Asean morning news for May 9

Asean morning news for May 9
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Asean morning newsAsean morning news

Compiled by Stella-maris Ewudolu          @stmarisewudolu

 

Words hurt: time for Asean leaders to speak up on SCS
Government officials and heads-of-state in Asean appears to have a collective aversion to speaking up in public about Chinese transgressions and coercion in the South China Sea (SCS).
— AEC News Today

China, Wary of US, Pushes to Accelerate Accident Prevention Deal in Disputed Sea
China and Southeast Asian countries that dispute sovereignty over a strategic Asian sea aim to speed up talks toward a code of conduct that would lower the risk of accidents and help keep the U.S. government out of the fray.
— Voice of America

Asean+3 region to see slight slowdown this year: Amro
Economic growth in Asean+3 countries is expected to slow down slightly in 2019 due to a deceleration in capital expenditure and tech investments and the US-China trade war, according to the latest report from the Asean+3 Macroeconomic Research Office (Amro).
— Khmer Times

US-China 5G Race: Where Does Southeast Asia Fit in Beyond Huawei?
When the Czech Republic last week hosted an international expert conference in Prague on the issue of 5G security, Southeast Asian countries were not among the over 30 or so governments that were present.
— The Diplomat

Singapore banks move to end Southeast Asia’s coal addiction
A push to end Southeast Asia’s addiction to fossil fuels is gathering pace after the region’s two biggest banks said they would stop funding coal-fired power plants.
— Nikkei Asian Review (paywall)

Southeast Asia scrambles to contain measles outbreak
Authorities in Southeast Asia are beefing up measles vaccinations to help curb a resurgence of the disease in the region and prevent further spreading across Asia amid a global outbreak.
— Nikkei Asian Review (paywall)

Southeast Asia Wins Hearts of Private Equity Investors Again
Southeast Asia is the most-favored destination for private-equity investors for a second year in a row, according to annual data from the Emerging Market Private Equity Association.
— Bloomberg

China border province sees solid trade growth with B&R countries in Q1
Southwestern China’s Yunnan Province saw year-on-year foreign trade growth of 5 percent with countries along the Belt and Road in the first quarter of 2019.
— Xinhuanet

Ambassador says Kim’s participation in ASEAN summit would be ‘meaningful’ for peace efforts
South Korea’s new ambassador for the Association of Southeast Asian Nations said Wednesday that North Korean leader Kim Jong-un’s participation in a summit with the bloc later this year, if realized, would be meaningful for peace efforts on the peninsula.
— Yonhap News Agency

Eight trends shaping e-commerce in Asean
The e-commerce market in Southeast Asia is forecast to be worth at least UScopy02 billion by 2025, according to the latest “e-Conomy of Southeast Asia” report by Google and Singapore-based Temasek.
— Bangkok Post

Lazada, Shopee take top spots in Southeast Asian ecommerce: report
Lazada is leading the pack in Southeast Asian ecommerce in terms of monthly active users, with Shopee landing right on its heels, report shows.
— Tech in Asia

Chinese tourist spending in Singapore tops Southeast Asia
Chinese tourist spending in Singapore was higher than in any other SEA country over Labour Day, says Alipay.
— Inside Retail Asia

Southeast Asia remains S. Korea’s largest export destination for 2nd year
South Korea’s exports to Southeast Asia jumped 11.6 percent last year from a year earlier, becoming the largest export market for Asia’s fourth-largest economy for a second year, as big companies like Samsung Electronics Co. and LG Display Co. expanded business particularly in Vietnam, data showed Wednesday.
— Pulse

China leads in green bonds among emerging markets
The global green bond market has grown at a rapid pace since the first issue in 2007. Globally, new green bonds worth $167 billion were issued in 2018, with the Asia-Pacific region accounting for around 30 percent of the total.
— Chinadaily

Thai SME digital readiness third in region
The digital transformation of Thai small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) was ranked third out of six countries surveyed in Asean, following Malaysia and Singapore, according to a study commissioned by Cisco Systems.
— Bangkok Post

Asean tourism: room to grow but more needs to be done
TOURISM in Asean is set for a significant upside, but more needs to be done in areas such as infrastructure, and there are risks of over-reliance on China arrivals and casinos, according to a new Maybank report, Asean Tourism: Blue Skies, But Keep Your Seatbelts Fastened.
— The Business Times

Collaboration to Realise the Prevention of Chronic Diseases in South East Asia Announced
Nightingale Health Ltd has announced the first step in a major collaboration with the National University of Singapore (NUS), one of the world’s leading universities to realise the prevention of chronic diseases in South East Asia.
— Labmate

Experts urge joint efforts for ASEAN EV market formation, growth
Despite differences in market characteristics and environment, businesses engaged in electric vehicle developments in Southeast Asia can grow together through a concerted effort to build regional partnerships on zero emission cars, experts said Tuesday.
— The Korea Herald

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Cambodia morning newsCambodia morning news

Compiled by Piseth Pov          @piseth6666

 

EBA withdrawal threatens Kingdom’s bicycle industry
Cambodian bicycle exports to the EU amounted to 1.52 million individual units last year valued at $331 million, according to a World Bank report released on Monday.
— The Phnom Penh Post

Cambodia’s Dam Troubles, Power Woes Seen as Arguments For More Solar Power
When the lights literally went out in many parts of Cambodia in February and stayed off in some areas during the following months, people immediately pointed their fingers at Prime Minister Hun Sen.
— Radio Free Asia

Human Rights Watch Calls for Charges Against Opposition Officials to Be Dropped
Human Rights Watch has called on Prime Minister Hun Sen’s government to drop cases against more than 20 officials of the now-dissolved Cambodia National Rescue Party (CNRP) who are being investigated for allegedly violating a Supreme Court ruling that banned party members from politics for five years.
— VOA Cambodia

See here for more of today’s Cambodia morning news

Indonesia morning newsIndonesia morning news

Compiled by Piseth Pov          @piseth6666

 

Indonesian Air Force to fly jet fighters to wake people for ‘sahur’
The Indonesian Air Force has announced that it will participate in the country’s tradition of waking people up during the fasting month of Ramadan for sahur (predawn meal).
— The Jakarta Post

Waste Volume in Jakarta Increased on First Day of Ramadan
The trash volume in Jakarta entering the Bantargebang Integrated Waste Treatment Area (TPST) in Bekasi, West Java during the first day of Ramadan increased by 864 tons. The normal garbage each day in the landfill amounted to 7,000 tons.
— Tempo.co

Authority confirms airport toll road rate hike before lebaran
The Indonesia Toll Road Authority (BPJT) has confirmed the toll road operator will increase the rates for the Soekarno-Hatta International Airport toll road or Sedyatmo toll road for cars before the Idul Fitri holiday that will fall in early June.
— The Jakarta Post

See here for more of today’s Indonesia morning news

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Lao PDR morning newsLao PDR morning news

Compiled by Stella-maris Ewudolu          @stmarisewudolu

 

Vientiane gets to grips with plastic pollution
The Lao People’s Revolutionary Youth Union has joined forces with the environmental preservation group Green Vientiane to reduce the use of plastic and find solutions to the scourge of plastic waste.
— Vientiane Times (paywall)

Laos needs digital technologies to drive development
Laos needs to urgently capture the powers of digital technologies to stimulate economic development and to be adequately equipped to rise above challenges as they arise in the future.
— ANN/ Vientiane Times

South Korean power company eyes opportunities in Laos PDR
The Korea Electric Power Corporation (Kepco) hopes to expand its power equipment business as well as explore other avenues of cooperation with Laos’ energy sector.
— The Phnom Penh Post

See here for more of today’s Lao morning news

Malaysia morning newsMalaysia morning news

Compiled by Sreypov Men           @MenSreypov

 

One Year in, Mahathir Gets Mixed Result on Malaysian Economy
A year after a shock election win, Malaysia’s government is fighting perceptions that its management of the economy deserves poor marks.
— The Edge Markets

Race still an issue in Malaysia Baharu, says Dr M
Pakatan Harapan needs the support of all Malaysians – regardless of race and religion – and must work hard to ensure that everyone is satisfied with the government, says Prime Minister Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad (pic).
— The Star Online

737 additional domestic flights for festive season
The two largest local airlines, AirAsia and Malaysia Airlines (MAS), will have additional 737 domestic flights during this festive season, the Dewan Negara was told yesterday. Deputy Transport Minister Datuk Kamarudin Jaffar said the proposal had been agreed upon by the parties.
— The Borneo Post

See here for more of today’s Malaysia Morning News

Myanmar morning newsMyanmar morning news

Compiled by Sreypov Men           @MenSreypov
 

Biman Bangladesh plane skids off runway in Yangon, 17 injured
A Biman Bangladesh Airlines plane skidded off the runway when it landed in bad weather at Yangon’s international airport on Wednesday evening, injuring at least 17 people, officials said.
— Reuters

Rental transactions rise in Yangon, even as larger market stays muted
The market for rental property, which is the lifeblood of the real estate sector in Yangon, rebounded during first quarter of this year, with more units getting rented out rather than sold.
— Myanmar Times

Unified QR Codes and the promise of a cashless Myanmar
In September 2018, Singapore made history by introducing the world’s first ever universal QR code system for cashless payments. Called SGQR, it allows merchants and consumers to use a single national QR code system to access cashless payments through 27 different services.
— Asean Today

See here for more of today’s Myanmar morning news

Philippines morning newsPhilippines morning news

Compiled by Stella-maris Ewudolu          @stmarisewudolu

 

PH trade deficit widens to $9.8B in Q1 as Chinese imports surged
Merchandise exports dropped for the fourth straight month in March while imports sustained growth for three consecutive months partly due to a surge in products from China, such that the trade-in-goods deficit widened by over a fifth to $9.8 billion at the end of the first quarter.
— Inquirer.net (very annoying pop-ups)

New threat spreading in West Philippine Sea: Garbage
When a team of young marine scientists sailed to the Kalayaan Island Group in the West Philippine Sea (WPS) to study its biodiversity, they came across an unwanted ocean traveler: man-made garbage.
— Philippine Daily Inquirer (very annoying pop-ups)

Philippines receives funding to scrap mercury use in mining ops
An international organization is pouring in $45 million to seven countries – including the Philippines – to eliminate the use of mercury in artisanal and small-scale gold mining (ASGM), the Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) said.
— Philippine Daily Inquirer (very annoying pop-ups)

See here for more of today’s Philippines morning news

Singapore morning newsSingapore morning news

Compiled by Piseth Pov          @piseth6666

 

164,000 Singaporean adults living in private housing have no declared income
About 164,000 Singaporeans live in private properties and do not declare income for the purpose of personal income tax here, said Second Minister of Finance Indranee Rajah on Wednesday (May 8).
— CNA  (very annoying popups)

Singapore opposition joins backlash against proposed fake news law
Singapore’s lone opposition party in parliament has said it will oppose a controversial fake news bill that has been criticised by rights groups, journalists and tech firms as a debate over the proposed legislation entered a second day on Wednesday.
— The Edge Singapore

Govt confirms that fake news law will also cover WhatsApp chats and closed Facebook groups
Senior Minister of State for Law and Health, Edwin Tong, revealed in Parliament yesterday (7 May) that the proposed Protection from Online Falsehoods and Manipulation Act (POFMA) bill will also cover closed and encrypted communications channels like private WhatsApp chats and Facebook.
— The Independent

See here for more of today’s Singapore morning news

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Thailand morning newsThailand morning news

Compiled by John Le Fevre          @photo_journ

 

Prayuth poised to secure another term following Thai election results
An army-backed party needs only a small number of allies to get enough votes to allow coup leader Prayut Chan-o-cha to cling to power, according to final election results released late Wednesday that were immediately challenged by anti-junta..
— Coconuts (paywall)

Court says party-list seat calculation is constitutional
In news unlikely to shock anyone, the Constitutional Court has ruled unanimously that Article 128 of the MP Election Act, regarding the calculation of the 150 party-list seat allocation, is constitutional.
— The Thaiger

Appeals court upholds 50-year jail term for ex-TAT governor Juthamas
Thailand’s Appeals Court for Corruption and Misconduct Cases has upheld the 50-year prison term imposed on former Tourism Authority of Thailand (TAT) governor Mrs. Juthamas Siriwan, who was found guilty…
— Thai PBS News

Thai election results show no clear winner but junta party favored
Long-delayed results of Thailand’s first election since a 2014 military coup released on Wednesday produced no clear winner but gave a pro-army party a clear advantage in its bid to install the current junta leader as an elected prime minister.
— Reuters

See here for more of today’s Thailand morning news

Vietnam morning newsVietnam morning news

Compiled by Sreypov Men           @MenSreypov

 

HCMC wants $54 billion foreign investment
Ho Chi Minh City is seeking $53.8 billion worth of foreign investment in 210 projects with a focus on infrastructure.
— Vietnam Insider

VN strives for green textile industry
The garment and textile industry was one of the country’s key export industries, but also produces high levels of greenhouse gas emissions.
— Viet Nam News

Vietnam Airlines lists shares as state aims to revive divestment push
Vietnam Airlines listed more than 1.4 billion shares on the Ho Chi Minh City Stock Exchange on Tuesday in a move expected to breathe new life into the government’s efforts to divest from a wide range of state companies.
— Nikkei Asian review (paywall)

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.

 

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