Asean Morning News For July 2

Asean Morning News

Compiled by Stella-maris Ewudolu    @stmarisewudolu

 

RCEP members seek year-end free trade deal
Ministers from 16 Asia-Pacific countries said on Sunday they will seek a broad agreement on their free trade talks by the end of the year as they formed a united front against the protectionist policies of US President Donald Trump.
— Bangkok Post

The future of aviation in Southeast Asia
Air travel across Southeast Asia is expected to rise at an estimated compounded annual growth rate (CAGR) of 5.8 percent from 2016 to 2036.
— The Asean Post

Non-interference and the Rohingya crisis
As Muslims worldwide celebrate the end of fasting for the holy month of Ramadan, a growing diaspora of Rohingya face the prospect of observing their faith under squalid, cramped conditions in refugee camps such as Cox’s Bazar in Bangladesh.
— The Asean Post

Manila keeps premier status in anti-trafficking report
The Philippines retained for the third straight year its premier Tier 1 status due to the significant strides it achieved in the campaign against human trafficking, according to a just-released report of the US State Department.
— The Gulf Today

Are Asean members still willing to support a provocative US in the South China Sea?
The US has stepped up its confrontational policy and actions vis-à-vis China there – and China has reacted with its own provocative statements and actions.
— SCMP

Asean-Korea youth workshop to highlight implications of digitalization
The Asean-Korea Center has announced that it will hold the ‘2018 ASEAN-Korea Youth Network Workshop’ in Seoul, Korea and Manila, the Philippines from July 2-11. The 10-day workshop will see the participation of 70 youth from the 10 Asean member states, Korea, China, and Japan.
— Inquirer.net/ Borneo Bulletin

Philippines hosts anti-drug abuse training for ASEAN members
THE PHILIPPINES, which has been under fire from local and international critics for the Duterte administration’s war on drugs, hosted a training on drug abuse prevention and rehabilitation for the member-states of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) in Metro Manila last week, from June 25 to 29.
— BusinessWorld

ASEAN manufacturing PMI eases in June
Growth in ASEAN’s manufacturing sector eased slightly in June after reaching a near four-year high in May, according to a survey.
— Nikkei Asian Review

US trying to make friends, counter China with massive naval exercise
The Pentagon kicked off the world’s largest naval war games last week, the biennial, month-long Rim of the Pacific exercises, known as RIMPAC, bringing together 46 ships and submarines, 200 aircraft and 25,000 troops from 25 nations.
— Fox2now.com

Thai developer Amata eyes Myanmar, Laos for Chinese factories
Amata Corp., Thailand’s largest industrial estate developer, says it aims to develop more industrial estates in neighboring countries in the Association of Southeast Asian Nations, especially Laos and Myanmar, to tap into benefits from China’s Belt and Road infrastructure initiative.
— Nikkei Asian Review

ASEAN to mainstream gender perspective in disaster management strategies
Leaders from ASEAN National Disaster Management Organizations discussed, among others, about setting priorities for women in disaster management during the 32nd Meeting of the ASEAN Committee on Disaster Management (ACDM) held on 26-28 of June in Kuala Lumpur.
— Philippine Information Agency

Asia Society launches white paper on US-ASEAN partnership
The “free and open Indo-Pacific” strategy of the United States has underscored the important role played by the member countries of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN).
— The Philippine Star

16 countries to ‘work with greater focus’ to conclude regional trade pact by year-end
Trade ministers of 16 Asia Pacific countries have agreed to work “with a greater focus” towards finding a breakthrough for their regional trade pact by the end of the year.
— The Straits Times

Search for TV scripts is on
Hooq, the largest video-on-demand service in Southeast Asia, is launching anew the Hooq Filmmakers Guild search for five scripts, to be produced into pilot episodes.
— Philippine Daily Inquirer

Asean-led trade initiative set for boost: Minister Chan Chun Sing
Trade ministers of 16 countries that account for 30 per cent of global trade have re-affirmed their resolve for a regional trade deal that will benefit economies at different levels of development.
— The Newpaper

ASEAN region joins movement to cut plastic waste
ASEAN Member States (AMS), which includes the Philippines, have joined movement to reduce plastic waste in the region, a move that was announced by ASEAN Centre for Biodiversity (ACB) Executive Director Theresa Mundita S. Lim.
— Food Evolution

MSMEs: Asean’s economic rocket booster, but…
THE 10 members of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (Asean) are destined to be the fastest growing economic region and a major supplier of raw and manufactured food, at least in the next two decades.
— The Manila Times

Southeast Asia’s Premier Digital Conference, Wild Digital, Takes It Up a Notch in Its Fourth Comeback With YB Gobind Singh Deo
Wild Digital, Southeast Asia’s premier tech conference, is back for the fourth year running.
— Asia One

Targeted security attacks underway in Southeast Asia
Southeast Asia has come under increased cyber attacks throughout 2017 and 2018, according to threat intelligence findings from Palo Alto Networks.
— Channel Asia Singapore

Cambodia Morning News

Compiled by Sreypov Men    @MenSreypov

 

Cambodia earns Guinness Record for longest woven scarf
Cambodia won a place in the Guinness book of World Records Sunday for a 1,100-metre (3,600-foot) long version of the country’s popular krama scarf.
— Bangkok Post

Cambodian PM’s son gets military roles amid human rights concerns
Move seen by rights groups as a bid to undermine democracy and to entrench the PM’s power before this month’s polls.
— Aljazeera

To Get a Passport, Cambodians Asked to Pass Cash
The hassles for Cambodians seeking travel documents start over a kilometer away from the central passport office.
— VOA

See here for more of today’s Cambodia Morning News

 

Indonesia Morning News

Compiled by Stella-maris Ewudolu    @stmarisewudolu

 

Indonesia Net International Investment Position Liabilities Plunge in Q1
Indonesia’s net international investment position (NIIP) recorded net liabilities that decreased primarily due to reduced net foreign liabilities (NFL) position.
— Netral News

Freeport Indonesia Acquisition Valued at Nearly 4 bn USD
State Owned Enterprise Minister Rini Soemarno explained that she has discussed Freeport Indonesia`s acquisition value with Freeport McMoran Head Executive Richard Adkerson.
— Tempo.co

Lampung Disburses IDR 400 Billion for First Phase Village Development
Lampung Province has allocated 20 percent of its village fund budget for the first phase in June 2018, from the total IDR 2 trillion budget (around IDR 400 billion). However, there are three villages in North Lampung District that have not received funding from the State-Budget.
— Netral News

See here for more of today’s Indonesia Morning News

 

Lao PDR Morning News

Compiled by Sreypov Men    @MenSreypov

 

Govt takes steps to repay the nation’s debts
The government will study appropriate approaches to settle the nation’s debts from now until 2020, notably companies which have 100-percent completed the construction of state investment projects.
— Vientiane Times

How is Laos Doing on Social Development?
The Lao Statistics Bureau and the Ministry of Planning and Investment, in collaboration with the Ministry of Health and the Ministry of Education and Sports, and with technical support from UNICEF and UNFPA, launched on June 27th the Lao Social Indicator Survey – LSIS-II.
— Laotian Times

Vientiane conference links VN, Lao firms
Nearly 100 businesses from Việt Nam and Laos gathered at a conference in Vientiane on Friday to seek partnership opportunities, an activity within the framework of the Laos-Việt Nam Trade Fair 2018.
— Viet Nam News

See here for more of today’s Lao Morning News

Malaysia Morning News

Compiled by Sreypov Men    @MenSreypov

 

Task force probes RM600 million in Umno’s bank accounts
Investigators have been trying to prove the money trail of the alleged RM600 million (5 billion baht) deposited in Umno’s bang accounts came from 1Malaysia Development Bhd (1MDB), according to an exclusive report of New Straits Times Online on Saturday.
— Thai PBS

Malaysians outraged over reports of child marriage
Reports of marriage between a 11-year old girl and a man 30 years her senior sparked an uproar in Malaysia on Saturday, reigniting debate on the subject of underage marriage in the Muslim majority country.
— Reuters

Sarawak gives oil & gas firms until end-March 2019 to obtain licences
The Sarawak State government said today oil and gas players operating in the state could go about their business as usual until the end of 2019, as it gathers “the necessary information from all industry players, as well as more detailed and comprehensive engagement with them”.
— The Sun Daily

See here for more of today’s Malaysia Morning News

 

Myanmar Morning News

Compiled by Stella-maris Ewudolu    @stmarisewudolu

 

MyTel has invested $1b in Myanmar network
Myanmar’s newest mobile operator MyTel has already invested $1 billion in its nationwide operations, and plans to invest $2 billion within its 15-year license period.
— Telecomasia.net

Over $231m paid so far for Chinese oil and gas loans
Myanmar loaned over US$1.6 billion from China for three oil and gas projects and has paid back over US$231 million plus interest of over US$418 million, according to a press conference on the report of EITI (Extractive Industries Transparency Initiative) for 2014-2015 fiscal year and 2015-2016 FY.
— Eleven Myanmar

Over Ks260 million donated to Eternal Peace Pagoda
Well-wishers donated over Ks260 million to the Eternal Peace Pagoda in Nay Pyi Taw at a ceremony held yesterday morning at the Vijaya Mingalar Dhamma Hall on Kaba Aye Hillock in Mayangon Township, Yangon.
— The Global Newslight of Myanmar

See here for more of today’s Myanmar Morning News

 

Philippines Morning News

Compiled by Stella-maris Ewudolu    @stmarisewudolu

 

PH net IIP down to $34.1 billion in first quarter
The country’s net international investment position (IIP) improved in the first quarter of the year with external liability position falling to $34.1 billion as of end-March from $43.4 billion in December 2017, the Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas (BSP) reported.
— Manila Bulletin

Philippines FDI Grows 43.5% in Q1
Foreign direct investment into the Philippines in the first quarter of this year rose to $2.2 billion, or an increase of 43.5% compared to the same period last year, the government said on Sunday.
— Financial Tribune

Philippines is 2nd worst auto market in 4 months
Vehicle manufacturers have cut production by over a third as the Philippines slid to being the second worst performer in Southeast Asia in the first four months of the year.
— The Philippine Star

See here for more of today’s Philippines Morning News

Singapore Morning News

Compiled by John Le Fevre    @photo_journ

 

SMRT posts loss of $86m in FY2018
In the financial year ending March 31, trains on the East-West Line travelled about 13 per cent longer on average before encountering a delay of more than five minutes.
— The New Paper

Targeted security attacks underway in Southeast Asia
Southeast Asia has come under increased cyber attacks throughout 2017 and 2018, according to threat intelligence findings from Palo Alto Networks.
— Channel Asia Singapore

Childcare subsidies to be reviewed
The Early Childhood Development Agency (ECDA) will be reviewing its preschool subsidy framework, announced Social and Family Development Minister Desmond Lee on Sunday (Jul 1).
Read more at https://www.channelnewsasia.com/news/singapore/childcare-subsidies-to-be-reviewed-10487972
— Channel NewsAsia

See here for more of today’s Singapore Morning News

 

Thailand Morning News

Compiled by John Le Fevre    @photo_journ

 

Thai rescuers establish base deep inside cave where boys trapped
Thai navy divers had still to navigate their way through 3km of dark, flooded cave passages on Sunday (Jul 1) to reach the spot rescuers believe would give 12 missing boys and their football coach a better chance of survival.
— Channel NewsAsia

Day 8: Heavy Equipment, Relief Teams Rushed to Thai Cave Rescue Site (video)
As day eight of a desperate search and rescue operation at a northern Thailand cave got underway for a missing teen football team additional personal and heavy equipment are being despatched from the furtherest parts of the kingdom as no effort is spared in the search for the #MaeSai13.
— AEC News Today (video)

We will not stop until we find them: SEAL chief
The commander of the Navy SEAL, a special warfare unit playing a central role in the search for the missing 12 young footballers and their coach trapped in Tham Luang cave in Chiang Rai, vowed this morning that the rescue mission will continue until they are all found.
— Thai PBS

See here for more of today’s Thailand Morning News

 

Vietnam Morning News

Compiled by Sreypov Men    @MenSreypov

 

Vietnam Posts Strong GDP Growth, Boosts Investment Abroad
Vietnam’s economy continues to show strength with an impressive 7.08 per cent growth in the first half of 2018, the highest rate since 2011. According to the General Statistics Office, growth rates in many sectors beat records that have stood for years.
— Investvine

Vietnam bridge, road and highway development projects
Vietnam is pushing ahead with a series of road, highway and bridge projects that will improve the country’s transport network.
— World Highways

More Vietnam high-ranking officials face Party disciplinary measures
The Inspection Commission of the Party Central Committee on June 30 announced disciplinary measures and notices against a number of high-ranking military, banking and corporate officials as the Party intensifies the internal cleanup.
— The Hanoi Times

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.