Asean morning news for July 3

Asean morning news

Compiled by Stella-maris Ewudolu @stmarisewudolu

Livelihoods of millions in East and Southeast Asia at risk from Swine Fever epidemic
FAO has received reports that ASF has led to income losses in the affected countries, where tens of millions of households are engaged in pig farming – in China, the world’s largest pig meat producer, the figure is some 130 million – both because of the animal losses, and attempts by governments to stem the spread of the disease, which include limitations on the transportation and sales of live pigs and pork products.
— UN News

AirAsia adopts Workday cloud tech to manage 22,000 global employees
Southeast Asia’s largest budget carrier, AirAsia, is adopting cloud technology to manage the company’s 22,000 employees across the region as part of its digital transformation.
— The Jakarta Post

US welcomes ‘ASEAN outlook on the Indo-Pacific’
The United States welcomed the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) Outlook on the Indo-Pacific adopted during a leader’s summit in Thailand’s capital city Bangkok on June 23.
— Business Standard

ASEAN summit seeks certainty amid change
The recently wrapped-up ASEAN summit brought to the fore issues surrounding security, society and culture in Southeast Asia with the theme “Advancing Partnership for Sustainability” underpinning discussions in the Thai capital Bangkok.
— Global Times

Australia seeks to bolster relations with ASEAN
Australia is seeking to bolster ties with ASEAN member countries as the regional grouping introduced its Indo-Pacific geostrategic concept at the ASEAN Summit in Bangkok last week, emphasizing its centrality in the region.
— The Jakarta Post (paywall)

ASEAN: Next Generation Episode 4 Full Show
The average age in ASEAN is 29. Millennials are creating a whole new consumer class.
— Bloomberg (video)

Examining online fraud in Southeast Asia (Infographic)
Young consumers, high mobile penetration, and an increase in disposable income are driving ecommerce growth in Southeast Asia.
— Tech in Asia

Air Asia loyalty program email scams on the loose again
AirAsia Big Loyalty CEO Spencer Lee has issued an alert on the airline’s corporate website about an email scam.
— The Thaiger

Additive Manufacturing to generate US$100 billion economic value in ASEAN by 2025
thyssenkrupp today presented a white paper on additive manufacturing (AM) potential in the ASEAN region, a comprehensive research undertaken by the company as a prelude to the official launch of its AM TechCenter Hub in Singapore.
— AEC News Today/ PR Newswire (media release)

Mastercard and ASEAN launch ‘Feel the Warmth’ campaign to promote Southeast Asia
Mastercard and ASEAN National Tourism Organisations (ASEAN NTOs) have joined forces to promote Southeast Asia through a campaign that celebrates the region’s beautiful geography, rich culture and heritage sites, as well as the gracious hospitality that is hallmark of its residents.
— ETBrandEquity.com

Investors are excited about Southeast Asia. Here’s their advice for start-ups
Silicon Valley has long been the epicenter of global start-up innovation, spawning some of the world’s biggest and best-loved companies.
— CNBC

Thailand Fortifies Cybersecurity for a Seamless ASEAN Connected to the World
“Seamlessly connected” is how ASEAN aspires to facilitate and expand people-to-people interactions among its diverse population and build a common community with a shared sense of ownership.
— AEC News Today/ PR Newswire

A New Definition for Southeast Asia
Austronesian Asia? Nusantaria? These are not familiar terms. Yet they define the common bonds of some 400 million people whose ancestors for several millennia occupied the islands and nearby coasts more commonly known as “Maritime Southeast Asia.”
— Asia Sentinel

Cambodia and Vietnam in the US-China Trade War: Not All Good News
With China’s demographic dividend gradually disappearing in recent years, production costs have soared in the world’s second largest economy.
— The Diplomat

Cambodia morning news

Compiled by Justhine De Guzman Uy @justhine.aecnews

Calls for stronger measures to protect children from online threats
The Cambodia National Council for Children has appealed to all stakeholders to tackle online child sexual abuse and exploitation, noting that internet use in Cambodia is flourishing.
— Khmer Times

Cambodia Launches New Website on Climate Change
The Ministry of Environment’s National Council for Sustainable Development has launched here recently its official website to share knowledge on climate change with the public.
— AKP

African Swine Fever Spreads to Cambodia’s Tbong Khmum
African swine fever hit Tbong Khmum province, about 150km east of Phnom Penh, sharing an international border with Vietnam.
— Fresh News Asia

See here for more of today’s Cambodia morning news

Indonesia morning news

Compiled by Justhine De Guzman Uy @justhine.aecnews

Indonesia sends more toxic waste, trash back to US, Europe, Australia
The Batam Customs Office is sending 49 containers proven to contain toxic waste and trash back to their countries of origin, including the United States, Australia, and several European nations, upon receiving a recommendation letter from the Environment and Forestry Ministry on Monday.
— The Jakarta Post

Indonesia warns of rubber disease outbreak as farmers cut back on crop maintenance
Some rubber farmers in Sumatra and Kalimantan are seeing production decline due to a fungal disease, Indonesia’s Coordinating Ministry for Economic Affairs said in a statement late on Monday
— Yahoo News/ Reuters

BPPT uses artificial rain to overcome forest fires
he Technology Assessment and Application Agency (BPPT) uses weather modification technology, better known as artificial rain, to overcome drought and forest and land fires (karhutla) in the Riau region.
— Antara News

See here for more of today’s Indonesia morning news

Lao PDR morning news

Compiled by Justhine De Guzman Uy @justhine.aecnews

Concerns nation may not achieve five-year economic plan
A lower economic growth rate has sparked concerns that Laos may not meet the average targeted rate of 7.2 percent as part of the country’s five-year economic development plan for 2016-2020.
— Vientiane Times

Forecasters warn of heavy rains
Weather forecasters are warning of strong wind gusts and heavy rain across the different regions of Laos during July 2-5
— Vientiane Times (paywall)

Govt prioritises examination of dam standards, safety
The inspection of hydropower projects is at the top of the agenda for the Lao government to ensure the safety of all dams, a senior official has confirmed.
— Vientiane Times

See here for more of today’s Lao morning news

Malaysia morning news

Compiled by Sreypov Men @MenSreypov

MAHB says ready to proceed with expansion of Penang airport, to submit plans by end of July
Malaysia Airports Holdings Bhd (MAHB) is ready to proceed with its plan to expand the Penang International Airport after getting the approval from the Ministry of Finance.
— Malay Mail

Airbnb wants clearer guideline on tourism tax
Online hospitality service brokerage company, Airbnb Inc urged the government to provide a clearer guideline on tourism tax for its type of business.General manager for Southeast Asia, Hong Kong and Taiwan Mike Orgill said currently, there were some confusing issues, including on registration and tax.
— The Sun Daily

One million affordable houses in 10 years achievable
The government’s aim to build one million units of affordable houses in ten years is achievable, said the Real Estate and Housing Developers’ Association Malaysia (Rehda).
— New Sarawak Tribune

See here for more of today’s Malaysia Morning News

Myanmar morning news

Compiled by Sreypov Men @MenSreypov

MIC gives nod to 12 local and foreign investments
Myanmar Investment Commission has allowed 12 local and foreign investments worth over 174 million US dollars and over 62 billion in Kyats, at its meeting No.1/2019.
— Eleven Myanmar

Myanmar Villagers Get 14 Months Hard Labor For 2018 Protest Over Chinese Cement Plant
Four villagers in central Myanmar’s Mandalay region were sentenced to 14 months in prison with hard labor Tuesday for their roles in a July 2018 protest against a Chinese cement factory, the local court and the villagers said.
— Radio Free Asia

UN Forced to Face Its Track Record of Failure in Myanmar
On the Rohingya crisis, the government must prepare to work with ASEAN and others, but ultimately the solution will have to come from within.
— Irrawaddy

See here for more of today’s Myanmar morning news

Philippines morning news

Compiled by Stella-maris Ewudolu @stmarisewudolu

DOJ: Impeachment case filers vs Duterte can’t be arrested
Justice Secretary Menardo Guevarra said on Tuesday, July 2, that individuals who file an impeachment complaint against President Rodrigo Duterte will not be arrested because the act of filing a complaint is not a crime.
— Rappler

DBM delays 2020 budget submission
The Department of Budget and Management (DBM) will not submit to Congress the government’s proposed 2020 national budget a day after the President’s state of the nation address (SONA) but will do so later this month or before August 14.
— Manila Bulletin

Suicide attacks emerge in Philippines under Islamic State influence
A number of apparent suicide bombings in the Philippines over the past 12 months are a worrying escalation of militancy driven by the influence of Islamic State in Southeast Asia, security experts say.
— CNA

See here for more of today’s Philippines morning news

Singapore morning news

Compiled by John Le Fevre @photo_journ

Slow payments worsen for manufacturing sector in Q2
THE manufacturing sector had the worst slow payments deterioration in the second quarter, suggesting that the manufacturing recession is starting to hurt local firms’ cash flow and profitability, economists said.
— The Business Times

Singapore bucks regional M&A downtrend with 154% jump in H1 deal value
MERGERS and acquisitions (M&A) activity in most South-east Asian countries bucked the overall downtrend in the Asia-Pacific (Apac) ex-Japan for the first half this year, with Singapore recording US$17.1 billion in deals – a 154 per cent jump from a year ago.
— The Business Times

MOH to tobacco manufacturers: Standardised packaging or jail
After conducting an “extensive process” of review, research and several rounds of public consultations, MOH has directed all tobacco manufacturers, wholesalers, and retailers to conform to standardised packaging and enlarged graphic health warning requirements beginning Jul 1, 2020 or face jail time and a fine of up to S$10,000 if their products are found to violate the said standardised packaging guidelines.
— The Independent

See here for more of today’s Singapore morning news

Thailand morning news

Compiled by John Le Fevre @photo_journ

Factory employment declines but petroleum investment soars
Thailand’s factory employment in the first half of 2019 fell by 5.45% year-on-year to 92,262 workers, the Industrial Works Department said on Tuesday, as more companies move to replace workers with high-tech machinery.
— Bangkok Post

Opposition Alarmed by Prayuth’s ‘Coup Threat’
Junta chairman Prayuth Chan-ocha’s hint at staging another coup prompted outcries from opposition politicos on Tuesday.
— Khaosod English

Agency dusts off waste-separation plant plan
The Industrial Works Department plans to build waste-separation plants nationwide in a bid to process tonnes of future hazardous waste from industrial manufacturing.
— Bangkok Post

See here for more of today’s Thailand morning news

Vietnam morning news

Compiled by Sreypov Men @MenSreypov

Vietnam’s apparel industry braces for cost surge as tech giants move in
Major apparel makers are halting or slowing their expansion in Vietnam amid worries that the trade war will indirectly push up labor costs as tech giants like Apple seek to shift production out of China.
— Nikkei Asia Review (paywall)

Japan’s leading corporations committed investments worth US$3.75 billion in Hanoi
In 2018, Japan remained Hanoi’s largest investor and is projected to maintain the top spot in 2019.
— The Hanoitimes

Vietnam’s agricultural products face barriers to enter Chinese market
Many of Vietnam’s agricultural products – especially rice, vegetables and cassava – have faced barriers preventing their export to China, according to the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development.
— Fresh Plaza

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.