Asean morning news
Compiled by Stella-maris Ewudolu @stmarisewudolu
Asean Leaders Pressured to Push Myanmar on Rohingya Repatriation
Southeast Asian leaders are facing pressure to take a tougher stance on Myanmar ahead of this weekend’s Asean summit amid accusations they’re failing to ensure the safe repatriation of hundreds of thousands of Rohingya Muslims.
— Bloomberg
Trade disputes to dominate as ASEAN meets in Bangkok
Southeast Asian leaders will dissect the impact of the US-China tariff war this weekend at a Bangkok summit, with Beijing determined to drive forward a trade pact sweeping in 40 percent of global commerce — but excluding America.
— Yahoo News Australia
China should be restrained in SCS for the sake of Asean unity
An opportunity to restrain China’s actions in the South China Sea came and went with the Shangri-La Dialogue held in Singapore earlier this month.
— The Independent
Thailand Takes up the ASEAN Challenge
ASEAN leaders will meet for their 34th summit on June 23, preceded by several ministerial preparatory meetings that will take place starting from June 20.
— The Diplomat
ASEAN bickering on Indo-Pacific ‘uninspiring’
In the run up to a planned adoption of ASEAN’s common Indo-Pacific outlook this weekend, experts have said that an apparent crack in the bloc’s unity over the concept has raised doubts about the relevance of the concept’s substance.
— The Jakarta Post (paywall)
Protesters urge Asean leaders to ban trash imports
Protestors in Bangkok on Thursday dumped plastic waste in front of a government building and called on Southeast Asian leaders to ban imports of trash from developed countries.
— The Manila Times
ASEAN connectivity could be blueprint for world
China’s second Belt and Road Forum in late April brought with it a few innovations.
— The Jakarta Post (paywall)
ASEAN as a single tourism destination
Plans to enhance the competitiveness of ASEAN as a single tourism destination.
— NBT World (video)
ASEAN leaders to discuss meeting N. Korean leader Kim in S. Korea
Leaders of the 10-member Association of Southeast Asian Nations are set to discuss at their weekend summit a planned meeting with North Korean leader Kim Jong Un later this year in South Korea, an ASEAN diplomat told Kyodo News on Thursday.
— The Mainichi
Chinese P2P lending platforms look to Southeast Asia amid industry purge back home
A slew of Chinese fintech and peer-to-peer (P2P) lending platforms are looking to more lenient markets in Southeast Asia (SEA), following a prolonged industry crackdown in China that has left the sector reeling.
— TechNode
Southern Asia urged to wind down coal to keep warming in check
Countries in South and Southeast Asia must end their reliance on coal power plants and switch to clean energy in order to meet pledges to curb climate change and tackle air pollution, researchers said on Thursday.
— Yahoo News
Vietnam protests Chinese aggression, thievery on South China Sea
The Ministry of Foreign Affairs worked with representatives from the Chinese embassy in Hanoi on Wednesday to protest Chinese vessels’ actions in driving away Vietnamese fishing boats, confiscating properties and fishing equipment from Vietnamese fishermen in the Paracel (Hoang Sa) Islands of the South China Sea, which Vietnam calls the East Sea.
— Spratly Islands
ASEAN leaders to sign commitment against marine debris
an the trash: Greenpeace activists protest in front of the Foreign Ministry ahead of the 34th ASEAN summit in Bangkok on Thursday.
— The Jakarta Post (paywall)
Bangkok seminar urges finalisation of COC in East Sea
A seminar in Bangkok, Thailand, on June 20 highlighted the urgent need to accelerate talks on a code of conduct (COC) in the East Sea to help maintain peace and stability in the region.
— Vietnamplus
Southeast Asia looks to Taiwan as recycling pioneer
Once dubbed “garbage island” for its overflowing landfills and filthy streets, Taiwan now has Asia’s highest rate of recycling and is a role model for the region, analysts said on Thursday.
— The Japan Times
Thailand Today 094: Enhancing ASEAN as a single tourism destination
Since tourism is one of the main growth-generating sectors for the Southeast Asia region, ASEAN has pledged to be a quality tourism destination with the unique and diverse range of recreational activities and travel options for tourists.
— NBT World (video)
Easy to do business in ASEAN?
TMF Group, a multinational professional services firm headquartered in Amsterdam, recently released its Global Business Complexity Index 2019 report.
— The Asean Post
ASEAN’s data governance challenge
How our data is collected, managed and utilised is an issue more ASEAN citizens need to be concerned about.
— The Asean Post
Lazada Launches Refreshed Brand to Reflect its Evolved Vision in Southeast Asia
Lazada today launched its new brand campaign Go Where Your Heart Beats — an emotive, rallying brand idea that signals a new era for Southeast Asia’s leading eCommerce platform.
— Yahoo Finance (media release)
Competition to heat up in SE Asia PP market on new capacities in H2
Fiercer competition among polypropylene (PP) suppliers in southeast Asia could tip the market into a long position in the second half of the year, as new capacities in the region begin to come on stream.
— ICIS
Building a better tomorrow: The role of cooperation in ASEAN’s success
The political and economic situation in Southeast Asia in 1967 was bleak.
— Asean Today
ASEAN Tour of Chinese Folk Culture kicks off
The Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) Tour of Chinese Folk Culture was launched at the ASEAN Secretariat on Monday.
— Global Times
ASEAN-6 and Australia Quarterly Facilities Management Trends, 2018 – Growing Outsourcing Culture & Emphasis on Cost Efficiency is on the Rise
This analysis on the FM market in ASEAN-6 and Australia observes multiple market trends in each quarter of 2018.
— Yahoo Finance (media release)
Cambodia morning news
Compiled by Justhine De Guzman Uy @justhine.aecnews
UN Experts Slam ‘Downward Trend’ in Cambodia’s Political Rights and Freedoms
Two United Nations human rights experts expressed concern Wednesday about what they said is an escalating trend of repression by Cambodia’s government of dissent as part of a bid to silence political opinion, prompting the country’s ruling party to dismiss their claims as “fake news.”
— RFA
Tax revenue up 28 percent
The General Department of Taxation (GDT) collected more than $1.3 billion in tax revenue during the first five months of the year, an increase of 28 percent compared to the same months last year.
— Khmer Times
Cambodian journalists call for an end to ‘espionage’ charges against colleagues
Cambodian journalists called on the country’s Appeal Court to drop all charges against two former Radio Free Asia (RFA) journalists as it prepares to hear their cases again on Friday.
— Thmey Thmey News
See here for more of today’s Cambodia morning news
Indonesia morning news
Compiled by Justhine De Guzman Uy @justhine.aecnews
Indonesia plans more tax breaks to lift GDP growth
INDONESIA plans to cut several taxes to boost investment and accelerate economic growth, said the country’s finance minister, after noting the government’s 2019 growth target may be hard to reach.
— The Business Times
Indonesia’s tourist haven Bali aims to blaze global trail on stemming ocean plastic
Less than half of the garbage produced on Indonesia’s resort island of Bali is recycled, with thousands of tonnes burned or dumped in rivers and the ocean, researchers warned on Thursday (June 20).
— The Straits Times (annoying popups)
Bank Indonesia Follows Fed Move to Maintain Interest Rate
Bank Indonesia (BI) has completed its board of governors’ meeting. The central bank decided to keep the benchmark 7-day Reverse Repo Rate (7DRRR) at its current level of 6.0 percent.
— Tempo.co
See here for more of today’s Indonesia morning news
Lao PDR morning news
Compiled by Justhine De Guzman Uy @justhine.aecnews
Can Laos manage its debt to China?
Laos’ economy is growing, but without outside assistance, the country cannot compete with its ASEAN neighbours.
— Asean Today
Laos: New textbooks for 800,000 primary school students
More than 800,000 primary school students across the country will use new textbooks in September as part of the new national primary school curriculum that is being rolled out over the coming years.
— The Japan News/ Vientiane Times
UN expert calls for reform of poverty-driving policies in Lao PDR
The Lao People’s Democratic Republic should urgently adopt widespread reforms to alleviate poverty, protect the rights of people in poverty and ensure economic growth benefits the poorest, an independent UN expert said in a report released today.
— Ohchr.org
See here for more of today’s Lao morning news
Malaysia morning news
Compiled by Sreypov Men @MenSreypov
PM: MH17 findings ‘politically-motivated’, no proof Russia to blame
Prime Minister Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad today claimed that the recent findings on the culprit behind the shooting down of Malaysia Airlines flight MH17 was a “politically-motivated” conclusion to solely blame Russia.
— Malay Mail
Malaysia’s capital market expands to RM3.19 trillion, says SC
Security Commission warns, however, that challenges are increasing and there is a greater need for the SC and the private sector to work together to grow the market.
— FMT News
M’sian, who claimed he had gay sex with M’sian minister, sacked
Haziq Abdul Aziz, the man who confessed to having gay sex with Malaysian Economic Affairs Minister Azmin Ali, has been sacked from his job.
— Mothership
See here for more of today’s Malaysia Morning News
Myanmar morning news
Compiled by Sreypov Men @MenSreypov
Myanmar’s economy to grow at 6.5 pct in current fiscal: World Bank
Myanmar’s economy is expected to grow at 6.5 percent in the fiscal year 2018-19 (October-September), said a report of the World Bank carried on state media Thursday.
— Global Times
World Bank warns Myanmar to double electricity sector investment
Myanmar needs to invest twice as much and implement projects three times faster to address its rapidly growing demand for electricity, the World Bank said.
— Nikkei Asian Review (paywall)
ASEAN urged to avoid complicity in Rohingya crisis
The plight of the Rohingya is likely to cast a long shadow over the upcoming ASEAN Summit in Thailand this week, as regional leaders are urged not to become complicit in what rights groups call a proposal for forced or premature repatriation.
— The Jakarta Post
See here for more of today’s Myanmar morning news
Philippines morning news
Compiled by Stella-maris Ewudolu @stmarisewudolu
PHL retains Tier 1 ranking in latest US human trafficking report
The Philippines has retained its Tier 1 status in the US government’s list of countries that comply with international standards to combat human trafficking.
— GMA News
Gov’t disbursements decline in first 5 months after budget delay
FUNDING releases backed by Notices of Cash Allocation (NCAs) fell 13.48% to P1.136 trillion in the first five months, the Department of Budget and Management (DBM) said.
— BusinessWorld Online
Gross revenue across key industries up 8.1% in Q1
REVENUE across all industries grew in the first quarter of 2019 as stronger sales were reported across key industries, the Philippine Statistics Authority (PSA) reported yesterday.
— BusinessWorld Online
See here for more of today’s Philippines morning news
Singapore morning news
Compiled by John Le Fevre @photo_journ
Singdollar expected to fall further even as Fed signals rate cuts
The Singapore dollar is expected to fall further against the greenback, said most experts, even as the US Federal Reserve indicated yesterday that it could soon cut interest rates.
— Straits Times (annoying popups)
Singapore Airlines loses best airline in the world title to Qatar Airways
Qatar Airways is a strong competitor.
— Mothership
Teen gets 9 stitches on face after being cut at Jewel’s mirror maze
A 14-year-old girl who was playing at the mirror maze attraction at Canopy Park in Jewel Changi Airport suffered a cut on her face that required nine stitches.
— Straits Times (annoying popups)
See here for more of today’s Singapore morning news
Thailand morning news
Compiled by John Le Fevre @photo_journ
Thailand’s $13 Billion Plan Could Woo 65 Million Tourists Yearly
Thailand is already struggling to cope with the environmental impact of a tourism boom that’s expected to lure 40 million visitors this year.
— The Edge Markets
Government urged to mull host of wage hike factors
The new government is being urged to take into account various factors, including the country’s competitiveness and ability to attract foreign investment, when deciding on a hike in the daily minimum wage.
— Bangkok Post
Confidence index dips to 15-month low in May
Business sentiment hit its lowest rate in 15 months in May, dampened by sluggish farm product prices, relatively low purchasing power, a slowing economy and political jitters.
— Bangkok Post
See here for more of today’s Thailand morning news
Vietnam morning news
Compiled by Sreypov Men @MenSreypov
Vietnam named among Apple’s favorites for smartphone diversification from China
The US tech giant is believed to ask its major suppliers to evaluate the cost implications of shifting 15% to 30% of their production capacity from China to Southeast Asia as it prepares for a fundamental restructuring of its supply chain.
— The Hanoitimes
Huawei prices dropped across Vietnamese e-commerce after the ban
Selling prices of Huawei’s smartphones are taking a dive on Vietnamese e-commerce websites, almost a month after the American government restricted companies in the U.S. from supplying products to the Chinese company, according a new research by price aggregator iPrice Group.
— Vietnam Insider
Vietnam to impose temporary anti-dumping duties on Chinese, RoK steel products
The Ministry of Industry and Trade (MOIT) has issued a decision to apply temporary anti-dumping measures on several colour coated steel products imported from China and the Republic of Korea (RoK).
— NDO
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.