Asean morning news for August 2

Asean morning news for August 2
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Asean morning newsAsean morning news

Compiled by Stella-maris Ewudolu @stmarisewudolu

 

Progress in sea feud, Koreas stir Asean though rifts persist
Southeast Asian nations are expected to welcome an initial negotiating draft of a nonaggression pact with China on the South China Sea, but critics warn that the protracted talks provide a diplomatic cover for Beijing’s tenacious aggression in the disputed waters.
— Bangkok Post

ASEAN manufacturing PMI slows in July
Growth in ASEAN’s manufacturing sector showed only marginal improvement in July, with slower rises in new orders and output, according to a survey.
— Nikkei Asian Review

Thousands displaced in Cambodia by flooding of Mekong
Nearly 1,000 families residing in provinces along the Mekong River had been evacuated to safe areas as of Tuesday, while 1,133 houses in Kratie province had been inundated, according to provincial authorities.
— The Nation

1.2 million Southeast Asians visited Taiwan in first half of 2018
The number of Southeast Asians visiting Taiwan reached 1.2 million during the first half of 2018, with Taipei turning out to be the travelers’ favorite city, reports said Wednesday.
— Taiwan News

Southeast Asia’s Grab to announce fresh $1 billion funding: source
Southeast Asian ride-hailing company Grab is set to announce that it has secured new investment of $1 billion that will help it grow its payments business, a source familiar with the matter said.
— Reuters

ASEAN crafts position on US ‘Free and Open Indo-Pacific’ strategy
Foreign ministers of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations are working to come up with a common position on a geopolitical framework for the Indo-Pacific, a term widely used recently in place of Asia-Pacific, to ensure that the 10-member grouping is not marginalized, ASEAN officials said Wednesday.
— The Mainichi

Dark Clouds Looming Over Southeast Asia’s Democracies – Analysis
Southeast Asia, the world’s most ethno-culturally diverse region, is rapidly growing because of its strategic location and rising economies.
— Eurasia Review

eSIM: The future of mobile
It’s a familiar arrival routine at the airport. Clear customs, pick up your luggage, then scour available telco booths for the best available data deals.
— The Asean Post

ASEAN affirms solidarity with Laos to overcome dam burst aftermath
ASEAN Foreign Ministers have issued a statement on the collapse of the Sepien-Senamnoi hydropower dam in the Lao province of Attapeu.
— Vietnam Plus

Britain And ASEAN: Strengthening Ties Post-Brexit – Analysis
The UK makes a tangible and significant contribution to the security and prosperity of Southeast Asia, and to strengthening and supporting ASEAN, and the Rules Based International System (RBIS) it seeks to uphold.
— Eurasia Review

Earth Overshoot Day comes early this year
Humanity has overdrawn the planet’s annual budget of resources. Earth Overshoot Day (EOD) this year falls on 1 August, indicating the tipping point where a year’s worth of resources has been consumed.
— The Asean Post

Trump’s Tariffs Push Electronics From China to Southeast Asia
Electronics makers are preparing to shift more production to Southeast Asia as trade tensions with the U.S. make it less appealing to manufacture gadgets in China.
— Bloomberg

ASEAN might not be the way
Now Raby offers another set of proposals in relation to Southeast Asia that raise some interesting points about what matters as Australia copes with unprecedented challenges in the formulation of its foreign policy, at a time when China is growing in power and the future course of US policy is less clear than has been the case since the Second World War.
— The Interpreter

ASEAN Secretary General visits victims of Lao dam collapse
A delegation led by Lim Jock Hoi, Secretary General of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN), on July 29 visited people who were affected by the collapse of the Sepien-Senamnoi hydropower dam in Sanamxay district of Laos’ Attapeu province.
— NNT

New Study: Automotive Aftermarket growing at a CAGR of 9.6% through 2026
ASEAN Automotive Aftermarket includes the replacement, repair and maintenance of various auto parts and accessories.
— Perfect Investor

Cambodia morning newsCambodia morning news

Compiled by Sreypov Men @MenSreypov

 

Statement by the Spokesperson on the general elections in Cambodia
In its Conclusions of 26 February 2018, the EU Foreign Affairs Council underlined that an electoral process from which the main opposition party has been arbitrarily excluded is not legitimate.
— AEC News Today/ PR Newswire (media release)

Cambodia’s PM Hun Sen Praises Government’s Commitment to Democracy Despite ‘Sham’ Election
Cambodia’s Prime Minister Hun Sen applauded his government’s commitment to democracy Wednesday in his first public appearance since his ruling Cambodian People’s Party (CPP) swept an election widely dismissed as unfree and unfair, following the dissolution of the main opposition group.
— Radio Free Asia

Cambodia’s Hun Sen Takes Selfies in First Appearance Since Controversial Election
Cambodia’s long-serving Prime Minister Hun Sen, 65, whose party claimed victory in a general election that many have said was neither free nor fair, met with supporters for the first time since the vote on Wednesday (01/08).
— Jakarta Globe

See here for more of today’s Cambodia morning news

 

Indonesia morning newsIndonesia morning news

Compiled by Joanne Encantador @encantador_jo

 

QIA to invest $500m in Indonesia’s tourism sector
The State of Qatar and Republic of Indonesia signed a memorandum of understanding (MoU) on developing the tourism sector in Indonesia, where Qatar Investment Authority (QIA) allocated $500m to carry out a number of tourism projects in 10 sites chosen by the Indonesian government.
— The Peninsula Qatar

Rp300 Billion Allocated to Subsidize Rate of LRT Palembang
The Ministry of Transportation poured a budget of Rp300 billion to subsidize the rate of LRT Palembang. Minister of Transportation Budi Karya Sumadi in a written statement received on Wednesday, hoped that within three years this subsidy can be fulfilled.
— Tempo.co

Consumer Price Index Indonesia: Inflation at 0.28% in July 2018
Indonesia’s inflation rate was recorded at 0.28 percent month-on-month (m/m) in July 2018, slightly below estimates.
— Indonesia Investments (media release)

See here for more of today’s Indonesia morning news

 

Lao PDR morning newsLao PDR morning news

Compiled by Joanne Encantador @encantador_jo

 

ASEAN Secretary General visits victims of Lao dam collapse
A delegation led by Lim Jock Hoi, Secretary General of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN), on July 29 visited people who were affected by the collapse of the Sepien-Senamnoi hydropower dam in Sanamxay district of Laos’ Attapeu province.
— NNT

Cluster Munitions – A Challenge To Development
Exactly eight years ago on this day, the Convention on Cluster Munitions, a historic treaty that obliged countries to refrain from developing, using, stockpiling or assisting other nations in using cluster munitions, entered into force after being ratified by 30 nations.
— Lao News Agency

Committee amasses aid relief for flood victims
The National Ad Hoc Committee, which has been set up to deal with the relief effort following the dam burst in Attapeu province, says that all forms of aid for displaced persons, including that received from people in Laos and other countries, will be sent to Attapeu for the benefit of those made homeless.
— Vientiane Times

See here for more of today’s Lao morning news

Malaysia morning newsMalaysia morning news

Compiled by Sreypov Men @MenSreypov

 

Malaysia’s export growth to accelerate to 8.7% in June — RAM
Malaysia’s export growth is expected to pick up to 8.7% in June from 3.4% in May despite the envisaged slowdown amid the Hari Raya festive season, RAM Rating Services Bhd said today.
— The Edge Markets

Thailand facilitates border trade and tourism at Malaysian Border
The Sadao Border Crossing in Songkhla province in the deep south of Thailand is the Thai-Malaysia border area with the highest value of border trade and often criticized for its congestion, but the problem has now been solved. Additionally, the Thai government is building a new checkpoint, which is 20 times bigger than the current one, to support and facilitate border trade and tourism. Khun Suchanee Rungmueanpon brings us the story from Songkhla Province.
— News Today (video)

China Petroleum Pipeline says it has no link to 1MDB debt payment
China Petroleum Pipeline Engineering Co Ltd (CPP) has denied that funds from its two pipeline projects in Malaysia were used to pay debts linked to 1Malaysia Development Bhd (1MDB).
— New Straits Times

See here for more of today’s Malaysia Morning News

 

Myanmar morning newsMyanmar morning news

Compiled by Joanne Encantador @encantador_jo

 

Instant Blockchain Remittance for Myanmar Workers in Thailand
Instant blockchain remittance is on the cards for migrant Myanmar workers in Thailand who want to instantly send money back home as a major Singapore tech firm partners with a Myanmar banking institute to help the neediest people.
— Crypto Disrupt

Kaladan road construction temporarily halted due to lack of workers
Although eight bridges have to be built on the road connecting Lawngtlai, Mizoram State with Paletwa, Chin State under the Kaladan Multi Modal Transit Transport Project, the construction has been temporary halted due to lack of workers.
— BNI

Myanmar Ranks at the Bottom of Asean for Access to Electricity
Myanmar’s people have the lowest access to electricity in Southeast Asia, according to U Myo Myint, an energy expert who helped conduct a survey on the issue for the World Bank.
— The Irrawaddy

See here for more of today’s Myanmar morning news

 

Philippines morning newsPhilippines morning news

Compiled by Stella-maris Ewudolu @stmarisewudolu

 

Philippines’ spending on infrastructure soars by 41.6 pct in H1
The Philippine fiscal spending on infrastructure soared by 41.6 percent year on year in the first half of this year on the back of higher disbursements related to the administration’s Build, Build, Build program, according to data released by the government on Wednesday.
— Xinhua

Manufacturing growth weakens in July
PHILIPPINE manufacturing activity grew at a slower pace as the second semester began — marking the weakest reading in five months — amid softer demand, according to the latest survey IHS Markit conducted for Nikkei, Inc.
— BusinessWorld Online

Gov’t fiscal deficit narrows to P193 billion mid-2018
Government revenue collection vis-à-vis spending narrowed fiscal deficit to P193 billion, due to improved collections thanks to the tax reform law.
— Rappler

See here for more of today’s Philippines morning news

Singapore morning newsSingapore morning news

Compiled by John Le Fevre @photo_journ

 

Analysts expect positive Q2 results from Singapore banks | Video
Stronger loan growth and rising interest rates, as well as an improving oil and gas sector, are expected to give DBS, UOB and OCBC a boost in the second quarter, reports Channel NewsAsia’s Brandon Tanoto.
— ChannelNewsAsia

Toyota Philippines expects 17 percent output cut in 2018 on weak sales
Sales of motor vehicles among all automotive companies in the Philippines fell 12.5 percent to 171,590 units in the first half from a year ago, data from the ASEAN Automotive Federation showed. It is the second largest sales decline in the region, next only to Singapore’s 13.3-percent drop.
— Reuters

Oil falls 2 percent on rising supply, concern about trade tensions
“China’s economy is on track to slow this quarter and next,” said Julian Evans-Pritchard, senior China economist at Capital Economics in Singapore.
— Reuters

See here for more of today’s Singapore morning news

 

Thailand morning newsThailand morning news

Compiled by John Le Fevre @photo_journ

 

Fishermen issue fresh ultimatum to government
Warn they would stop fishing if treaty, that ‘does not suit local conditions’ is ratified
— The Nation

Prayut touts EEC for prosperity
Prime Minister Prayut Chan-o-cha reaffirmed Wednesday that the key to ensuring Thailand escapes the “middle-income trap” and transforms into a high-income nation means sticking to the 20-year national strategy and Eastern Economic Corridor (EEC) project.
— Bangkok Post

Adviser predicts recession in 2020
The global economy is likely headed for a recession in 2020 and the economic downturn will accelerate if the China-US trade squabble turns into a full-blown trade war, says Supavud Saicheua, an adviser to Kiatnakin Phatra Financial Group.
— Bangkok Post

See here for more of today’s Thailand morning news

 

Vietnam morning newsVietnam morning news

Compiled by Sreypov Men @MenSreypov

 

New airline to join Vietnam’s congested skies
Vietnam’s skies are about to get more crowded. 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.
— The Asean Post

Vietnam manufacturing is one of the highest since 2011
The Nikkei Vietnam Manufacturing Purchasing Managers’ Index, or PMI, fell to 54.9 in July from 55.7 in June, but still one of the highest since the survey began in March 2011. Business conditions have now strengthened in each of the past 32 months.
— Nikkei Asian Review

Vietnam increasingly reliant on imported energy
Due to limited domestic supply, Vietnam has become increasingly dependent on energy imports, putting national energy security at risk, Nguyen Van Thanh, deputy head of the Electricity and Renewable Energy Department under the Ministry of Industry and Trade, told the Vietnam — Technology and Energy Forum 2018 on July 31.
— VietnamNet Bridge

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.

We clearly identify the source of the story, whether it is behind a paywall, a media release, or whether the site uses annoying pop-up advertising or auto-play video, in case those things annoy you. It’s all then packaged up in an easy to read format enabling you to make an informed choice of whether you want to learn more by clicking directly through to the original source, or keep on reading the headlines. AEC News Today: Governance, not government; policies not politics.

 

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