Asean morning news
Compiled by Stella-maris Ewudolu @stmarisewudolu
The Bangkok Declaration and the birth of Asean (video)
As Thailand prepares to take over the Asean Chair for its 52nd year, state-owned broadcaster NBT World is digging through the archives to highlight Thailand’s not inconsiderable role in the establishment and direction of Asean.
— AEC News Today (video)
Scrapping China’s two-child policy boosts hope to end bride trafficking
China’s reported plan to scrap its decades-long family planning policy could help prevent impoverished women from other parts of Asia being trafficked into the country to meet demand for brides, campaigners said on Wednesday.
— Thomson Reuters Foundation
ASEAN economic ministers ink 2 agreements to remove barriers in goods and services trade
Economic ministers from the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) on Wednesday (Aug 29) inked two agreements aimed at deepening the integration of the services sector and improving trade facilitation within the region.
— Channel NewsAsia
GMS countries implement ASEAN Agreement on Transboundary Haze Pollution
The seventh ministerial meeting to coordinate the Greater Mekong Subregion (GMS) countries joining the ASEAN Agreement on Transboundary Haze Pollution took place in the central coastal city of Da Nang on August 29.
— Vietnam Plus
Agoda: Family travel surges in Asia
New school semesters may be looming or already underway after a long summer school break, but that doesn’t mean families are packing away their travel gear just yet.
— TTR Weekly
Save the Mekong Coalition Boycotts Consultation Process of the Pak Lay Dam
Save the Mekong, a coalition of non-governmental organizations, community-based groups and concerned citizens within the Mekong region, issued a statement on Friday announcing their intention to boycott the Mekong River Commission’s (MRC’s) Prior Consultation for the proposed Pak Lay dam.
— Chiang Rai Times
Boeing says Asia needs 240,000 pilots over next two decades
Boeing forecasts that the Asia Pacific will need the greatest number of pilots, technicians and cabin crew over the next two decades.
— BusinessGhana
The power of finance to slow new coal plants
So far, 2018 has seen seven banks dominant in Southeast Asia either release or update their policies related to coal, the single-biggest source of greenhouse-gas emissions worldwide.
— Asia Times
China-backed trade pact talks at ‘critical stage’– Singapore PM
Talks on a China-backed free-trade pact have reached a ”critical stage,” Singapore’s leader said Wednesday as he urged regional economic ministers to seal the deal by the end of the year.
— Manila Bulletin
Meet the Southeast Asian startups that have just received the DBS Foundation grants
Six Southeast Asian startups have been named in the list of 12 Asian startups that have received grants from the DBS Foundation.
— Yahoo News
SE Asia ‘to suffer malnutrition due to CO2 levels’
Rising levels of carbon di-oxide in the air threaten to sap wheat, rice, and other staple grains of valuable nutrients, raising the spectre of mass malnutrition, researchers warned on Monday.
— The Phnom Penh Post
Residency Schemes in ASEAN – Eligibility Requirements
Obtaining a long-term residency status is a cumbersome process for foreigners in ASEAN. The regulations and procedures vary significantly between the countries, and can sometimes be an expensive affair.
— Asean Briefing
S. Korea to convene top envoys from ASEAN, South Asian nations
South Korea’s foreign ministry said Wednesday it will hold an annual meeting of the heads of diplomatic missions in ASEAN member states, South Asian countries and Pacific islands this week.
— Yonhap News Agency
China-ASEAN new energy forum opens in Yunnan
Representatives of 12 countries and two international organizations participated in the China-ASEAN New Energy Forum that opened Wednesday in Kunming, southwest China’s Yunnan Province.
— Xinhua
Hyundai to ship China made cars to Southeast Asia amid erratic sales recovery
Hyundai Motor Co plans to ship China-made cars to Southeast Asia, its China joint venture and two people familiar with the matter said, as a plunge in Chinese sales has left much of its massive local manufacturing capacity idled.
— Money Control
Cambodia morning news
Compiled by Michael Johansen @mfjohansen47
India Signs Two Agreements To Step Up Cooperation With Cambodia
External Affairs Minister Sushma Swaraj today discussed bilateral, multilateral and key international issues with her Cambodian counterpart Prak Sokhonn, and the two countries signed two agreements to step up cooperation.
— NDTV
Jailed Australian filmmaker Ricketson should be charged with treason: Cambodian prosecutor
Australian filmmaker James Ricketson should be charged with treason for collecting information that could jeopardise Cambodia’s national defence, Phnom Penh municipal court’s deputy prosecutor Seang Sok said on Wednesday (Aug 29) as the trial into his espionage charge came to an end.
— Channel NewsAsia
Cambodia PM Hun Sen Vows to Keep Opposition Chief Kem Sokha Jailed, Despite Recent Leniency
Cambodia’s Prime Minister Hun Sen on Wednesday vowed to keep opposition chief Kem Sokha behind bars despite a recent spate of clemency for members of his now-dissolved Cambodia National Rescue Party (CNRP) and others held on politically motivated charges and convictions.
— Radio Free Asia
See here for more of today’s Cambodia morning news
Indonesia morning news
Compiled by Michael Johansen @mfjohansen47
US guarantees to not sanction Indonesia for purchasing Sukhoi
US Defense Secretary James Norman Mattis has made assurance that Indonesia will not be sanctioned with an embargo for purchasing weapons system equipment from Russia, including Sukhoi Su-35 jet fighters.
—Antara
Indonesia, Australia hope to announce economic partnership on Friday
The leaders of Indonesia and Australia hope to announce on Friday the completion of negotiations on an economic partnership pact aimed at boosting trade between the neighbors, foreign ministry officials said.
— Reuters
Pertamina to reduce imports: New president director
Indonesia`s state-owned oil company PT Pertamina will focus on reducing imports, refinery construction, and implementation of Biosolar B20 program, newly inaugurated President Director Nicke Widyawati said here on Wednesday.
— Antara
See here for more of today’s Indonesia morning news
Lao PDR morning news
Compiled by Stella-maris Ewudolu @stmarisewudolu
China Tower invests in communication infrastructure in Laos
The Chinese state-owned China Tower, together with the Lao government and local firm Click Lao Marketing and Consultancy, signed an agreement in the Lao capital to jointly establish Southeast Asia Tower company.
— Xinhua
Save the Mekong Coalition Boycotts Consultation Process of the Pak Lay Dam
Save the Mekong, a coalition of non-governmental organizations, community-based groups and concerned citizens within the Mekong region, issued a statement on Friday announcing their intention to boycott the Mekong River Commission’s (MRC’s) Prior Consultation for the proposed Pak Lay dam.
— Chiang Rai Times
LXML pays US$5 million Royalty for 2nd Quarter Production
Mr Saman Aneka – Managing Director and Stakeholder Relations Manager, MMG LXML Sepon, handed royalty payment for 2nd quarter 2018 production of US$ 5.33 million to Ms Kaseumsy Phommavongsa, Director General of State Assets Management Department, Ministry of Finance.
— Lao News Agency
See here for more of today’s Lao morning news
Malaysia morning news
Compiled by Sreypov Men @MenSreypov
Malaysia targets 80% rice self-sufficiency by 2022
Malaysia targets to achieve 80% self-sufficiency in rice by 2022, moving up from the current 70%, said Agriculture and Agro-based Industry Minister Salahuddin Ayub.
— FMT
Scrapping China’s two-child policy boosts hope to end bride trafficking
China’s reported plan to scrap its decades-long family planning policy could help prevent impoverished women from other parts of Asia being trafficked into the country to meet demand for brides, campaigners said on Wednesday.
— Reuters
No Chinese belt, road or bedrooms for Malaysia
Perplexed, wounded, indignant or still optimistic. The Chinese developer Country Garden Holdings Co. can put any spin it wants on its Forest City project, a $100 billion Malaysian township whose fate suddenly has been thrown into doubt after Mahathir Mohamad’s pointed refusal to let foreigners buy apartments or live in them long-term.
— Economic Times
See here for more of today’s Malaysia Morning News
Myanmar morning news
Compiled by Joanne Encantador @encantador_jo
Economy increasingly disappointing as govt approaches half-term
The government, halfway through its five-year term, is underperforming on several fronts, including the economy, according to a report from a Brussels-based think-tank.
— Myanmar Times
Olympics next esports target
Esports is debuting as an exhibition sport at the Asian Games and is targeted for full inclusion in four years at the games in Hangzhou, China.
— Myanmar Times
Parami builds mini-grids for Yesagyo community
Privately-owned Parami Energy has inked a tripartite agreement with the agriculture ministry’s Department of Rural Development and the Village Electrification Committee (VEC) to develop a mini-grid system for almost 1,500 households across eight villages in Yesagyo township in Magway Region.
— Myanmar Times
See here for more of today’s Myanmar morning news
Philippines morning news
Compiled by Stella-maris Ewudolu @stmarisewudolu
House panel approves OVP’s P447.68-M budget for 2019
The House of Representatives’ appropriations committee on Wednesday approved the PHP447.68 million budget of the Office of the Vice President (OVP) for 2019.
— Philippine News Agency
PH, China to sign 10 loan deals
The government is eyeing to sign at least 10 loan agreements with China when Chinese President Xi Jinping visits the country in November, according to Benjamin Diokno, secretary of the Department of Budget and Management.
— Malaya
Most popular YouTube video commercial digs deep into Filipinos’ hearts and past
The Sharon Cuneta-Gabby Concepcion love team from the ’80s is back in people’s hearts after an online commercial of them has emerged as the most popular YouTube video advertisement in the Philippines for the first half of 2018.
— InterAksyon (video)
See here for more of today’s Philippines morning news
Singapore morning news
Compiled by Joanne Encantador @encantador_jo
Banking and finance led online hiring growth in June
The banking, financial services, and insurance (BFSI) sector topped the online hiring growth across Singapore sectors through its 12% YoY hiring increase in June, a study by human resources firm Monster found.
— Singapore Business Review
Asean’s ‘little red dot’ about to burst with home-grown AI applications (video)
Has an artificial intelligence (AI) ever given you advice about education, finances, or love? If yes, you might want to thank (or otherwise) the many researchers and developers in Singapore, a tiny red dot on most maps, set to become very large in the high-tech world of AI application development.
— AEC News Today (video)
Singapore debt market deepens with Asian Bond Grant Scheme
THE Singapore corporate debt market continues to grow and deepen, with an extra boost from the Asian Bond Grant Scheme.
— The Business Times
See here for more of today’s Singapore morning news
Thailand morning news
Compiled by John Le Fevre @photo_journ
Somkid talks up economic growth
Favourable geopolitics and drastic reform are the key factors driving Thailand’s prosperity as it aims for well-balanced and sustainable growth over the long term, says Deputy Prime Minister Somkid Jatusripitak.
— Bangkok Post
The Bangkok Declaration and the birth of Asean (video)
As Thailand prepares to take over the Asean Chair for its 52nd year state-owned broadcaster NBT World is digging through the archives to highlight Thailand’s not inconsiderable role in the establishment and direction of Asean.
— AEC News Today (video)
Governor: External buffers render interest rate hike unnecessary
The central bank is under no immediate pressure to raise interest rates in line with emerging-market peers, given the nation’s solid buffers and relatively strong currency, says governor Veerathai Santiprabhob.
— Bangkok Post
See here for more of today’s Thailand morning news
Vietnam morning news
Compiled by Sreypov Men @MenSreypov
Take a sneak peek inside Vietnam’s Cat Linh-Ha Dong elevated railway (video)
Hanoi’s long, long, long overdue ‘skytrain’ looks like it might finally be nearing completion, with engineers running empty “test trains” loaded with monitoring equipment along the line’s 13 kilometre (about eight mile) length since the beginning of August.
— AEC News Today (video)
Vietnam to let traders use yuan along China border
Vietnam plans to officially allow the use of the Chinese yuan for trading goods in its northern border towns, the central bank said on Wednesday.
— Nikkei Asian Review (paywall)
Vietnamese potato supply cannot meet demand
Vietnam has favourable condition to grow potatoes, with supply abundant in many localities. However, domestic potato processing firms are facing supply shortages.
— Fresh Plaza
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.