Asean Morning News
Compiled by Stella-maris Ewudolu   @stmarisewudolu
Watch This Toyota Corolla Crash Test to Improve Your Survival Chances
You have a greater chance of being killed in an early model Toyota Corolla than a later model version.
— AEC News Today
What makes smart cities tick?
Rapid urbanisation is fuelling growth in Southeast Asia. The regionÃs urban areas are currently home to one third of its population and contributes to more than two thirds of its collective gross domestic product (GDP).
— The Asean Post
ASEAN Disaster Law Mapping launched in Jakarta
The Association of South East Asian Nations (ASEAN) Committee on Disaster Management (ACDM), and the International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies (IFRC) officially launched a new report on_ ìASEAN Disaster Law Mapping ñ Implementing AADMER: A Regional Stock-takeî_ on 2 May 2018 in Jakarta, Indonesia.
— ReliefWeb
Southeast Asian ride hailing firm Grab aims to become ‘superapp’ platform
Southeast AsiaÃs dominant ride-hailing company Grab has launched an open-platform strategy, allowing third party services including content providers to operate within its app as it aims to become an ‘everyday superapp’.
— South China Morning Post
Southeast AsiaÃs billet market firm on sparse trading
Import prices for steel billet in Southeast Asia were unchanged over the past week amid subdued demand, while those for slab in the wider region edged up ahead of an impending supply drop.
— Metal Bulletin
Hanoi to host Southeast AsiaÃs biggest sports event in 2021
The Vietnamese capital city beat Ho Chi Minh City to host the 31st edition of the SEA Games, a 17-day event that expected to attract 16,000 participants.
— VnExpress International
Singapore to help ASEAN better tackle climate change with new programme
There will be a slew of Singapore-led programmes from this year until 2020 as part of efforts to help ASEAN countries tackle climate change.
— Channel NewsAsia
Cambodia Morning News
Compiled by Sreypov Men   @MenSreypov
National Bank head calls on cops to bust 20 illicit lenders
The governor of Cambodia’s central bank has sent a letter to the National Police seeking legal action against more than 20 firms that are allegedly offering illegal loans.
— The Phnom Penh Post
Chinese State-Linked Hackers in Large Scale Operation to Monitor Cambodia’s Upcoming Elections, Report Says
The emails were believable. An interview request for a member of the opposition. An article sent to a government official. A conference invitation for a journalist. But each one a hacking attempt designed to lure the recipient.
— Time
NEC to Present Indelible Ink for Elections, July 17
The National Election Committee (NEC) determined 17 July 2018 to present the indelible ink for the 6th National Assembly members election to representatives of political parties and national and international organizations, according to NEC spokesman Hang Puthea on Tuesday.
— Fresh News
See here for more of today’s Cambodia Morning News
Indonesia Morning News
Compiled by Joanne Encantador  @encantador_jo
Indonesia’s SMI raises 1.5 trillion rupiah in bonds to fund green projects
Indonesia’s Sarana Multi Infrastruktur (SMI), a state-owned infrastructure financing firm, said on Tuesday it had issued a combined 1.5 trillion rupiah ($104.6 million) via green bonds and sukuk, tapping
— Energy World
Sri Mulyani: State Income to be Rp8 Tn Higher than Target
Finance Minister Sri Mulyani predicts that the state income will have an excess of Rp8 trillion from the initial 2018 state budget (APBN), which is a combination of non-tax (PNBP) and tax income.
— Tempo.co
What to know about risks of cave exploring in Indonesia
With an ongoing rescue mission to help a group of Thai boys and their soccer coach escape a cave in Chiang Rai, Thailand, capturing the world’s attention, it is worth noting that there are similarities between caves in Thailand and Indonesia.
— The Jakarta Post
See here for more of today’s Indonesia Morning News
Lao PDR Morning News
Compiled by Joanne Encantador  @encantador_jo
U.S. Puts Visa Restrictions on Burmar, Laos
The U.S. is placing visa restrictions on Myanmar (also known as Burma) and Laos for failing to accept their nationals when the U.S. seeks to deport them.
— The Chosunilbo World
Luxembourg backs hospital in Borikhamxay
Patients will have more confidence in treatments after the opening of a new modern hospital yesterday in Borikhamxay province as part of an overhaul to raise health services to international standards in central and southern provinces in Laos.
— Vientiane Times
Thai-Lao food truck offers exceptional noodles and more
Our managing editors at Smile Politely set up shop this past weekend at Urbana’s always fun Market at the Square. I brought the kids for a high five and to present a couple of bad jokes to them, of course
— Smile Politely
See here for more of today’s Lao Morning News
Malaysia Morning News
Compiled by Sreypov Men   @MenSreypov
Malaysia’s plan to produce an Asean car potentially revived
Proton parent DRB-HICOM Bhd said it was studying the proposed collaboration between Malaysia and Indonesia to produce an Asean car.
— New Straits Times
Malaysia’s indecision over HSR will hit its taxpayers hardest
Malaysia’s indecision over the Kuala Lumpur-Singapore High Speed Rail (HSR) will hurt its taxpayers in the long run, said the Straits Times (ST) in an op-ed piece today.
— The Edge Markets
Singapore-Malaysia relations: Both countries must fully respect sanctity of international agreements, says Dr Balakrishnan
Speaking in Parliament on the issue, Minister for Foreign Affairs Vivian Balakrishnan also added that Singapore will fully honour the terms of the 1962 Water Agreement and expects Malaysia to do the same.
— Channel NewsAsia
See here for more of today’s Malaysia Morning News
Myanmar Morning News
Compiled by Joanne Encantador  @encantador_jo
Myanmar Urged to Review Hydropower Dam Projects Seen Damaging to Rural Communities
The Myanmar government must undertake reforms in its hydropower sector to prevent dam projects from negatively impacting rural ethnic minority communities in southeastern Kayin state, where electrification rates are lowest in the nation, according to a report issued by two ethnic Karen NGOs.
— Radio Free Asia
Outrage as Reuters reporters charged in Burma
COMMITMENT to rule of law and democratic freedom of speech under the government of Aung San Suu Kyi in Burma (Myanmar) has been thrown into serious doubt after two journalists from the Reuters news agency were charged under the country’s colonial-era Official Secrets Act.
— Asian Correspondent
Myanmar’s efforts to raise transparency within its extractive industries are slowly bearing fruit
Myanmar’s efforts to raise transparency within its extractive industries are slowly bearing fruit. While State-owned enterprises (SOEs) have yet to meet international standards of governance, transparency is nevertheless improving, according to two reports issued by the Extractive Industries Transparency Initiative (EITI) between 2014-2016.
— Myanmar Times
See here for more of today’s Myanmar Morning News
Philippines Morning News
Compiled by Stella-maris Ewudolu   @stmarisewudolu
Cabinet approves P3.757-T budget for 2019
Malacanang on Tuesday announced that the Cabinet of President Rodrigo Duterte approved the proposed PHP3.757-trillion budget for year 2019.
— Philippine News Agency
4-mo direct investments surge 24%
Foreign direct investments in January to April registered net inflows of $3.2 billion, up 24.3 percent from the level in comparable period in 2017, the Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas said.
— Philippine Daily Inquirer
Local MSMEs eye $26-million export sales in 15th China-Asean expo
A Philippine delegation composed of around 100 micro, small and medium enterprises (MSMEs), led by the Department of Trade and Industry-Center for International Trade Expositions and Missions (DTI-Citem), will seek to penetrate the Chinese and Southeast Asian markets, and secure at least $26 million in export sales when they join in the 15th China-Asean Expo (CAExpo) from September 12 to 15, at the Nanning International Convention and Exhibition Center in Guangxi, China.
— Business Mirror
See here for more of today’s Philippines Morning News
Singapore Morning News
Compiled by John Le Fevre   @photo_journ
Temasek returned 12% in FY18, but warns of near-term risks
TEMASEK Holdings warned of increased near-term downside risks even as buoyant stock markets lifted its portfolio to a 12.19 per cent one-year return for the financial year ended March 31, 2018.
— Business Times
Singapore Investment Giant Turns Wary, Citing Global Risks
Temasek Holdings Pte., the Singaporean state firm that poured $95 billion into everything from startups to asset managers in the past five fiscal years, is turning more cautious as threats to the global economic expansion mount.
— Bloomberg
Temasek’s net portfolio value hits record high of S$308 billion
Despite posting a record portfolio value for the second straight year, Temasek Holdings struck a cautious note at its annual review by saying that it is planning to temper its investment pace.
— Channel News Asia
See here for more of today’s Singapore Morning News
Thailand Morning News
Compiled by John Le Fevre   @photo_journ
Hooyah! All footballers and coach out of cave
All 12 young footballers and their assistant coach who were trapped inside Tham Luang cave in Chiang Rai for two weeks have been evacuated from the cave on day 3 of the rescue operation.
— The Nation
Thai cave rescue: All 12 boys and football coach free after three-day diving mission
A daring rescue mission in the treacherous confines of a flooded cave in northern Thailand has saved all 12 boys and their soccer coach who were trapped deep within the labyrinth, ending a gruelling 18-day ordeal that claimed the life of an experienced diver and riveted people around the world.
— ABC
Hat Yai Airport ready for Hajj pilgrimage
Hat Yai Airport in Songkla province has prepared to facilitate Thai-Muslims who will be departing on Hajj pilgrimages starting this July 16.
— News Today (video)
See here for more of today’s Thailand Morning News
Vietnam Morning News
Compiled by Sreypov Men   @MenSreypov
Vietnam electronic retailer asked to pay $6.7 million in back taxes and fines
The HCMC Tax Department wants the Nguyen Kim Company to pay VND147 billion ($6.7 million) in back taxes and fines for tax evasion.
— VnExpress
Vietnam telecom revenue exceeds US$7.8 billion in 6 months
As of July, there were some 124 million phone subscribers in Vietnam, informed the Ministry of Information and Communications (MIC).
— The Hanoi Times
Vietnam arrests former chairman of Mobifone and ministry official
Police in Vietnam on Tuesday arrested a former chairman of one of the country’s largest mobile carriers and a senior official of the Ministry of Information and Communications on allegations of economic mismanagement, as the communist-led government widens a crackdown on corruption.
— Channel NewsAsia
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 July 11 added by Digital Editor on
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