Asean morning news for September 13,

Asean morning news

Compiled by Stella-maris Ewudolu @stmarisewudolu

British Airways data theft leaves customers fuming, out of pocket (video)
‘Customer data theft’. That is the grim message now greeting visitors to British Airways’s UK website. ‘We are investigating the theft of customer data from our website and mobile app’, it says. ‘The website is now working normally’.
— AEC News Today (video)

Asia Pacific requires $8.4 trillion for transport projects
Meeting Asia Pacific’s transport needs require US$8.4 trillion in financing by 2030, Asian Development Bank (ADB) President Takehiko Nakao said yesterday during the opening of Transport Forum 2018, at the Asian Development Bank (ADB).
— Manila Bulletin

Tech threatening 6.6 million jobs in Southeast Asia
AUTOMATION will soon make millions of low-skilled jobs – from cashiers and machine operators to waiters and drivers – redundant across Southeast Asia, said experts today, warning the region to upskill fast or face huge employment problems.
— The Malaysian Insight

Thailand to host grand event for SMEs around the globe
A marketing expert has suggested Thai entrepreneurs adjust themselves by using technology to increase sales and expand their business in the digital era.
— News Today (video)

Asian exports face headwinds from US-China trade war: PMI survey
Economic uncertainty stemming from escalating trade tensions between the U.S. and China has pressured Asian manufacturers, with the export-related indicator falling in the latest Nikkei Purchasing Managers’ Index survey.
— Nikkei Asian Review

SEA requires up to 9,000 pilots in three years’ time
Malaysia Airlines Bhd (MAB) said overcapacity has led to a worldwide pilot shortage, further exacerbating the situation and hampering the carrier’s growth.
— New Straits Times

WEF on ASEAN 2018 daily recap
Yesterday saw the start of the World Economic Forum (WEF) on ASEAN in Hanoi with the theme “ASEAN 4.0: Entrepreneurship and the Fourth Industrial Revolution”.
— The Asean Post

AI: Assisting today’s doctors
You may think that artificial intelligence (AI) will make doctors obsolete soon but that day is still far off. In fact, computers are not that intelligent just yet.
— The Asean Post

How China’s plastic ban has Southeast Asia scrambling for solutions
With China refusing to accept the low-grade plastic waste that the West once poured there, the developing nations of Southeast Asia are buckling beneath the weight of the world’s redirected refuse.
— Southeast Asia Globe

Hitachi Building Smart Cities in Asia
apanese conglomerate Hitachi is looking to Mekong Delta to boost infrastructure demand as modernization takes hold in Southeast Asia.
— Bloomberg (video)

China urges Southeast Asian nations to reject trade protectionism
China’s vice premier Hu Chunhua has warned that the global economy is moving in the wrong direction.
— Deutsche Welle

ASEAN and the challenge of a multipolar world
At no time since the Cold War has there been a greater demand for an effective, functioning ASEAN.
— East Asia Forum

ASEAN in ‘good position’ to take advantage of tech revolution: PM Lee | Video
The Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) is in a “good position” to take advantage of the technological revolution, Singapore’s Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong said on Wednesday (Sep 12).
— Channel NewsAsia (video)

Thailand hosts visit by region’s media ahead of taking Asean chair in 2019
Thailand’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs last week hosted a familiarisation visit to the country by media from the Asean+3 countries, aiming to teach them about the country’s culture, history, and future direction.
— Vientiane Times

Indo-ASEAN car rally flagged off
The Indo-ASEAN Friendship Car Rally was flagged off from Gaden Namgyal Lhatse Monastery here by Sports and Youth Affairs Minister Mohesh Chai on Wednesday.
— The Arunachal Times

Asean must stay open to free trade, say leaders
Several Asean leaders yesterday stressed that openness to trade must remain a key priority and strategy for economic growth.
— The Straits Times

Vietnam minister calls for Asean to ditch roaming charges
Vietnam’s acting minister of information and communications, Nguyễn Mạnh Hùng, said today that Vietnam, as an emerging economy, would be able to take advantage of the fourth industrial revolution, even though the country missed the first three.
— The Nation

Cambodia morning news

Compiled by Michael Johansen @mfjohansen47

Cambodia leader tells world to stay out of Indochina politics
Cambodian Prime Minister Hun Sen said on Wednesday that countries outside Indochina are too critical of politics in the region and that it should be left to solve its own problems.
— Reuters

Tax department rakes $2 billion with reforms and audits
Kong Vibol, director-general of the General Department of Taxation, told Khmer Times Editors that the department has collected a whopping $2 billion in the last five years.
— Khmer Times

PP garment workers continue wage protest
About 200 garment workers at a factory located in the capital’s Steung Meanchey Commune1, Meanchey district, have been protesting since Monday after the owner fled without paying their August wages.
— Phnom Penh Post

See here for more of today’s Cambodia morning news

Indonesia morning news

Compiled by Michael Johansen @mfjohansen47

Indonesia’s Garuda drops 2018 profit hopes, aims for losses under $100 mln
The new boss of Indonesia’s Garuda has abandoned the state-owned airline’s hopes of making a profit this year, saying he aimed to keep losses to less than $100 million despite rising fuel prices and a weaker rupiah.
— Reuters

RI president attends World Economic Forum on ASEAN
Indonesian President Joko Widodo has attended the World Economic Forum on ASEAN held at the National Convention Center in Hanoi, Vietnam, on Wednesday.
— Antara

Indonesian Navy Loses Second Ship in Less Than a Year
One of the Indonesian Navy’s fast missile boats caught fire and sank while on patrol near Sorong in West Papua on Tuesday (11/09), becoming the country’s second naval vessel to perish in the past nine months.
— The Jakarta Globe

See here for more of today’s Indonesia morning news

Lao PDR morning news

Compiled by Stella-maris Ewudolu @stmarisewudolu

Weathermen warn of tropical storm Barijat
Tropical storm Barijat is forecast to affect the north and central regions of Laos and everyone should be on the alert for heavy rain and winds due to storm activity from September 12-18.
— Vientiane Times

Thai Products Promoted In Laos
Over 50 producers and entrepreneurs from southern provinces of Thailand have participated in the Southern Thailand Best Product @ Vientiane event held in Vientiane Capital.
— Lao News Agency

World Economic Forum: PM calls for collective effort to advance Asean
Asean member countries need to collectively forge ahead to develop the 10-member regional bloc and maintain its centrality and unity to overcome regional challenges, Prime Minister Thongloun Sisoulith told the 27th World Economic Forum yesterday.
— Vientiane Times

See here for more of today’s Lao morning news

Malaysia morning news

Compiled by Sreypov Men @MenSreypov

Malaysia opposition blocks repeal of ‘fake news’ law in challenge to Mahathir
Malaysia’s opposition-led Senate blocked an effort to repeal a law against “fake news” on Wednesday (Sep 12), presenting the first major challenge for the new government of Prime Minister Mahathir Mohamad.
— Channel NewsAsia

Malaysia says no intention to abandon China’s BRI
Malaysia has no intention of abandoning China’s Belt and Road Initiative (BRI) and will continue to forge a closer relationship with the world’s second largest economy.
— The Star Online

Malaysia’s Anwar launches bid to return to parliament
Malaysia’s Anwar Ibrahim will contest for a seat in the country’s parliament, his party announced on Wednesday, as a party MP resigned to make way for the senior leader just months after their coalition won a shock May general election.
— Reuters

See here for more of today’s Malaysia Morning News

Myanmar morning news

Compiled by Joanne Encantador @encantador_jo

Myanmar’s Suu Kyi won’t attend U.N. General Assembly: media
Myanmar government leader Aung San Suu Kyi will not attend the U.N. General Assembly in New York next week, media reported on Wednesday, amid growing calls for Myanmar’s security forces to be held accountable for alleged crimes against Rohingya Muslims.
— Reuters

UN says Myanmar waging ‘campaign against journalists’
Myanmar, facing international outrage over the jailing of Reuters journalists for their reporting on a massacre of Rohingya Muslims, is conducting a “political campaign” against independent journalism, the United Nations (UN) said Tuesday.
— The Asean Post

Myanmar Journalists Association to stand as independent organisation
Myanmar Journalists Association (MJA) issued a statement on September 10 announcing that it would stand as an independent organisation by distancing itself from the state’s Myanmar Press Council (MPC).
— Eleven Myanmar

See here for more of today’s Myanmar morning news

Philippines morning news

Compiled by Stella-maris Ewudolu @stmarisewudolu

Philippines: 10 million people in the path of Mangkhut
Thousands of people will be evacuated as the most powerful typhoon so far this year roars towards the northern Philippines, officials said.
— Aljazeera

IFC extends $40 million loan for healthcare
The Philippine units of Singapore-based healthcare firm Fullerton Health have secured a $40 million long-term loan facility from the International Finance Corp. (IFC)—the private sector arm of the World Bank Group.
— The Philippine Star

PSALM shells out P7 million to indemnify families affected by 2013 oil spill in Iloilo
THE Power Sector Assets and Liabilities Management Corp. (PSALM) has shelled out over P7 million worth of indemnities to the families and enterprises in Estancia, Iloilo, affected by the oil spill from Power Barge (PB) 103 at the height of Supertyphoon Yolanda in November 2013.
— Business Mirror

See here for more of today’s Philippines morning news

Singapore morning news

Compiled by Joanne Encantador @encantador_jo

Singapore PM unsure if China-backed trade pact will be finalised this year
Singapore Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong on Wednesday said he was not sure if an agreement on major regional trade pact backed by China will be finalised this year.
— Reuters

Go-Jek launches in Hanoi amid SE Asia expansion drive
The launch followed an announcement by the company in May that it would invest $500 million to enter the Philippines, Singapore, Thailand and Vietnam, following Uber’s deal to sell its Southeast Asian operations to bigger regional player Grab.
— Bangkok Post

SGX sees share buyback boom: Why and what does it mean for investors?
Singapore-listed companies have been repurchasing more of their own shares this year, with stock buybacks hitting a near three-year high last month, and analysts think this trend could continue for the rest of 2018 amid a volatile market.
— Channel NewsAsia

See here for more of today’s Singapore morning news

Thailand morning news

Compiled by John Le Fevre @photo_journ

Thailand tops tourism list for Chinese in H1
Thailand remained the top destination for Chinese travelling abroad in the first half of the year, according to a joint report by the China Tourism Academy and online travel firm Ctrip.
— Bangkok Post

Fortune-teller sentenced to 4,355 years in jail for fraud
A well-known fortune-teller, widely known as “Sinsae Shogun”, was sentenced to 4,355 years in prison today after she was found guilty of 871 counts of fraud charges by the Criminal Court for cheating 871 customers who were lured into buying food supplements from her company with.
— Thai PBS World

See here for more of today’s Thailand morning news

Vietnam morning news

Compiled by Sreypov Men @MenSreypov

Go-Jek launches services in Hanoi amid US$500 million overseas expansion drive
Indonesian ride-hailing firm Go-Jek on Wednesday (Sep 12) launched its services in Vietnam’s capital of Hanoi under the brand Go-Viet, as part of its US$500-million international expansion.
— Channel NewsAsia

New tariffs could recharge Vietnam’s wind power projects
Higher tariffs for Vietnam’s wind power projects will make investments more commercially viable, experts say.
— VnExpress

Vietnam’s wood, woodwork export up 13.3 pct in 8 months
Vietnam gained nearly 5.6 billion U.S. dollars from exporting wood and wood-based products in the first eight months of this year, up 13.3 percent year-on-year, the Wood and Forest Products Association of Vietnam said on Wednesday.
— Xinhua

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.