Asean morning news for September 18

Asean morning news

Compiled by Stella-maris Ewudolu @stmarisewudolu

China, ASEAN should enhance mutual understanding
China and Malaysia agreed on Thursday to establish a dialogue mechanism on the South China Sea issue.
— Global Times

Bid for air agreements with all South East Asian countries underway
The Government is negotiating a unified air services agreement with a group of South East Asian countries which it says could open up more flights and lead to better deals for travellers.
— NZHerald

ASEAN Should Show True Leadership On Rohingya This General Assembly
Southeast Asia’s leaders will come together on the sidelines of the United Nations General Assembly this month and during the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) Summit in November.
— The Daily Vox

Tipping the balance: ASEAN manages maritime drills with both the US and China
The first ASEAN-US Maritime Exercise (AUMX) took place in the first week of September. It marked another milestone for the regional bloc as it is the result of efforts to deepen engagement with US. But the cherry on the cake was the decision to hold the operation in the controversial South China Sea (SCS).
— Asean Today

Hun Sen’s ambitious plan for migrant benefits endorsed
Prime Minister Hun Sen’s ambitious roadmap to extend social security benefits to migrant workers was endorsed at the 3rd Ministerial Conference on Labour Cooperation in Cambodia, Laos, Myanmar, Thailand and Vietnam (CLMTV) in Siem Reap on Tuesday.
— The Phnom Penh Post

Blockchain set to be vital tool for ASEAN HE mobility
Blockchain is a concept that has entered the popular consciousness over the past few years as yet another disruptive technology that’s set to change our world completely.
— University World News

China, ASEAN ties to be closer: experts
Experts attending a think tank forum called on China and ASEAN to make full use of existing cross-regional, regional and subregional initiatives to enhance the development of both sides.
— Xinhuanet

Is regional environmentalism not fully appreciated under Asean agreement? — Roger Chan
The current haze has reached dangerous levels in some parts of the country. So I am boxed in to write about it.
— MalayMail

Automotive Aftermarket to Witness Robust Expansion throughout the Forecast 2018-2028
ASEAN Automotive Aftermarket includes the replacement, repair and maintenance of various auto parts and accessories.
— Turned News

ASEAN’s cocoa bean production under threat
Southeast Asia’s craving for chocolate has outpaced the ability of regional farmers to supply cocoa beans. According to the Cocoa Association of Asia, the region’s market for chocolate confectionery has grown at an annual rate of five percent, due to the rise of affluent middle incomers consuming more chocolates.
— The Asean Post

Five Vietnamese companies among ten most visited e-commerce sites in Southeast Asia
Five Vietnamese e-commerce platforms were named among ten most visited sites in Southeast Asia in the first half of this year.
— Viet Nam News

Singapore can give US tech firms ‘nuanced’ view of Asean markets
With Singapore on track to becoming a Smart Nation and Asean digital capital, opportunities in the digital economy abound for broader and deeper collaboration with US technology companies, said Minister for Communications and Information S. Iswaran yesterday.
— thenewpaper

ASEAN Electric Vehicle Market Business Analysis and Forecast to 2025
The ASEAN electric vehicle market is experiencing increased product demand owing to strong government support toward electric vehicle adoption. While the concept of electric vehicles continues to capture the customer interest, subsidies by governments in regional countries are helping smoothen the transition to these vehicles by making them a valuable proposition for customers.
— Rapid News Network

Foreign workers should be offered free medical care, PM says
Prime Minister Hun Sen today said that Cambodia should be the first country to implement a free first-aid treatment to foreign workers working in the Kingdom.
— Khmer Times

eBay launches new delivery service for sellers in Asean
Online retailer eBay has launched the “eBay SeaPass” shipping platform to support eBay sellers in Asean by simplifying retail order fulfilment and providing automated shipping.
— The Phnom Penh Post

Thailand promotes ASEAN pop culture
The Tourism Authority of Thailand (TAT) is promoting local cities with the recent launch of its latest ‘Experiencing ASEAN Pop Culture’ campaign, which is also aimed at creating greater awareness of the authentic value of localised culture through pop culture lifestyle.
— Travel Daily Media

PH No Mandate to Label ASEAN NCAP Ratings
Vehicle manufacturers in the Philippines are not mandated to label their offerings with ASEAN New Car Assesment Program (ASEAN NCAP) ratings.
— Carmudi Philippines/ Yahoo News

Asean updates region’s Cosmetics Directive
The Association of Southeast Asian Nations (Asean)’s Cosmetic Scientific Body (ACSB) has made several changes to the Asean Cosmetics Directive (ACD), further aligning it with the cosmetics rules of the EU.
— ChemicalWatch

Cambodia morning news

Compiled by Raksmey Khoem @raksmey.aecnews

Twelve Dead, More Than 10,000 Families Evacuated Amid Flooding
Twelve people, including six children, have died and more than 10,000 families evacuated across seven provinces in the past two weeks due to severe flooding, officials said.
— VOD

Cambodian Government’s Request for ‘Meetings’ Seen as Intimidation
The Cambodian government summoned three human rights organizations to meetings in Phnom Penh to examine research they published and comments one of them gave to the media, a move the NGOs described as attempts at intimidation.
— VOA

See here for more of today’s Cambodia morning news

Indonesia morning news

Compiled by Justhine De Guzman Uy @justhine.aecnews

KPK bill passed into law
Despite widespread criticism from activists and experts, the House of Representatives passed the new Corruption Eradication Commission (KPK) bill into law in a plenary session on Tuesday, in a speedy turnaround that stands in stark contrast to the legislative body’s usually protracted deliberations.
— The Jakarta Post

Weakening trade forebodes Indonesian economic slowdown
Indonesia’s trade data announced on Monday paints a bleak outlook for the country’s economy as it hints at cooling domestic consumption and stagnating investment, the two key contributors to its gross domestic product (GDP).
— The Jakarta Post

Dozens of orangutans afflicted with acute respiratory tract infection
Dozens of orangutans undergoing rehabilitation in the Borneo Orangutan Survival (BOS) Foundation area in Nyaru Menteng, Central Kalimantan Province, are reportedly ailing from acute respiratory tract infection triggered by haze in the past few weeks.
— Antara News

See here for more of today’s Indonesia morning news

Lao PDR morning news

Compiled by Raksmey Khoem @raksmey.aecnews

Nation’s south speeds up school damage appraisal after flooding
Authorities are speeding up their assessment of the damage and losses caused after Tropical Storm Podul hit infrastructure including school buildings in the nation’s south.
— Vientiane Times (paywall)

Laos State Media: Woman Arrested for Criticizing Government on Facebook Confesses
Lao state media reported Tuesday that a woman who was arrested in Laos last week for criticizing the government on Facebook has confessed to her crime.
— RFA

EU continues support for basic education in Laos
The European Union (EU) will continue to add more than 135 billion kip (14 million euros) for the ‘Basic Education Support Programme in Laos’ to help the nation achieve its education development plans.
— Vientiane Times (paywall)

See here for more of today’s Lao morning news

Malaysia morning news

Compiled by Sreypov Men @MenSreypov

Malaysia de-industrialising too soon, too fast, says Guan Eng
The finance minister says the manufacturing sector is being replaced by the low-value traditional services sector.
— FMT News

Putrajaya buys surveillance aircraft to map Sarawak forests, wildlife
Minister says the RM35 million aircraft is part of Putrajaya’s effort to protect forests and wildlife in the country.
— FMT News

We are not against selling MAS to foreigners: Mahathir
The government will not rule out the possibility of selling beleaguered Malaysia Airlines Bhd (MAS) to foreign takers, if the price is right, according to Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad.
— The Sun Daily

See here for more of today’s Malaysia Morning News

Myanmar morning news

Compiled by Sreypov Men @MenSreypov

China’s gains in Myanmar divert US attention from human rights
It was China that supported Myanmar once it had been under Western sanctions for roughly twenty years. China helped build power stations and roads across the country and invested in the development of natural resources.
— Industryherald24

Myanmar’s ethnic state leader stresses role of news media
An ethnic state leader of Myanmar has stressed the role of news media and disseminating true news in accordance with media ethics, calling for media contribution as it is the fourth pillar for the emergence of a democratic federal union.
— Xinhua

Japanese firm replaces Chinese as financial partner in railway project
Japan’s Sumitomo Corporation will act as financial partner for the Yangon Central Railway Station Development Project, replacing China’s Sino Great Wall as part of a consortium selected to implement the project, according to U Ba Myint, Managing Director of Myanma Railways.
— Myanmar Times

See here for more of today’s Myanmar morning news

Philippines morning news

Compiled by Stella-maris Ewudolu @stmarisewudolu

Palace: Docu on PHL drug war biased, ‘bordering on black propaganda’
Malacañang on Tuesday slammed a foreign documentary on President Rodrigo Duterte’s war on drugs, accusing it of dishing out false narratives and putting the Philippines in a bad light.
— GMA Network

Online gambling contributes P551 billion to Philippine economy yearly
Philippine offshore gaming operators (POGOs) contribute some P551 billion to the Philippine economy yearly, overtaking traditional information technology and business process management (IT-BPM) companies, according to estimates of real estate services firm Leechiu Property Consultants.
— Rappler

Duterte affirms PDEA’s tale, wants cops in drugs recycling killed
President Rodrigo Duterte on Tuesday lamented the continued involvement of some cops in the recycling of seized illegal drugs, saying these policemen should be killed.
— GMA Network

See here for more of today’s Philippines morning news

Singapore morning news

Compiled by Justhine De Guzman Uy @justhine.aecnews

Singapore is 2nd-worst globally for workplace diversity; 1 in 4 workers bullied: Poll
Singapore is the second-worst performing country in terms of workplace diversity and inclusion (D&I) practices, based on a poll of employees in 14 developed countries by Kantar, a data, insights and consulting firm.
— Straits Times (annoying popups)

Zika cluster in Serangoon Gardens: What you need to know about the virus
Last Friday (Sept 13), the National Environment Agency confirmed three cases of locally transmitted Zika virus infection in Hemsley Avenue in Serangoon Gardens, bringing the total number of Zika cases this year to 10.
— The Straits Times

Singapore’s exports fall 8.9% in August, marking sixth straight month of decline
Singapore’s exports declined 8.9 per cent in August, marking the sixth straight month of year-on-year decline.
— Channel News Asia (very annoying popups)

See here for more of today’s Singapore morning news

Thailand morning news

Compiled by John Le Fevre @photo_journ

Industry sentiment plunges to 10-month low
The Thai Industries Sentiment Index dropped in August to 92.8 points, the lowest in 10 months, on business concerns about people’s lower purchasing power and a bearish sentiment on exports, the Federation of Thai Industries (FTI) reported on Tuesday.
— Bangkok Post

Calls mount to ban farm chemicals
The National Hazardous Substances Committee (NHSC) is under growing pressure to ban three farm chemicals when it meets on Wednesday to consider reports and proposals for alternatives to the substances.
— Bangkok Post

Europe trade body wants end to TM30
The European Association for Business and Commerce (EABC) has proposed an immediate end to the TM30 24-hour reporting and TM28 change-of-permanent-address immigration forms.
— Bangkok Post

See here for more of today’s Thailand morning news

Vietnam morning news

Compiled by Sreypov Men @MenSreypov

Vietnam Renewable Energy Week 2019: electricity transition in spotlight
The energy transition enables Vietnam to move toward a greener country as the country pursues sustainable development.
— The Hanoitimes

Vietnam receives first benefits of CPTPP
Vietnam’s had a taste of what could be to come thanks to the Comprehensive and Progressive Agreement for Trans-Pacific Partnership (CPTPP), in making a surplus of over $1 billion from transactions with the other 10 signatories of the free trade agreement.
— Plenglish

Vietnam on right track to lift EC’s yellow card: official
Vietnam has carried out comprehensive measures as recommended by the European Commission (EC) to remove a “yellow card” warning from the commission on Vietnamese seafood, according to Deputy General Director of the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development’s Directorate of Fisheries Nguyen Quang Hung.
— VietnamPlus

See here for more of today’s Vietnam morning news

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