Asean morning news
Compiled by Stella-maris Ewudolu @stmarisewudolu
Bangkok conference seeks to build inter-continental cooperation in suppressing wildlife trade and trafficking
Cooperation among three major continents where illicit wildlife trades and trafficking are still rampant is being forged in an attempt to suppress the activities that are now seen crossing from countries in Africa to Asia.
— The Nation
ASEAN-China trade to receive a boost with Southern Transport Corridor: Chan Chun Sing
Fruits, seafood, and Chinese medicinal herbs are examples of some goods which could flow more easily between western China and Southeast Asia once trade on the Southern Transport Corridor (STC) takes off.
— Channel NewsAsia (video)
ASEAN businesses boost anti-corruption efforts
The top listed ASEAN companies have been improving their anti-corruption activities over the past two years, according to the Study on Corporate Disclosure on Business Integrity in ASEAN, which was announced at the ASEAN Responsible Business Forum (ARBF) in Singapore on August 27-28.
— Vietnam Plus
ASEAN to map bloc’s autism prevalence
Contrary to popular belief, autism does not only affect rich people in the cities, it also touches the lives of the poor living in remote areas, says child psychiatrist Melly Budhiman.
— The Jakarta Post (paywall)
The Economic Showdown in the South China Sea
As China inches closer to imposing a de facto exclusion zone across the South China Sea, it has sought to box the United States out of Southeast Asia.
— The National Interest
ASEAN SMEs yield big business for PayPal
SMALL, digitally plugged-in businesses give Rahul Shinghal, PayPal’s Singapore-based regional managing director, plenty of cause for cheer.
— The Business Times
Drones: Reviving the agro-industry
Unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs) or drones are usually associated with military applications but they also have immense usefulness in agriculture.
— The Asean Post
Committee to boost India, ASEAN ties launches
South Korea established a special committee to develop policies and adjust strategies for the country’s relations with India and Southeast Asia in line with President Moon Jae-in’s New Southern Policy.
— The Korea Times
Deepening services and investment integration in the region
SERVICES are a key engine of growth in ASEAN, accounting for slightly more than half of the reÂgion’s economy over the last decÂade.
— The Business Times
Green Finance for Sustainable Investment
To place the Asian economies onto a sustainable development pathway requires an unprecedented shift in investment away from industries relying intensively on greenhouse gases, fossil fuels, and natural resources toward more resource-efficient technologies and business models.
— IndraStra Global
Enhancing energy security in ASEAN
RELIABLE and sustainable energy sources are key to ASEAN’s long-term economic growth.
— The Business Times
Jakarta to host the 2018 Southeast Asia Blockchain Summit
2018 edition of the meeting of blockchain experts and professionals, the Southeast Asia Blockchain Summit, to hold in Jakarta, Indonesia in September
— MENAFN
My Urban Challenge: Makassar, Siem Reap & Vientiane
Siem Reap is home to the largest religious monument in the world. Vientiane houses some of the most awe-spiring landmarks in Laos. The city of Makassar can trace its routes back to the spice trades in the 13th century.
— GovInsider
Cambodia morning news
Compiled by Michael Johansen @mfjohansen47
Ricketson trial to conclude today
Phnom Penh Municipal Court is today set to wrap up the espionage trial of Australian filmmaker James Ricketson, who has been in jail since June 2017.
— Khmer Times
Direct Flights from Beijing to Phnom Penh to Launch on First of November
General Mao Havannal, Secretary of State of the State Secretariat of Civil Aviation on Tuesday received a courtesy call of delegation of airline of the People’s Republic of China (Air China).
— Fresh News
PM meets with Chinese investors
Prime Minister Hun Sen yesterday asked Chinese businessmen to invest in human resources, energy and infrastructure in the Kingdom.
— Khmer Times
See here for more of today’s Cambodia morning news
Indonesia morning news
Compiled by Michael Johansen @mfjohansen47
Indonesia offers US$13.2b infrastructure projects to China
The Indonesian government has offered various infrastructure projects to China worth US$13.2 billion (S$18 billion) during a recent market sounding event attended by 90 potential investors in Guangzhou, in southern China.
— The Jakarta Post via The Straits Times
Lombok earthquake rehabilitation accelerated
The government of Indonesia is determined to accelerate the process of rehabilitation and reconstruction of facilities after the devastating earthquake in Lombok, West Nusa Tenggara (NTB) province.
— Antara
Judge in Meiliana trial arrested for alleged graft
Corruption Eradication Commission (KPK) investigators have arrested a judge in Medan, North Sumatra, for alleged bribery.
— The Jakarta Post
See here for more of today’s Indonesia morning news
Lao PDR morning news
Compiled by Stella-maris Ewudolu @stmarisewudolu
Automated payment of land tax to start next year
Finance authorities expect to begin collecting land tax through banks from next year in a bid to modernise tax payment through the use of an electronic system.
— Vientiane Times
‘Rugby for all’, says Laos Rugby Federation as it promotes gender equity
In Laos, the game of rugby is becoming more popular than ever through the efforts of the Lao Rugby Federation.
— Southeast Asia Globe
Laos Is Second Most Expensive ASEAN Country to Buy Fuel
An official from the Ministry of Energy and Mines revealed that Laos placed second in the list of the most expensive ASEAN countries in which to buy fuel.
— The Laotian Times
See here for more of today’s Lao morning news
Malaysia morning news
Compiled by Sreypov Men @MenSreypov
Malaysia says will form committee to study Forest City project
Malaysia said on Tuesday (Aug 28) a committee would review the US$100 billion Forest City real estate project, a day after Prime Minister Mahathir Mohamad said foreigners would not be granted visas to live there.
— Channel NewsAsia
Singapore not in talks with Malaysia on water prices, says report
Singapore is not having any renegotiations with Malaysia on water prices, says news portal Today.
— The Star Online
Malaysia ‘welcomes all tourists including from China’: Malaysia PMO
Malaysia welcomes “all tourists” including those from China, but purchase of property does not guarantee automatic residence in the country, the Prime Minister’s Office (PMO) said in a statement on Tuesday (Aug 28).
— Channel NewsAsia
See here for more of today’s Malaysia Morning News
Myanmar morning news
Compiled by Joanne Encantador @encantador_jo
Prioritising essential imports one way to better manage trade deficit: VP
Traders should exercise more discipline when importing items that are non-essential to the Myanmar economy, as this could help prevent the budget deficit from widening beyond necessary, vice president U Myint Swe said during a meeting at the United Myanmar Federation Chambers of Commerce and Industry (UMFCCI) on August 24.
— Myanmar Times
Myanmar condemnation touches economic direction
The one-year anniversary of the escape of over half a million Muslim Rohingya refugees from Myanmar’s Rakhine State into Bangladesh, with a current total of over 900,000 in the world’s largest camp, coincided with clear United Nations condemnation of human-rights abuses as well as investor fears over the economic policy and performance fallout on both sides of the border.
–MenaFN
Myanmar Govt Rejects UN Report on Military Human Rights Violations
A spokesperson of the Myanmar government has rejected the UN fact-finding mission’s report which calls for genocide charges against the country’s military leadership for attacking Muslim Rohingya and which also blames the country’s de facto leader Daw Aung San Suu Kyi for failing to intervene.
— The Irrawaddy
See here for more of today’s Myanmar morning news
Philippines morning news
Compiled by Stella-maris Ewudolu @stmarisewudolu
New Murder Case against Philippine Leader Filed before ICC
A rights group and relatives of eight victims killed in President Rodrigo Duterte’s unrelenting drug war filed a murder case Tuesday against the Philippine leader at the International Criminal Court (ICC), in the second such petition alleging thousands had been killed in the anti-narcotics campaign, their lawyer said.
— Benar News
House to pass P3.7-T budget in Oct
The House of Representatives will approve the proposed P3.757-trillion budget for 2019 on third and final reading on October 12, Majority Leader Rolando Andaya Jr. said on Tuesday.
— The Manila Times
Over 760,000 Chinese tourists visit Philippines in 7 months
Philippine Tourism Secretary Bernadette Romulo-Puyat said on Tuesday that a total of 764,094 Chinese tourists visited the Philippines during the first seven months of 2018, making China the second-biggest source market for Philippines’ international tourists.
— Xinhua
See here for more of today’s Philippines morning news
Singapore morning news
Compiled by Joanne Encantador @encantador_jo
Singapore firms inked deals for projects in Africa
Five Singapore firms forged ties with African counterparts during the Africa Singapore Business Forum (ASBF) 2018 to boost the region’s digital economy and manufacturing, an announcement revealed.
— Singapore Business Review
Chinese biotech valuations likely hit as trailblazer’s Hong Kong shares sink
Nevertheless, the stock drop has left Singapore sovereign wealth fund GIC Pte Ltd [GIC.UL], a cornerstone investor with a $75 million stake, nursing losses of $32.8 million, Reuters calculations showed.
— Reuters
IHH Healthcare Q2 profits crashed 65.8% to $104.49m
Inpatient admissions for Parkway Pantai’s hospitals in Singapore hospitals rose 0.4% YoY to 19,021, driven predominantly by local patients as well as foreign patients from non-traditional markets such as Vietnam.
— Singapore Business Review
See here for more of today’s Singapore morning news
Thailand morning news
Compiled by John Le Fevre @photo_journ
Prayut orders airport design contest probe
Prime Minister Prayut Chan-o-cha has instructed Airports of Thailand Plc (AoT) to conduct a probe into the contest to design Suvarnabhumi airport’s new passenger terminal, amid concerns among competing architects and the public over how the eventual winner was chosen.
— Bangkok Post
Thai July factory output rises 4.6 pct y/y, beats forecast
Thailand’s manufacturing production index (MPI) in July rose 4.6 percent from a year earlier, helped by higher production of cars, sugar and electronics, the Industry Ministry said on Tuesday.
— Reuters
Finn ‘satisfied’ after bitcoin scandal talks
Finnish businessman Aarni Otava Saarimaa, who lost millions of baht in an alleged high-profile bitcoin scam, is now “satisfied” after negotiating a settlement deal with two key suspects who Tuesday acknowledged fraud charges pressed by the Crime Suppression Division (CSD).
— Bangkok Post
See here for more of today’s Thailand morning news
Vietnam morning news
Compiled by Sreypov Men @MenSreypov
Vietnam’s North-South high-speed railway to cost over US$58 billion
For a total length of 1,545 kilometers (km), the line which links Hanoi and Ho Chi Minh City would stop at 20 cities and provinces.
— The Hanoi Times
Fishing militia to spearhead Vietnam’s response to China in South China Sea (video)
China has long been infamous for incorporating maritime militias into its fishing industry to assert its sovereignty claims. With the world’s largest fishing fleet, comprising 370,000 non-powered and 762,000 motor-powered vessels, China has the capacity and resources to push more of its fishermen to the front line of maritime disputes.
— AEC News Today (video)
E-commerce key for farm exporters
Vietnamese enterprises should take advantage of e-commerce development to boost exports of farm produce to China, experts said at a meeting on Sunday in HCM City.
— Bizhub
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.
Asean morning news for August 29 added by Digital Editor on
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