Asean morning news for August 1

Asean morning news

Compiled by Stella-maris Ewudolu @stmarisewudolu

ASEAN: Epicentre of human trafficking
The discovery of 28 abandoned human-trafficking camps and multiple unmarked mass graves in the dense jungle of Wang Kelian near the Thai-Malaysia border in May 2015 sent a shock wave through ASEAN and the rest of the world.
— The Asean Post

The race for Asean’s No 3
Malaysia is expected to surpass Singapore in terms of economic size this year, making the country the third-biggest economy within the Asean region based on gross domestic product (GDP) nominal.
— The Malaysian Reserve

Container backlogs cause more import strife in SE Asia
The Malaysian and Vietnamese governments have followed through on plans to clamp down on recycled material shipments. Both countries have stopped issuing new import permits for certain materials.
— Resource Recycling

Tourist data up amid discount pitch to lure Southeast Asians
Visit Hong Kong at bargain prices. The markdowns specifically target Koreans, Taiwanese and Southeast Asians.
— Hong Kong Standard (press release)

Commentary: Don’t let Thai junta chief chair ASEAN next year
Next year, Thailand will get its turn chairing the 10-member ASEAN, replacing Singapore. Singapore Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong is scheduled to hand over his chairmanship to Thailand Prime Minister Prayuth Chan-ocha this November.
— The Jakarta Post

Cambodia’s Opposition Party Calls on Indonesia, Asean to Reject Rigged Election
Cambodia’s banned opposition party called on Indonesia to reject the results of Sunday’s (29/07) election, warning of regional instability and stressing the importance of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations in helping the former French colony return to democracy.
— Jakarta Globe

Pompeo to urge Asians to enforce UN sanctions on N Korea
US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo will urge Asian countries at an upcoming meeting in Singapore to enforce UN sanctions on North Korea aimed at dismantling Pyongyang´s nuclear program, a US official said Tuesday.
— The News International

26 cities to pilot ASEAN Smart Cities Network
A total of 26 cities from the 10 ASEAN countries have been dubbed as the pilot cities for ASEAN Smart Cities Network, with reference to a concept note disclosed by the regional bloc on 27 April 2018.
— QS WOW News (media release)

Demand For Pets Endangers Southeast Asia’s Birds
Go to almost any public market in the Philippines, and you can find people selling caged birds as pets.
— Radio Free Asia

Long road ahead to ending hunger, malnutrition (Column: Active Voice)
The UN Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) incorporate zero hunger as one of the 17 targets to be achieved by 2030 for a sustainable future.
— Business Standard

Turkey sees first-ever ASEAN meeting as partner
The first-ever Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN)-Turkey Trilateral Ministerial Meeting is set to be held this week in Singapore, with the attendance of Turkish Foreign Minister Mevlut Cavusoglu.
— Anadolu Agency

Indonesia to host ASEAN audit regulators meeting
The Finance Ministry’s Financial Profession Development Center (PPPK) will host the ASEAN Audit Regulator Group (AARG) 2018 inspection workshop and a meeting with the Big Four auditors in Jakarta from July 31 to Aug. 2, an official has said.
— The Jakarta Post

Landslide election victory brought about by despotic regime in Cambodia
Even if a political party wins an election with the opposition forces excluded, it is hard to say that party has obtained the trust of the general public.
— CT Post

Asia Pacific Breweries on track to increase usage of sustainable agricultural raw materials to 50% by 2020
Asia Pacific Breweries (APB) is on track to achieve the aim of acquiring 50% of their main raw materials from sustainable sources, said Mitchell Leow, head of corporate affairs at APB Singapore.
— Food Navigator-Asia

Mice that roar: patrol and coastal combatants in ASEAN
For very good reasons, maritime security concerns, particularly those centred on the South China Sea, have featured prominently in ASEAN member states’ individual and collective agendas over the last decade.
— The Strategist (blog)

South China Sea emerging as a dangerous flashpoint
China’s outright rejection of 2016 UNCLOS judgement and blatant disregard of rules and norms of maritime engagement, militarization of the artificial islands, and the exercise of might over its much smaller and weaker neighbours has turned the South China Sea a dangerous flashpoint.
— The Economic Times

Return of Mahathir Mohamad to Asean may put a third power in the picture – Japan
When the top diplomats from 10 Southeast Asian countries gather in Singapore later this week for their annual meeting, rivalry between China and the United States will again be in the spotlight.
— South China Morning Post

Cambodia morning news

Compiled by Sreypov Men @MenSreypov

Cambodia to form new govt within 60 days
The ruling Cambodian People’s Party (CPP) will form a new government within 60 days, its spokesman said yesterday, two days after a general election that critics called neither free nor fair after the main opposition was disbanded last year.
— The Straits Times

Deployment MPs patrol after CPP wins at polls
A day after the Cambodian People’s Party (CPP) won a landslide victory in the national elections, the capital’s public thoroughfares saw a large deployment of the armed forces.
— The Phnom Penh Post

See here for more of today’s Cambodia morning news

Indonesia morning news

Compiled by Joanne Encantador @encantador_jo

Indonesia to begin construction of $3bn Patimban Port
The Government of Indonesia is set to begin the construction of Patimban Port in Subang, West Java, next month with an investment of IDR43.2tn ($3bn).
— Ship Technology

Indonesia’s Pertamina to take over Chevron’s Rokan block in 2021
Indonesia has decided Pertamina will take over operation of the Rokan oil block, the country’s second-biggest crude producing field, once Chevron’s operating contract there expires in 2021, Deputy Energy Minister Arcandra Tahar said on Tuesday.
— Today Online

See here for more of today’s Indonesia morning news

Lao PDR morning news

Compiled by Joanne Encantador @encantador_jo

Visits take a tumble in Laos
Visitor arrivals to Laos took a 9% tumble during 2017 according to the Ministry of Information, Culture and Tourism.
— TTRWeekly

Bodies, mud and destruction: Rescuer describes bleak aftermath of Laos dam collapse
While most people ran away from the collapsed dam in southern Laos, Trairat Horasap rushed towards it.
— ChannelNewsAsia

EU Brings Relief To The Victims Of Xepian-Xe Nam Noy Dam Tragedy
The European Commission has mobilised EUR 200,000 (LAK 1.95 billion) in emergency relief for the families most affected by the collapse of a section of the Xepian-Xe Nam Noy hydropower dam in southern Lao PDR.
— Lao News Agency

See here for more of today’s Lao morning news

Malaysia morning news

Compiled by Sreypov Men @MenSreypov

Government should be clear on plans for auto industry
The government should be clear on its plans for automotive policy and steer away from any direct involvement in the automotive market, said IDEAS economist Adli Amirullah.
— New Straits Times

Malaysia’s Aviation Chief Quits After MH370 Report Exposes Shortcomings
The head of Malaysia’s civil aviation regulator has resigned after an official report found failings in air traffic control when flight MH370 disappeared.
— Investvine

Malaysia Suspects Chinese Cash Paid Troubled Fund’s Debt
Officials here are investigating whether the government of former Prime Minister Najib Razak used funds from a China-backed infrastructure program to help pay debts owed by the state investment fund at the center of one of the world’s biggest graft probes.
— Wall Street Journal

See here for more of today’s Malaysia Morning News

Myanmar morning news

Compiled by Joanne Encantador @encantador_jo

Electricity cut off in Hpa-an’s flood-affected areas for electrical safety
Electricity has been cut off in the flood-affected areas in Hpa-an and villages in the Karen (Kayin) State to prevent electrical hazards, an official from the state electrical engineering office said to KIC News.
— BNI

Government sets up commission of inquiry to look into Rakhine State abuses
Myanmar has established a commission of inquiry to probe allegations of human rights abuses in conflict-torn Rakhine state, local media reported yesterday.
— Mizzima

Myanmar U-16 to face host Indonesia today
This is the second group match for Myanmar and their wins over Timor-Leste 3-2 in the opening match on July 29. Indonesia will be tough rival for Myanmar and it is host nation. They had shown impressive performances in opening match. Indonesia made perfect start after trouncing the Philippines 8-0.
— Myanmar Times

See here for more of today’s Myanmar morning news

Philippines morning news

Compiled by Stella-maris Ewudolu @stmarisewudolu

Tax reform generated P33.7B in 1st 6 months
The head of the Duterte administration’s economic team on Tuesday reminded legislators of President Duterte’s wish to pass by yearend the second tax reform package that will bring down the corporate income tax rate while rationalizing the fiscal incentives being given away to investors.
— Philippine Daily Inquirer

Filipinos to balloon to 108m by end of 2018
Despite a significant drop in the annual population growth rate, about 1.8 million more Filipinos are projected to be born, raising the total population to 106.4 million by the end of this year.
— The Gulf Today

Tax reform to generate P181 billion in 2019
The government is expected to generate P181.4 billion in revenue next year from the implementation of the Tax Reform for Acceleration and Inclusion (TRAIN) Law and other tax reform measures, according to the Department of Finance (DOF).
— The Philippine Star

See here for more of today’s Philippines morning news

Singapore morning news

Compiled by John Le Fevre @photo_journ

Singapore’s M1 lifts Q2 profit by 1.5%
Singapore’s M1 has reported a 1.5% year-on-year increase in net profit for the second quarter as a result of solid service revenue growth.
— Telecomasia

Is the worst over for embattled Singapore retail REITs?
The looming supply of new retail space to be installed in the next four years in Eastern Singapore is expected to pose a larger threat to the performance of the city’s struggling real estate investment trusts (S-REITS) than the spectre of online shopping giants, according to Moody’s Investors Service.
— Singapore Business Review

Singaporean flavours pioneer celebrates 50 years with new $20m manufacturing facility
Singaporean flavours and fragrance firm KH Roberts (KHR) has marked its 50th anniversary with the launch of a new $20m, 100,000 sq. ft. manufacturing facility.
— FoodNavigator-Asia

See here for more of today’s Singapore morning news

Thailand morning news

Compiled by John Le Fevre @photo_journ

B85bn double-track line gets go-ahead
The cabinet has given the green light to the 323km double-track rail route from Den Chai to Chiang Khong in the North.
— Bangkok Post

Tata Motors to stop manufacturing ops in Thailand
Tata Motors today said it has decided to stop manufacturing operations in Thailand citing viability issues but would continue to sell vehicles in the country through imports.
— Money Control

Warning: Be Alert For Flash Floods, Landslides Nationwide
Flash flooding and landslides are possible throughout the nation this week as torrential rains push water levels higher, disaster officials warned Tuesday.
— Khaosod English

See here for more of today’s Thailand morning news

Vietnam morning news

Compiled by Sreypov Men @MenSreypov

Construction Ministry cuts 85 pct of business, investment conditions
The Ministry of Construction has cut or simplified 85 per cent out of the 215 business and investment conditions, and eliminated five among the 17 conditional business lines.
— Bizhub

Vietnam sees 11,262 new enterprises established in July
The rise in the number of business formations demonstrates that investors are likely to have gained more confidence in the domestic business climate.
— The Hanoi Times

New Airline Set to Join Vietnam’s Congested Skies and Airports
With state-owned Vietnam Airlines JSC and budget carrier Vietjet Aviation JSC serving one of the world’s busiest routes, property developer FLC Group JSC wants a piece of the action with a new airline, operating 37 routes in the country after its inaugural flight in October.
— Bloomberg

See here for more of today’s Vietnam morning news

The Asean morning news roundup and its individual country morning news round-ups are the most comprehensive hand-curated selection of news reports from around the Asean Economic Community (AEC) published. We scour hundreds of local and international news and websites to find the things that you need to know to start your working week day.

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