Asean Morning News
Compiled by Stella-maris Ewudolu @stmarisewudolu
Thailand spearheads regional fund to cut reliance on big Asian economies
Thailand is spearheading a new Southeast Asian fund for infrastructure and development projects, Thai Prime Minister Prayuth Chan-ocha told a summit in Bangkok on Saturday, a bid to counter reliance on Asian giants, such as China.
— Reuters
Korea to underscore ‘New Southern Policy’ targeting ASEAN
The ASEAN-Korea Centre will hold a meeting on June 25 to share President Moon Jae-in’s New Southern Policy aimed at boosting relations with ASEAN countries.
— Korea Times
Going Down & Getting it up in Bangkok: Intermat Asean Returns
It doesn’t matter whether you need some help going down, or some tips on getting it up, the place to be in September is Bangkok when Intermat Asean will again take place over three days.
— AEC News Today
Mekong River Commission (MRC) Announces Laos Intentions to Build “Fourth Dam” on Mekong River
The Mekong River Commission (MRC) announced yesterday that Laos has formally notified the Commission of its intention to construct the Pak Lay dam on the mainstem of the Mekong River.
— Chiang Rai Times
EU palm-oil ban hits Asean
He has been preoccupied with cleaning up the financial mess made by the previous administration, that appeared to treat the public coffers like its current account.
— Asean Economist
Taxation in ASEAN: An Introduction
The Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) represents a highly integrated economic region when compared to other parts of the world.
— Asean Briefing
Asean and Japan strengthen their partnership
Asean and Japan’s senior officials participating in the 33rd Asean-Japan Forum in Tokyo last week reaffirmed the importance of the Asean-Japan Strategic Partnership and renewed the commitment to further strengthen their close ties.
— Khmer Times
GrowthOps makes $20M takeover bid for Asia Pacific Digital
Australian IT and consulting firm Trimantium GrowthOps (ASX:TGO) has made an off-market takeover bid to acquire 100 per cent of Asia Pacific Digital (ASX:DIG) shares.
— Channel Asia Singapore
India has trade deficit with 10 RCEP members
India had trade deficit with as many as 10 member countries, including China, South Korea and Australia, of the RCEP grouping of 16 nations which have been negotiating a mega trade pact since November 2012.
— Outlook India
ACB chief pushes for marine biodiversity protection, conservation in Southeast Asia
The Asean Centre for Biodiversity (ACB) is pushing for collective efforts in protecting and conserving Southeast Asia’s marine resources.
— Business Mirror
Việt Nam ready to contribute to CLMV co-operation: Prime Minister
Prime Minister Nguy?n Xuân Phúc said Vi?t Nam is ready to contribute to co-operation as part of the Cambodia-Laos-Myanmar-Vi?t Nam (CLMV) mechanism.
— Việt Nam News
Asean and Japan strengthen their partnership
Asean and Japan’s senior officials participating in the 33rd Asean-Japan Forum in Tokyo last week reaffirmed the importance of the Asean-Japan Strategic Partnership and renewed the commitment to further strengthen their close ties.
— Khmer Times
Malaysia can be part of ASEAN joint bid to host 2034 World Cup
Malaysia stand a chance to co-host the 2034 World Cup together with Thailand, Indonesia and Vietnam who have already agreed to put in a joint-bid proposal.
— Fox Sports Asia
8th ACMECS Summit concludes, with two documents endorsed
Thailand yesterday concluded the 8th Ayeyawady-Chao Phraya-Mekong Economic Cooperation Strategy (ACMECS) Summit with outcome documents.
— News Today (video)
Dengue-prone Asean to tighten defences
THE ASEAN region is the most vulnerable to the threat of potentially-fatal dengue fever, according to a report by the World Health Organisation.
— The Nation
Cambodia Morning News
Compiled by Sreypov Men @MenSreypov
Cambodia Prince Ranariddh injured and wife killed in car crash
A Cambodian prince and former prime minister has been injured and his wife killed in a head-on car collision in the south-west of the country.
— BBC News
Premier calls for more investment from neighbours
Prime Minister Hun Sen on Friday called for investors in ACMECS member countries to consider business opportunities in Cambodia, where, he says, the government has undertaken key reforms to improve the business climate.
— Khmer Times
Construction work on China-funded stadium in Cambodia in full swing
The construction on a China-aided new national stadium in Cambodia has gone full steam ahead of the project completion plan set by the end of 2020.
— Xinhua
See here for more of today’s Cambodia Morning News
Indonesia Morning News
Compiled by Stella-maris Ewudolu @stmarisewudolu
Indonesia Must Diversify Its Staple Food to Ensure Food Security for All: UN
Indonesia must implement policies aimed at diversifying its staple foods and increasing fruit and vegetable consumption to ensure the right to food for all, a United Nations representative said.
— Jakarta Globe
Travel Ban Removal Expected to Boost Tourism
The European Union’s decision to lift the travel ban for Indonesian airlines on June 14, 2018, is expected to give positive impacts not only on the aviation industry.
— Tempo.co
BNI Predicts Credit Card Transactions Jump 30 Percent
PT Bank Negara Indonesia (Persero) Tbk (IDX:BBNI) estimates non-cash transactions using credit cards jumped about 30 percent during the Eid al-Fitr (Lebaran) 2018 holiday momentum.
— Netral News
See here for more of today’s Indonesia Morning News
Lao PDR Morning News
Compiled by Leakhena Khat @leakhenakhat
Govt spends over 2.5 trillion kip on rural development
The government invested over 2 trillion kip in 1,600 projects relating to rural development and poverty eradication in 2016 and 2017, authorities in charge told the National Assembly (NA) recently.
— Vientiane Times
Mekong River Commission (MRC) Announces Laos Intentions to Build “Fourth Dam” on Mekong River
The Mekong River Commission (MRC) announced yesterday that Laos has formally notified the Commission of its intention to construct the Pak Lay dam on the mainstem of the Mekong River.
— Chiang Rai Times
Lao workers upgrade status in Thailand as deadline looms
Lao authorities are cooperating with Thailand as the southern neighbour’s Labour Ministry hastened the registration of nearly 170,000 undocumented migrant labourers in the country.
— Vientiane Times
See here for more of today’s Lao Morning News
Malaysia Morning News
Compiled by Sreypov Men @MenSreypov
Malaysia rethinks on China projects
MALAYSIA was once a loyal partner in China’s globe-spanning infrastructure drive but a new government is now pledging to review Beijing-backed projects, threatening key links in the much-vaunted initiative.
— Bangkok Post
Investigators recommend charging Najib
INVESTIGATORS probing Datuk Seri Najib Razak for money laundering and misappropriation of property have recommended for the former prime minister to be charged.
— New Straits Times
Sarawak Does Not Deserve To Be Left Out Of Malaysia’s Clean Up Drive
The cleansing sweep of GE14 has flushed out the Federal Government and also sent Sabah’s Musa Aman packing. Yet, one glaring piece of unfinished business remaining among various pockets of entrenched corruption is Sarawak and its limpit of a leading politician, Governor Taib Mahmud.
— Sarawak Report
See here for more of today’s Malaysia Morning News
Myanmar Morning News
Compiled by Leakhena Khat @leakhenakhat
Myanmar punishes 16 “fake reporters“
Myanmar authorities have taken legal action against some 16 people for extortion and unlawful acts disguised as special reporters and crime reporters, according to Ministry of Home Affairs.
— Khmer Times
China wants to restart disputed Myitsone dam in Myanmar
If a recent article in the Global Times, a semi-official Chinese publication, is anything to go by, China has not given up hope of restarting its hydroelectric power project at Myitsone in northern Myanmar.
— Asia Times
Myanmar reforms investment commission
Myanmar reformed its Investment Commission with 13 members and the Minister at the Office of the Government U Thaung Tun was appointed as chairman, said a government’s order issued late Saturday.
— Xinhua Net
See here for more of today’s Myanmar Morning News
Philippines Morning News
Compiled by Stella-maris Ewudolu @stmarisewudolu
BSP revises FDI projection upward to $9.2 B
The Philippines is seen booking over $9 billion worth of foreign direct investments (FDIs) this year amid the improving global perception of the country as an investment destination.
— Philippine Star
PAF earmarks P110.9-M for attack helicopter parts
The Philippine Air Force (PAF) is setting aside the sum of PHP110,917,000 for the acquisition of spare parts needed for the maintenance of its AgustaWestland AW-109 attack helicopters.
— Philippine News Agency
DTI seeks P4-B fund for MSMEs in 2019
The Department of Trade and Industry (DTI) is seeking to double its funding for micro, small and medium enterprises (MSMEs) to P4 billion next year, but exporters believe this is insufficient to cushion the impact of a shifting global value chain and a national policy on contractualization.
— Business Mirror
See here for more of today’s Philippines Morning News
Singapore Morning News
Compiled by Leakhena Khat @leakhenakhat
Singapore The World’s Safest Country to Live (HD video)
A survey by global consulting and research company Gallup has found Singapore the world’s safest country to live in. According to the 2018 Global Law and Order report 94 per cent of Singaporeans surveyed said they felt safe living in the city-state.
— AEC News Today (video)
Network of radiation sensors to be installed across Singapore to boost nuclear safety
Singapore is beefing up its nuclear safety capabilities, with work under way to install a network of radiation sensors around the island.
— The Straits Times
Poverty And Caring For the Aged: Singapore’s Dirty Little Secrets (video)
If you mention ‘Singapore’ to almost anyone the country’s rapid economic growth, towering skyscrapers, rule of (by) law, and general orderliness are likely among the topics most often raised.
— AEC News Today (video)
See here for more of today’s Singapore Morning News
Thailand Morning News
Compiled by John Le Fevre @photo_journ
Thailand spearheads regional fund to cut reliance on big Asian economies
Thailand is spearheading a new Southeast Asian fund for infrastructure and development projects, Thai Prime Minister Prayuth Chan-ocha told a summit in Bangkok on Saturday, a bid to counter reliance on Asian giants, such as China.
— Reuters
Going Down & Getting it up in Bangkok: Intermat Asean Returns
It doesn’t matter whether you need some help going down, or some tips on getting it up, the place to be in September is Bangkok when Intermat Asean will again take place over three days.
— AEC News Today
Assets registered to Thai Crown Property Bureau to be held under king’s name
Assets previously registered to Thailand’s Crown Property Bureau will now be held “in the name of His Majesty”, the bureau said on its official website on Saturday, the latest shake-up in royal affairs under King Maha Vajiralongkorn.
— Reuters
See here for more of today’s Thailand Morning News
Vietnam Morning News
Compiled by Sreypov Men @MenSreypov
Vietnam encourages organic fertilizer production
Vietnam is encouraging organic fertilizer production and consumption from available domestic materials, Vietnam News Agency reported on Sunday.
— Xinhua
Vietnam’s renewable energy yet to get wind in its sails
The target of 800 and 6,000 megawatts of wind power by 2020 and 2030 looks beyond reach.
— VnExpress
Hanoi licenses US$17.5 billion projects, pledges more business-friendly policies
The Hanoi government will grant investment licenses to projects worth more than US$17 billion on Sunday morning while vowing to issue more incentives to make it a business-friendly destination.
— 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.