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Asean morning news

Compiled by Stella-maris Ewudolu @stmarisewudolu

The US-China trade war could wipe 0.2%-0.3% of Asean’s GDP
The ongoing trade war between US and China, two of the largest economies in the world, could wipe out about 0.2% to 0.3% of the Asean region’s gross domestic product (GDP), says ASEAN+3 Macroeconomic Research Office Ltd (AMRO) chief economist Dr Khor Hoe Ee.
— The Edge Markets

Blockchain: Gaining ground by the day
20 years ago, no one could have accurately predicted the huge impact that inventions like the smartphone and the World Wide Web would have on humankind.
— The Asean Post

PRICEZA INSIGHT: Top 5 Shopping Categories in Southeast Asia in the first 6 Months of 2018
Priceza Indonesia, as one of the pioneers in shopping search engine and price comparison platform in Indonesia, revealed interesting facts about the 5 most popular shopping categories in six Southeast Asian countries during the first 6 months of 2018.
— Asia One

China remains ASEAN’s largest trade partner for ninth year
China has remained the largest trade partner of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations for the ninth year in a row, with $514.82 billion of trade volume last year, 6.6 times as much as that in 2003, when the two sides established strategic partnership.
— Ecns

Durian as an indicator of economic change in Asia
It is peak durian season in Thailand. However, domestic durian consumption in Thailand recently decreased while large volumes of durian are exported.
— Fresh Plaza

Boeing predicts Strong Growth in Asia’s Aviation Market
The airplane demand and service market will be highest in Asia Pacific region by 2037, with Asia Pacific region countries estimated to require 16,930 more airplanes.
— The Nation

UK is extensively involved in Southeast Asia: Speech by Scott Wightman
Southeast Asia is among the most dynamic regions of the world. In 2016, taken together, the economies of ASEAN contributed more to global growth than anywhere else.
— GOV.UK

Grab crunches data to unclog ASEAN’s roads
Grab, Southeast Asia’s largest ride-hailing app operator, on Wednesday started a research laboratory for artificial intelligence here, aiming to better understand traffic patterns and offer faster ways to bring passengers to their destinations.
— Nikkei Asian Review (paywall)

Grab bemoans lengthy legal gridlock
Thailand is the only Southeast Asian country yet to legalise ride-hailing applications, hindering economic gains and perpetuating traffic congestion, says Grab, Southeast Asia’s leading on-demand transport…
— Bangkok Post

Yunnan once again pivot of Southeast Asia
In an essay published in 1943 as World War II was raging on, Owen Lattimore, a renowned American scholar of East Asia, wrote: “Yunnan is the pivot on which events in Southeast Asia are likely to turn after the war.”
— Asia Times

Second ASEAN-India workshop on blue economy held
The second ASEAN-India Workshop on Blue Economy took place in New Delhi on July 18, attracting over 60 delegates, including government officials, scholars, and researchers from ASEAN and India.
— Vietnam Plus

Cambodia morning news

Compiled by Sreypov Men @MenSreypov

Cambodia’s new highway project
A new highway project is planned for Cambodia that will improve transport connections to and from its capital, Phnom Penh and the coastal area, Preah Sihanouk.
— World Highways

Cashew season ends with slight increase in yields
The Sambo Prei Kuk Cashew Nut Association said 8,000 tonnes of cashews were harvested this season, with the price hovering between $1.5 to $2 per kilogram for fresh cashew nuts, and $15 per kilo for processed cashews.
— Khmer Times

Clothes exports kick into high gear
Cambodia’s garment and footwear exports recorded double-digit growth to some $4 billion in the first half of this year compared to the same period last year, a National Bank of Cambodia (NBC) report has said.
— The Phnom Penh Post

See here for more of today’s Cambodia morning news

Indonesia morning news

Compiled by Joanne Encantador @encantador_jo

Kediri to develop US$347 million airport
The Committee for the Acceleration of Priority Infrastructure Delivery (KPPIP) has confirmed that the government will include an airport project in Kediri, East Java, on its list of national strategic projects.
— The Jakarta Post

BNI posts Rp7.4 trillion in net profit
State lender, Bank Negara Indonesia (BNI), saw its first-semester net profit increasing by 16 percent to Rp7.44 trillion year on year (yoy), fueled by a 13.3 percent rise in net interest income (NII).
— Antara News

Indonesia revises requirements on horti import permits
The Indonesian Ministry of Trade (MOT) recently issued revised requirements to obtain import permits for horticultural products.
— Fresh Plaza

See here for more of today’s Indonesia morning news

Lao PDR morning news

Compiled by Joanne Encantador @encantador_jo

Capital authorities need more funds to improve city roads
Many road construction projects in the capital have been delayed or temporarily stopped work as contractors have run out of money and the government cannot provide adequate funds for them.
— Vientiane Times

Vietnamese parliament treasures partnership with Lao counterpart
The Vietnamese National Assembly always treasures the relationship with its Lao counterpart and supports the Lao NA at international forums, stated NA Vice Chairwoman Tong Thi Phong during her talks with visiting Lao NA Vice Chairman Sengnouane Xayalat in Hanoi on July 17.
— Vietnam Friendship

SCG Muangthong To Play Friendly Match Against Lao National Team
SCG Muang Thong United, a leading football club in Thailand will take on Lao National Team for a friendly match at the National Sport Stadium (KM 16) in Vientiane Capital on Aug 31.
— Lao News Agency

See here for more of today’s Lao morning news

Malaysia Morning News

Compiled by Sreypov Men @MenSreypov

Malaysia’s anti-graft agency seizes documents related to East Coast Railway Link, 2 pipeline projects
The Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission (MACC) has seized various documents related to three mega projects – the Multi Product Pipeline (MPP), Trans-Sabah Gas Pipeline (TGSP) and the East Coast Rail Line (ECRL).
— The Straits Times

Higher electricity charges could be passed to consumers, retailers say
The additional electricity charges for businesses from this month onwards will increase costs which companies may be forced to pass on to consumers, retailers have said.
— Malay Mail

SST to apply only on selected products and services
The outcome of the sales and services tax (SST) has been projected by analysts to be mixed, with different products and services to be affected differently.
— The Borneo Post

See here for more of today’s Malaysia Morning News

Myanmar morning news

Compiled by Joanne Encantador @encantador_jo

Cabinet approves joint agreement on repatriation of Myanmar refugees
The Cabinet has endorsed an agreement between Thailand and Myanmar on their cooperation to repatriate Myanmar refugees, with a budget to be allocated in support of their journey home.
— News Today (video)

Myanmar Reuters reporter says he was hooded, deprived of sleep
Two Reuters journalists in Myanmar were hooded and deprived of sleep after they were arrested while investigating a massacre of Rohingya Muslims, one of them told a court on Tuesday in startling testimony.
— Mizzima

Govt resumes control of Nan Myaing Hotel
The Ministry of Hotels and Tourism o July 14 took over the management of state-owned Nan Myaing Hotel on Pyin Oo Lwin, Mandalay from The National Trading Co after the latter failed to pay rent to government for the lease of the hotel since 2015.
— Myanmar Times

See here for more of today’s Myanmar morning news

Philippines morning news

Compiled by Stella-maris Ewudolu @stmarisewudolu

Excise tax collections hit P152.7B in first half
Excise tax collections accelerated in the first six months of the year following the implementation of a tax reform law, Finance department data showed, with the bulk coming from so-called “sin” products.
— The Manila Times

Credit Watcher Sees “Overheating Risk” For Philippine Economy
Despite sticking to its investment grade and stable outlook on the Philippines, US-based rating agency Fitch said the country’s economy was in danger of running too hot, evident from a recent rise in inflation, rapid credit growth and a widening trade deficit.
— Investvine

Philippines could breach US sanctions with Russian arms deal: report
The Philippines could find itself running afoul of U.S. sanctions if it goes through with an arms purchase from a sanctioned Russian firm.
— The Hill

See here for more of today’s Philippines morning news

Singapore morning news

Compiled by John Le Fevre @photo_journ

Malaysia hires Singapore law firm to recover seized 1MDB assets here
Singapore law firm Tan Rajah & Cheah has been appointed to recover assets seized by the Singapore authorities following investigations into the 1Malaysia Development Berhad (1MDB) scandal.
— Straits Times

MAS strengthens vigilance against money laundering and terrorism financing
The Monetary Authority of Singapore will beef up its efforts to help raise vigilance in anti-money laundering and countering the financing of terrorism (CFC), MAS assistant managing director of banking and insurance group Ho Hern Shin said.
— Singapore Business Review

Delhi looks to Singapore for inspiration to tackle water crisis
India’s capital city will emulate the “Singapore model” of water treatment in its bid to augment supplies by 50 per cent in the next five years.
— Straits Times

See here for more of today’s Singapore morning news

Thailand morning news

Compiled by John Le Fevre @photo_journ

It was a miracle, say Mu Pa boys
THE RESCUED Mu Pa boys and their assistant coach yesterday promised to live their lives with caution and care having learnt a lesson in being trapped in a Chiang Rai cave for more than two weeks.
— The Nation

KBank sees slide to B34 against dollar
Views on the US dollar’s prospects for the rest of the year are mixed, with Kasikornbank (KBank) forecasting that the baht will hit a one-and-a-half-year low of 34 to the greenback this quarter amid llarge-scale capital inflows.
— Bangkok Post

Foreign selling of Thai shares hits record high, more expected
Foreign investors have net sold Thai shares worth a record 197 billion baht ($5.93 billion) so far this year, bourse data showed, sending the baht to a more than nine-month low against the dollar.
— Reuters

See here for more of today’s Thailand morning news

Vietnam morning news

Compiled by Sreypov Men @MenSreypov

Vinacomin aims to sell 39m tonnes of coal in 2018
The Viet Nam National Coal and Mineral Industries Group (Vinacomin) aims to sell 38.5-39 tonnes of coal, including 34.2 million tonnes of clean coal, by the year-end, up 1.32 million tonnes from last year.
— Bizhub

Vietnam Airlines aims to become five-star airline in 2020
Vietnam Airlines has reached five-star standards for 30 percent of the 700 criteria from the international air transport rating organisation Skytrax, a step forward in its quest to become a five-star airline in 2020.
— VietnamPlus

Vietnam imports 60 percent of potatoes for processing
Vietnam’s factories need some 180,000 tons of potatoes for processing a year, but domestic production currently meets only 40 percent of that demand, says the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development.
— 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.

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