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Asean Morning News

Compiled by Stella-maris Ewudolu    @stmarisewudolu

Southeast Asia Looks Beyond China to Fund Massive Project Needs
Across Southeast Asia, policy makers hungry for infrastructure investment are looking beyond China.
— Bloomberg

Realising ASEAN’s economic ambitions
Leaders of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) will head to the island republic of Singapore at the end of this month for the 32nd ASEAN Summit and a sempiternal item on the agenda is economic integration.
— The Asean Post

Cambodia’s Opposition seeks the Role of Indonesia and ASEAN
Cambodia’s opposition party hoped that Indonesia would play its role in the ASEAN region through guiding regional countries in improving its democracy.
— Tempo.co

What the US-China Struggle for Regional Dominance Means for Southeast Asia
This week China will undertake live-fire exercises in the Taiwan Straits.
— The Diplomat

Op-Ed: Why Malaysia is leading the way in Asean for poverty eradication
SO MUCH – perhaps too much – has been said of late about matters pertaining to poverty incidence and income or wealth disparity in Malaysia.
— Asian Correspondent

Technological innovation, open ecosystem critical to success of digital initiatives, says Huawei exec
The digital integration of ASEAN will promote rapid growth of the digital economy, including safe and smart city solutions, to stimulate economic development and inform social intelligence.
— Networks Asia

Asia Pacific pivots beyond a Trump-led America
US President Donald Trump has taken a radically protectionist approach to trade. Trump has launched a series of unilateral moves including increasing tariffs on steel and aluminium imports on national security grounds and announcing plans to impose tariffs on US$60 billion of Chinese imports.
— East Asia Forum

How Lazada is utilising O2O
The online shopping and selling destination in Southeast Asia is celebrating a key period in its growth, marked by its collaboration with Alibaba, and pop-up event in Singapore.
— CosmeticsDesign-Asia.com

SET drops, Philippines slides to over 11-month low
The Stock Exchang of Thailand and Philippine indexes slumped, while other markets in Southeast Asia were cautious on Tuesday as investors weighed up a mixed bag of economic data out of China.
— Bangkok Post

Nikkei Asia300 drops amid geopolitical, trade worries
Asian equities outside of Japan fell on Tuesday as China’s better-than-expected growth numbers failed to cheer investors still worried about global trade tensions and geopolitical uncertainty.
— Nikkei Asian Review (metered paywall)

LABOUR MIGRATION AS COMPLEMENTARY PATHWAYS FOR REFUGEES IN THE ASIA-PACIFIC
This working paper looks at current legal labour migration schemes in the Asia-Pacific region and examines if any can be opened to humanitarian migrants who may otherwise become targets for migrant smugglers and/or human traffickers.
— Lowy Institute

How Can Japan-UK Cybersecurity Cooperation Help ASEAN Build Cybersecurity Capacity?
Japan and the UK have been strengthening their cybersecurity collaboration over the last six years. Last month, they held their fourth bilateral dialogue on cyberspace in London to discuss their cooperation on the Tokyo Summer Olympic and Paralympic Games, the development of international cyber norms, the security of internet of things devices, and capacity building.
— Council on Foreign Relations 

Huawei wants to unlock ASEAN’s digital potential
The Chinese technology supplier is working with communications service providers such as Converge in the Philippines to bolster their networks to support new digital services
— ComputerWeekly 

ADB economist assesses ASEAN’s economic performance
The 22nd ASEAN Finance Ministers’ Meeting (AFMM-22) took place in Singapore on April 4. On the occasion, Jayant Menon, Lead Economist at the Asian Development Bank (ADB), wrote an article assessing ASEAN’s economic performance.
— Vietnam Plus 

Solar Projects Increase in the Mekong River Area
Solar and wind power projects are increasing in the area around the Mekong River in Southeast Asia.
— Radio Free Asia 

ADB chief eyes more co-financing projects in Asia with AIIB
The Asian Development Bank (ADB) is in cooperation, rather than competition, with the China-led Asian Infrastructure Investment Bank (AIIB), and it wants to boost co-financing projects in the region, ADB President Takehiko Nakao said on Tuesday.
— Free Malaysia Today 

 Australia Vows to Fight Trafficking for Orphanage Tourism in Southeast Asia
Australia is cracking down on so-called orphanage tourism to prevent trafficking of children in Southeast Asia, trying to tame demand from tourists wanting to do good, top politicians said Monday.
— VOA Cambodia

Chinese defense firms display products for Southeast Asia at DSA
Chinese defense firms are displaying their products for Southeast Asia at the ongoing Defense Services Asia (DSA) 2018, a biennial defense and weaponry show held in Kuala Lumpur from Monday to Wednesday, hoping to expand their exports.
— Fresh News

Organising committee for World Economic Forum on ASEAN set up
The Prime Minister has inked Decision No.395/QD-TTg on the establishment of the organising committee for the World Economic Forum on ASEAN (WEF ASEAN) scheduled in Hanoi this year.
— VietnamNet Bridge

Cambodia Morning News

Compiled by Sreypov Men    @MenSreypov

Angkor Sankranta 2018 Attracts Over 1.8 Million Visitors
Some 1.82 million national and international tourists joined the Angkor Sankranta 2018, the sixth of its kind, in Siem Reap cultural province, a 15.14 percent year-on-year increase, Minister of Tourism H.E. Thong Khon said.
— Khmer Times

Opposition Says Cambodia is Near Bankruptcy
The former member of Cambodia parliament from the opposition party, Mu Sochua, stated that Cambodia Prime Minister Hun Sen is currently in huge debt to China, Asian Development Bank (ADB) and World Bank.
— Tempo

Speculation Australian-owned Phnom Penh Post sold to Malaysian investor
The Australian-owned Phnom Penh Post has responded to swirling rumours that it has been the subject of an acquisition by mainly Malaysian interests.
— MediaWeek

See here for more of today’s Cambodia Morning News

Indonesia Morning News

Compiled by Stella-maris Ewudolu    @stmarisewudolu

Indonesia expected to drop 264t rupiah worth of infrastructure projects
Indonesia’s chief economic minister said on Monday that 14 infrastructure projects, worth 264 trillion rupiah (S$25.1 billion), are expected to be dropped from the government’s strategic development plan due to lack of progress.
— The Business Times

Rp2.3 billion allocated to help homeless, beggars: Ministry
Director General of Social Rehabilitation at the Ministry of Social Affairs, Edi Suharto, said that the Ministry of Social Affairs has allocated a fund of Rp2.3 billion to establish the My Village is Waiting program (Desaku Menanti) in Jeneponto, as an effort to handle homeless and beggars.
— Antara News

State Construction Firm PP Sells Indonesia’s First Perpetual Bonds
State-owned construction firm PP launched a sale of perpetual bonds on Tuesday (17/04), aiming to raise Rp 1 trillion ($73 million) in the course of a year, a company executive said.
— Jakarta Globe

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Lao PDR Morning News

Compiled by Leakhena Khat    @leakhenakhat

China, Laos ink MoU on medicinal plants research cooperation
A Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) was signed here Tuesday between China and Laos on medicinal plants research cooperation, the Chinese embassy in Laos said.
— Xinhua Net 

Laos movie industry begins to flower after decades of neglect
Local directors are creating critically acclaimed films despite limited resources
— Nikkei Asian Review (metered paywall)

Lao woman, Thai sister-in-law arrested in Nakhon Phanom on drug trafficking charge
A Lao woman and her Thai sister-in-law were arrested on Monday night while trying to smuggle 1,995 methamphetamine pills across the Mekong River into Nakhon Phanom.
— The Nation

See here for more of today’s Lao Morning News

Malaysia Morning News

Compiled by Sreypov Men    @MenSreypov

GE14: Eight interesting battles to watch out for
GE14 is due to take place in three weeks’ time, and political parties have wasted no time in announcing their prize candidates for key parliamentary and state seats.
— Malay Mail

Concerns about Malaysia’s household debt: Moody’s poll
The level of household debt in Malaysia remains a concern despite recent structural improvements, according to a recent poll conducted by Moody’s Investors Service.
— The Star Online

Disenfranchised & Discouraged: Malaysian Youth Shun Politics
Observing the Parliament of Malaysia or indeed any of Malaysia’s 13 state legislative assemblies and it is noticeable that the corridors of power are packed with the elderly.
— AEC News Today

See here for more of today’s Malaysia Morning News

Myanmar Morning News

Compiled by Leakhena Khat    @leakhenakhat

Myanmar to free more than 8,000 prisoners in New Year amnesty
Myanmar began releasing more than 8,000 prisoners on Tuesday on humanitarian grounds under a presidential pardon, with most of those being released convicted of drug offences but with 36 people classified as political prisoners among them.
— Reuters

Bangladesh rejects Myanmar claim that Rohingya family was repatriated
Bangladesh has rejected a claim by Myanmar that a family of five Rohingya refugees were “repatriated”, calling the claim “a farce”.
— BBC 

Myanmar Armed Forces Blacklisted By UN For Committing Sexual Violence Against Rohingya
For the first time ever, the UN secretary-general is including Myanmar Armed Forces on an annual blacklist of groups that are “credibly suspected” of carrying out sexual violence during conflict.
— UN Dispatch 

See here for more of today’s Myanmar Morning News

Philippines Morning News

Compiled by Stella-maris Ewudolu    @stmarisewudolu

Philippines: PLDT to sell part of its Rocket Internet stake for $202m
PLDT Online Investments, an indirect subsidiary of listed telco giant PLDT, has accepted a public share purchase offer by Germany’s Rocket Internet SE, according to a disclosure.
— Deal Street Asia

Cebu Pacific invests $25 million for training of future pilots
GOKONGWEI-LED Cebu Pacific is investing over $25 million (about P1.3 billion) for the 52-week overseas aviation training of 16 cadets at Flight Training Adelaide (FTA) campus in Australia as part of the company’s recruitment initiative aimed at addressing the airline’s refleeting requirements over the next five years.
— Business Mirror

Philippines to deploy hundreds of riot police to keep tourists away from Boracay during six-month closure
The Philippines is set to deploy hundreds of riot police to top holiday island Boracay to keep travellers out and head off potential protests ahead of its six-month closure to tourists, the government said Tuesday.
— South China Morning Post

See here for more of today’s Philippines Morning News

Singapore Morning News

Compiled by Leakhena Khat   @leakhenakhat

Singapore exports fall for 2nd consecutive month in March
SINGAPORE’S exports continued to disappoint for the second straight month in March, hit by a triple whammy of high base effects, cooling electronics demand and a strengthening Singdollar.
— The Business Times 

Five Weeks Later, Maersk Honam is Still Burning
Efforts to suppress a fire on containership Maersk Honam continue more than a month after a blaze aboard the 15,000 TEU vessel killed five crew members.
— Maritime Activity Reports 

The Five Men Who Could Be Singapore’s Next (Young) Leader
Singapore Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong, 66, has said he will reshuffle his cabinet soon and is widely expected to do so before Parliament reconvenes on May 7. The impending changes will increase the focus on a group of younger ministers — with an average age of about 50 — equipping them with more exposure and added responsibilities.
— Bloomberg 

See here for more of today’s Singapore Morning News

Thailand Morning News

Compiled by John Le Fevre    @photo_journ

Over 200,000 drunk drivers arrested and charged
The National Council for Peace and Order (NCPO) said on Tuesday (Apr 17) that military officers manning all road checkpoints have arrested more than 200,000 drivers for drunk driving during the past six days of the Songkran festival.
— Thai PBS

Thailand approves tax incentive plan to encourage bank mergers
Thailand’s Cabinet approved a plan on Tuesday to offer tax incentives to encourage mergers among the country’s commercial banks, a move that will help them better compete with their larger regional rivals.
— Reuters

Shark Attack: Norwegian Man Mauled at Thai Beach (video)
Authorities in the Thailand seaside royal city of Hua Hin are in damage control after a 54-year-old Norwegian man was mauled by a shark while swimming on one of its highly prized beaches.
— AEC News Today

See here for more of today’s Thailand Morning News

Vietnam Morning News

Compiled by Sreypov Men    @MenSreypov

Made-in-Vietnam products dominate supermarket shelves
A campaign aimed at getting locals to buy Made-in-Vietnam products has gained positive results, with the ratio of the products sold at most of supermarkets reaching 65-95 percent.
— The Hanoi Times

Banks banned from making transactions involving cryptocurrencies
Commercial banks and intermediary payment service providers must intensify their inspections and promptly report any suspicious transactions related to cryptocurrencies.
— Nhan Dan Online

Textile, garment exports to United States climb to US$3.15 billion
Vietnamese textile and garment exports to the United States in the first quarter of this year hit three-year high of approximate US$3.15 billion, a year-on-year increase of 13.2 percent, reports from the General Department of Customs showed.
— The Hanoi Times

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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