Asean morning news for July 27

Asean morning news

Compiled by Stella-maris Ewudolu @stmarisewudolu

Extent of Lao flood following South Korean dam failure emerges (video)
Dramatic video has emerged from Lao PDR where a large-scale humanitarian operation is underway following the partial collapse of a hydroelectric damn being built by a Lao-South Korean-Thai consortium.
— AEC News Today (video)

Asean MPs Denounce Cambodia Election as ‘Dirty’
A group of liberal Asean parliamentarians has said Cambodia’s election process is “dirty” following the exclusion of the country’s only viable opposition party from Sunday’s vote and a widespread crackdown on dissent.
— VOA

Lao’s controversial hydro ambitions
Mountainous and landlocked Lao PDR, known as the “Battery of Asia”, is building dozens of dams at breakneck speed so it can sell energy to power-hungry neighbours as a fast track out of poverty.
— The Asean Post

25 million people in Asia are enslaved
AN estimated 24.9 million men, women and children were living in modern slavery in Asia and the Pacific in 2016, newly compiled data has shown.
— Asian Correspondent

Can ASEAN safeguard its islands?
Originally the home of the indigenous Ati people, Boracay was a sleepy agricultural island with a population of 100 that lived on rice cultivation and fishing, supplemented by goat farming.
— The Asean Post

How Southeast Asian Countries Could Drive the Future of Coal Technology
Poised to drive the future of coal power, many Southeast Asian countries are considering new coal plants with high-efficiency, low-emissions (HELE) technologies, a new report suggests.
— POWER

Power to the People: Remote Microgrids Across Southeast Asia
Across the world around 1.3 billion people still have no access to electricity, and 87% of these people live in rural areas where extension of the grid is impracticable.
— Cleantech Group

Journalists are being crushed in South-East Asia
WAITING in a shuttered Cambodian newsroom for the police to arrive would test any journalist’s nerve. Flickering strobe lights illuminate empty desks and abandoned pens.
— The Economist

Interested In Southeast Asia Properties & Finance Limited (HKG:252)? Here’s How It Performed Recently
After reading Southeast Asia Properties & Finance Limited’s (HKG:252) most recent earnings announcement (31 March 2018), I found it useful to look back at how the company has performed in the past and compare this against the latest numbers.
— Simply Wall St

ASEAN: Key to global food security
The global population is expected to hit eight billion in 12 years. By 2050, that number will reach nine billion.
— The Asean Post

Asean is at the heart of Japan’s Free and Open Indo-Pacific Strategy: Foreign Minister Kono
Asean is at the heart of Japan’s Free and Open Indo-Pacific Strategy that seeks to promote rule of law at sea and build high quality infrastructure in areas across the Indian and Pacific Oceans, Japanese Foreign Minister Taro Kono has said.
— The Straits Times

Legal community can help Asean move towards greater economic integration: CJ Menon
As Asean moves towards greater economic integration, there is much that the legal community can do to help with the process.
— The Straits Times

Trade with Asean countries faces threat of China passing off its own goods: Parliamentary committee report
A parliamentary committee on commerce, in a report tabled in Lok Sabha on Thursday, says trade with Asean countries faces the threat of China passing off its own goods as those from Asean countries.
— Times of India

Mustafar to push for Asean immigration block
The co ming meeting be tween Asean immi gra tion heads next month is expected to be the stepping stone towards creating the Asean immi gration block or network, says Datuk Seri Mustafar Ali.
— The Star Online

Empowering Asean nations the Singapore ‘startup’ way
Singapore has assumed chairmanship of Asean this year, and this has brought with it a sense of optimism among members of the association.
— Khmer Times

MOBILE LEGENDS SOUTH EAST ASIA CUP POWER RANKINGS
With the Mobile Legends Southeast Asia Cup (MSC) 2018 just a day away, I managed to catch up with some of the shoutcasters attending the event and asked them about their opinions on the teams attending the $80,000 USD tournament at Jakarta.
— IGN Southeast Asia (blog)

Sowing the seeds for better food policy in Asia
Three processes drive modernisation: a structural transformation of the economy with agriculture playing a lesser role as the country gets richer, an agricultural transformation that raises the sector’s productivity and produces a more diversified output, and a dietary transformation that occurs when consumers become richer and can afford to choose from a greater variety of foods.
— East Asia Forum

Vietnam becomes biggest trade partner of China in ASEAN
Vietnam has surpassed Malaysia to become the biggest trade partner of China in ASEAN, Hu Suojin, Trade Counsellor of the Chinese Embassy in Vietnam, said at a press conference in Hanoi on July 26.
— VietnamPlus

Cambodia morning news

Compiled by Sreypov Men @MenSreypov

Seven Political Parties, 320,000 Participants to Conclude Electoral Campaign
Seven political parties will campaign on 27 July 2018, the last day of the electoral campaign in Phnom Penh, expecting more than 320,000 participants, according to the National Election Committee (NEC) on Thursday.
— Fresh News

US Lawmakers Pass Act to Sanction Cambodian Officials Seen ‘Undermining Democracy’
The U.S. House of Representatives’ has passed legislation that would allow Washington to impose sanctions on Cambodia’s Prime Minister Hun Sen and members of his inner circle for their role in undermining democracy in the country and committing human rights violations.
— Radio Free Asia

Japan Will Not Send Election Monitors to Cambodia
Japan sent election monitors to Cambodian elections in 1993, 1998, 2003 and 2008, but Chief Cabinet Secretary Yoshihide Suga said it would not be doing so this time.
— VOA Cambodia

See here for more of today’s Cambodia morning news

Indonesia morning news

Compiled by Joanne Encantador @encantador_jo

Gov’t Confident 17 Million Foreign Tourists Will Visit Indonesia in 2018
The Ministry of Tourism is optimistic about its chances of meeting the target of 17 million foreign visits in 2018, expecting a surge in August, as Indonesia will host high-profile international events such 2018 Asian Games and the annual meetings of the World Bank and International Monetary Fund.
— Jakarta Globe

Govt Claims Phase I of Jakarta MRT Project Has Reached 95.33 Percent
The development progress of the Mass Rapid Transit (MRT) of South-North corridor project from Lebak Bulus to Hotel Indonesia (HI) Roundabout in Phase I has reached 95.33 percent.
— Netral News

Malaysia Airlines to capture 50% moslem market share in Malaysia, Indonesia
Malaysia Airlines Bhd (MAB) aims to tap into 50% of the umrah pilgrimage market in Malaysia and Indonesia with 270,000-290,000 umrah pilgrims projected to make their pilgrimage to the holy land in the upcoming pilgrimage season.
— Retail News Asia (media release) (blog)

See here for more of today’s Indonesia morning news

Lao PDR morning news

Compiled by Joanne Encantador @encantador_jo

Thai rescuers join international relief effort in Attapeu of Lao PDR
International aid has begun to arrive in Lao PDR as 130 people remain missing and 26 lives are confirmed lost following the flooding of over 220 homes in Attapeu province in the country’s southeast.
— NNT

Company must be responsible for dam collapse: Laos minister
Vientiane Times said Minister of Energy and Mines Dr Khammany Inthirath had earlier insisted that Xe-Pian Xe-Namnoy Power Company cannot deny its responsibility for the floods, which caused massive destruction to the livelihoods and property of the people in Sanamxay district.
— Thai PBS

See here for more of today’s Lao morning news

Malaysia morning news

Compiled by Sreypov Men @MenSreypov

Malaysian PM Mahathir: ‘Most of the top echelons in the government are corrupt’
Malaysian Prime Minister Mahathir Mohamad, who staged a stunning election upset earlier this year to return to power aged 92, said he inherited a government lousy with corruption and with few trustworthy officials.
— CNN (video)

Najib won’t confirm or deny letter by Malaysian intelligence unit asking for CIA support
Former Malaysia prime minister Najib Razak declined to confirm or deny the existence of a letter written by a Malaysian intelligence unit then under his watch, asking the US Central Intelligence Agency (CIA) to support his Barisan Nasional (BN) coalition.
— The Straits Times

Malaysia’s GDP value at RM1.353 trillion in 2017
Malaysia’s economy augmented further in 2017 with the Gross Domestic Product (GDP) value at current prices reaching RM1.353 trillion, up 9.9 per cent from the RM1.231 trillion registered in 2016.
— The Star Online

See here for more of today’s Malaysia Morning News

Myanmar morning news

Compiled by Joanne Encantador @encantador_jo

Myanmar grants free visas for Chinese, Japanese and South Koreans as visitor numbers dwindle
Myanmar will grant free visa allowances to Chinese, South Korean and Japanese nationals from August 1 onwards in a bid to promote eco-tourism, U Ohn Maung, Minister of Hotels and Tourism, announced, according to the Myanmar Times.
— Investine

Eight bodies recovered after landslide at Myanmar jade mine
Thursday after a landslide that engulfed 27 small-scale miners, an official said, the latest disaster to hit a centre of the country’s lucrative jade trade.
— Bangkok Post

State Counsellor’s peace talk in Hpa-an postponed indefinitely
The State Counsellor Daw Aung San Suu Kyi’s peace talk in the Karen (Kayin) State’s capital Hpa-an has been postponed indefinitely due to bad weather, the Karen State Minister of Bamar Affairs U Tayza Hlaing Htwe said.
— BNI

See here for more of today’s Myanmar morning news

Philippines morning news

Compiled by Stella-maris Ewudolu @stmarisewudolu

PH gov’n to spend up to P90 million for federalism info dissemination
The administration plans to spend up to P90 million for an information dissemination campaign on federalism.
— Philippine Canadian Inquirer

China Hasn’t Delivered on Its $24 Billion Philippines Promise
Almost two years after China pledged $24 billion in investment to the Philippines, barely any projects have materialized, prompting deepening concerns that President Rodrigo Duterte has undermined the country’s sovereignty with little to show in return.
— Bloomberg

ARMM gets most number of infra projects under 5-year program
The Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao will host the biggest number of infrastructure projects to be built in the next five years, although their combined value is loer than those in more developed regions.
— Philippine Daily Inquirer

See here for more of today’s Philippines morning news

Singapore morning news

Compiled by John Le Fevre @photo_journ

SIA’s transformation plan hits a snag after Q1 profit plunges 59%
National carrier Singapore Airlines (SIA) reported on Thursday (Jul 26) that group net profit fell by nearly 59 per cent in the first quarter, throwing a snag in its major turnaround plan to stem losses.
— Channel NewsAsia

Shop ‘til it drops: Half of Singaporeans are ready for drone deliveries
About half of consumers in Singapore said that they are comfortable with drone delivery, a study by payments provider Worldpay revealed. The country’s consumer confidence with the service is second to China (70%) in terms of global sentiments.
— Singapore Business Review

High-flying ex-Dty Police Commissioner to head new food agency despite being “motivated” at SPF
The government announced on Thursday (26 Jul) that a new statutory board called the Singapore Food Agency (SFA) will be formed in April next year under the Ministry of Environment and Water Resources (MEWR) to oversee food safety and security.
— TOC

See here for more of today’s Singapore morning news

Thailand morning news

Compiled by John Le Fevre @photo_journ

Expansion plan for Bangkok Airport to cost $2 billion to cope with tourists
Airports of Thailand Pcl (AOT) plans to invest 63 billion baht ($1.89 billion) in the latest expansion of the country’s main airport in Bangkok, as the country tries to accommodate the influx of tourists.
— Reuters

EU exempts Thailand from protective steel tariffs
The European Union has exempted Thailand from protective steel tariffs for 200 days, because of its developing country status and low volume of steel exports.
— Bangkok Post

Flood alert as Mekong water rises
Residents in Nakhon Phanom were on Thursday warned to brace for possible flooding after the water level in the Mekong River rose to 11 metres, two metres away from overflow, due to downpours caused by tropical storm Son-Tinh.
— Bangkok Post

See here for more of today’s Thailand morning news

Vietnam morning news

Compiled by Sreypov Men @MenSreypov

Vietnam attracts US$80 billion in ODA over the last 25 years
Vietnam has mobilised approximately US$80 billion in official development assistance (ODA) and preferential loans since 1993, establishing itself as one of the largest recipients of ODA worldwide.
— Nhan Dan Online

Vietnam welcomes US$4-billion LNG-fueled power plant: PM
The Mekong Delta region holds huge potential for the likes of liquefied natural gas (LNG)-fueled power projects, stated Prime Minister Nguyen Xuan Phuc.
— The Hanoi Times

Vietnam sends 200,000 USD in aid to Laos after dam collapse
Prime Minister Nguyen Xuan Phuc has decided to provide 200,000 USD as relief aid for the Lao government to help the country in the aftermath of the collapse of the Sepien-Senamnoi hydropower dam.
— VietnamPlus

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.