Asean morning news

Compiled by Stella-maris Ewudolu          @stmarisewudolu

 

The US says China is blocking $2.5 trillion in South China Sea oil and gas
Tensions surrounding the South China Sea have always been largely about oil and natural gas.
— Quartz

Asean should guarantee safe return of Rohingyas to Myanmar
Asean has a lot of work to do for the sake of its own relevancy as Myanmar and Bangladesh make another attempt to repatriate thousands of Muslim Rohingyas to strife-torn Rakhine state.
— The Phnom Penh Post

Southeast Asia weaves Smart Cities Network
The 10 member states of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (Asean) decided in this capital to prepare for the construction of a network of smart cities in the region.
— Prensa Latina

EU, Germany to provide $9M Asean fund
The EU and Germany have committed to help strengthen Cambodia’s economic integration with Asean member states by providing a €9.35 million ($10.5 million) fund to boost the Kingdom’s trade and investment in the region.
— The Phnom Penh Post

ASEAN steps back in efforts to mediate inter-Korean tensions
ASEAN is eyeing a smaller role in mediating peace on the Korean Peninsula, with officials potentially backtracking on President Joko “Jokowi” Widodo’s previous plan to invite North Korean leader Kim Jong-un to an ASEAN-South Korea summit later this year.
— The Jakarta Post (paywall)

Trade war hammers foreign investment in China and Southeast Asia
Corporate foreign direct investment, the driver of globalization, is slowing, reflecting weakened business sentiment amid a global trend toward protectionism.
— Nikkei Asian Review (paywall)

US, Asean to hold first joint maritime exercises
The United States and 10 South-east Asian states will hold their first joint maritime exercises next month aimed at preventing “wrongdoing” as Washington and Beijing jostle for influence in the region.
— The Straits Times

Commentary: Reborn from ashes of independence, Timor-Leste rebuilds 20 years on
This month, Timor-Leste is in a festive mood, celebrating the 20th anniversary of its independence referendum.
— CNA

ASEAN lawmakers: Free De Lima, drop charges vs opposition
Asian legislators as well as members of liberal and democratic parties in the region are seeking the release of jailed opposition Senator Leila de Lima and the dropping of “politically motivated” charges against other opposition leaders.
— Rappler

Establishment of ASEAN bamboo network endorsed at Iloilo congress
Environment officials, scientists, and researchers in Southeast Asia have agreed to establish a regional network that will explore the vast potential of bamboo for environmental sustainability and economic resiliency amid a changing climate.
— Manila Bulletin

Japan’s midsize drugmakers find niche in richer Southeast Asians
Second-tier Japanese drugmakers are chasing growth in Southeast Asia as the region’s economic development fuels demand for brand-name drugs to treat such ailments as diabetes and high blood pressure.
— Nikkei Asian Review (paywall)

Is China using ASEAN for its gambling fix?
While at first glance the news that China has asked the Philippines to ban online gambling may seem like just another sign of its growing involvement in the region, a quick scan of regional newspapers soon makes it obvious that the Asian superpower needs all the help it can get to battle its own gambling problem.
— The Asean Post

Cari: Asean should emulate China’s GBA eco-civilisation concept
I have recently been working in the Greater Bay Area (GBA), evaluating how the concept of the “eco-civilisation” — an objective of the Chinese central government — can be applied to the region, given the bold plans to leverage the strong blend of features the various cities in it possess.
— The Edge Markets

Weaving economic empowerment with South-east Asia’s heritage
MAYBANK Foundation is presenting a travelling exhibition, Entwine: Maybank Women Eco-Weavers meets Southeast Asian Artists, of contemporary artworks by six South-east Asian artists who were inspired by the cultural history and art of the region’s weaving heritage.
— The Business Times

12th Conference on ASEAN Traditional Chinese Medicine
The Ministry of Public Health is promoting traditional Chinese medicine as an alternative treatment in Thailand, with the opening of the World Federation of Chinese Medicine Societies’ Center in Thailand, to strengthen the field of traditional Chinese medicine in Thailand.
— NBT World (video)

Sabah revives barter trading with Philippines, Indonesia
Sabah will conduct barter trading of non-subsidized cooking oil with the Philippines and Indonesia next week, says Chief Minister Datuk Seri Mohd Shafie Apdal on Saturday (Aug 24).
— Inquirer.net

Moon to visit Thailand, Myanmar, Laos next week
South Korean President Moon Jae-in plans to make a tour of Thailand, Myanmar and Laos as part of his key diplomatic initiative of strengthening Seoul’s partnerships with Southeast Asian nations, Cheong Wa Dae said Sunday.
— Yonhap News

Cambodia morning news

Compiled by Raksmey Khoem          @raksmey.aecnews

 

US Military Official Confirms China Deal to Use Cambodian Naval Base
CAMP H. M. SMITH, Hawaii – A senior U.S. Indo-Pacific Command officer August 15 confirmed Cambodia and China are proceeding on a base for China’s navy in the Southeast Asian country’s Preah Sihanouk province.
— VOA

Cambodia, Laos agree to pull back troops from undemarcated border area
Cambodian Prime Minister Samdech Techo Hun Sen said he had held a telephone conversation with his Lao counterpart Thongloun Sisoulith on Saturday morning, reaching an agreement to withdraw both sides’ troops from an undemarcated border area.
— Xinhua

Official sacked for land grabbing
Ministry of Justice undersecretary of state, Seng Sovannara was sacked today after he was investigated by the Ministries of Interior and Environment over alleged land grabbing in protected areas in Mondolkiri province.
— Khmer Times

See here for more of today’s Cambodia morning news

Indonesia morning news

Compiled by Justhine De Guzman Uy         @justhine.aecnews

 

Why Indonesia Is Shifting Its Capital From Jakarta
Jakarta is soon to become an ex-capital city. Indonesia is planning to move its administrative headquarters from its richest island of Java to the forest island of Borneo.
— Bloomberg

Defense budget the biggest, mostly for personnel spending
The government has again increased the budget for the Defense Ministry, making it the ministry with the biggest budget allocation in the 2020 state budget.
— The Jakarta Post

Police chiefs to be removed for failure to handle forest fires: Minister
The government is ramping up efforts to prevent and douse forest and land fires amid close scrutiny from neighboring countries as the Indonesia is expecting the dry season to peak within the next two months.
— The Jakarta Post

See here for more of today’s Indonesia morning news

Lao PDR morning news

Compiled by Raksmey Khoem           @raksmey.aecnews

 

World Bank: Lao current account deficit remains high
Loas’ current account deficit is expected to widen to 12 per cent this year as imports are projected to grow faster than exports, according to a recent report from the World Bank.
— The Phnom Penh Post

Laos Troops Have Encroached on Cambodian Soil, Army Says
Laotian troops have been encroaching on Cambodian territory in the border province of Preah Vihear for more than a week, with Laos claiming the territory as its own, military officials said on Friday.
— VOD

Cambodia Playing up Border Tensions With Laos to Distract From Sam Rainsy Return: Analysts
Tensions along the border between Cambodia and Laos are likely being exaggerated by Cambodia’s government as part of a bid to distract the public from the impending return of acting opposition Cambodia National Rescue Party (CNRP) chief Sam Rainsy from self-imposed exile, analysts said Friday.
— RFA

See here for more of today’s Lao morning news

Malaysia morning news

Compiled by Sreypov Men           @MenSreypov

 

Detailed assessment of Perak-Penang raw water transfer project
The Public-Private Partnership (PPP) Unit will carry out a detailed assessment of the project to transfer raw water from Sungai Perak to Penang.
— The Sun Daily

Sabah to launch barter trade system for non-subsidised cooking oil products, says CM
The Sabah government will launch the barter trade system for non-subsidised cooking oil products with Indonesia and the Philippines next week, said Chief Minister Datuk Seri Mohd Shafie Apdal.
— Malay Mail

PM’s official visit to boost M’sia-Vietnam trade
Prime Minister Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad’s three day official visit here starting tomorrow is expected to further strengthen relations between Malaysia and Vietnam, while opening up opportunities to increase bilateral trade to reach the US$15 billion (RM62.82 billion) mark next year.
— New Straits Times

See here for more of today’s Malaysia Morning News

Myanmar morning news

Compiled by Sreypov Men           @MenSreypov

 

‘We are hostages’: Two years on, Rohingya still in Myanmar trapped by new war
When Myanmar officials toured refugee camps in Bangladesh last month, inviting Rohingya Muslims who fled the country to return, they brought with them pamphlets adorned with cartoons showing hijab-wearing women passing through checkpoints and happily grasping identity cards.
— Channel NewsAsia

Banks, military are main buyers of government debt
A senior Central Bank of Myanmar (CBM) official said an average of 97 percent of the auction of government debt papers is sold to a group of local banks as well as the CBM and MEHCL. “CBM and MEHCL always purchase major portions of the debt issued,” the official added.
— Myanmar Times

200,000 Rohingya rally to mark ‘Genocide Day’ in Bangladesh camps
Some 200,000 Rohingya rallied in a Bangladesh refugee camp to mark two years since they fled a violent crackdown by Myanmar forces, just days after a second failed attempt to repatriate the refugees.
— Frontier Myanmar

See here for more of today’s Myanmar morning news

Philippines morning news

Compiled by Stella-maris Ewudolu          @stmarisewudolu

 

Beijing not likely to change position on South China Sea – Chinese foreign ministry spokesman
Beijing’s position on the South China Sea arbitration ruling “has not changed a bit” even if President Rodrigo Duterte intends to raise the issue when he meets with Chinese President Xi Jinping during his official visit to Beijing this week.
— Manila Bulletin

2 dead as tropical storm Bailu hits northern Philippines
At least two people died and two others were injured after severe tropical storm Bailu barrelled through parts of the Philippine main Luzon island on Saturday, local disaster officials said.
— Xinhuanet

Disputed sea code of conduct a ‘trap’
SUPREME Court (SC) Senior Associate Justice Antonio Carpio warned that the code of conduct on the South China Sea is a “trap”.
— Sun Star

See here for more of today’s Philippines morning news

Singapore morning news

Compiled by Justhine De Guzman Uy         @justhine.aecnews

 

Commentary: How effectively can Singapore adapt to sea level rise?
Even as Singapore strives to adapt to rising sea levels, let’s not win that battle yet end up losing the larger war against climate change, says the Singapore Management University’s Winston Chow.
— Channel NewsAsia (very annoying popups)

21% more mosquito breeding habitats destroyed in 2018 through use of Gravitrap system
The National Environment Agency (NEA) on Friday (Aug 23) said that its Gravitrap system – which is designed to attract and trap female Aedes mosquitoes looking for sites to lay their eggs – enabled it to detect and destroy 21 per cent more breeding habitats in 2018 compared to the previous year.
— Channel NewsAsia (very annoying popups)

Singapore’s core inflation falls to more than 3-year low in July
Singapore’s core inflation in July eased to its slowest pace in more than three years, falling below economists’ forecasts.
— Channel News Asia (very annoying popups)

See here for more of today’s Singapore morning news

Thailand morning news

Compiled by John Le Fevre          @photo_journ

 

Comatose suspected insurgent dies after 35 days in hospital
Abdulloh Esor Musor, a suspected insurgent being held in military custody for questioning after his arrest on July 20th, died early Sunday morning.
— Thai PBS News

Thailand to roll out plastic bag-gobbling robots
Thailand’s Department of Marine and Coastal Resources is developing an AI robot to trap debris before it reaches the sea so as to prevent loss of marine life to plastic bags.
— SGGP

Four airlines allow fresh fruit packs on flights free of charge
The Ministry of Commerce has arranged with four airlines to allow passengers to carry a maximum of 20 kilograms of fresh fruit on individual flights free of charge.
— Pattaya Mail

See here for more of today’s Thailand morning news

Vietnam morning news

Compiled by Sreypov Men           @MenSreypov

 

Vietnamese shrimp exporters enjoy zero taxes to US
The US Department of Commerce (DOC) on August 22 released the final results of the 13th period of review (POR 13), officially imposing zero percent tariffs on 31 Vietnamese shrimp exporters.
— VietnamPlus

Vietnam to see strong growth in 2019, unlikely to face US tariffs: reports
VIETNAM is expected to be one of the world’s fastest growing economies in 2019, and a key destination for manufacturers relocating due to trade tensions between the United States and China, said UOB economists in a report last week.
— The Business Times

Chinese survey ship inches closer to Vietnam coastline
A Chinese survey vessel yesterday extended its activities to an area closer to Vietnam’s coastline, ship tracking data showed, after the United States and Australia expressed concern about China’s actions in the disputed waterways.
— The Straits Times

See here for more of today’s Vietnam morning news

 

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