Asean morning news
Compiled by Stella-maris Ewudolu @stmarisewudolu
Thailand ramps up relief efforts to devastated Lao communities (HD video)
The Thailand government has rushed rescue teams and medical personnel to devastated communities downstream of an under-construction dam in Lao PDR that reportedly partially collapsed on Monday obliterating communities, leaving hundreds of people missing and displacing more than 6,600.
— AEC News Today (video)
Artificial intelligence adoption in the region rising — IDC study
ADOPTION of artificial intelligence (AI) in Southeast Asia is on the rise, according to a survey conducted by leading IT market research and advisory firm IDC.
— BusinessWorld Online
Household spending could double across six Asean countries by 2030: DBS
The combined consumer spend of Indonesia, Thailand, the Philippines, Vietnam, Malaysia and Singapore could nearly double between 2017 and 2030, according to DBS analysts in a new report.
— The Business Times
Fear factor: China steel exporters delay shipments, giving space to rivals
Tight checks by Chinese customs officials to halt the smuggling of scrap steel to Southeast Asia have forced some exporters to cancel or delay shipments, benefiting rivals like Russia that are prowling for market share amid a raging Sino-U.S. trade war.
— Channel NewsAsia
Internal displacement in Asia due to natural disasters
China and the Philippines are among the worst affected countries in the world due to the natural disasters.
— The Nation
How Southeast Asia’s EdTech Startups Could Reinvent Education
The cliché is true: education is highly valued in fast-growing Asian countries.
— Forbes
Losing our water to tourism
Tioman Island on the east coast of Malaysia first appeared on the world’s radar after its beaches were depicted in the 1958 movie South Pacific as ‘Bali Hai’.
— The Asean Post
ASEAN vehicle sales rise 4.5% in H1
New vehicle sales in South-east Asia’s six largest markets picked up momentum in the second quarter of 2018, with sales rising by 7.5% to 846,865 units from 787,773 units in the same period of 2017, according to data collected by AsiaMotorBusiness.com from the mainstream local trade associations.
— Just-Auto
WHY WE NEED A NEW STRATEGY TO TACKLE INTERNATIONAL TERRORISM
Cross-border terrorism shows no signs of abating, and the changing nature of the threat calls for new approaches.
— Eyewitness News
Understanding And Addressing Inequality – Analysis
Inequality, or the widening ratio between the ‘haves’ and the ‘have-nots’, is fast becoming an issue with dire political and moral considerations.
— Eurasia Review
RoK to set up special committee on relations with ASEAN
The Republic of Korea (RoK) will soon establish a new specialised committee on improving the country’s economic and diplomatic relations with India and 10 member countries of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN), the Presidential Office said on July 25.
— Vietnam Plus
It’s now easier than ever to explore Southeast Asia by motorcycle
An ever-popular choice for travellers wishing to explore a country is to hit the open road on a motorcycle or scooter.
— Lonely Planet
Movements to perform in Singapore, Indonesia, Philippines on Southeast Asia tour
The post-hardcore/emo band Movements have announced a Southeast Asia tour, which includes stops in Singapore, Jakarta, the Philippines and Malaysia.
— Bandwagon
Cambodia morning news
Compiled by Sreypov Men @MenSreypov
Cambodia Readies For July 29 General Elections – 70,000 Police Deployed
Obviously not expecting a friction-free election on Cambodia’s polling day on Sunday, July 29, the government started to deploy an army of security forces and police across the country.
— Investvine
Parties reveal costs of election campaigns
AS voting day on July 29 inches closer, political parties have begun revealing their election budgets. While most parties claim the bulk of their funding came from donations, a leader from election watchdog Nicfec said greater transparency was required.
— The Phnom Penh Post
Business as usual for retail sales ahead of election
It is business as usual for vendors in Takhmao city’s Prek Ho Market, who are busy selling their products to walk-in customers, and ignore the loudspeakers from political parties campaigning for the July 29 election.
— Khmer Times
See here for more of today’s Cambodia morning news
Indonesia morning news
Compiled by Joanne Encantador @encantador_jo
China invests US$2.54 billion in steel plant in Central Java
China-based steel company Hebel Bishi Steel Group has invested US$2.54 billion in Central Java Province, Indonesia, to build a steel plant to have a production capacity of three million tons.
— Antara News
‘Black River’ nylon net costs Rp 580 million
The Jakarta administration has spent Rp 580 million (US$40,002) on a giant black nylon net to cover Sentiong River, which has been nicknamed Kali Item (Black River), in Kemayoran, North Jakarta.
— The Jakarta Post
Jakarta Provincial Govt Disburses Budget of IDR600 Mln to Repair Kali Item
The Provincial Government of Jakarta is repairing Kali Item (Black River), Central Jakarta.
— Netral News
See here for more of today’s Indonesia morning news
Lao PDR morning news
Compiled by Joanne Encantador @encantador_jo
Laos gets tough on dams
Lao Energy and Mine Minister Khammany Inthirath yesterday announced new regulations to ensure safety of all hydropower dams in the country, as well as proper water management to reduce risks from floods damaging people’s lives and properties from water discharge, especially during storms in the monsoon season.
— The Nation
PM Prayut conveys condolences to flood victims in Laos
The Prime Minister, Gen. Prayut Chan-o-cha, expressed his condolences to the Lao government and its people, following the devastating flooding in Attapeu and Champasak provinces.
— NNT
South Korea firm says Laos dam damage found day before collapse
The South Korean partner in a Laos hydropower dam said Wednesday it discovered the upper part of the structure had washed away 24 hours before it collapsed, engulfing villages and leaving hundreds missing.
— Channel News Asia
See here for more of today’s Lao morning news
Malaysia morning news
Compiled by Sreypov Men @MenSreypov
Malaysia wants a better economic deal with China
Malaysian Prime Minister Mahathir Mohamad is pushing back against China’s dominance in its economy, stalling billions of dollars of contracts as he tries to renegotiate them.
— The Asean Post
Nurul Izzah: Anwar will come back to Malaysia once he gets clean bill of health
Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim has successfully undergone surgery in Turkey for his right shoulder and will return to Malaysia as soon as he can, said Nurul Izzah Anwar.
— The Star Online
Malaysia seeks to complete US$10b project rocked by scandal
WITH its reflective blue glass facade and 12-storey clear glass crown, the Exchange 106 tower in Kuala Lumpur is meant to make a commanding statement about this fast-growing Malaysian capital’s readiness to be regarded among the world’s great cities.
— Business Times
See here for more of today’s Malaysia Morning News
Myanmar morning news
Compiled by Joanne Encantador @encantador_jo
Textiles a key focus of trade push between Myanmar and Taiwan
SEEKING to build on the rapid growth in trade between Taiwan and Myanmar, industry bodies from the two sides have signed two memorandums of understanding at a Taiwan-Myanmar Industrial Collaboration Summit.
— The Nation
Myanmar discusses enhancement of bilateral cooperation and relations with Lao
Kyaw Tin, Minister for International Cooperation, received Saleumxay Kommasith, Minister of Foreign Affairs of the Lao People’s Democratic Republic at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs in Nay Pyi Taw on July 24.
— Eleven Myanmar
Thai gov’t deports 600 migrant workers to Tachileik within seven months
The Thai government has handed over 600 Myanmar migrant workers to the Myanmar government via the Tachileik-Mae Sai Bridge at the Thai-Myanmar border within seven months after they were arrested for violating the Thai labor law.
— BNI
See here for more of today’s Myanmar morning news
Philippines morning news
Compiled by Stella-maris Ewudolu @stmarisewudolu
World Bank: PH climbs to 60th place in trade logistics rankings
THE Philippines’ competitiveness in trade logistics improved in the past two years, such that its rank jumped to 60th place among 168 countries in this year’s edition of a biennial World Bank report.
— Inquirer.net/ Cebu Daily News
Gov’t lost P301 billion from tax incentives – DOF
The government gave away about P301 billion in revenues in 2015 alone as a result of tax incentives and other perks granted to only 2,844 firms, the Department of Finance (DOF) said.
— Manila Bulletin
Philippines says ready to help Laos deal with deadly dam collapse
The Philippines said Wednesday that it stands ready to extend assistance to Laos after an under-construction dam collapsed in the southern province of the landlocked country, flooding villages and killing at least 26.
— Xinhua
See here for more of today’s Philippines morning news
Singapore morning news
Compiled by John Le Fevre @photo_journ
Miles-based blockchain digital wallet launches in Singapore
Following a successful proof-of-concept exercise completed by Singapore Airlines (SIA), KPMG Digital Village and Microsoft in February 2018, the world’s first blockchain-based airline loyalty digital wallet has been launched in Singapore.
— Telecomasia.net
Total lunar eclipse on July 28: Here’s all you need to know
Astronomy enthusiasts will have the chance to catch the longest total lunar eclipse of the century in Singapore on Saturday (July 28). Starting at 3.30am, the eclipse will last 1hr 43min.
— The Straits Times
MAS warns stolen SingHealth data could be used in bank fraud
Financial institutions are discouraged from relying on the stolen information for customer verification.
— Singapore Business Review
See here for more of today’s Singapore morning news
Thailand morning news
Compiled by John Le Fevre @photo_journ
Thailand ramps up relief efforts to devastated Lao communities (HD video)
The Thailand government has rushed rescue teams and medical personnel to devastated communities downstream of an under-construction dam in Lao PDR that reportedly partially collapsed on Monday obliterating communities, leaving hundreds of people missing and displacing more than 6,600.
— AEC News Today (video)
Thailand scores top marks in ‘Best Business Country Rankings’ report
Thailand came in first in the recent ‘Best Countries to Start a Business Rankings’ of the ‘2018 Best Countries Rankings Report’, marking the second consecutive year it took home top honours.
— TAT News
Domestic car sales seen up 12% in 2018: Toyota
Thailand’s total domestic car sales are expected to be 980,000 units this year, up 12% from 2017, and more than previously expected, Toyota Motor Corp’s Thai unit said on Wednesday.
— Bangkok Post
See here for more of today’s Thailand morning news
Vietnam morning news
Compiled by Sreypov Men @MenSreypov
Vietnam tea exports ranked fifth worldwide
Vietnam is now the seventh biggest tea producer in the world and the fifth biggest exporter of the product.
— VietnamPlus
Vietnam rakes in US$1.2 billion from state corporate reshufle in 6 months
Total proceeds from divestment and equitization process from 2016 until now are 2.5 times the figure recorded in the 2011 – 2015 period, stated the Steering Committee for Business Renovation and Development.
— The Hanoi Times
Nestlé launches new capsule production line in Vietnam as Asia demand booms
Nestlé has launched a new Nescafé Dolce Gusto capsule production line in Vietnam, which will use locally-grown coffee beans top process 2,500 tonnes of coffee per year — the equivalent of around 130 million capsules.
— Food Navigator
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 26 added by Digital Editor on
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