Asean morning news
Compiled by Stella-maris Ewudolu @stmarisewudolu
Where will Yangon fall on the Krispy Kreme Asean Price Index?
Hot on the heels of Krispy Kreme’s 81st birthday celebration in July, the American doughnut franchise is preparing to open its first outlet in Myanmar.
— AEC News Today
ASEAN updates AEC 2025 Consolidated Strategic Action Plan
THE Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) has updated the ASEAN Economic Community (AEC) 2025 Consolidated Strategic Action Plan (CSAP) to include action lines from sectoral work plans.
— Borneo Bulletin
Unis need to work for ASEAN students or risk losing market of 700 million people
Australia needs a much easier visa system and to offer a wider range of higher education options if it wants to attract students from the giant ASEAN market.
— Financial Review
Zero-dollar tourists not welcome
Hordes of Chinese tourists descend upon an idyllic island paradise. Their boisterous and noisy nature scares away their more “cultured” Western counterparts.
— The Asean Post
Singapore firms ranked 2nd in Asean for transparency on anti-corruption policy
SOUTH-EAST Asia’s biggest listed companies have improved over the past two years in their transparency about anti-corruption practices, according to a study out on Monday.
— The Business Times (paywall)
An Investigative Plunge Into Southeast Asian Organized Crime
Organized crime in Southeast Asia is entering a golden age.
— Thailand Business News
3 core principles for Asean, China amid challenges: DPM Teo
With the world in a flux, Asean and China would do well to stick to three time-tested principles to navigate global security and trade challenges, and bolster cooperation, Deputy Prime Minister Teo Chee Hean said yesterday.
— The Straits Times
Co-working space outlook ‘robust’ but mixed across Asean markets: Maybank Kim Eng report
The outlook for co-working spaces in Asean seems “robust at the moment”, Maybank Kim Eng analysts Lee Ju Ye and Chua Hak Bin wrote in a recent report, but the landscape varies across the region.
— The Business Times
Energy Ministry: Electricity Tariffs in Indonesia Most Stable in Southeast Asia
State-owned power company Perusahaan Listrik Negara (PLN) has shown its stability amid ucertain global economic fluctuations.
— Netral News
Canada explores free trade with ASEAN
Canada wants free trade with the ASEAN bloc, Trade Minister Jim Carr said on Monday (Jul 27) on the eve of a trip to Thailand and Singapore for “exploratory” talks.
— Channel NewsAsia (annoying popups)
A.F.P. eyes trilateral military exercise with Indonesia, Malaysia
The Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) is eyeing to hold a trilateral military exercise with Indonesia and Malaysia as it continuously train and equip in its effort become a modern military organization.
— Business Mirror
BRI could be a Silk Road for the drug trade
The Talking Heads’ 1985 hit ‘Road to nowhere’ provided a rather entertaining, if somewhat bleak, perspective on the futility of life: we are born, we live and we die.
— The Strategist (blog)
PCG to host 2nd maritime exercise with US, ASEAN nations
The Philippine Coast Guard (PCG) will host again the week-long maritime security exercise, bringing 100 local and foreign maritime law enforcement counterparts from eight nations in Manila.
— PTV News
Cambodia morning news
Compiled by Michael Johansen @mfjohansen47
James Ricketson: Australian filmmaker says he was held by Cambodian police for six days without charge
Australian filmmaker James Ricketson told a Cambodian court how he was dragged from the busy Phnom Penh riverside, hurled into a police vehicle and detained for six days before being told that he had been charged with espionage in June last year.
— ABC News
Cops seize five tonnes of illegal whitening cream
The Anti-Economic Crime Department arrested a man on Saturday, allegedly involved in producing fake cosmetic products in a warehouse in Por Sen Chey’s Chom Chao II commune.
— Phnom Penh Post
KPP refuses to reinstate president
The Khmer Power Party on Sunday said that it will not consider reinstating former party president Sourn Serey Ratha after he was released from prison last week following a royal pardon.
— Khmer Times
See here for more of today’s Cambodia morning news
Indonesia morning news
Compiled by Michael Johansen @mfjohansen47
Hosts Indonesia smash Asian Games record
Asian Games hosts Indonesia smashed their record gold medal haul Monday on a day tainted by referee controversy, while Son Heung-min’s hopes of a military service reprieve were kept alive by a penalty deep in extra time.
— Channel NewsAsia
Social Affairs Ministry Channels Rp1.2tn to Quake-torn NTB
The Social Affairs Ministry has initiated an emergency response and social protection program for earthquake victims in West Nusa Tenggara (NTB). The ministry has continued disbursing funds to the province following the disaster.
— Tempo
Indonesia posts 7.5 million visits by foreign tourists in six months
The Tourism Ministry reported that Indonesia recorded 7.5 million visits by foreign tourists in the first six months of this year.
— Antara
See here for more of today’s Indonesia morning news
Lao PDR morning news
Compiled by Stella-maris Ewudolu @stmarisewudolu
Korea pledges ongoing financial support for UXO clearance
The Republic of Korea will provide US$5.5 million for the second phase of a plan to improve unexploded ordnance (UXO) survivors’ quality of life after the first phase finishes this year.
— Vientiane Times
Laos Remains Target For Money Laundering: Authority
Laos continues to face a high risk of money laundering despite the country graduating from the “grey list” of the Financial Action Task Force in 2017, local daily Vientiane Times on Monday quoted Laos’ National Money Laundering and Terrorist Financing Risk Assessment (NRA) as saying.
— UrduPoint News
Civil society groups to boycott Prior Consultation on new Mekong dam
Save the Mekong, a coalition of non-governmental organizations, community-based groups and concerned citizens within the Mekong region, issued a statement on Friday announcing their intention to boycott the Mekong River Commission’s (MRC’s) Prior Consultation for the proposed Pak Lay dam. Pak Lay is the fourth dam planned on the main stream of the Mekong River in Laos.
— Asia Times
See here for more of today’s Lao morning news
Malaysia morning news
Compiled by Sreypov Men @MenSreypov
Foreigners Banned From Buying Property In Large Chinese Project In Malaysia’s Johor
Foreigners will not be allowed to buy residential units anymore in a huge development in Johor state in southern Peninsular Malaysia backed by Chinese developer Country Garden Holdings, Malaysia’s Prime Minister Mahathir Mohamad said on August 27.
— Investvine
Foreigners allowed to buy land in Malaysia, says Forest City developer on Mahathir’s comments
Hours after Malaysian Prime Minister (PM) Mahathir Mohamad said he will ban foreigners from buying homes in the Forest City project in Johor, its developer responded by pointing to laws which allow foreigners to purchase land in the country.
— Today Online
Malaysia government mulling soda tax to encourage healthy living: PM Mahathir
The Malaysian government is considering implementing a soda tax to reduce sugar consumption and encourage healthy living in the country, said Prime Minister Mahathir Mohamad on Monday (Aug 27).
— Channel NewsAsia
See here for more of today’s Malaysia Morning News
Myanmar morning news
Compiled by Joanne Encantador @encantador_jo
Where will Yangon fall on the Krispy Kreme Asean Price Index?
Hot on the heels of Krispy Kreme’s 81st birthday celebration in July, the American doughnut franchise is preparing to open its first outlet in Myanmar.
— AEC News Today
Myanmar military leaders should face genocide charges, UN says
An independent United Nations investigation into alleged human rights abuses carried out against Rohingya Muslims in Myanmar has called for the country’s military leaders to be investigated and prosecuted for genocide, crimes against humanity and war crimes.
— CNN
Myanmar: Verdict for two jailed Reuters journalists postponed
A court in Myanmar has postponed the verdict against two Reuters journalists accused of illegally possessing official documents in a case that has drawn attention to the faltering state of press freedom in the troubled Southeast Asian nation.
— Aljazeera
See here for more of today’s Myanmar morning news
Philippines morning news
Compiled by Stella-maris Ewudolu @stmarisewudolu
Tourist arrival target maintained at 7.4 million despite Boracay closure
THE Department of Tourism said it remains on track to hit its target of 7.4 million visitors this year despite the six-month closure of Boracay island.
— BusinessWorld Online
Biofuels Act suspension endangers P30B investments
The Center for Alcohol Research and Development Foundation (CARD Foundation) said suspension of the implementation of the Biofuels Act will imperil the country’s P30-billion bioethanol industry and drive away foreign investors.
— Malaya
Tax appeals court rules against BIR on firm’s P12.9-million VAT deficiency
THE Court of Tax Appeals has granted a petition filed by Process Machinery Company, Inc. (PMCI) to set aside a value-added tax (VAT) deficiency assessed by the Bureau of Internal Revenue.
— BusinessWorld Online
See here for more of today’s Philippines morning news
Singapore morning news
Compiled by Joanne Encantador @encantador_jo
NUS scientists produce probiotic drink from soya waste | Video
Scientists at the National University of Singapore (NUS) have found a way to turn okara – the residue from the production of soya milk and tofu – into a nutritious probiotic drink. Vimita Mohandas reports.
— Channel NewsAsia
Are accelerators still struggling to find their place in Singapore’s startup ecosystem?
Accelerator programmes have steadily become a mainstay in Singapore’s thriving startup ecosystem.
— Singapore Business Review
Asian Games: Contract bridge bags third gold for Singapore
Team Singapore’s contract bridge players have won a third Asian Games gold medal for the Republic, after the men’s team of Poon Hua, Loo Choon Chou, Zhang Yukun, and Fong Kien Hoong defeated Hong Kong 107-52 (International Master Points) in the final in Jakarta.
— TodayOnline
See here for more of today’s Singapore morning news
Thailand morning news
Compiled by John Le Fevre @photo_journ
Cigarette tax hike likely pushed to 2021
The Finance Ministry has informally delayed doubling the excise tax on cigarettes to 40% for another two years to October 2021, claiming the higher levy will be a heavy blow to state-run Thailand Tobacco from local farmers.
— Bangkok Post
Proposal to ease political restrictions is now with NCPO
A proposal to ease political restrictions in six activities is now in the hand of Army Commander-in-Chief General Chalermchai Sitthisart who is concurrently the secretary-general of the National Council for Peace and Order (NCPO), Deputy Prime Minister Wissanu Krea-ngam said today.
— NNT
Political turmoil blamed for GDP losses
Thailand’s political uncertainty over the past 20 years took a toll on the country’s economic growth, shaving off 0.4 percentage points per year on average and depressing growth below its potential, according to a joint survey by the Bank of Thailand’s Puey Ungphakorn Institute for Economic Research’s (Pier).
— Bangkok Post
See here for more of today’s Thailand morning news
Vietnam morning news
Compiled by Sreypov Men @MenSreypov
Vietnam sees potential for massive shrimp processing sector
Experts outline factors holding back sector’s ‘vast’ potential at industry conference.
— Intrafish
Foreign investors interested in wind power development
Foreign investors have shown considerable interest in developing wind power in Viet Nam.
— Bizhub
PetroVietnam to delay divesting stake at gas supplier PV Gas
Instead of divesting at PV Gas, state-run Vietnam Oil and Gas Group (PetroVietnam) will focus on divesting stake at other subsidiaries.
— The Hanoi Times
Wider use of mechatronics, robotics urged in Vietnam
VIETNAMESE companies are facing several challenges including human resources, investment capital for technology systems and insufficient technical levels to invest in and apply cutting edge technologies into production.
— The Nation
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.