Asean Morning News
Compiled by Stella-maris Ewudolu @stmarisewudolu
32nd ASEAN Summit: Analysis and key takeaways
Singapore can check one thing off its to-do-list for its chairmanship of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) for the year – the successful completion of the 32nd ASEAN Summit.
— The Asean Post
Singapore urges progress on Asean extradition treaty
Singaporean Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong urged Asean member states to begin drafting a regional extradition treaty, prompting observers to raise concerns over the existing misuse of expatriation procedures by countries in the 10-member bloc, including Cambodia.
— The Phnom Penh Post
Hun Sen takes swipe at regional parliamentarians, calling them ‘gangsters’
In a speech marking the anniversary of Cambodia’s accession to Asean on Monday, Prime Minister Hun Sen lashed out at the often critical Asean Parliamentarians for Human Rights, describing them as a “gangster group”.
— The Phnom Penh Post
ASEAN leaders issue statement on cybersecurity cooperation
In recognition of the growing urgency and sophistication of transboundary cyber threats, ASEAN leaders issued a statement on cybersecurity cooperation.
— Open Gov Asia
Singtel previews Asean cross-border mobile payment service
At the 32nd ASEAN Summit today, Singtel gave a demonstration of its initiative to connect mobile wallets across borders.
— Finextra
Concept note outlines Singapore’s vision for ASEAN Smart Cities Network
The ASEAN released a concept note outlining Singapore’s proposal to establish an ASEAN Smart Cities Network which include 26 pilot cities.
— Open Gov
Keeping Southeast Asia’s energy secure
As Southeast Asia becomes one of the fastest developing regions in the world, concerns over its energy security is fast growing.
— The Asean Post
China commerce with Asean countries lags behind regional trade
For countries across south-east Asia, China is becoming an increasingly important economic partner, raising questions about the region’s direction and future.
— Financial Times
ASEAN: Agnostic on the Free and Open-Indo Pacific
Concerns that the FOIP could erode ASEAN’s centrality can only be assuaged by a clear definition of the concept.
— The Diplomat
ASEAN’s EV charging market
From the bustling streets of Jakarta to the crowded roads of Hanoi, Southeast Asia as a whole is no stranger to traffic congestion.
— The Asean Post
Beach Blockchain Conference soon
Economic growth in Southeast Asia is pushing business and consumers to look to other areas of opportunity. Blockchain, the core technology behind all cryptocurrency services, is providing new prospects that could result in massive adoption across the region.
— Sun Star
BSP keen on Asean e-payment linkages
The central bank is looking at the possibility of linking the country’s electronic payment networks with its counterparts in the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (Asean).
— The Manila Times
U.K. Eyes Southeast Asia for Post-Brexit Trade Bursts
The lone non-Asian trade minister at last week’s Southeast Asian leaders’ summit in Singapore, U.K. Trade Minister Greg Hands had plenty of room to make the case that Brexit won’t interfere with his country’s ambitious plans in the region.
— Bloomberg
Aspiration over actualisation in Singapore’s approach to ASEAN
Singaporean Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong’s 50th Anniversary Lecture for the Yusof Ishak Institute of Southeast Asian Studies on 13 March 2018 was notable for its open acknowledgement of some of the difficulties facing ASEAN, which Singapore is chairing this year.
— The Independent Singapore
Cambodia Morning News
Compiled by Sreypov Men @MenSreypov
Cambodia registers parties ahead of July vote after main opposition dissolved
Cambodia began registering political parties on Monday for a July general election which long-serving Prime Minister Hun Sen is poised to win after the Supreme Court dissolved the main opposition party.
— Business Insider
Hun Sen reiterates CNRP ban as party registration begins
Registration for political parties to compete in the coming national elections kicked off on Monday, with Prime Minister Hun Sen repeating there will be no “resurrection” for the now-dissolved CNRP.
— The Phnom Penh Post
Ministry to focus on quality, innovation to boost agriculture
The government has vowed to boost crop, fish and meat production by prioritizing productivity, quality and innovation in the agriculture sector, the Minister of Agriculture said yesterday.
— Khmer Times
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Indonesia Morning News
Compiled by Stella-maris Ewudolu @stmarisewudolu
Rp 185.3t invested in Indonesia in first quarter, up 11% yoy
The Indonesian Coordinating Investment Board (BKPM) says the country booked a total of Rp 185.3 trillion (US$13.32 billion) in investment from both domestic and overseas investors in the first quarter of 2018.
— The Jakarta Post
ExxonMobil to buy Indonesian lubricant firm Federal in $436 million deal
ExxonMobil (XOM.N) has agreed to acquire Indonesian motorcycle lubricant maker PT Federal Karyatama (FKT) in a $436 million transaction, FKT’s parent PT Mitra Pinasthika Mustika (MPMX.JK) said on Monday.
— Reuters
Indonesia president pledges no government intervention in monetary policy amid weak rupiah
Indonesia’s President Joko Widodo promised on Monday that the government will not intervene in monetary policy decisions by the central bank in response to a weakening rupiah currency.
— Channel NewsAsia
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Lao PDR Morning News
Compiled by Leakhena Khat @leakhenakhat
Lao PDR To Increase Productivity And Quality In Agriculture
More than 140,000 people will benefit from efforts to make rice, maize, and produce farming more productive and profitable, through the Lao PDR Agriculture Competitiveness Project, approved on Apr 26, 2018 in Washington DC, USA by the World Bank’s Board of Executive Directors.
— Lao News Agency
Dolphins, Fish Stocks Decline Downstream of Laos’s Don Sahong Dam
Irrawaddy dolphins, a freshwater mammal species now making a comeback in Cambodia, are under increasing threat of extinction in neighboring Laos, where their numbers have dwindled to four under pressure from illegal fishing and construction of the Don Sahong dam on the Mekong River, sources say.
— Radio Free Asia
Dozens Of Officials Equipped With Knowledge Of Public Policy And Administrative Reform
The Singapore Ministry of Foreign Affairs funded one-week training course on “Public Policy and Administrative Reform” for 25 Lao government officials from April 23-27.
— Lao News Agency
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Malaysia Morning News
Compiled by Sreypov Men @MenSreypov
Malaysia needs to accelerate private investment
Malaysia needs to accelerate private investment to achieve higher productivity and add more value to products and services in order to lift the income level of the people, especially the Bottom 40 per cent of households (B40) group.
— The Borneo Post
After three years, GST has saved billions lost in SST
Three years after its introduction in April 2015, the Goods and Services Tax has plugged the loss of billions of ringgit through the Sales and Services Tax (SST).
— New Straits Times
Malaysian Election: Opposition Looks To Freeze Chinese Investments
Making their case to take over Malaysia’s government following the May 9 general election, leading politicians from the main opposition bloc are threatening to freeze major development projects involving China to reevaluate whether they truly benefit their country.
— Eurasian Review
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Myanmar Morning News
Compiled by Leakhena Khat @leakhenakhat
Top-level UN team meets Myanmar leader in Rohingya probe
Ambassadors from the U.N. Security Council probing Myanmar’s crisis over its ethnic Rohingya Muslim minority met Monday with the country’s leader and military chief after visiting Bangladesh, where about 700,000 Rohingya who fled military-led violence live in refugee camps.
— Washington Post
Telenor Myanmar trials 1Gbps LTE-A
Telenor Myanmar and Ericsson have completed a trial of 1Gbps LTE-Advanced services using technologies including licensed assisted access (LAA).
— Telecomasia.net
Nine months after Myanmar assaults, Rohingya camps ready for spate of births
When hundreds of thousands of Rohingya flooded into south-east Bangladesh last year they told of systematic rape and other sexual violence by Myanmar soldiers and militiamen.
— The Guardian
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Philippines Morning News
Compiled by Stella-maris Ewudolu @stmarisewudolu
Manila, Kuwait create opening to solve crisis
THE Palace on Monday dialed back on President Rodrigo Duterte’s statement that the deployment ban to Kuwait was permanent, saying it still could be lifted if the Gulf state signs an agreement on minimum conditions for the welfare of Filipino workers there.
— Manila Standard
SCUFN rejects PH’s plea to nullify PH Rise feature naming
Just like how a maritime law expert predicted on February, the Duterte administration’s appeal to nullify China’s naming of some of the undersea features of the Philippine Rise, formerly known as Benham Rise, was rejected.
— Philippine Canadian Inquirer
Relentless Assault on the Philippine Press
Filipino journalists will spend World Press Freedom Day on May 3 under government attack. New draft regulations issued by the Philippine House of Representatives would allow Congress to ban reporters who “besmirch” the reputation of lawmakers from covering the national legislature.
— Human Rights Watch
See here for more of today’s Philippines Morning News
Singapore Morning News
Compiled by Leakhena Khat @leakhenakhat
Trump looking at Korean DMZ, Singapore for summit with Kim Jong Un
President Donald Trump said Monday that Singapore and a facility inside the Demilitarized Zone that divides the Korean peninsula are under consideration as sites for his highly anticipated summit with North Korean leader Kim Jong Un.
— Politico
Singapore-led Asean favors China over US
Singapore’s anticipated chairmanship of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (Asean) opened on the weekend with a summit that reaffirmed the city-state’s vision of a “rules-based” regional order but offered a limited view on pressing security matter.
— Asia Times
PM: Singapore on course for healthy growth this year
Singapore’s economy grew 3.6 per cent last year, and it can look forward to healthy economic growth this year, too, if this momentum is maintained, Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong said yesterday.
— The Straits Times
See here for more of today’s Singapore Morning News
Thailand Morning News
Compiled by John Le Fevre @photo_journ
250 officials involved in welfare fund fraud
The protection centres for the derelict in only nine of all 76 provinces are free of corruption, with at least 250 ministry officials involved.
— Bangkok Post
Cabinet to mull spending for national reforms
The cabinet is to consider financial spending estimated at 700 billion baht for national reform covering 11 areas.
— Thai PBS
Thai March factory output rises 2.62 pct, below forecast
Thailand’s annual industrial output rose less than expected in March, but capital utilisation was the highest in five years, boosted by higher production of cars, car engines and petroleum, the industry ministry said on Monday.
— Reuters
See here for more of today’s Thailand Morning News
Vietnam Morning News
Compiled by Sreypov Men @MenSreypov
Vietcombank to offload 10% stake to maximum ten foreign investors
Vietcombank, Vietnam’s largest lender by market value, will offload a 10 per cent stake to a maximum of ten foreign investors in the first half of this year after it received government approval for the sale, it announced at its recent annual shareholders’ meeting.
— DealStreetAsia
Three foreign airlines get exemption from import tax
Deputy Prime Minister Vuong Dinh Hue has agreed with the proposal of the Ministry of Finance to exempt three airlines from import tax.
— Nhan Dan Online
Techcombank to start trading on HoSE from June 4
Vietnam Technological and Commercial Joint Stock Bank (Techcombank) is poised to commence trading on the Ho Chi Minh City Stock Exchange (HoSE) on June 4 following its nearly $1-billion IPO, the bank announced on April 27.
— DealStreetAsia
See here for more of today’s Vietnam Morning News
Asean Morning News is the most comprehensive selection of reports on what you need to know from around the Asean Economic Community (AEC) published. All articles are hand curated by the team at AEC News Today. It is published M-F by AEC News Today: Governance, not government; policies not politics.
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