Asean morning news
Compiled by Stella-maris Ewudolu @stmarisewudolu
Malaysian PM voices concern over Asean-US naval drills
Malaysian Prime Minister Mahathir Mohamad on Monday expressed concern over naval exercises being conducted by the United States with Asean countries, saying they could provoke China and threaten security in the region.
— Khmer Times
Asean drills to enhance interoperability – US
The joint maritime exercises between the navies of Southeast Asian nations and the United States seek to improve interoperability and are not aimed against anyone, the US Navy said.
— The Manila Times
First Asean-US drills seek to boost security in international waters, says American Navy official
JOINT naval drills between the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (Asean) and the US are not directed at anyone but meant to “enhance skills applicable to maritime security throughout international waters,”a US Navy official said.
— The Manila Times
Funding: Southeast Asia’s Tech Startups Raised Close to US$6 Bn in H1 2019
Southeast Asia’s technology-driven startups raised close to US$6 billion in more than 332 deals during the first half of 2019, with fintech, healthcare and logistics sectors demonstrating solid growth, according to a recently published funding report by Singapore-based venture capital firm, Cento Ventures.
— Entrepreneur
Thailand must boost Asec presence
During the commemoration of Asean Day earlier last month at the newly inaugurated Asean Secretariat (Asec) building in Jakarta, Indonesia, a poster displaying eye-popping statistics of the organisation’s current staff composition shows that there are only four Thais working there.
— Bangkok Post
Asean manufacturers face deteriorating operating conditions
The Asean manufacturing sector struggled in August, as operating conditions fell to a near four-year low, according to IHS Markit Asean Manufacturing Purchasing Managers’ Index (PMI).
— The Edge Markets
ASEAN energy ministers’ meeting kicks off in Bangkok
The 37th ASEAN Ministers on Energy Meeting and Associated Meetings (AMEM 37) officially opened in Bangkok, Thailand on September 4, focusing on “Advancing Energy Transition Through Partnership and Innovation.”
— Vietnamplus
Philippines, Vietnam, Brunei navies stage drills near South China Sea
The Philippines conducted naval drills with Vietnam and Brunei in the waters adjacent to the South China Sea, while en route to the site of the first-ever maritime exercises between the Association of Southeast Nations (Asean) and the United States.
— Inquirer.net
Vietnam takes over as chair of ASEAN Young Entrepreneurs Association
Vietnam has taken over the chairmanship of the ASEAN Young Entrepreneurs Association in 2020 from Thailand.
— Nhan Dan Online
Extreme precipitation may adversely affect Southeast Asia’s food security, climate experts warn
Southeast Asian climate experts have warned that extreme precipitation brought about by climate change may adversely affect the region’s food security.
— Manila Bulletin
Southeast Asian ‘3Ps’ to lead M&A activities in region
Southeast Asian oil and gas companies Petronas, Petromina and PTTEP are expected to lead merger and acquisition (M&A) activities in the Asia Pacific, Kallanish Energy learns from consulting firm Wood Mackenzie on Monday.
— Kallanish Energy
PHL records highest number of phishing victims in the region
THE PHILIPPINES recorded the highest number of users victimized by online phishing attacks in the first half of the year, a report by cybersecurity firm Kaspersky said.
— BusinessWorld Online
ASEAN lacks real economic integration
While European businesses are increasingly more confident about investing in ASEAN, the ASEAN Economic Community (AEC) is creating uncertainty for some business prospects according to a recent survey by the EU-ASEAN Business Council.
— The Asean Post
Thailand seeks to become Southeast Asia energy trading hub
Thailand’s main stock exchange on Wednesday signed an agreement to develop an energy trading platform with state-owned Electricity Generating Authority of Thailand (EGAT), part of a plan to become Southeast Asia’s electricity trading hub.
— Reuters
Japan looks out for rapidly growing ASEAN ageing population
ASEAN is facing rapid population ageing. It is estimated that all ASEAN countries will become ageing society (more than 7% of the population is 65 years old or older) in 20 years.
— BSA bureau (media release)
Value Added Tax on online services will become the new norm
With the gradual decline of brick and mortar establishments, governments’ tax coffers are shrinking. Governments are grooming local e-commerce sectors and online marketplaces to fill the void.
— Asean Today
ASEAN-China-UNDP symposium on sustainable development goals, poverty reduction opens in Vietnam
An ASEAN-China-UNDP symposium “Innovation in Achieving the Sustainable Development Goals and Eradicating Poverty” kicked off here on Wednesday.
— Xinhuanet
Cari: Asean collective leadership running on empty
At the Bangkok Asean summit in June, the Asean Business Advisory Council (Asean-BAC) asked the region’s leaders to show greater collective political leadership in the deteriorating international economic environment.
— The Edge Markets
ASEAN mulls East Timor membership, sends team
A team of ASEAN inspectors has begun a fact-finding mission to determine whether East Timor meets requirements to join the Southeast Asian framework.
— NHK World-Japan
Govt eyes Khmer power plans
Thailand will on Thursday discuss with Cambodia the issue involving the energy-rich overlapping marine territory claimed by both countries on the sidelines of the ongoing meeting of Asean energy ministers, Energy Minister Sontirat Sontijirawong says.
— Bangkok Post
Southeast Asian Gaming Market to Keep Growing: Ampverse
Charlie Baillie, co-founder and chief commercial officer of Ampverse, a gaming and esports entertainment company, talks about the outlook for the industry and market.
— Bloomberg (video)
Philippines’ Fintech Industry Calls for ASEAN Wide Standardised QR
The ASEAN must standardize quick-response (QR) codes for digital payments platforms to facilitate and simplify regional trade.
— Fintech News Singapore (media release) (blog)
Southeast Asian photo contest zooms in on youth ‘agripreneurs’
A photo contest which zooms in on images depicting Southeast Asian youth actively engaged in agriculture has been launched to inspire others to become “agripreneurs”.
— Philippine News Agency
Can Asean launch of popular sustainability reporting standard nudge firms beyond box-ticking?
The world’s most widely recognised sustainability reporting standard, Global Reporting Initiative (GRI), has launched in Southeast Asia, with Singapore as the regional base.
— Eco-Business
Cambodia morning news
Compiled by Raksmey Khoem @raksmey.aecnews
GMAC urges government to reduce financial burden on employers
As minimum wage negotiations continue, GMAC has asked the government to refrain from increasing the agreed-upon pay bump for garment workers by $5 because it reduces the industry’s competitiveness due to the added financial burden on employers.
— Khmer Times
Forest Activists: Government Reluctant to Preserve Cambodia’s Forests
In the letter, they mention how concerned they are about the loss of the last remaining forested areas and the fact that the Cambodia government, they note, “remains reluctant to protect the forest.”
— Themy Themy
Floods forecast for Stung Treng, Kratie and Kampong Cham
Flooding is forecast for the Mekong and Bassac rivers over the next few days, according to the Mekong River Commission (MRC).
— Themy Themy
See here for more of today’s Cambodia morning news
Indonesia morning news
Compiled by Justhine De Guzman Uy @justhine.aecnews
Indonesia’s average annual loss from disasters exceeds $20 billion
The latest disaster report by the United Nations Economic and Social Commission for Asia and the Pacific (UNESCAP), which identifies types of disasters and the economic losses they cause, should drive the Indonesian government to do more about disaster mitigation.
— The Jakarta Post
Indonesia sends back hundreds of shipping containers full of waste
Indonesia has sent hundreds of garbage-filled shipping containers back to their countries of origin, according to the customs agency, as the Southeast Asian nation pushes back against becoming a dumping ground for foreign trash.
— Coconuts
Jakarta among world’s 10 least safe cities
Jakarta remains in the bottom 10 of the Safe Cities Index after more than five years on the list, ranking 53 this year out of 60 cities surveyed.
— The Jakarta Post
See here for more of today’s Indonesia morning news
Lao PDR morning news
Compiled by Raksmey Khoem @raksmey.aecnews
Strong storm hits Lao
Water has flooded in many areas of Lao after Podul storm wreaked havoc during the weekend, resulting in 1 death and dealing damage to rice crops.
— Mean Fn
Floodwater inundates houses, farms in many parts of Laos
Several provinces in Laos are suffering in the wake of prolonged downpours, with many houses, smallholdings and farms partially submerged under floodwater.
— Xinhua
S. Korea, Laos to hold summit on business partnerships
South Korean President Moon Jae-in will fly to Vientiane, the capital of Laos, on Thursday for talks on ways to promote bilateral cooperation.
— Yonhap News Agency
See here for more of today’s Lao morning news
Malaysia morning news
Compiled by Sreypov Men @MenSreypov
ECRL, two pipeline projects meant to bail out 1MDB, says Najib’s ex-aide
The East Coast Rail Link (ECRL), the Trans-Sabah Gas Pipeline and the Multi-Product Pipeline (MPP) that sought investments from China were proposed projects to bail out debt-riddled 1Malaysia Development Berhad (1MDB).
— Malay Mail
Road tax renewal at post offices to continue as govt mulls way to plug leakages
The public will be able to continue to renew road tax at post offices while a special task force look into ways to plug leakages caused by underpayment of road tax said to have resulted in revenue losses in the millions.
— The Star Online
Malaysia’s trade surplus expands to RM14.27 bln in July 2019
Malaysia recorded a trade surplus in July 2019 amounting to RM14.27 billion, up 75.6 per cent from the same month of the previous year and marking the 261st consecutive month of trade surplus since November 1997.
— The Borneo Post
See here for more of today’s Malaysia Morning News
Myanmar morning news
Compiled by Sreypov Men @MenSreypov
Yangon approves US$238M in hotel, tourism investments
Yangon’s Regional Tourism Committee recently announced that investments totalling US$238 million and K119.63 billion were approved for the region’s hotels and tourism sector between May and August.
— Myanmar Times
Import value of CMP raw materials reaches over $2.1 bn this year
CMP (cut-make-package) businesses imported raw materials worth over US$2.1 billion in about 11 months during this fiscal year, exceeding over US$310 million compared to the same period of last year, according to sources from the Ministry of Commerce.
— Eleven Myanmar
Improving transport infrastructure can help uplift rural areas
As an agricultural country, Myanmar must give priority to building its transport infrastructure, especially for agricultural products in rural areas, which underpin the country’s GDP.
— The Global New Light of Myanmar
See here for more of today’s Myanmar morning news
Philippines morning news
Compiled by Stella-maris Ewudolu @stmarisewudolu
Philippines sides with China on revision of UNCLOS – Locsin
Foreign Affairs Secretary Teodoro Locsin on Wednesday said the Philippines is “on the side” of the Chinese government in seeking the revision of the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS).
— Manila Bulletin
Polio detected in Manila sewage, Mass immunization campaign in August
In mid-August, the local government of Manila conducted a mass immunization campaign against polio, targeting about 197,000 children under 5 years old.
— Outbreak News Today
Dengue cases in Philippines hit nearly 230,000 with over 950 deaths: U.N. agency
Nearly 230,000 dengue cases were registered in the Philippines with over 950 deaths, a United Nations agency said on Wednesday.
— Xinhuanet
See here for more of today’s Philippines morning news
Singapore morning news
Compiled by Justhine De Guzman Uy @justhine.aecnews
Singapore’s education system faces ‘biggest challenge’ of enabling continued learning, PM Lee says
Developing an education system that meets the needs of those in their 50s to 70s is a challenge Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong says is “not easy at all” to solve but Singapore “will do it”.
— Channel NewsAsia (very annoying popups)
Illegal for foreigners to work as Grabfood & Foodpanda riders: MOM
It is illegal for foreigners to work as riders for food delivery applications such as Deliveroo, Foodpanda and Grabfood, said Minister of State for Manpower Zaqy Mohamad in Parliament on Wednesday.
— Mothership
Temasek CEO argues against proposed approach to tackle climate change, says more data is required
Yesterday, the CEO of Temasek Holdings Ho Ching shared an article published on Today that outlines several measures Singapore can embrace to be active in the fight against climate change.
— The Online Citizen
See here for more of today’s Singapore morning news
Thailand morning news
Compiled by John Le Fevre @photo_journ
PM speaks out on oath gaffe
Prime Minister Prayut Chan-o-cha on Wednesday defended his oath-taking in the cabinet swearing-in ceremony, saying he acted in compliance with the constitution.
— Bangkok Post
Park chief casts doubt on skull DNA test results
A park official who was among the last people to see the late Porlajee Billy Rakchongcharoen before he disappeared five years ago questioned the result of the mitochondrial DNA test that led authorities to conclude the Karen rights activist was murdered.
— Bangkok Post
Two Thai fishermen admit to illegally killing over 30 dolphins
Royal Thai Police have responded to a video clip showing 30 dolphins caught in a fishing trawl in Malaysian waters, killing many of the mammals in the process.
— The Pattaya News
See here for more of today’s Thailand morning news
Vietnam morning news
Compiled by Sreypov Men @MenSreypov
Vietnam’s MoT proposes to buy back all non-State stake in Airports Corporation
Vietnam’s Ministry of Transport has proposed to buy back close to 4.5 per cent stake, that’s currently not owned by the state, in Airports Corporation of Vietnam (ACV), local media reported.
— DealStreetAsia
Philippines hits Vietnam with new tariffs on cement imports
A surge in cement imports, mainly from Vietnam, has prompted the Philippine government to impose tariffs on the construction material, as it seeks to protect domestic industry from cheaper competition.
— Nikkei Asian Review (paywall)
Vietnam Airlines gets USA air carrier permit
Vietnam Airlines has been awarded a foreign air carrier permit from the US Department of Transportation, a regulatory filing shows.
— Flight Global
See here for more of today’s Vietnam morning news
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Asean morning news for September 5 added by Digital Editor on
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