Asean morning news
Compiled by Stella-maris Ewudolu @stmarisewudolu
RCEP Negotiations Reach Critical Stage – Likely to be Inked by Year-End
In the sixth Regional Comprehensive Economic Partnership (RCEP) ministerial meeting held in Singapore, the negotiations for the conclusion of the proposed RCEP reached a critical stage; the top leaders from the 16-member coalition came together and pledged to endorse a package of outcomes by year-end.
— Asean Briefing
China’s ambitious Belt and Road Initiative meets resistance in Southeast Asia
Asean countries are beginning to display caution towards China’s massive infrastructure investments.
— Southeast Asia Globe
More than 2,700 exhibitors gather in Nanning for CAEXPO
The 15th China-ASEAN Expo (CAEXPO) will be held September 12-15 at the International Convention & Exhibition Center in Nanning, capital of the Guangxi Zhuang Autonomous Region.
— CGTN (media release)
ASEAN Parliamentarians and civil society call for greater regional refugee protection
This week, ASEAN parliamentarians, lawmakers and refugee experts have convened in the Philippines for a series of refugee forums.
— Reliefweb
Migrant workers face looming obstacles
ASEAN countries receive up to 2 million migrant workers annually. In the process of migration, Vietnamese workers face barriers such as social security or foreign workers quota.
— Vietnam Plus
WEF advocates multilateral trading system, 4th industrial revolution
The World Economic Forum (WEF) strongly believes in and focuses all efforts on maintaining the multilateral trading system and promoting the fourth industrial revolution, WEF founder and executive chairman Klaus Schwab said on Tuesday.
— Xinhua
US-China trade spat looms over regional WEF meeting
Threats by US President Donald Trump to slap more punishing tariffs on Chinese goods are set to dominate a meeting of Asian business bigwigs and leaders that opens Wednesday in Hanoi.
— Journalducameroun.com
Asean youth upbeat but guarded about technology: Survey
Youth in Asean are mostly optimistic about the impact of technology on the job market and many aspire to be self-employed, a survey by the World Economic Forum (WEF) and Singapore-based internet company Sea has found.
— The Straits Times
Telehealth apps rise in Southeast Asia due to doctor scarcity
Bayu Surya is a 28-year-old editor based in Jakarta who suffers from eye problems and pressure sores due to sitting in front of a computer screen for hours on end.
— Nikkei Asian Review (paywall)
China-ASEAN in numbers: Trade ties
China and the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) have had a long established, friendly relationship since a dialogue mechanism was established in 1991, and the two sides have witnessed increased benefits in a broad array of areas like trade and tourism.
— CGTN (media release)
Making Southeast Asia energy efficient
In tandem with a renewable energy policy, energy efficiency will be key to building a reliable and sustainable energy system for the future of Southeast Asia.
— The Asean Post
AirAsia taps Indonesian firm in bid for Clark project
Malaysian budget carrier Air Asia is teaming up with Indonesia’s Perum Angkasa Pura in a bid for the operations and maintenance of Clark International Airport in Pampanga province, a potential alternative to Manila’s congested air gateway.
— Philippine Daily Inquirer
Industry must help build Asean digital community
WHEN Kelvin Choa established his home hardware firm 20 years ago, he was already looking beyond Singapore’s small market.
— The Business Times
Cambodia morning news
Compiled by Michael Johansen @mfjohansen47
China donates rice to Cambodia
China has pledged $1 million worth of jasmine rice to Cambodia to help aid flood victims, according to Prime Minister Hun Sen.
— Khmer Times
Cambodia Holds 7-Day Funeral for Dr. Beat Richner
Kantha Bopha Hospital is holding one-week funeral for Dr. Beat Richner, the founder of Kantha Bopha Hospitals in Cambodia.
— Fresh News
Trial of British offender hits Supreme Court
The Supreme Court heard the case of an alleged British rapist on Monday who has been sentenced to 10 years in prison for a 2009 incident in the capital.
— Phnom Penh Post
See here for more of today’s Cambodia Morning News
Indonesia morning news
Compiled by Michael Johansen @mfjohansen47
Indonesia, South Korean firms agree to pursue $6.2 billion worth of deals
Indonesian and South Korean companies agreed to pursue $6.2 billion worth of deals at a bilateral business forum in Seoul attended by Indonesian President Joko Widodo, authorities in Jakarta announced on Tuesday.
— Reuters
Indonesia braces for prolonged drought
Hydro-meteorological disasters have over many years dominated natural disasters in Indonesia, which is often flooded during rainy season and very dry and even extremely dry in certain regions during dry season.
— Antara
Vietnam, Indonesia Vow to Fight Illegal Fishing, Boost Trade
Indonesian President Joko “Jokowi” Widodo says his country and Vietnam have agreed to cooperate more in fighting illegal fishing and hope to boost two-way trade.
— The New York Times
See here for more of today’s Indonesia morning news
Lao PDR morning news
Compiled by Stella-maris Ewudolu @stmarisewudolu
Vietnam implements biggest mining project in Laos
The Lao Government and Viet Phuong Group (VPG) of Vietnam on September 11 signed a contract for exploiting and processing bauxite ore and building an alumina factory in Sekong province of Laos.
— Viet Maz
Providing a safe place for flood-affected children
Weeks after the collapse of a dam in south-east Laos, SOS Children’s Villages is helping children whose families were displaced by the disaster and heavy monsoon rains.
— ReliefWeb
Floods claim more lives
The body of a man was recovered from Huaythahao Lake in Kaenghaed village, Xaybouly district, Savannakhet province, on Sunday, while another man is still missing and presumed drowned.
— Vientiane Times
See here for more of today’s Lao morning news
Malaysia morning news
Compiled by Sreypov Men @MenSreypov
Malaysia: Unions, socialists slam new govt over minimum wage decision
The Malaysian Trade Union Congress (MTUC), several other trade unions and the Malaysian Socialist Party (PSM) have slammed as “humiliating” and “beggarly” the new Pakatan Harapan (Alliance of Hope) federal government’s announcement that it would increase the country’s minimum wage by just RM50 (A$17) a month to RM1050 ($350) from January 2019.
— Green Left
Malaysia Telecom, Mobile, and Broadband Market Witnesses Growth with Advances in Fiber Optics
Developments pertaining to sub-segments such as broadband, mobile, and fixed line network, play a pivotal role in the growth of Malaysia telecom industry.
— Digital Journal
Strong consumer demand driving cashless payments
Malaysia, together with several major economies across the globe, are progressing ahead in adopting cashless technology across a wide range of sectors.
— New Straits Times
See here for more of today’s Malaysia Morning News
Myanmar morning news
Compiled by Joanne Encantador @encantador_jo
Ethnic Political Parties Merge to Seek Stronger Representation in 2020 Election
Homegrown political parties in Myanmar’s ethnic areas have been merging together in the hope of winning a majority of seats in both national and regional parliaments in the upcoming 2020 general elections, a victory that would grant them more authority to improve their rights.
— The Irrawaddy
Get Ride Launches Its Community-based Ride Hailing Platform in Mandalay
Get Ride, a local community-based ride hailing platform, has officially launched in Mandalay, Myanmar.
— AEC News Today/ PR Newswire (media release)
Bangkok Airways removes planned Phuket-Yangon direct flights from schedules
Bangkok Airways has removed from its flight schedule the Phuket-Yangon direct flights that were to launch in November as the route has yet to be confirmed, Bangkok Airways staff told The Phuket News today.
— The Phuket News
See here for more of today’s Myanmar morning news
Philippines morning news
Compiled by Stella-maris Ewudolu @stmarisewudolu
Health care inflation seen topping 13% in 2018
INFLATION in health care costs will remain in the double digits in 2018, driven by non-communicable diseases, an international employee benefits firm said.
— BusinessWorld Online
Trade gap widens further: Imports up 31.6%, exports stay flat
The country continued to incur a trade deficit in July as imports significantly outpaced the flat growth in exports, data released by the Philippine Statistics Authority (PSA) showed.
— Malaya
Duterte taunts military over alleged plan to oust him
President Rodrigo Duterte on Tuesday dared the Philippine military to stage a coup to remove him amid speculation of a hostile takeover attempt by the opposition.
— Nikkei Asian Review (paywall)
See here for more of today’s Philippines morning news
Singapore morning news
Compiled by Joanne Encantador @encantador_jo
Singapore Plans New Bill to Attract More of World’s Millions
Singapore, one of the world’s easiest places to do business, is making it simpler for investment managers to register funds locally as the city-state goes after a bigger slice of the $69 trillion global asset-management industry.
— Bloomberg
Singapore stocks hit 1.5-year low as Southeast Asian markets fall
Most Southeast Asian stock markets ended lower on Tuesday, with Singapore hitting a one-and-a-half year low and Philippines extending losses to a fifth session amid fears of further escalation in the US-Sino trade war.
— Channel NewsAsia
Ministry still studying how to implement Vers
Even as anticipation over the Voluntary Early Redevelopment Scheme (Vers) builds up, National Development Minister Lawrence Wong has urged patience about the details, noting that the more immediate policy to watch is an expanded upgrading programme.
— The New Paper
See here for more of today’s Singapore morning news
Thailand morning news
Compiled by John Le Fevre @photo_journ
Thai police shut down journalists’ panel about Rohingya
Police in Thailand on Monday shut down a forum organized by foreign journalists to discuss whether senior military officers in Myanmar should face justice for alleged human rights abuses committed by their forces against Rohingya Muslims and other ethnic minorities.
— Pattaya Mail
MRT allowed to go to Chiang Mai, Phangnga, Phuket
Bangkok’s subway operator has been allowed to invest in and run two light rail projects in Chiang Mai, Phangnga and Phuket worth a combined 52 billion baht.
— Bangkok Post
Bangkok meet fails to finalize draft on climate change rules
An international meeting in Bangkok fell short of its aim of completing fruitful preparations to help an agreement be reached in December on guidelines for implementing the 2015 Paris climate change agreement.
— Chiang Mai Mail/ AP
See here for more of today’s Thailand morning news
Vietnam morning news
Compiled by Sreypov Men @MenSreypov
Vietnam’s FDI up 9.2% to US$11.25b in August
Vietnam’s foreign direct investment (FDI) from January to August hit $11.25b which is a 9.2% YoY increase, the investment ministry said.
— SBR
Vietnam denies entry to rights advocates
Vietnam has denied entry to two prominent rights campaigners invited to attend this week’s World Economic Forum (WEF) on ASEAN 2018 in Hanoi, as the one-party communist state continues its hard line on critics of its dismal rights record.
— The Asean Post
Vietnam startups lack government support when it matters most
Vietnamese startups do not get the financial support they need from the government at the discovery and validation stages.
— Vietnam Insider
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 September 12 added by Digital Editor on
View all posts by Digital Editor →