Asean morning news for September 28

Asean morning news

Compiled by Stella-maris Ewudolu @stmarisewudolu

NUS, Mahidol casualties of rising China & Malaysia: 2019 World University Rankings
The Times Higher Education (THE) World University Rankings are out for another year and while there’s some minor shuffling in the top 10, lower down the list where most Asean universities sit there’s some considerable disruption taking place.
— AEC News Today

Vietnamese government helping to steal rare Siamese rosewood says Phnom Penh
The government of Cambodia is accusing its Vietnamese counterpart of complicity in the illegal importation of increasingly scarce and highly valuable Siamese rosewood.
— AEC News Today

Industry 4.0 and a people-centric ASEAN
As the world moves into the era of the Fourth Industrial Revolution or Industry 4.0, governance at regional and global levels is a key issue to contend with.
— The Asean Post

Automation key to airports’ future
Although everyone in Southeast Asia can fly these days due to the proliferation of low-cost airlines, the experience is not necessarily pleasant with long queues and constantly having to present travel documents to different parties.
— The Asean Post

Asean consensus on South China Sea, sanctions on North Korea holding, says US Deputy Secretary of State
The United States is fully committed to the US-Asean strategic partnership, US Deputy Secretary of State John Sullivan said after co-chairing a US-Asean ministerial meeting on the sidelines of the UN General Assembly.
— The Straits Times

FTI Consulting Releases ASEAN Disclosure Index 2018
FTI Consulting, Inc. (NYSE:FCN) today announced the release of its ASEAN Disclosure Index 2018, which tracks corporate disclosure practices amongst 180 publicly listed corporations in the ASEAN region: Singapore, Malaysia, Thailand, Indonesia, the Philippines and Vietnam.1
— NASDAQ

Britain wants to continue ties with Asean after leaving EU: Malaysia
Britain has conveyed to Malaysia its wish to continue ties with Asean following the country’s decision to leave the European Union, says Foreign Minister Datuk Saifuddin Abdullah.
— The Nation

Asean should shift to risk-based assessments
TO the average person, “hazard” and “risk” may seem synonymous, both implying a threat that needs to be addressed. But they are substantively different in the food safety aspect.
— New Straits Times

CIMB’s ASEAN-China Halal Corridor initiative to help businesses tap into USD6.4 trillion global Halal market
CIMB Group Holdings Berhad (“the Group” or “CIMB”) today announced an initiative called the CIMB ASEAN-China Halal Corridor, an enhanced trade network linking Halal businesses across China and the region, by leveraging on CIMB’s strategic partnerships and strong ASEAN footprint.
— Salaamgateway

After Marawi: Time For Broader ASEAN Approach? – Analysis
Nearly a year after the Battle for Marawi ended, Philippine President Rodrigo Duterte’s martial law over Mindanao has not fully addressed the threat posed by other Islamic State-linked groups. Manila continues to grapple with the challenges of countering violent extremism (CVE). A series of bombings in Sultan Kudarat, North Cotabato, and South Cotabato by members of the Bangsamoro Islamic Freedom Fighters (BIFF) underscore the gaps in kinetic military approaches.
— Eurasiareview

Cambodia morning news

Compiled by Michael Johansen @mfjohansen47

Vietnamese government helping to steal rare Siamese rosewood says Phnom Penh
The government of Cambodia is accusing its Vietnamese counterpart of complicity in the illegal importation of increasingly scarce and highly valuable Siamese rosewood.
– AEC News Today

Kingdom mulls tax as e-commerce booms
The Cambodian government is studying the possibility of introducing a tax on e-commerce sales and designing policies to support the expansion of the sector, as online trade is accelerating economic growth in the Kingdom.
— Phnom Penh Post

ECCC to announce next verdict
The Extraordinary Chambers in the Courts of Cambodia on November 16 will announce its judgement on former Khmer Rouge leaders Nuon Chea and Khieu Samphan for case 002/02.
– Khmer Times

See here for more of today’s Cambodia morning news

Indonesia morning news

Compiled by Michael Johansen @mfjohansen47

Indonesia gains control of Grasberg mine
The Indonesian government yesterday signed a final and binding agreement to acquire a majority stake in one of the world’s largest gold and copper mines in Papua province.
– Straits Times

Indonesian government to hold weekly ‘fake news’ briefings
Indonesia’s communications ministry has announced plans to hold weekly briefings on fake news, in an effort to educate the public about the spread of disinformation in the world’s third-largest democracy.
— The Guardian

Indonesia, Cambodia ready to increase trade
Indonesia is striving to enhance trade with Cambodia by encouraging local businessmen to take part in a business meeting held in Phnom Penh on Thursday as part of efforts to penetrate the Cambodian market.
– Antara

See here for more of today’s Indonesia morning news

Lao PDR morning news

Compiled by Stella-maris Ewudolu @stmarisewudolu

Chinese railway engineering firms hand over 4 bridges to Laos
Chinese engineering companies, which are building China-Laos railway in northern Laos, have handed over four bridges to the Lao government.
– Xinhua

Construction of National Road 11 to begin this year
Work on a section of the National Road 11 section from Khok Khaodor-Nonsavanh villages to Xanakham district to Vang and Namsang villages is set to begin at the end of this year, with the construction to be completed in three years.
– Vientiane Times

Lao drug kingpin with celebrity links gets 2nd life sentence
A court in Thailand has given a second life sentence to a drug kingpin from Laos whose social connections to various celebrities were exposed by his arrest.
– Associated Press via Pattaya Mail

See here for more of today’s Lao morning news

Malaysia morning news

Compiled by Sreypov Men @MenSreypov

Najib to face several more charges relating to 1MDB: Malaysian police
Former Malaysian prime minister Najib Razak will face several more charges related to the 1Malaysia Development Berhad (1MDB) case, said Deputy Inspector-General of Police Noor Rashid Ibrahim on Thursday (Sep 27).
— Channel NewsAsia

Malaysia must promote new investment areas, says Jomo
Economist KS Jomo has advised authorities to take proactive measures to promote new areas of investment and production amid the escalating global trade conflict instead of simply signing trade agreements which do not benefit the country.
— FMT

See here for more of today’s Malaysia Morning News

Myanmar morning news

Compiled by Stella-maris Ewudolu @stmarisewudolu

Local fuel prices increase by over 17% in four months following dollar appreciation
Local fuel prices have increased by over 17 percent over the past four months due to dollar appreciation, according to filling stations.
— Eleven Myanmar

Telecommunications sector a bright spot for economy in 2018-19
Amid slowing demand in the economy, the Myanmar telecommunications sector is expected to be among the handful of sectors yielding opportunities for growth in the coming fiscal year.
— Myanmar Times

Rohingya crisis: New video of Myanmar military exposed
Fortify Rights today released a fresh video footage claiming it is proof that Myanmar authorities are responsible for crimes against Rohingya civilians in northern Rakhine State.
— The Daily Star (video)

See here for more of today’s Myanmar morning news

Philippines morning news

Compiled by Stella-maris Ewudolu @stmarisewudolu

Philippines Takes Strong Rate Action to Curb Soaring Prices
The Philippine central bank raised its benchmark interest rate by half a percentage point, stepping up a battle to curb inflation that will exceed its target for this year and next.
— Bloomberg

Philippines raises key rates again to fight inflation
The Philippines on Thursday raised key interest rates for the fourth time this year as it aims to tame inflation that has spiked to a nine-year high and shore up its tumbling currency.
— Channel NewsAsia

Raps filed vs group eyed in destab plot
Six people linked to a supposed destabilization plot were arrested and charged by the National Bureau of Investigation (NBI) yesterday.
— Philstar Global

See here for more of today’s Philippines morning news

Singapore morning news

Compiled by Michael Johansen @mfjohansen47

Feedback prompts changes to new crime-fighting powers for taxman
An upcoming bill to allow the taxman to investigate serious crimes will be tweaked to clarify how these powers can be exercised, following a public consultation earlier this year.
– Straits Times

New quantum space technologies: the UK and Singapore collaborate on £10m satellite project
The UK and Singapore are developing new quantum space technologies and are partnering to build and fly a satellite quantum key distribution (QKD) test bed.
– SciTech Europa

See here for more of today’s Singapore morning news

Thailand morning news

Compiled by John Le Fevre @photo_journ

Prayuth Upset by Prediction He’ll Lose Power in Election
Junta chairman Prayuth Chan-ocha has lashed out at a senior politician who suggested he will fail to hang onto power after elections promised for February.
— Khaosod English

20-year plan irreversible: PM
PRIME MINISTER Prayut Chan-o-cha staunchly defended his 20-year national strategy plan yesterday and warned that people should not allow politicians to scrap it, even as scholars expressed their fears it could be used to sabotage future governments.
— The Nation

See here for more of today’s Thailand morning news

Vietnam morning news

Compiled by Sreypov Men @MenSreypov

Petrolimex proposes halt to multi-billion-dollar refinery project
The Viet Nam National Petroleum Group (Petrolimex) asked the Government for permission to halt the Nam Van Phong oil refinery project on Tuesday, local media reported.
— VietnamNet Bridge

Vietnam Issues New E-Invoices Decree
Vietnam recently issued Decree No.119/2018/ND-CP (“Decree 119”) on the use of electronic invoices (e-invoices) for the sale of goods and services. Through Decree 119 which will be in effect from November 1, 2018, the government is aiming that at least 90 percent of the firms will use e-invoices by 2020.
— Vietnam Briefing

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.