Asean morning news for May 31

Asean morning news for May 31
Advertisement
Online English lessons

Asean morning newsAsean morning news

Compiled by Stella-maris Ewudolu          @stmarisewudolu

 

China’s Xi Jinping broke promise on South China Sea, says top US general
The United States military’s top general said on Wednesday (May 29) that Chinese President Xi Jinping reneged on promises not to militarise the South China Sea, and called for “collective action” to hold Beijing responsible.
— The Straits Times

Is Beijing covering an iron fist with a silk glove in Southeast Asia?
For the first time since 2011, China is this weekend sending its defense minister to the annual IISS Shangri-La Dialogue in Singapore, Asia’s top security gathering, in a move that looks like a bid to restore Beijing’s strained relations with the region — and steal a march over the U.S.
— Nikkei Asian Review (paywall)

Thailand sees $1.6B trade surplus with Asean countries, says report
The Office of Agricultural Economics (OAE) has reported that for the first quarter of this year, Thailand had a trade surplus with other Asean countries of 53.24 billion baht ($1.67 billion), an increase of 0.02 per cent.
— The Phnom Penh Post

What China and Asean can do to maintain stability in S. China Sea
The situation in the South China Sea has stabilised in the past two years, thanks to the joint efforts of China and Asean to resolve disputes through consultation and cooperation.
— The Straits Times

ASEAN meeting highlights conservation of wetlands, protection of migratory birds
Improving the conservation of wetlands and protection of migratory birds took center stage during the Second Meeting of the ASEAN Network on Wetlands and Migratory Water Birds Conservation (ASEAN Flyway Network).
— Manila Bulletin

Int’l road transport launched in Greater Mekong Subregion
The international road transport (China-Laos-Vietnam) in the Greater Mekong Subregion (GMS) has been launched as two Chinese logistics firms obtained GMS temporary entry documents for motor vehicles on Wednesday.
— Xinhuanet

Regional experts debate ways to assist victims of human trafficking
Experts from Laos, Indonesia, the Philippines and Thailand met in Vientiane on Wednesday to share their ideas and experiences around human trafficking in a bid to identify better ways to help the victims of this crime.
— Vientiane Times (paywall)

Many gather in Bangkok to develop soft skills
More than 200 participants from Thailand, Vietnam, Laos, and Cambodia converge in Bangkok to further develop their public speaking and leadership skills at the Toastmasters District 97 Annual Conference 2019.
— Bangkok Post

UOB: ASEAN is «Haven» From Trade War
United Overseas Bank is taking comfort that its main exposure in Southeast Asia will shield it from the escalating trade war between the U.S. and China.
— finews.asia

Japan to tackle plastic marine waste, uphold free trade with ASEAN: Abe
Prime Minister Shinzo Abe on Thursday called for other Asian leaders to jointly address the global challenges of reducing plastic trash in the oceans and promoting free trade.
— Japan Today

Most Favorable Markets for Fintech Lending in Southeast Asia
Indonesia, Philippines, and Thailand provide the most favorable conditions for the development of fintech lending in Southeast Asia (SEA), according to a survey compiled by Robocash, a financial group operating in the segments of consumer alternative lending and marketplace funding in Europe and Asia.
— finews.asia

Huawei holds first Southeast Asia IP Club Carnival
Huawei held the first Southeast Asia IP Club Carnival in Bangkok, Thailand.
— UNB

Celebrating Eid in ASEAN
Eid ul-Fitr marks the end of Ramadan, the Islamic month of fasting. While Muslims in ASEAN share the Ramadan rituals of fasting, charity giving and Tarawih (additional) prayers, the celebration of Eid ul-Fitr varies according to the region, culture and traditions passed down through generations.
— The Asean Post

US Treasury report raised interesting question over the fate of ASEAN, economist says
It may potentially be seen as a warning shot from the U.S. against some of the ASEAN economies, says Vishnu Varathan from Mizuho Bank.
— Yahoo Finance (video)

Southeast Asia’s businesswomen ride coffee’s third wave: study in four emerging economies
Dozens of women-led and owned coffee businesses in Southeast Asia are featured in a new study conducted by USAID Green Invest Asia, in collaboration with the International Women’s Coffee Alliance (IWCA), that shows how female entrepreneurs are advancing a marketplace struggling to keep up with growing demand for specialty coffee.
— Eco-Business

East Asia can do even more to defend globalization
The trade conflict between the U.S. and China, coupled with the specter of rising protectionism globally, is having a profound impact, shaking conventional views of globalization and its benefits.
— Nikkei Asian Review (paywall)

Online English lessons


Cambodia morning newsCambodia morning news

Compiled by John Le Fevre          @photo_journ

 

Cambodia’s PM Hun Sen Dismisses Calls For Resignation, Vows to ‘Wage War’ on Opposition
Cambodia’s Prime Minister Hun Sen on Thursday brushed aside calls by members of the Cambodian diaspora in Japan to resign, pledging instead to “wage war” against his country’s banned opposition party and vowing to “destroy” its acting president, Sam Rainsy.
— Radio Free Asia

US$3 Billion FDI Flowed to Cambodia Last Year
Cambodia received US$3 billion foreign direct investment (FDI) in 2018, a year-on-year increase of 10 percent.
— AKP

Cambodia Announces Withholding Tax Exemption
The Royal Government of Cambodia has decided to exempt the 1% withholding tax for all enterprises as an encouragement and incentive for all investors in the country.
— AKP

See here for more of today’s Cambodia morning news

Indonesia morning newsIndonesia morning news

Compiled by Stella-maris Ewudolu          @stmarisewudolu

 

Indonesia plans new measures to lure overseas investment
Indonesia will put in place new incentives to attract foreign investment in a bid to turn the country into ASEAN’s manufacturing hub, industry minister Airlangga Hartarto said at Nikkei’s Future of Asia conference here on Thursday.
— Nikkei Asian Review (paywall)

The annual spending spree
Bank Indonesia (BI) has put banknotes worth Rp 300 trillion (US$20.68 billion) in circulation over the past two weeks specifically to meet the needs of consumers for the Idul Fitri holiday season, which starts next week in the Muslim-majority country.
— The Jakarta Post

Australian Court Fines Garuda Indonesia $13.2 Million for Price Fixing
Australia’s competition regulator on Thursday said a Federal Court has ordered Indonesia’s flag carrier Garuda Indonesia to pay A$19 million ($13.2 million) for price fixing.
— Money

See here for more of today’s Indonesia morning news

Advertisement

Advertise in AEC News todayAsean


Lao PDR morning newsLao PDR morning news

Compiled by Stella-maris Ewudolu          @stmarisewudolu

 

Endangered: Thai dissident band calls on musicians worldwide to help #SaveFaiyen (video)
In February this year Australian football player Hakeem al-Araibi reached out to, and gained support from football players, sporting bodies, and fans globally over his detention in Thailand. Now a dissident Thai band in exile is calling for musicians and performing artists globally to help them stay alive by tweeting #SaveFaiyen.
— AEC News Today

China, Laos to hold first joint anti-terrorism drill
The Southern Theater Command of Chinese People’s Liberation Army (PLA) and the border defense forces of Lao People’s Army will hold the first joint anti-terrorism drill between the two armies in June, the Ministry of National Defense announced Thursday.
— Xinhuanet

Exiled in Laos, Thai activist band Faiyen live in fear for their lives since 2014 military coup
They are members of a folk music group living communally in the Southeast Asian nation of Laos, but they are in fear for their lives.
— South China Morning Post

See here for more of today’s Lao morning news

Malaysia morning newsMalaysia morning news

Compiled by Sreypov Men           @MenSreypov

 

Malaysia PM proposes common Asia trading currency
East Asia should consider a common regional trading currency based on gold to promote commerce, and free the region from relying on dollar transactions, Malaysia’s prime minister said yesterday.
— Borneo Bulletin

Malaysia will continue to use Huawei’s technology: Mahathir
Malaysia is unperturbed with the allegation of spying levelled against the Chinese tech giant, Huawei and will continue to make use of their technology as much as possible, Prime Minister Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad said today.”We are too small to have an impact on the company like Huawei,
— The Sun Daily

Malaysia gets tough over polluting e-waste
The Malaysian government wants to make it mandatory for consumers to send certain unwanted electrical and electronic items to places licensed to handle e-waste.
— The Straits Times

See here for more of today’s Malaysia Morning News

Myanmar morning newsMyanmar morning news

Compiled by Sreypov Men           @MenSreypov
 

Myanmar earns the lowest tobacco tax revenue in Asean region
Myanmar manufactures 10 billion cigarettes every year, and the government should increase cigarette tax as the tax revenue is the lowest among the ASEAN countries, Dr. Than Sein, the President of Public Health Foundation told the media after the ceremony to mark the World No Tobacco Day in Taw win Garden Hotel in Yangon on May 29.
— Eleven Myanmar

Myanmar permits 6 local, foreign investment projects
Myanmar Investment Commission (MIC) on Thursday permitted six investment projects from both home and abroad, according to the Directorate of Investment and Company Administration (DICA).
— Xinhua

Businesses collaborate to launch new loan facility for landowners
iMyanmarHouse.com has introduced an installment loan programme in Myanmar for those who own land but lack the capital to build a house or a building for commercial purposes.
— Myanmar Times

See here for more of today’s Myanmar morning news

Philippines morning newsPhilippines morning news

Compiled by Stella-maris Ewudolu          @stmarisewudolu

 

NG debt hits P7.79T as of April
The national government’s outstanding debt stood at P7.79 trillion as of end-April 2019, 13.3 percent up from its year ago level due to higher domestic and foreign loans.
— Malaya

PHL digital economy to expand 12-fold to P1.9 trillion in 2030–Hinrich
The country’s digital economy could expand 12-fold to P1.9 trillion by 2030 if the government would hike investments in information and communications technology (ICT), and ease border frictions to facilitate greater trade within the Asia-Pacific region, according to the Hinrich Foundation (HF).
— Business Mirror

Tax reform to jack up production cost by 80%
With over a billion dollars in potential investments foregone the past year and a half due to the uncertainties brought about by the proposed tax reform, players in the country’s top exporters face as much as 80 percent increase in production cost should they be subjected to corporate income tax (CIT) under that plan.
— Malaya

See here for more of today’s Philippines morning news

Singapore morning newsSingapore morning news

Compiled by John Le Fevre          @photo_journ

 

Stakeholders share ideas for a zero-waste S’pore
Stakeholders joined forces yesterday to devise ways to boost low recycling rates, which are failing to keep up with the rising amounts of waste produced here.
— Straits Times (annoying popups)

Man fined for not declaring more than S$1 million in cash when crossing Singapore border
A man was fined S$18,000 on Thursday (May 30) for failing to report the movement of large amounts of cash when entering and leaving Singapore on separate occasions, police said.
— Channel NewsAsia (very annoying popups)

Ending coal financing, and jump-starting sustainability
ALL major Singapore banks recently announced that they will stop financing new coal-fired power plants. This is significant in aligning Singapore as a financial hub with the position of many Western financial institutions. But it opens up more questions about next steps and how sustainability can …
— The Business Times

See here for more of today’s Singapore morning news

Advertisement

Advertise in AEC News todayAsean

Thailand morning newsThailand morning news

Compiled by John Le Fevre          @photo_journ

 

Endangered: Thai dissident band calls on musicians worldwide to help #SaveFaiyen (video)
In February this year Australian football player Hakeem al-Araibi reached out to, and gained support from football players, sporting bodies, and fans globally over his detention in Thailand. Now a dissident Thai band in exile is calling for musicians and performing artists globally to help them stay alive by tweeting #SaveFaiyen.
— AEC News Today

New forestry law has harsher penalties for encroachers and illegal loggers
Forest encroachers caught clearing land or burning trees, in any of Thailand’s national parks or gardens, in order to occupy the land, will soon face jail terms of up to…
— Thai PBS News

Law to protect patients from private hospital overcharging now in effect
Patients can, from now on, expect reasonable prices for treatment at private hospitals and can demand that private hospitals provide an estimate of their treatment costs, including the prices of…
— Thai PBS News

See here for more of today’s Thailand morning news

Vietnam morning newsVietnam morning news

Compiled by Sreypov Men           @MenSreypov

 

Vietnam parliament rejects $171 mln allocation for expressway debt
The National Assembly has refused to prioritize a VND4 trillion ($171 mln) budget allocation to help pay Hanoi-Hai Phong Expressway dues.
— VnExpress

Vietnam teacher arrested for Facebook posts ‘undermining state’
A Vietnamese music teacher has been arrested for posting material on Facebook “aimed at undermining” the state, his family and official media said Thursday (May 30) in the communist country where a crackdown against online critics has gathered pace.
— Channel NewsAsia

Vietnam’s garment export up 10.3 pct in 5 months
Vietnam reaped nearly 12.1 billion U.S. dollars from exporting garments and textiles in the first five months of this year, posting a year-on-year rise of 10.3 percent, according to its Ministry of Industry and Trade on Thursday.
— Xinhua

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.

 

Support independent media by sharing using these tools. Do not steal our content

Make a comment

Your email address will not be published.