Asean morning news
Compiled by Stella-maris Ewudolu @stmarisewudolu
UN Urges Asean to ‘Make Every Effort Towards Transparent and Fair Elections’
The UN Secretary General has called on Southeast Asian nations to ensure “democratic space and freedom of expression” and hold “transparent and free elections.”
— VOA
Asean way to prevent or counter violent extremism?
Singapore, as chairman of Asean, is convening a Southeast Asia Counter-Terrorism Symposium this week.
— Khmer Times
ASEAN manufacturing purchasing managers’ index, September (2018)
IMPROVEMENT of Philippine manufacturing activity remained “modest” in September, according to a monthly survey IHS Markit conducted for Nikkei, Inc., but “robust” domestic consumption, a “solid” rise in new orders and “upbeat business confidence” offset muted foreign demand and “strong” inflation to propel the country back to fore among major economies of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN
— BusinessWorld
Australia And ASEAN To Collaborate On Science
Australia’s national science agency, the Commonwealth Scientific and Industrial Research Organisation (CSIRO), has formally launched its Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) presence, based out of Singapore.
— Asian Scientist Magazine
Trade war will not have immediate impact on Asean
The rising tension between the US and China will not have an immediate impact on Asean’s economic growth as a majority of the countries in the grouping have a domestic demand-driven economy and are backed by sound economic and policy fundamentals.
— The Star Online
Fukuda hails economic gains within ASEAN
Former Japanese Prime Minister Yasuo Fukuda on Monday underscored the importance of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) for being the world’s growth center, a remarkable development 41 years after the unveiling of Japan’s foreign policy in the region.
— Manila Bulletin
PHL regains ASEAN factory lead
IMPROVEMENT of Philippine manufacturing activity remained “modest” in September, according to a monthly survey IHS Markit conducted for Nikkei, Inc., but “robust” domestic consumption, a “solid” rise in new orders and “upbeat business confidence” offset muted foreign demand and “strong” inflation to propel the country back to fore among major economies of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN).
— BusinessWorld
CIMB now offers Asean-wide ‘Preferred’ privileges
CIMB Bank Bhd and CIMB Islamic Bank Bhd have expanded the privileges offered to its “Preferred” affluent customer segment by going regional.
— The Edge Markets
Cambodia morning news
Compiled by Sreypov Men @MenSreypov
Cambodia’s Supreme Court Overturns Defamation Conviction of Election Official, Citing Lack of Evidence
Cambodia’s Supreme Court on Monday rejected the defamation conviction of deputy secretary-general of the National Election Committee (NEC) Ny Chakrya citing a lack of evidence, ordering the country’s Appeal Court to hold a retrial of his case.
— Radio Free Asia
Cambodia vows to fight illegal wildlife trade
Cambodia vowed to combat illegal wildlife trade and prepared to cooperate with UN members to conserve natural resources, environment minister Say Samal said yesterday.
— Khmer Times
Ticket revenue at Angkor soars to more than $85 million
The government earned $85.5 million in revenue from the sale of tickets at the Angkor Archaeological Park during the first nine months of the year, a hike of nearly 13 percent, figures released yesterday by Angkor Enterprise showed.
— Khmer Times
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Indonesia morning news
Compiled by Stella-maris Ewudolu @stmarisewudolu
Indonesia Ready to Accept Foreign, Private Aid for Victims of Palu Earthquake, Tsunami
Indonesia said it is ready to accept international aid to ease the suffering of victims of the massive earthquake and tsunami that hit Palu and Donggala in Central Sulawesi late last week.
— Jakarta Globe
National Police, National Armed Forces Guards Palu City from Looters
National Police Headquarters Bureau of Public, Brigadier General Dedi Prasetyo admitted there are still people who continue to loot a number of minimarkets and gas stations in Palu City to get food in areas where aid has not been evenly distributed after the 7.4-Richter Scale earthquake and tsunami in Palu, Central Sulawesi on Friday (9/28/2018).
–Netral English
Indonesia Requests Foreign Aid as Search for Quake Victims Grows Desperate
Indonesia on Monday said it would welcome foreign emergency aid as hopes of finding survivors in the rubble of crumbled buildings faded three days after earthquakes and a tsunami devastated Central Sulawesi.
— Benar News
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Lao PDR morning news
Compiled by John Le Fevre @photo_journ
Regional, global cooperation indispensable for sustainable development, Laos tells UN
National governments and the world community need to work together to attain the United Nations’ Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), the Lao Minister of Foreign Affairs told the UN General Assembly on Saturday.
— Vientiane Times
Two more years to meet Laos’ development plan: Minister
Natural disasters coupled with global economic and political uncertainty have had a direct impact on the implementation of the 8th Five-Year National Socio Economic Development Plan (NSEDP 2016-20), according to a senior government official.
— Vientiane Times
Dozens Of Local Students Awarded Hongsa Power’s Scholarships
Hongsa Power Company has awarded 40 scholarships worth 120 million kip (US$14,900) to secondary students in the districts of Hongsa, Ngeun, and Xienghone in Xayaboury Province for this academic year 2018-2019.
— KPL
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Malaysia morning news
Compiled by Sreypov Men @MenSreypov
Monetary sector stable despite govt’s fiscal challenges
Malaysia’s monetary sector is stable despite the government’s fiscal challenges and issues which resulted from the excesses of the previous government, said Finance Minister Lim Guan Eng.
— The Borneo Post
Malaysia hikes Sept crude oil official selling price
Malaysia has raised the official selling price (OSP) of a basket of September-loading Malaysian crude oil grades to US$82.75 a barrel, Petronas said in a document reviewed by Reuters on Monday.
— The Edge Markets
Malaysia’s halal export value may hit RM50b mark this year: HDC
Malaysia’s halal exports may hit RM50 billion mark this year, earlier than 2020 target on stronger demand, unfazed by the global trade slowdown, Halal Industry Development Corp (HDC) said.
— New Straits Times
See here for more of today’s Malaysia Morning News
Myanmar morning news
Compiled by Stella-maris Ewudolu @stmarisewudolu
Myanmar cuts cost of China-funded port project by 80%
Myanmar has agreed to scale down a Chinese-led port project in the western state of Rakhine, slashing the initial price tag to $1.3 billion from $7.2 billion over concerns about excessive debt.
— Consult-Myanmar
Myanmar manufacturing PMI continues its deterioration in September
Myanmar manufacturing sector suffered from unfavorable exchange rates against the U.S. dollar, resulting in increase of input costs and output charges.
— Nikkei Asian Review
Myanmar successfully renegotiates debt, ownership terms for Kyaukphyu
Myanmar and China are on the cusp of signing a framework agreement on the development of Kyaukphyu Special Economic Zone (SEZ) in Rakhine State, U Than Myint, Minister of Commerce and chair of the Myanmar SEZ Central Committee, told The Myanmar Times.
— Myanmar Times
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Philippines morning news
Compiled by Stella-maris Ewudolu @stmarisewudolu
House donates P6.575M for Marawi crisis victims
The House of Representatives, led by Speaker Gloria Macapagal Arroyo, donated on Monday P6.575-million to financially assist the victims of the Marawi City crisis.
— Manila Bulletin
Philippines’ manufacturing PMI steady in September
The Philippines’ manufacturing sector logged a modest expansion in September, supported by solid demand at home, according to a survey.
— Nikkei Asian Review
Bicam okays 105-day paid maternity leave
The congressional bicameral conference committee on Monday approved a bill seeking to increase the paid maternity leave period to 105 days for female workers in the government and private sector.
— Philippine News Agency
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Singapore morning news
Compiled by John Le Fevre @photo_journ
Ministers’ pay ‘totally transparent’, says DPM Teo
There are no hidden components or perks in the salary structure for Singapore’s ministers, Deputy Prime Minister Teo Chee Hean said in Parliament yesterday.
— The new paper
HDB resale prices down 0.2% in Q3
It will also offer 3,800 build-to-order flats in Sembawang, Sengkang, Tampines, Tengah, and Yishun.
— Singapore Business Review
Liberty Media Reveals $27 Million Boost From Singapore Government
Formula One, the auto racing series owned by Liberty Media, has revealed that it is on track to receive $27 million from the Singapore government after it agreed to release taxes which had been withheld on the fee for its Grand Prix.
— Forbes
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Thailand morning news
Compiled by John Le Fevre @photo_journ
Thailand struggles to win back Chinese tourists during Golden Week holiday
As China kicked off its “Golden Week” holiday on Monday, Thailand said it was struggling to lure back visitors from its biggest source of tourists, after a boat accident in July that killed dozens
— Reuters
Thai armed forces to provide aid to Indonesia, Thai citizens to be evacuated
The Thai Embassy in Indonesia has requested its government evacuate 32 Thai citizens at the first available possibility, fearing for their safety following a tsunami disaster in the country while the Deputy Prime Minister for Security Affairs has ordered the armed forces provide humanitarian assistance to Indonesia.
— News Today (video)
Thailand eyes 20% rise in exports to Asean after robust 8-month growth
THAILAND intends to increase exports to Asean markets by 20 per cent this year, Commerce Minister Sontirat Sontijirawong said yesterday.
— The Nation
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Vietnam morning news
Compiled by Sreypov Men @MenSreypov
Fast and serious: Vietnam’s first domestic car manufacturer bets big
Vietnam is betting car-making can be a ticket to a more prosperous economy, just as it was for the likes of Japan and South Korea.
— Vietnam Insider
Vietnam may hike power prices in 2019
The move is necessary for Vietnam Electricity to cover an incurred cost of VND20.73 trillion (US$892.18 million) in the 2018 – 2019 period, stated the Ministry of Industry and Trade (MoIT) on its website.
— The Hanoi Times
Cement stocks rise with exports
Cement stocks are trading furiously on the market as sharp increases in the export and consumption of cement are brightening the outlook for this sector.
— Bizhub
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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