Asean morning news
Compiled by Stella-maris Ewudolu @stmarisewudolu
Indonesia reveals frustration with Singapore over delay in Asean adopting President Joko Widodo’s Indo-Pacific concept
Indonesia has subtly revealed its frustration with Singapore over stalled efforts to get Asean nations to declare a common vision for the Indo-Pacific region.
— South China Morning Post
Govt ready to host Asean summit
Thailand is getting ready to welcome regional leaders ahead of the Asean Summit next week.
— Bangkok Post
PH urges US to help uphold states’ sovereign rights in SCS
For the freedom of navigation to mean anything in the South China Sea (SCS), the United States must also use its power to uphold the sovereign rights of states surrounding the strategic waters, Foreign Affairs Secretary Teodoro Locsin Jr. said Saturday.
— Philippine Canadian Inquirer
ASEAN repatriation report ‘fails to address’ root causes
A report submitted by an ASEAN agency on the possible repatriation of Rohingya refugees has failed to convince activists that the agency can provide a safe, secure and dignified return for the refugees given concerns that the plan does not address the root causes of the conflict.
— The Jakarta Post (paywall)
Southeast Asian politics slide back toward oppression
After being officially proclaimed prime minister of Thailand by King Maha Vajiralongkorn on June 11, Prayuth Chan-ocha thanked parliament and ruling coalition parties for giving him the opportunity to serve the country.
— Nikkei Asian Review (paywall)
New Fund for Southeast Asia Tech Hits First Close
A new Southeast Asia-focused private-equity firm launched by a group of seasoned technology executives has hit the first close of its debut fund, the latest sign of investors’ growing enthusiasm for startups in the populous region.
— The Wall Street Journal
These three trends will influence the evolution of fintech in ASEAN
ASEAN’s unique market conditions put the region’s fintech development on a different trajectory from the West. These three trends will likely influence the future of fintech in the ASEAN region.
— Asean Today
Building cohesive societies: Southeast Asian states take on gargantuan challenge
Several Southeast Asian governments and social movements are seeking to counter mounting polarization and inter-communal strife across the globe fuelled by the rise of civilizationalist leaders who think in exclusionary rather than inclusionary terms.
— The EurAsian Times
Seeing through Asia’s air pollution problem
Of the seven million people around the world who die prematurely from air pollution every year, four million are in Asia.
— Philippine Daily Inquirer
ASEAN peers, picks and pokes at the Indo-Pacific
The term ‘Indo-Pacific’ reflects and frames surging strategic rivalry in the place we call ‘the region’.
— The Strategist (blog)
Is Southeast Asia’s safe-haven halo for real?
In a world lousy with runaway populism, trade wars and surging oil prices, punters are scrambling to find shelter from the chaos.
— Asia Times
Ageing Southeast Asians need homes
Some of the most rapidly ageing countries can be found in Southeast Asia.
— The Asean Post
The State of Paternity Leave in Southeast Asia
Statutory rights to maternity leave are available to working women in 185 countries, but only 78 offer statutory rights to paternity leave.
— The Diplomat
Japan awaits big wave of Southeast Asian tourists
Amid Japan’s inbound tourism boom, the number of Southeast Asians visiting the country is particularly conspicuous.
— Nikkei Asian Review (paywall)
Calling all young data scientists! Join this contest to help solve ASEAN’s most pressing issues
The ASEAN Foundation is calling on young data scientists to join a regional competition that encourages participants to use data analytics to solve key problems affecting ASEAN.
— The Scoop
Cambodia morning news
Compiled by Justhine De Guzman Uy @justhine.aecnews
EU tells Kingdom to provide ‘credible’ rights improvements
The European Commission has issued a statement calling on the government to show credible improvements on issues of concern in order to avoid the withdrawal of Everything-but-arms trade preferences.
— Khmer Times
Cambodia-Turkey to Promote Trade Worth to $1B
Cambodian Prime Minister Hun Sen and H.E. Recep Tayyip Erdoğan, President of the Republic of Turkey, pledged to promote Cambodia-Turkey trade worth to USD 1 billion, speaking in the bilateral meeting on 15 June on the sideline of the 5th Conference on Interaction and Confidence Building Measures in Asia (CICA) in the Republic of Tajikistan from 13-15 June 2019.
— Fresh News Asia
PM: Workers must train for Industry 4.0
Prime Minister Hun Sen has urged the Kingdom’s workforce to seek more technical training and strengthen their skills if they are to avoid job losses resulting from the Fourth Industrial Revolution.
— The Phnom Penh Post
See here for more of today’s Cambodia morning news
Indonesia morning news
Compiled by Justhine De Guzman Uy @justhine.aecnews
Boeing CEO concedes ‘mistake’ with planes in Indonesia, Ethiopia crashes
The CEO of Boeing says the company made a “mistake” in handling a problematic cockpit warning system in 737 Max jets before two deadly crashes of the top-selling plane.
— PBS
Indonesia returns five containers of waste to the US
Indonesia has returned five containers of rubbish to the United States and will not become a “dumping ground”, officials said on Saturday (June 15), the latest South-east Asian country to return imported waste.
— The Straits Times (annoying popups)
Aceh hit by 283 forest fires since 2016
Aceh Province has recorded a total of 283 cases of forest fires that hit Indonesia’s western most province since 2016 until early June 2019.
— Antara News
See here for more of today’s Indonesia morning news
Lao PDR morning news
Compiled by Justhine De Guzman Uy @justhine.aecnews
Myanmar and Lao to get infrastructure boost
Myanmar and Lao PDR look to be the biggest winners of an ASEAN plan to boost connectivity with a series of infrastructure projects.
— The Asean Post
Free medical check-ups to mark Lao medics’ day
Health authorities are planning free medical check-ups for seniors over the age of 60 in Vientiane to help mark Lao medics’ day, tomorrow (June 18).
— Vientiane Times
Thailand, Laos sign agreement on 5th friendship bridge across Mekong River
Thailand and Laos on Friday signed an agreement on building the fifth friendship bridge between Thailand’s Bueng Kan province and Laos’ Bolikhamsai province.
— Xinhuanet
See here for more of today’s Lao morning news
Malaysia morning news
Compiled by Sreypov Men @MenSreypov
Malaysian timber exports to reach RM25 bil next year
Despite worries surrounding the US-China trade war and Brexit, the Malaysian Timber Council (MTC) is confident that Malaysia can export RM25 billion of timber and timber-based products by next year.
— FMT
Sex video issue should not affect party, says Anwar
He says PKR leaders are mature enough in facing the issue as they had gone through similar challenges before.
— FMT News
Azmin: Govt will endeavour for more sustainable economy
Despite currently facing the most bitter ordeal in his political career after he was linked to a pornographic video, Minister of Economic Affairs Azmin Ali is still optimistic and vows to continue serving by ensuring his…
— Malay Mail
See here for more of today’s Malaysia Morning News
Myanmar morning news
Compiled by Sreypov Men @MenSreypov
Over 530 political prisoners die since 1962: AAPP
Till date since the military coup in 1962, the number of political prisoners who died in and out of the prisons has reached 535, according to the statement by the Assistance Association for Political Prisoners (AAPP) on June 14.
— Eleven Myanmar
Gov’t to call for re-tender to upgrade Kawthaung Airport
As Tender winner Company Golden Myanmar Airlines relinquished rights to carry out the upgrading tasks on Kawthaung Airport in Taninthayi Region, government will be calling for a re-tender to upgrade Kawthaung Airport, according to the Ministry of Transport and Communications.
— Eleven Myanmar
Myanmar, int’l media institutes extend MoU on media cooperation
Myanmar and two international media institutes have extended a memorandum of understanding (MoU) on media cooperation for another one year until March 2020, according to the country’s Ministry of Information on Sunday.
— Xinhua
See here for more of today’s Myanmar morning news
Philippines morning news
Compiled by Stella-maris Ewudolu @stmarisewudolu
External debt hits $80B in Q1
THE country’s outstanding external debt reached $80.431 billion in the first quarter of 2019, up from figures posted three months and a year earlier, data released by the Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas (BSP) showed.
— The Manila Times
NBI to probe other hospitals, clinics involved in ‘bogus’ dialysis claims
Department of Justice Secretary Menardo I. Guevarra said yesterday the National Bureau of Investigation will now turn its fact-finding probe on other hospitals and clinics with suspicious claims for dialysis treatment paid by the Philippine Health Insurance Corp.
— Tempo
Philippines seeks probe into boat sinking by Chinese vessel
Philippines President Rodrigo Duterte has demanded an investigation into the sinking of a boat by a Chinese fishing vessel.
— Aljazeera
See here for more of today’s Philippines morning news
Singapore morning news
Compiled by John Le Fevre @photo_journ
FDI in Singapore up in 2018 despite slowdown in global flows
FOREIGN direct investments (FDI) continued to flow into Singapore last year, even when global FDI fell for a third straight year to its lowest since the 2008 global financial crisis.
— The Business Times
US-China trade war starts to bite in Singapore
Factories in Singapore are seeing reduced activity amid slowing orders. Some firms are also freezing hiring.
— Straits Times (annoying popups)
Institutional Investors Have Been Buying These 2 Billion-Dollar Singapore REITs
Institutional investors have been buying these two Singapore REITs recently. Should you be following their lead? We take a closer look.
— The Motley Fool
See here for more of today’s Singapore morning news
Thailand morning news
Compiled by John Le Fevre @photo_journ
Thailand ready to tap busy Muslim travel market
Halal tourism is one of the fastest-growing tourism sectors, with faith-based needs and behaviour from Islamic travellers gaining, according to the Global Muslim Travel Index (GMTI) 2019, an annual survey by Mastercard and CrescentRating.
— Bangkok Post
Thanathorn accused of protecting fishermen who flout IUU regulations
Future Forward party leader, Thanathorn Juangroongruangkit, has been criticized for lacking an understanding of the IUU (illegal, unreported, unregulated) fishing regulations in his attempt to woo owners of commercial fishing vessels affected by the regulations, because of their illegal fishing practices.
— Thai PBS News
Renewal of LTF perks on the table
The Fiscal Policy Office (FPO) may renew tax benefits for long-term equity fund (LTF) contributions, set to lapse at year-end, if the funds can be used to reduce income disparity and raise cash for big-ticket infrastructure investment.
— Bangkok Post
See here for more of today’s Thailand morning news
Vietnam morning news
Compiled by Sreypov Men @MenSreypov
Vietnam Puts Tariffs on Chinese Imports
Vietnam has placed tariffs on some goods from China. Vietnam accuses China of using its country to avoid similar American tariffs on Chinese goods exported to the United States.
— VOA
The national public services portal soon opens this year
Cabinet meetings will be slim lined and more innovative as the Government moves into the digital era later this month.
— Viet Nam News
Vietnam Airlines to build aviation logistics centre in Can Tho
The Mekong Delta city of Can Tho will earmark 27ha of land for Vietnam Airlines to build an aviation logistics centre, Deputy Chairman of People’s Committee Truong Quang Hoai Nam has said.
— VietnamPlus
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.
Asean morning news for June 17 added by Digital Editor on
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