Asean morning news
Compiled by Stella-maris Ewudolu @stmarisewudolu
Hundreds missing in Laos after collapse of dam under construction
Hundreds of people in southern Laos are missing and many are feared dead a day after a hydropower dam under construction broke, killing several as it swept away homes in flash flooding, state media reported on Tuesday.
— Reuters
Singaporeans, Thais and Malaysians are South-east Asia’s most well-travelled: Visa study
Singapore, Thailand and Malaysia are the South-east Asian markets most hit by wanderlust, a study by digital payments provider Visa has found.
— The Business Times
Most Singapore SMEs pick Asean as top destination to grow: SBF survey
More than three-quarters of small and medium-sized enterprises in Singapore plan to expand in the South-east Asian region, according to a report released in July.
— The Business Times
ASEAN Digital 5.0 Summit, Pitch and Ladies in FinTech Awards
ASEAN Digital 5.0 (Access to Sandbox Ecosystem in Asian Nations) Digitization Five Times Faster will hold its first worldwide summit at Siam Niramit Thailand Cultural Centre, Bangkok, Thailand on 25th September 2018, 9 am to 4:30 pm.
— Coinspeaker
Southeast Asia urged to reject Cambodia’s ‘sham election’
The Association of Southeast Asian Nations should “delegitimize” the near-certain victory of Cambodian Prime Minister Hun Sen in an election Sunday that may “set the tone” for authoritarianism in the region, a leading human rights politician said Tuesday.
— Nikkei Asian Review (paywall)
Swelling Deficits Are Southeast Asia’s Next Test for Stability
First, there were trade jitters. Then, currency worries. Now, Southeast Asian governments are staring down swelling budget deficits in the latest test for regional stability.
— Bloomberg
Asean as an interlocutor for peace on Korean peninsula?
Following the Singapore Summit, the world starts to pay attention to the positive role of Southeast Asian region as a positive platform for global diplomacy, contributing to the ongoing efforts to achieve peace and stability of the Korean peninsula.
— Khmer Times
Myanmar to host Asean education meet in Oct
Myanmar which will host the next Asean Education Ministers Meeting (ASED) in October seeks to boost its education sector by cooperating with India, China and the US among others.
— The Weekend Leader
New report shows risk of gender-based violence rises after disasters
More must be done to protect women, men and children from sexual and gender-based violence after disasters, say the authors of a new report written by the International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies (IFRC).
— IFRC
Southeast Asia’s Grab hit by backlash over changes to customer loyal program
Life without Uber should be simple for Grab, but a battle with regulators in Singapore could see the company’s acquisition of Uber’s Southeast Asia business unwound while some consumers have voiced concern around a lack of competition.
— TechCrunch
Demand for HR roles strongest in The Philippines
Across Southeast Asia, The Philippines has shown the strongest growth in online hiring for HR and Admin professionals for the months of April and May 2018.
— HRM Asia
Tapping into digital consumers for greater business opportunities
Southeast Asia continues to be urbanising at a rapid pace. Alongside this phenomenal growth, a younger and increasingly wealthier urban consumer base with bigger spending power has been steadily growing.
— The Asean Post
Democracy and Geopolitics in Southeast Asia
The Diplomat‘s Ankit Panda (@nktpnd) and Prashanth Parameswaran (@TheAsianist) take stock of electoral developments in Indonesia, the upcoming elections in Cambodia, and Thailand’s prospects for democracy.
— The Diplomat
Cambodia morning news
Compiled by Sreypov Men @MenSreypov
Cambodia says 52 nations to send monitors for its election
A Cambodian government official on Thursday said as many as 220 observers from 52 countries would monitor Sunday’s general elections, widely expected to deliver a landslide victory for Prime Minister Hun Sen after the main opposition was dissolved.
— Reuters
Hidden opposition networks bide time waiting to end ‘nightmare’ in Cambodia
Even on a crackling line from Africa to Asia, Mu Sochua sounds determined.
— Channel NewsAsia
Government fires back at the United Nations’ Special Rapporteur to Cambodia
The Cambodian Ministry of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation has expressed dismay over the United Nations’ Special Rapporteur to Cambodia Rhona Smith’s comments on the forthcoming general elections.
— The Phnom Penh Post
See here for more of today’s Cambodia morning news
Indonesia morning news
Compiled by Joanne Encantador @encantador_jo
High waves cause Rp 2 billion in losses in Yogyakarta
High waves occurring this month in Yogyakarta have so far caused over Rp 2 billion (US$137,807) in financial losses in the province, a team of experts have said.
— The Jakarta Post
Indonesia c.bank to launch new overnight benchmark next week
Indonesia’s central bank will launch a new benchmark for overnight interbank money market next week, called “Indonia”, which will eventually replace the existing Jakarta Interbank Offered Rate (JIBOR), a senior bank said on Tuesday.
— Reuters
Government told to cancel $200m loan from World Bank
The Agrarian Reform Consortium (KPA) has called on the government to cancel US$200 million loan from World Bank because the activities that will be funded by loan is “nothing to do with agrarian reform”.
— The Jakarta Post
See here for more of today’s Indonesia morning news
Lao PDR morning news
Compiled by Joanne Encantador @encantador_jo
Hundreds missing in Laos after collapse of dam under construction
Hundreds of people in southern Laos are missing and many are feared dead a day after a hydropower dam under construction broke, killing several as it swept away homes in flash flooding, state media reported on Tuesday.
— Reuters
Tropical Cyclone Son-Tinh makes landfall again
It is possible the rain from tropical storm then depression Son-Tinh contributed to the collapse of a hydroelectric dam in Attapeu province, Laos.
— Aljazeera
Dam collapse dents Laos’ “battery of Asia” ambitions
The collapse of a hydropower dam under construction by a South Korean company in southeastern Laos in the evening of July 23 is a big setback for the secretive country’s vision to become the main supplier of electricity for Southeast Asia through the construction and operation of a series of hydropower facilities along the country’s many rivers.
— Investine
See here for more of today’s Lao morning news
Malaysia morning news
Compiled by Sreypov Men @MenSreypov
Malaysia ranked 5th most complex country in corporate compliance regulation
Malaysia has one of the most complex corporate compliance regulations among 84 jurisdictions in the world, according to TMF Group’s Compliance Complexity Index.
— The Sun Daily
Government bond issuances expected to be between RM100bil and RM105bil this year: MARC
Gross issuance of Malaysian Government Securities and Government Investment Issues (MGS/GII) is expected to be in the range of RM100 billion to RM105 billion this year, according to Malaysian Rating Corp Bhd (MARC).
— New Straits Times
MAHB: We’ll continue to support low-cost travel growth
Malaysia Airports Holdings Bhd (MAHB) said it has been playing a crucial role along low-cost carrier AirAsia Group in supporting and boosting the growth of low-cost travel in Malaysia and will continue to do so.
— The Sun Daily
See here for more of today’s Malaysia Morning News
Myanmar morning news
Compiled by Joanne Encantador @encantador_jo
Thai ambitions target Myanmar
Myanmar’s new foreign direct investment act is expected to attract more Thai investment in the neighbouring country, says the head of the Thai Business Association of Myanmar.
— Bangkok Post
Myanmar’s economic downturn hits aviation sector
Three airlines in Myanmar suspended operations in the recent past, citing economic losses and a shortage of aircraft.
–Investine
Three townships in Karen State hit hardest by flood
Myawaddy, Hlaing-bwe, and Hpa-an townships, in Karen (Kayin) State, have been affected by severe flooding after heavy rain triggered a sudden rise in the river level of the Than-lwin (Salween) River and the Thaung-yin (Moei) River this week, the State Department of Disaster Management’s director U Lin Htut said.
— BNI
Yangon authorities ill-equipped to prevent puddle electrocutions: MP
Four days after a 13-year-old boy was killed by a downed power line submerged in a deep, murky puddle in his neighborhood, several branches of the Yangon government convened to formulate a plan to address the city’s electrocution problem, which claims dozens of lives every rainy season.
— Coconuts Yangon
See here for more of today’s Myanmar morning news
Philippines morning news
Compiled by Stella-maris Ewudolu @stmarisewudolu
Duterte seeks laws to curb Philippine inflation, spread wealth
Philippine President Rodrigo Duterte has asked lawmakers to pass legislation that will help restrain inflation and spread wealth and power beyond the capital region.
— Bangkok Post
CEZA to open 20,000 fintech jobs
The Cagayan Economic Zone Authority (CEZA) said about 20,000 jobs in financial technology (fintech) will open up as soon as it awards the initial 25 principal licenses to be made available to qualified fintech companies.
— Philippine News Agency
Record 207 environmental activists killed last year
More than 200 environmental activists were murdered last year as government-sponsored killings linked to lucrative projects by vast agriculture multinationals soared, a global rights watchdog warned on Tuesday.
— ABS-CBN News
See here for more of today’s Philippines morning news
Singapore morning news
Compiled by John Le Fevre @photo_journ
Property marketplace players threatened as DBS comes after their customers
Small startups aiming to get in on the action on Singapore’s profitable e-commerce scene may need to rush as heavyweight banks are increasingly muscling their way into the scene, effectively sealing their dominance across verticals.
— Singapore Business Review
Seniors to pick up fun skills with courses to create ringtones, code apps, make movies
Seniors keen on learning how to create ringtones of their favourite songs, run a blog, or code an app can now sign up for a series of new courses run by the Infocomm Media Development Authority (IMDA) in collaboration with tech giant Apple and the National Library Board.
— TodayOnline
Chart of the Day: NODX reduced to just 40% of Singapore’s GDP in 2018
This chart from Morgan Stanley shows the declining trend in the percentage of non-oil domestic exports (NODX) to Singapore’s gross domestic product (GDP). It crashed to 40% in 2018 from its peak contribution of more than 70% in 2006.
— Singapore Business Review
See here for more of today’s Singapore morning news
Thailand morning news
Compiled by John Le Fevre @photo_journ
3 major dams are now over 80 percent full
According to the Irrigation Department, the Srinakarin dam in Kanchanaburi province is now 83 percent full with 14,790 million cubic metres of water; the Kaeng Krachan dam in Petchaburi province is 86 percent full with 612 million cubic metres of water; and the Pran Buri dam in Prachuab Khiri Khan is 85 percent full with 331 million cubic metres of water.
— Thai PBS
Cabinet mulls B59bn of megaprojects
The cabinet on Tuesday acknowledged a raft of proposed infrastructure development projects worth 59 billion baht for the lower Northeast as the government concluded its two-day cabinet trip to Ubon Ratchathani and Amnat Charoen provinces in the region.
— Bangkok Post
Prawit rushed to hospital from Cabinet meeting
Deputy Prime Minister Prawit Wongsuwon was urgently taken to hospital after complaining of a serious stomach-ache while attending the mobile Cabinet meeting in Ubon Ratchathani province this afternoon.
— Thai PBS
See here for more of today’s Thailand morning news
Vietnam morning news
Compiled by Sreypov Men @MenSreypov
Vietnam securities watchdog urges trading groups to stay clear of cryptocurrencies
Prime Minister Nguyen Xuan Phuc in early April urged greater vigilance against cryptocurrency transaction and investment, while using cryptocurrencies as means of payment is prohibited in Vietnam.
— The Hanoi Times
Vietnam Seeks Ways to Snuff Out Cigarette Smoking
On a recent weekday afternoon in Ho Chi Minh City, the passengers bouncing along on one of the city’s green buses breathed in mouthfuls of carbon monoxide, hydrogen cyanide and other chemicals that add to Vietnam’s notorious pollution.
— VOA
Vietnam flood death toll rises to 27, more rain forecast
The death toll from floods and landslides triggered by tropical storm Son Tinh rose to 27 on Tuesday, and seven people are still missing, the government’s Disaster Management Authority said.
— Reuters
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.
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