Asean Morning News For June 25

Asean Morning News

Compiled by Stella-maris Ewudolu @stmarisewudolu

Southeast Asian real estate continues to lure Chinese buyers
Chinese demand for Thai real estate has been on an upward trend since 2015 and reached its second peak in history in 2018, the China Real Estate News reported.
— Asia Times

Asean streaming providers launch rules on hate speech, pornography
Video-on-demand streaming providers in Asean (Association of Southeast Asian Nations) countries, including ASTRO, dimsum, Fox+, HOOQ, iflix, Netflix, tonton, TVB and The Walt Disney Company (Southeast Asia), have joined forces to launch a self-regulatory Subscription Video-on-Demand Industry Content Code, or Code for short.
The Jakarta Post/ Inquirer.net

Chinese facial recognition start-up Megvii makes push into Southeast Asia
Megvii, the Beijing-based facial recognition start-up whose technology has been used by police departments to arrest fugitives, is seeking to expand its presence in Southeast Asia as China bolsters its export of surveillance and security technology.
— South China Morning Post

Tax Compliance in ASEAN in 2018
Businesses are affected not only by tax rates but also by the ease with which taxes are paid in a jurisdiction.
— Asean Briefing

Asean officials meet to mull e-commerce
Senior Asean officials are scheduled to meet in Singapore during July 6-11 to discuss joint development of e-commerce to facilitate digital business and consumer protection for cross-border online purchases…
— Bangkok Post

China steelmakers shift focus to south-east Asia
Chinese companies have invested billions of dollars in planned steel and coal projects as they chase new markets by shifting production to south-east Asia.
— Financial Times

Regional leadership needed to save trade regime
The world in which Asia Pacific economies operate is changing. Two main forces are driving this change — one ‘top-down’, the other ‘bottom-up’.
— East Asia Forum

China, ASEAN diplomats to meet on South China Sea
China on Friday said the 15th Senior Officials’ Meeting on the Implementation of the Declaration on the Conduct of Parties in the South China Sea (DOC) will be convened on June 27 in Changsha in central China’s Hunan Province.
— Infosurhoy

ASEAN is like a great jazz ensemble
Today, diplomacy is still the preferred tool of international relations. Global multilateralism has seen the rise of regional intergovernmental organisations like the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) which has served as a vital diplomatic instrument in enhancing regional cooperation and fostering unity within the Asia Pacific.
— The Asean Post

Reports highlight displaced Rohingya and business agendas
The UN refugee agency’s annual report on global forced-displacement trends, released on Wednesday, which was World Refugee Day, focused on the additional 650,000 “marginalized and stateless” Muslim Rohingya expelled from Myanmar into Bangladesh from mid-2017, bringing the year-end total to almost 950,000 housed in the world’s largest refugee camp in rural Cox’s Bazar.
— Asia Times

Guangxi connects with all ASEAN countries by air
South China’s Guangxi Zhuang Autonomous Region is now connected by air with all 10 members of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN), consolidating its role as the country’s gateway to the ASEAN, according to the Guangxi Airport Group.
— Infosurhoy

PM: Relations with neighboring countries are strong
The Prime Minister says that Thailand’s relationships with its neighbors are strong, as evidenced by an increase in border trade.
— NBT World (video)

Record Number of Delegates Expected at Mekong Tourism Forum 2018 in Nakhon Phanom, Thailand
The Mekong Tourism Forum 2018 in Nakhon Phanom, Thailand gets underway tomorrow and is expected to hit a new attendance record according to the latest numbers.
— Asia Travel Tips

China, ASEAN diplomats to tackle South China Sea in June
Member states of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN), including the Philippines, are meeting with China in June to discuss the South China Sea dispute.
— CNN Philippines

Klean-ing up Asean’s plastic problem
EVERYTHING we know about recycling plastic is wrong according to Malaysian-based startup Klean’s chief executive officer Nick Boden, who believes that current methods including the banning of plastic bags, separating trash and fining individuals are ineffective on their own.
— Digital News Asia

Vietnam rules ASEAN chess despite late PH heroics
Youngsters Antonelle Berthe Racasa, Ronald Canino and Kaye Regidor emerged as the surprise winners in their divisions, but they failed to give the Philippines a lift in the final day of the standard chess competition as Vietnam ruled the ASEAN Age Group Chess Championship Sunday night, June 24, in Davao City.
— Rappler

PCW, PCOO tie up for ASEAN gender mainstreaming confab
The Philippine Commission on Women (PCW) has teamed up with the Presidential Communications Operations Office (PCOO) as the country hosts the Senior Officials Conference on Gender Mainstreaming in the ASEAN Socio-Cultural Community (ASCC) Sectoral Bodies this week.
— PTV News

Cambodia Morning News

Compiled by Sreypov Men @MenSreypov

CAMBODIA ARRESTS 5 IN CRACKDOWN ON COMMERCIAL SURROGACY
Cambodian police have arrested five people on charges of providing commercial surrogate services, an official said Saturday.
— Khaosod English

Cambodia Moves to Stabilise Cryptocurrency Market… With Ban
Cambodia regulatory authorities earlier this week issued a statement banning the trade and use of cryptocurrencies in the kingdom… while it writes the rules for their use.
— AEC News Today

Government to fight oil price hike with tax cuts
Starting July 1, Cambodians will pay as much as 160 riel ($0.4) less for litre of gasoline, following tax cuts mandated by Prime Minister Hun Sen as well as price reductions implemented by local gas stations.
— Khmer Times

See here for more of today’s Cambodia Morning News

Indonesia Morning News

Compiled by Stella-maris Ewudolu @stmarisewudolu

Prabowo’s team crowdfunds Rp 275 m in three days
Gerindra Party presidential candidate Prabowo Subianto’s team started a crowdfunding initiative that had collected more than Rp 275 million (US$19,525) as of Sunday, according to a Telegram messaging app group called “Galang Perjuangan” (Fight Mobilization).
— The Jakarta Post

Indonesia books US$356.9 billion in foreign debts
Indonesia’s foreign debt stood at US$356.9 billion as of April, growing by 7.6 percent year-on-year (yoy), which was slower than the 8.8 percent growth recorded in the previous month, Bank Indonesia (BI) revealed on Thursday.
— The Jakarta Post

BNI Disburses Credit of IDR894 Bln Supporting Development of Gempol-Pasuruan Toll Road
PT Bank Negara Indonesia (Persero) Tbk (IDX:BBNI) or BNI supports development of infrastructure, the Gempol-Pasuruan toll road section, by joining the project lender syndicate.
— Netral News

See here for more of today’s Indonesia Morning News

Lao PDR Morning News

Compiled by Leakhena Khat @leakhenakhat

Laos faces structural issues despite robust expansion
LAOS IS STILL grappling with several challenges and pending issues impeding macroeconomic development despite robust expansion of the country’s economy when compared to regional peers.
— The Nation

Bids Sought for $5.5 Billion Thailand to China High-Speed Rail
Thailand will seek bids in the fourth-quarter for a 180 billion baht ($5.5 billion) high-speed rail project that’s part of a wider plan for a train network to China.
— Bloomberg Quint

See here for more of today’s Lao Morning News

Malaysia Morning News

Compiled by Sreypov Men @MenSreypov

Razak clan among 1,000 named in money laundering probe
MALAYSIA’S biggest money laundering probe began last week, with some 1,000 names being investigated, including former prime minister Najib Razak, his wife, Rosmah Mansor, and the wider Razak clan, sources said.
— The Malaysian Insight

Petronas, Sarawak govt case hits snag, uncertainty rises after July 1
The court case between national oil company Petroliam Nasional Bhd (Petronas) and the Sarawak government, which could not proceed further on technical grounds, raises questions about oil and gas operations in the state beginning next month.
— New Straits Times

Thai army: 41 bombs seized from militants were made in Malaysia
41 homemade bombs seized in southern Thailand’s Takbai district several days ago were produced in neighbouring Malaysia and meant for attacks after Ramadan.
— The Star Online

See here for more of today’s Malaysia Morning News

Myanmar Morning News

Compiled by Leakhena Khat @leakhenakhat

Myanmar not ready yet for auto boom
THOUGH MYANMAR has the potential for a boom in its automotive industry, it may take more than five years to enjoy tangible benefits in reality, according to Soe Tun, president of Myanmar Automobile Manufacturers and Distributors Association and managing director of Farmer Auto Trading Co.
— The Nation

Massive Yangon city expansion renders Naypyitaw pointless
Myanmar’s business capital of Yangon will see a massive expansion to accommodate its growing population and make the city more business-friendly and livable, the regional government said.
— Investvine

Three Myanmar Now reporters detained at Yegyi military camp
Three Myanmar Now reporters were briefly detained in Ayeyarwady Region yesterday while reporting on the alleged recruitment of a disabled child soldier, their editor said.
— Frontier Myanmar

See here for more of today’s Myanmar Morning News

Philippines Morning News

Compiled by Stella-maris Ewudolu @stmarisewudolu

Unido’s $202.61-million grant to help govt build ‘resilient’ communities
The United Nations Industrial Development Organization (Unido) will extend $202.61 million worth of grants to the Philippines for the implementation of various projects and programs in the next five years, according to the National Economic and Development Authority (Neda).
— Business Mirror

Philippines Ease of Doing Business: Start Again – Trade Secretary
If the Philippines wants to improve its ease of doing business score government agencies need to throw out the procedures and documents they use now and start again. This was the grim, but stark assessment of Philippines Trade Secretary Ramon Lopez last week.
— AEC News Today

US releases P296 M in new aid for Marawi
Financial assistance amounting to P296 million was recently released by the US government for humanitarian and recovery works in and around Marawi.
— The Philippine Star

See here for more of today’s Philippines Morning News

Singapore Morning News

Compiled by Leakhena Khat @leakhenakhat

Hosting Trump-Kim summit cost S$16.3 million; security the biggest component: MFA
The actual cost of hosting the historic summit between United States President Donald Trump and North Korean leader Kim Jong Un incurred by the Singapore Government is approximately S$16.3 million, less than the earlier estimate of S$20 million, a Ministry of Foreign Affairs spokesperson said on Sunday (May 24).
— Channel NewsAsia

Singapore Home to Asean’s Most Innovative Universities
Innovate or die is an often heard catchphrase as government and commerce strive to stay ahead of rivals to deliver products and services that boost the bottom line or increase approval ratings.
— AEC News Today

Mahathir Revives Singapore Water Dispute, Takes Swipe at Trump
Malaysian Prime Minister Mahathir Mohamad has revived the muscular foreign policy that characterized his first stint in power, seeking to renegotiate a longstanding water supply agreement with Singapore and taking shots at both the U.S. and China.
— Bloomberg

See here for more of today’s Singapore Morning News

Thailand Morning News

Compiled by John Le Fevre @photo_journ

Hi-tech Airbus Thailand MRO Centre Kick-starts EEC Aeropolis
Thailand’s plans for its next next industrial evolution have received a resounding kick-start with national carrier Thai Airways International (Thai) and Airbus on Friday signing an agreement to jointly establish a hi-tech aviation maintenance centre at U-Tapao airport in the heart of Thailand’s Eastern Economic Corridor (EEC) project.
— AEC News Today

PM Prayut confirms general election in Feb 2019
The Prime Minister has confirmed the country’s readiness to strengthen trade ties with England and hold a general election early next year.
— News Today (video)

Thailand halts imports of electronic, plastic waste
The Department of Industrial Works (DIW) has issued an order prohibiting imports of electronic and plastic waste.
— NNT

See here for more of today’s Thailand Morning News

Vietnam Morning News

Compiled by Sreypov Men @MenSreypov

Vietnam busts US$26 million online betting ring: State media
Vietnamese police broke up an online football gambling ring worth around US$26 million, arresting four people as authorities look to stop black market betting that surges during sporting events like the ongoing World Cup.
— Channel NewsAsia

Vietnam To Ban Bitcoin Miner Imports, Increases Scrutiny
Vietnam’s Ministry of Finance has recently proposed a temporary ban on bitcoin mining machine imports, to “improve the management of bitcoin and cryptocurrency transactions.” The country’s government is reportedly working to increase scrutiny over BTC transactions.
— Cryptoglobe

Breakthrough created in implementing National Single Window
Đinh Tiến Dũng, Minister of Finance, talks to the Hải Quan (Customs) newspaper about his ministry’s efforts to facilitate conditions for the nation to integrate internationally.
— Viet Nam News

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.