Asean morning news
Compiled by Stella-maris Ewudolu @stmarisewudolu
Australia pledges US$55 million to fight human trafficking in Southeast Asia
Australia pledged US$55 million to fight human trafficking in Southeast Asia on Thursday (Aug 1), vowing to tackle “modern slavery” ensnaring vulnerable populations across the region, from low-paid workers to underage brides and Rohingya refugees.
— CNA
Asean eerily silent on Uighurs
Following years of condemnation by human rights groups, and periodic criticism by a range of governments across the world, 22 mostly European and Western nations on July 8 co-signed a letter to the United Nations Human Rights Council regarding China’s ill-treatment of its Uighur population and other Muslim and minority communities in Xinjiang province.
— Bangkok Post
Pompeo says US not asking ASEAN allies to ‘choose’ on China
US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo insisted Thursday that Washington was not asking Southeast Asian nations to “choose” between his country and rival power China, as he trailed a rebooted security and trade strategy at a Bangkok summit.
— GMA News
Washington Tells Southeast Asian Nations to Oppose China’s ‘Coercion’ in Disputed Sea
U.S. Secretary of State Mike Pompeo urged Southeast Asian nations Thursday to speak out against what he called “Chinese coercion” in the South China Sea, although he emphasized that Washington was not asking them to “choose” between the United States and Beijing.
— Radio Free Asia
U.S. secretary of state criticizes China’s dams on Mekong River
U.S. Secretary of State Mike Pompeo on Thursday criticized China’s dam-building on the Mekong River, saying its construction had left the crucial waterway at its lowest level in a decade in Southeast Asian countries downstream.
— Reuters
ASEAN’s Safe Migration Campaign comes up short
The ASEAN Safe Migration Campaign was launched in December 2018 at the ASEAN Secretariat in Jakarta.
— East Asia Forum
Asean to navigate choppy waters on own terms: Vivian Balakrishnan
Big-power rivalry has turned the waters choppy, but Asean plans to navigate them on its own terms, Singapore Foreign Minister Vivian Balakrishnan stressed yesterday.
— The Straits Times (paywall)
Pompeo touts US support for Asean
US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo has pledged the United States’ unwavering support for the Asean Outlook on the Indo-Pacific that was ratified during the 34th Asean Summit in Bangkok in June.
— Bangkok Post
ASEAN manufacturing purchasing managers’ index, July (2019)
BUSINESS for manufacturers marked July with the strongest improvement in six months — though still described as “moderate” — on the back of sales and job growth, according to results of the latest survey IHS Markit conducted for Nikkei, Inc., keeping the country in third place behind Myanmar and Vietnam among seven tracked Southeast Asian economies.
— BusinessWorld Online
Asean FMs want redoubled efforts to conclude RCEP talks
The foreign ministers from Asean (Association of Southeast Asian Nations) countries have reiterated their commitment to concluding the Regional Comprehensive Economic Partnership (RCEP) negotiations within this year to reinvigorate international trade and uphold Asean centrality.
— Khmer Times
ASEAN must use diplomacy to defuse US-China tensions
This year’s annual meeting of foreign ministers from the Association of Southeast Nations, taking place in Bangkok now, has assumed greater significance than normal as U.S.-China friction has intensified and new tensions developed elsewhere in the region.
— Nikkei Asian Review (paywall)
Engagement with ASEAN will remain critical element of India’s Act East Policy: EAM Jaishankar
While speaking at ASEAN-India Ministerial Meeting in Bangkok, External Affairs Minister Subrahmanyam Jaishankar said, “Our Prime Minister’s enunciation at Shangri-La Dialogue in June 2018 of a free, open, inclusive and rules-based Indo-Pacific of which India is an important part, we warmly welcome ASEAN’s decision to articulate its own views of the concept.
— Business Standard
‘Southeast Asia brims with opportunities for startups’
Southeast Asian countries such as Thailand and Vietnam are well-known tourist destinations.
— Inquirer.net
Tackling key ASEAN issues
The ASEAN Secretariat held its 3rd ASEAN Media Forum in Bangkok, Thailand, and brought together about 30 media leaders and prominent bloggers from the 10 ASEAN member countries to dialogue with the region’s thought leaders on vital economic issues affecting the Association.
— The Asean Post
Closer China-ASEAN ties boon for global economy: experts
China and the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) have huge room to expand economic and trade cooperation and will contribute more to the global economy, experts said.
— Xinhuanet
Kingdom to host Asean ministerial meeting for environmental issues
Cambodia is set to host the 15th Asean Ministerial Meeting for the Environment from October 7-11 in Siem Reap province.
— The Phnom Penh Post
MICROSOFT, ASEAN FOUNDATION PARTNER MOE TO LAUNCH FUTURE READY ASEAN PLATFORM
IN AN effort to further STEM literacy in Malaysia and in line with the nationwide STEM4ALL initiative launched in March 2019 with the Education Performance and Delivery Unit (PADU), the Ministry of Education partnered with Microsoft (Malaysia) and the Asean Foundation to launch the Future Ready Asean platform.
— DNA
Click bots are the biggest fraud problem in fintech in SEA, report finds
Following its Southeast Asia ad fraud report that was published in June, advertizing tech cmpany AppsFlyer recently revealed more details on how app install and ad fraud continue to be prevalent in the region in its 2019 State of Mobile Fraud Report.
— krAsia
Cambodia morning news
Compiled by Justhine De Guzman Uy @justhine.aecnews
Cambodia welcomes $5b in investments in H1
The government approved $5.2 billion worth of investment in the first half of 2019, a 48.5 percent hike compared to the corresponding period last year, with officials claiming the figure reflects investors’ growing confidence in the country.
— Khmer Times
Health Ministry Bans Circulation of Unlicensed Medicine
Ministry of Health has officially banned the circulation, supply and use of a dietary medicine branded “NANO JAPAN CALCIUM FL/10ml” in Cambodia.
— AKP
Number of dengue cases drop in Kingdom
The Health Ministry yesterday said the number of dengue fever cases in the Kingdom has dipped over the past two weeks.
— Khmer Times
See here for more of today’s Cambodia morning news
Indonesia morning news
Compiled by Justhine De Guzman Uy @justhine.aecnews
Government injects funds worth Rp6.5 trillion into electricity firm
The Indonesian government has decided to inject Rp6.5 trillion in funds into state electricity company PT Perusahaan Listrik Negara (PLN) to strengthen its capital structure and boost capacity.
— Antara News
Jakarta Air Quality Index Worst in the World: AirVisual
Jakarta’s air quality today on Thursday, August 1st, at 11:30 Western Indonesia Times (WIB) is the worst it has ever been in terms of air quality compared to other major countries in the world.
— Tempo.co
KPK arrests executives of PT Angkasa Pura II, PT INTI
The Corruption Eradication Commission (KPK) has arrested five employees of state-owned enterprises and seized Rp 1 billion (US$70,847) worth of Singapore dollars.
— The Jakarta Post
See here for more of today’s Indonesia morning news
Lao PDR morning news
Compiled by Justhine De Guzman Uy @justhine.aecnews
Floods Cause Over 11 Billion Kip In Damages For Luang Pranang’s Nan
Damages caused by Tuesday’s floods in Nan district, Luang Prabang province have been estimated at over 11 billion kip, approximately US$1.2 million.
— KPL
All sectors of society urged to help prevent human trafficking
The government together with the United Nations is working with other countries to prevent human trafficking, with Laos making a serious effort to curb the practice.
— Vientiane Times (paywall)
Malnutrition remains a major challenge
Laos needs to improve its health standards and take action against malnutrition with the long-term aim of ending hunger in the face of the country’s high rate of poverty.
— Vientiane Times (paywall)
See here for more of today’s Lao morning news
Malaysia morning news
Compiled by Sreypov Men @MenSreypov
Penang to seek RM10b from Putrajaya for transport blueprint
Chief Minister Chow Kon Yeow said the state will send a “pleading” letter to Prime Minister Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad for RM10 billion to fund part of the Penang Transport Master Plan (PTMP).
— Malay Mail
Malaysian court sides with forced labour victims over unpaid wages
An undocumented domestic worker has the right to pursue her claim for unpaid wages in Malaysia, a court has ruled, setting a legal precedent migrant rights groups said would help protect human trafficking survivors.
— Thomson Reuters Foundation
Indonesia forest fires spark haze warnings in Malaysia
The west coast of Peninsular Malaysia and western Sarawak have begun to experience haze due to forest fires in Indonesia, Malaysia’s Meteorological Department said on Thursday (Aug 1).
— Channel NewsAsia
See here for more of today’s Malaysia Morning News
Myanmar morning news
Compiled by Sreypov Men @MenSreypov
Latest CBM ruling seen as setback for cashless transactions
An announcement from the Central Bank of Myanmar (CBM) disallowing the use of prepaid cards in the local currency is a step backwards for cashless transactions, industry observers said.
— Myanmar Times
CPI hits 154.56 pc in late June
Consumer Price Index (CPI) reached 154.56 per cent in late June, up 9.51 per cent compared with the same period last year, according to the report on the CPI and inflation rate issued by the Central Statistical Organization (CSO).
— Eleven Myanmar
UN report criticises Myanmar over child soldier recruitment
A United Nations report on children and armed conflict issued Tuesday takes Myanmar to task for its failures in preventing the recruitment of children by the military in 2018 and in holding those responsible accountable for their actions, RFA reported.
— BNI Online
See here for more of today’s Myanmar morning news
Philippines morning news
Compiled by Stella-maris Ewudolu @stmarisewudolu
Lift ban on Dengvaxia, doctors’ group urges DOH
A doctors’ group on Thursday, August 1, renewed its call for the Department of Health (DOH) to lift its ban on the Dengvaxia vaccine to help stem dengue outbreaks in some regions of the country.
— Rappler
Govt targets over P4-T tax revenues by 2022
THE government aims to raise more than P4 trillion in revenues by the end of the Duterte administration in 2022, with the bulk expected to be collected from the government’s comprehensive tax-reform packages.
— The Manila Times
‘Sin taxes’ seen to raise P370 B in 5 years
The proposed bill raising taxes on alcohol, heated tobacco products and e-cigarettes is expected to raise close to P370 billion over the next five years, addressing funding gap for health care services, according to Finance Undersecretary Karl Kendrick Chua.
— The Philippine Star
See here for more of today’s Philippines morning news
Singapore morning news
Compiled by John Le Fevre @photo_journ
Abuse by couple left maid, 39, disfigured and traumatised
Ms Khanifah, a mother of two from Indramayu, West Java, thinks people are disgusted when they see her. The 39-year-old has a deformed left ear, and permanent and prominent scars on her forehead, back of her head and across her shoulders.
— Straits Times (annoying popups)
STB chief aims to grow, anchor Mice events for the long haul
THE government wants to bring in the world’s top conferences and exhibitions to Singapore, but it’s not just a numbers game.
— The Business Times
Viaduct collapse trial: Cracks found one month before fatal PIE incident
Structural cracks were found on an uncompleted viaduct near Upper Changi Road about a month before it collapsed, killing one worker and injuring 10 others.
— Straits Times (annoying popups)
See here for more of today’s Singapore morning news
Thailand morning news
Compiled by John Le Fevre @photo_journ
Thai July headline CPI rises 0.98% y/y, slightly below forecast
Thailand’s annual headline consumer price index (CPI) rose 0.98% in July from a year earlier, slightly lower than a Reuters poll forecast of a 1% increase, and June’s 0.87% rise, commerce ministry data showed on Thursday.
— Reuters
Thailand plans larger budget deficit for fiscal 2020
Thailand is planning for larger budget deficit of 469 billion baht ($15.21 billion) for the fiscal year beginning on Oct. 1, the head of the budget bureau said on Thursday, as revenue slips and the new government strives to revive a slowing economy.
— Nasdaq
Thailand set to deliver first batch of medical marijuana
Thailand plans to distribute about 10,000 bottles of cannabis oil next week for hospital patients, a government official said on Thursday (Aug 1), the first official use of medical marijuana since a law legalizing it came into effect this year.
— CNA
See here for more of today’s Thailand morning news
Vietnam morning news
Compiled by Sreypov Men @MenSreypov
Vietnamese enterprises struggle to protect trademarks
In this era of economic integration, protecting trademarks means protecting the business, the Vietnam Chamber of Commerce and Industry chairman says.
— VnExpress
US investigates wind tower imports from Vietnam for dumping
The U.S. Department of Commerce has launched antidumping and countervailing duty investigations of wind towers imported from Vietnam and three other countries.
— VnExpress
Vietnam’s Bamboo Airways submits plan to triple fleet
Bamboo Airways (QH, Hanoi) is in the process of adding its maiden widebody aircraft, an ex-Vietnam Airlines A330-200. Going forward, the carrier is also eyeing leasing an A380-800 for its touted flights to the United States.
— Ch-avaition
See here for more of today’s Vietnam morning news
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Asean morning news for August 2 added by Digital Editor on
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