Asean morning news for September 24,

Asean morning news

Compiled by Stella-maris Ewudolu @stmarisewudolu

What good is Asean, Indonesia wonders
Does the Association of Southeast Asian Nations matter? The question has been asked many times since Indonesia, Malaysia, Philippines, Singapore and Thailand first came together under that banner more than 50 years ago.
— SCMP

Govt mulls plan for 1 visa, 5 cities
The plan for a single vias for “Five Chiang Cities” will be propo to spur tourism among four countries in the Mekong Region and add quality tourists to Chiang Mai and Chiang Rai provinces of Thailand.
— Bangkok Post

Seafood exports to ASEAN expected to reach 1 billion USD
With its continuous growth over the past 10 years, ASEAN has become an important market for Vietnamese seafood, and the prospect of 1 billion USD worth of yearly seafood export revenue is reachable.
— Vietnam Plus

Taiwan may expand citizenship to Southeast Asia to staunch brain drain to the mainland
Taiwan, battling a severe brain drain to the mainland, plans to offer citizenship to students and skilled workers from Southeast Asian nations under proposed legislation that will head to the self-ruled island’s lawmakers for review and a vote next month.
— South China Morning Post

Singapore youth hold negative perceptions of Asean neighbours: Survey
These were some of the first things that came to mind when TODAY asked young Singaporeans what they thought of Southeast Asia.
— New Straits Times (video)

A glimpse of the Asean ICT landscape
Information and communications technology has come a long way in support of small and medium enterprises in the Association of Southeast Asian Nations.
— Manilastanadard.net

Asean rules out formal meet with India in Nov
When India invited 10 Asean leaders for Republic Day, it did not reckon that Asean would refuse to hold a second summit with India in November.
— Times of India

CIMB the only Asean bank in top 100 most diverse and inclusive organisations’ list
CIMB Group Holdings Bhd has been named one of the world’s top 100 most diverse and inclusive organisations in the Thomson Reuters’ Diversity & Inclusion (D&I) Index 2018, making it the sole Asean banking group in the list.
— The Edge Markets

Bombardier eyes Asean infrastructure
BOMBARDIER, the Canada-based manufacturer of planes and trains, expects strong growth in its business in Asean countries due to expanding investment in infrastructure projects in the region.
— The Nation

Number of Asian children dying before their 5th birthday
Although there has been a remarkable decrease in the death rate of children under five in Asia, there are many countries in the region that are still struggling to contain the mortality rate and provide a better survival for the children to stay alive beyond five.
— Inquirer.net

The Draft Code of Conduct for the South China Sea Has Significant Political Ramifications for ASEAN
The recent ASEAN-China agreement on a Single Draft Negotiating Text (SDNT) for a Code of Conduct for the South China Sea (COC) has significant ramifications for intra-ASEAN, China -ASEAN and China-US relations.
— Asean Today

Regional CSOs Boycott Mekong River Forum Over Opposition to Lao Dam
Thai and Cambodian civil society organizations rejected an invitation from the Lao government to attend a regional stakeholder forum on the Pak Lay dam, saying that the prior notification and consultation procedures for the controversial hydropower project are not transparent.
— Radio Free Asia

Deep tech in Southeast Asia
Technology today is widely associated with the digital realm – computers, the internet, mobile device, and smartphones, – just to name a few, which has seen the mushrooming of a myriad of tech startups.
— The Asean Post

NATIONAL GEOGRAPHIC HILLTRIBES & ANCIENT CULTURES OF VIETNAM, LAOS & CAMBODIA
This exclusive active journey for National Geographic Expeditions takes you from northern Vietnam, to Luang Prabang and into Cambodia.
— National Geographic

Asian firms shuffle production as China tariffs hit
A growing number of Asian manufacturers of products ranging from memory chips to machine tools are moving to shift production from China to other factories in the region in the wake of US President Donald Trump’s tariffs on Chinese imports.
— Bangkok Post

Cross-border zone in North could boost trade links
The government is studying the feasibility of establishing a cross-border economic zone in the Golden Triangle under the Lancang-Mekong Cooperation scheme to expand economic links for Thailand, Myanmar, Laos and China.
— Bangkok Post

The cost of cooling down
Southeast Asia’s electricity consumption has been rising at an annual rate of 7.5 percent from 155.3 terawatt hours (TWh) in 1990 to 821.1 TWh in 2013, according to a white paper by the ASEAN Centre for Energy in the Spring 2016 issue of Cornerstone Journal.
— The Asean Post

Cambodia morning news

Compiled by Michael Johansen @mfjohansen47

James Ricketson flies home to Sydney after more than a year in Cambodian jail
Australian filmmaker James Ricketson has touched down on Australian soil after Cambodian authorities pardoned his espionage conviction and deported him from the kingdom.
— ABC News

Ministry holds workshop on ASF control
The recent outbreak of African Swine Fever (ASF) in China has put the Kingdom’s authorities on alert, with Cambodia’s Ministry of Agriculture on Thursday holding a workshop on the measures to be taken in order to keep the Kingdom free of the disease.
— Phnom Penh Post

Foreign Ministry Releases PM’s Schedules in New York
Cambodia’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation has released schedules of Prime Minister Samdech Akka Moha Sena Padei Techo Hun Sen during his visit in New York to attend the 73rd Session of the UN General Assembly and its relevant meetings from Sept. 27-30, 2018.
— Agence Kampuchea Presse

See here for more of today’s Cambodia morning news

Indonesia morning news

Compiled by Michael Johansen @mfjohansen47

Indonesia presidential contenders vow peaceful campaign
Campaigning for Indonesia’s presidential election officially began Sunday with the two contenders releasing white doves and vowing a peaceful race as concerns simmer the campaign will sharpen religious and ethnic divides.
— Associated Press

Amazon plans 14 trillion-rupiah investment in Indonesia
American tech giant Amazon is planning a 14 trillion-rupiah (SS1.3 billion) foray into Indonesia, in another major investment in the South-east Asian digital economy.
— The Straits Times

Indonesian authorities taking on aggressive Chinese online lenders
Indonesian authorities have generally opened their arms to fintech companies offering online loans in Southeast Asia’s biggest economy, viewing them as a way of getting credit to tens of millions of people often unable to access bank lending.
— DealstreetAsia

See here for more of today’s Indonesia morning news

Lao PDR morning news

Compiled by Stella-maris Ewudolu @stmarisewudolu

US supports ongoing UXO clearance efforts with US$14.5 million
The United States government has confirmed continued support of US$14.5 million for MAG Laos to conduct survey and unexploded ordnance (UXO) clearance operations in seven target districts of Xieng Khuang province.
— Vientiane Times

Activists push for Pak Lay Dam studies
Environmental activists are urging Laos and the Mekong River Commission to halt the Pak Lay Hydropower project until all stakeholders can rigorously assess the project’s environmental and social impacts.
— Khmer Times

China-Laos railway completes first continuous beam block construction on Mekong River
The concrete casting for the first block of the Luang Prabang cross-Mekong River super major bridge’ continuous beam along the China-Laos Railway was completed on Sept. 17, the Chinese contractor told Xinhua on Saturday.
— Xinhua

See here for more of today’s Lao morning news

Malaysia morning news

Compiled by Sreypov Men @MenSreypov

Shipping firms urged to work around trade tariffs, restrictions
Container shipping firms along with other players in the cabotage industry have been urged to persevere and find ways to work around trade tariffs, import restrictions and trade embargoes to sustain their business in an industry that is already in distress having to contend with numerous pre-existing challenges.
— The Borneo Post

ECRL contractor seeking investment opportunities in Malaysia
China Communications Construction Company (CCCC) is transforming from an engineering, procurement, construction and commissioning (EPCC) contractor to an investor, developer and operation service provider, says its vice-president Sun Ziyu.
— FMT

Kidnappers expected to strike again in Sabah as militants seek funds for terror activities
A sense of unease has overcome parts of the east Malaysian state of Sabah on Borneo island after a kidnapping incident off the waters of the coastal town of Semporna last week (Sep 11).
— Channel NewsAsia

See here for more of today’s Malaysia Morning News

Myanmar morning news

Compiled by Stella-maris Ewudolu @stmarisewudolu

Ministry to distribute LPG to one million households in 2020
In a bid to reduce the use of firewood and charcoal through the extensive use of Liquefied Petroleum Gas (LPG) and promote health and social standards of the rural people, Ministry of Electricity and Energy will distribute LPG to one million households in 2020, said Win Khaing, Union Minister for Electricity and Energy.
— Eleven

Govt mulls plan for 1 visa, 5 cities
The plan for a single vias for “Five Chiang Cities” will be propo to spur tourism among four countries in the Mekong Region and add quality tourists to Chiang Mai and Chiang Rai provinces of Thailand.
— Bangkok Post

Coal plan sparks ire as Myanmar struggles to keep lights on
Opposition to a planned $3 billion coal-fired power plant in eastern Myanmar is highlighting the challenges facing ’s government in crafting a coherent energy policy in one of Asia’s poorest and most electricity-starved countries.
— Lakeland Observer

See here for more of today’s Myanmar morning news

Philippines morning news

Compiled by Stella-maris Ewudolu @stmarisewudolu

Typhoon Paeng enters Philippines, may affect Northern Luzon
Typhoon Paeng entered the Philippine area of responsibility yesterday and is expected to hit extreme Northern Luzon this weekend.
— The Philippine Star

Philippine Inflation Could Rise To 7%, Only Lagging Myanmar’s In ASEAN
Filipinos are increasingly forced to tighten their belts in the wake of a continued high inflation rate which reached 6.4 per cent in August and could exceed seven per cent in September, according to analysts’ estimates.
— Investvine

Mangkhut toll 155 in Philippines
At least 155 people have been killed in landslides and other accidents caused by Typhoon Mangkhut and monsoon rains in the Philippines.
— News.com.au

See here for more of today’s Philippines morning news

Singapore morning news

Compiled by Michael Johansen @mfjohansen47

See here for more of today’s Singapore morning news

Thailand morning news

Compiled by John Le Fevre @photo_journ

Chinese mainland tourists to Thailand drop 11 percent in August
Chinese mainland tourists to Thailand dropped 11.77 percent in August compared with the same month last year, according to Thailand’s Ministry of Tourism and Sports statistics.
— Xinhuanet

Legalized medicinal cannabis proposals
Invoking Article 44 of the interim constitution to legalize medical marijuana is merely an idea raised by the academic sector, says Deputy Prime Minister ACM Prajin Juntong.
— NNT

Thai healthcare gets a global nod of approval
THE PRIME MINISTER yesterday praised the country for “leapfrogging” the global healthcare efficiency rankings, but health activists called for higher funding to ensure sustainability.
— The Nation

See here for more of today’s Thailand morning news

Vietnam morning news

Compiled by Sreypov Men @MenSreypov

Vietnam to hold two-day state funeral in tribute to President Tran Dai Quang
Vietnam has announced to hold a state funeral for President Tran Dai Quang, who passed away Friday, on September 26 and 27. President Quang died, aged 62, at the 108 Military Hospital in Hanoi on Friday morning, after fighting a serious illness for more than a year.
— Vietnam Insider

Vietnam to increase environment tax on fuel
The National Assembly’s Standing Committee decided at a meeting Thursday to hike the environment tax on fuel from next year.
— VnExpress

Work starts on US$49.75 million solar power plant in Long An
The European Plastic Joint Stock Company (Europlast) held a groundbreaking ceremony for the 50MWp Europlast Long An solar power plant in Duc Hue district’s My Thanh Bac commune in the Mekong Delta province of Long An on September 21.
— Nhan Dan Online

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.