Asean visitors
With several Asean peers on the march to launch tourism campaigns for 2018, Thailand is pledging a busy calendar of international events and tourism activities in the year to come.
— Bangkok Post
ASEAN envoys urge increased cooperation with Ankara
Ambassadors from the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) in Ankara urged increased cooperation between their organization and Turkey at an ASEAN Awareness Week event in the capital yesterday.
— Daily Sabah
Canada, Asean to talk FTA
Canada has agreed to commence exploratory discussions on a Free Trade Agreement (FTA) with the 10 member nations that make up Asean, according to an announcement by the Canada-Asean Business Council (CABC).
— The Phnom Penh Post
Cambodia Morning News
Compiled by Kongleaphy Keam @kongleaphy1
Cambodia gets low marks in ‘human capital’ report
A recent report by the World Economic Forum underscored the Kingdom’s poor performance in educating and training its citizens in order to develop a competitive workforce and put their skills to productive use, ranking it for the first time in its annual review as the worst in Asean.
— The Phnom Penh Post
Cambodia Calls on North Korea to Respect U.N. Resolutions
The Cambodian government has called on North Korea to respect U.N. Security Council resolutions and urged it to cease its nuclear testing program amid fresh sanctions imposed on Pyongyang.
— VOA Cambodia
Cambodia Urges US to Rethink Policy of Denying Visas Over Felon Repatriation Dispute
Phnom Penh on Wednesday voiced regret about a U.S. decision to stop issuing visas to senior Cambodian foreign ministry officials and their families, urging Washington to reconsider the policy and offering to send a delegation to discuss the cases of 26 nationals whom the United States wants to repatriate.
— Radio Free Asia
See here for more of today’s Cambodia Morning News
Indonesia Morning News
Compiled by Rama Ariadi @AriadiRama
Indonesia stocks lower at close of trade; IDX Composite Index down 0.45%
Indonesia stocks were lower after the close on Wednesday, as losses in the Mining, Property and Infrastructure sectors led shares lower.
— Investing.com
Redenomination bill not to be deliberated this year
The government has to comprehensively disseminate information about the bill to avoid public misunderstanding that could lead to social unrest.
— The Jakarta Post
Indonesian, US Navy Complete Joint Exercise in Java, Bali
The Indonesian Navy and its United States counterpart completed a joint exercise and skills exchange with Indonesia on Wednesday (13/09) as part of a bilateral effort to deepen maritime security cooperation between the two countries.
— Jakarta Globe
See here for more of today’s Indonesia Morning News
Lao PDR Morning News
Compiled by Leakhena Khat @leakhenakhat
Official aid to increase despite fear of cuts
Official Development Assistance (ODA) to be provided to Laos in 2018 is expected to increase from this year amid concerns about cuts in aid when Laos graduates from Least Developed Country (LDC) status.
— Vientiane Times
Laos, Thailand Ink Pollution Management Deal
Laos and Thailand have signed an agreement on pollution management, creating a five-year mutual action plan to promote bilateral cooperation in environmental issues.
— Lao News Agency
PM’s order leading to sustainable forestry management
The government is optimistic that enforcing Prime Minister’s Order No. 15 will lead to sustainable forestry management in Laos after thousands of cubic metres of illegally felled wood have been confiscated.
— Vientiane Times
See here for more of today’s Lao Morning News
Malaysia Morning News
Compiled by Kongleaphy Keam @kongleaphy1
Najib, Trump pledge to nurture economic ties, remove trade barriers
Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Abdul Razak and US President Donald J. Trump have pledged to nurture the economic ties between the two nations to create jobs and opportunities, as well as remove trade barriers in key sectors.
— The Sun Dialy
Campaign to sabotage 1MDB and undermine Malaysia, says Najib
Prime Minister Najib Razak said there was a campaign to deliberately sabotage 1Malaysia Development Berhad (1MDB) to undermine investor confidence in Malaysia’s economy.
— The Straits Times
Malaysia, Boeing sign deal for 16 planes
Boeing has signed a memorandum of understanding to sell 16 aircraft to Malaysia Airlines – eight wide-body 787 Dreamliners and eight narrow-body 737 MAXs, the company said on Wednesday (Sep 13).
— Channel News Asia
See here for more of today’s Malaysia Morning News
Myanmar Morning News
Compiled by Sreypov Men @MenSreypov
Al Qaeda warns Myanmar of ‘punishment’ over Rohingya
Al Qaeda militants have called for support for Myanmar’s Rohingya Muslims, who are facing a security crackdown that has sent about 400,000 of them fleeing to Bangladesh, warning that Myanmar would face “punishment” for its “crimes”.
— Reuters
HKSAR Chief Executive Lam Cheng Yuet-ngor to visit Myanmar
China’s Hong Kong Special Administrative Region (HKSAR) government information services department announced Wednesday that Chief Executive Lam Cheng Yuet-ngor will leave for a visit to Myanmar Thursday.
— Xinhua
Myanmar Leader Cancels U.N. Trip Amid Outcry Over Rohingya Slaughter
Facing a storm of global criticism over an ethnic slaughter in her home country, the Nobel laureate who is Myanmar’s most prominent political leader has canceled her planned visit to the United Nations General Assembly.
— The New York Times
See here for more of today’s Myanmar Morning News
Philippines Morning News
Compiled by Stella-maris Ewudolu @stmarisewudolu
PH slips 1 notch in human capital index
The Philippines has slipped in an annual ranking of how countries are developing their human capital but overall its performance remains above the global average.
— The Manila Times
Manila among world’s most stressful cities: study
Manila is among the most stressful cities in the world, according to a new study.
— ABS-CBN
Peso slips ahead of data
THE PESO snapped its week-long rally versus the dollar as it resumed trading yesterday as sentiment towards the United States recovered, and ahead of the release of inflation data which could dictate the next moves of the Federal Reserve.
— BusinessWorld Online
See here for more of today’s Philippines Morning News
Singapore Morning News
Compiled by Leakhena Khat @leakhenakhat
Singapore tops rankings for meeting UN health goals: Study
Singapore is closer than any other country to meeting health-related targets set by the United Nations, according to a global health review published on Wednesday (Sep 13).
— Channel NewsAsia
Singapore’s political succession plans in disarray
Singapore’s leave-nothing-to-chance approach to political succession is being thwarted by forces outside its control and some curious decision-making by the Prime Minister.
— CNN
‘I’m not a reserved President, I’m a President for everyone’: Halimah Yacob
President-elect Halimah Yacob has promised to be a President for everyone, regardless of race, language or religion.
— Channel NewsAsia
See here for more of today’s Singapore Morning News
Thailand Morning News
Compiled by John Le Fevre @photo_journ</h6
Fitch: Thailand’s Economic & Banking Outlook Challenging Despite Modest Economic Recovery
Thailand’s medium-term growth outlook continues to be challenged by high household debt and adverse demographic trends even though the economy has picked up in 2017, while the prospects for Thai banks’ operating environment and sector performance remains negative, albeit with modest improvements in growth, asset quality and profitability expected in 2018, said Fitch Ratings’ analysts at the agency’s annual conference in Bangkok.
— Reuters
Top Thai mobile operator to buy Internet provider
Thailand’s largest telecommunications Advanced Info Service Pcl (AIS) plans to spend 2.6 billion baht ($78.57 million) to buy 56 percent of Internet service provider CS Loxinfo, further advancing its Internet broadband coverage.
— Reuters
Police indicate irregularities found in state rice stocks
A Deputy National Police Chief has submitted reports on the inspection of four state rice stores conducted last week to a Deputy Prime Minister, acknowledging that some irregularities were found.
— NNT
See here for more of today’s Thailand Morning News
Vietnam Morning News
Compiled by Sreypov Men @MenSreypov
Capital shortage slows Vietnam infrastructure projects
Authorities in Ho Chi Minh City announced on Wednesday a further delay to the start of Metro Line 2 until 2020, taking it seven years behind schedule, because more time is needed to formulate and process the project.
— Nikkei Asian Review
Banks’capital adequacy in danger of plunging
The State Bank of Vietnam (SBV)’s statistics show that the average capital adequacy ratio (CAR) of the banking sector has been consistently falling since the beginning of this year.
— VietnamPlus
Vietnam’s apparel exports predicted to hit $30.5 billion
Giang noted that in the first eight months of 2017, the sector enjoyed growth of 9.9 percent year on year to 19.8 billion USD in exports.
— VietnamNet Bridge
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.

Stella-maris Ewudolu
Between November 2010 and February 2012 she was a staff writer at Daylight Online, Nigeria writing on health, fashion, and relationships. From 2010 – 2017 she worked as a freelance screen writer for ‘Nollywood’, Nigeria.
She joined AEC News Today in December 2016.

Latest posts by Stella-maris Ewudolu (see all)
- Zoonotic crossover fear sees Vietnam ban (almost) all wildlife trade (video) – July 26, 2020
- Job & revenue losses: COVID-19 to hurt Asean airlines the most – July 24, 2020
- Philippines morning news for July 24 – July 24, 2020
- Philippines morning news for July 23 – July 23, 2020