Asean morning news
Compiled by Stella-maris Ewudolu @stmarisewudolu
IMF Asean Instagram photo contest winners heading to Bali for annual gabfest
The International Monetary Fund (IMF) announced on September 11 that Indonesians Muhammad Rofi Senoaji and Ms Hiralalitya were the two winners of its second Asean Youth Instagram Photo Contest.
— AEC News Today
South China Sea: Ample opportunity for Asean-China connectivity
China-Asean and China-US relations in the South China Sea have trended in opposite directions since July 12, 2016.
— AEC News Today
Southeast Asia’s politics cloud digital ambitions
Domestic politics are threatening Southeast Asia’s digital ambitions.
— The Hindu
Which Asian Countries Are The Most Innovative?
Singapore, South Korea and Japan are the most innovative countries in Asia whereas Pakistan and Bangladesh are the least innovative, according to the Global Innovation Index 2018 report.
— The Nation (annoying pop-ups)
Mobile attack rates rising 63% year-over-year in Southeast Asia
A new study reveals a sharp rise in fraud attack levels on mobile transactions.
— Security Asia
10 countries where it’s nearly impossible to become a dual citizen
Being born in a specific country gives you an automatic claim of that country, a right to citizenship.
— Insider
Smoking may kill 500,000 in Asean
The tobacco industry undermines public health and sustainable development.
— New Straits Times
Fishing for new workers
The Labour Ministry’s recent move to recruit additional migrant workers through a memorandum of understanding (MoU) system is a boost for the commercial fishing sector, which has suffered from a labour shortage.
— Bangkok Post
Water stress giving renewables a bad name
The renewable energy sector in Southeast Asia has progressed by leaps and bounds.
— The Asean Post
Promoting consumer protection awareness in Asean
The Association of South East Asian Nations is acknowledged as a “growing and dynamic” regional market and production base that faces various challenges in the socio-economic, technological and politico-legal spheres.
— Manilastandard.net
Retailers urged to gain consumer insights via technology
Retailers need to create more value for consumers by using the proper equipment, data and technology, according to Will Yunfei Wu, project manager for RetailEX Asean, the largest annual international trade exhibition and conference in Southeast Asia.
— The Nation
Asean’s geopolitical dynamics influenced by unilateral moves
Asian leaders at the World Economic Forum (WEF) in Hanoi – which concluded last week – said the oscillating geopolitical dynamics in the region were manifestations of power plays in the South China Sea conflict and this could undermine an existing rules-based international order.
— Khmer Times
Cambodia morning news
Compiled by Michael Johansen @mfjohansen47
Chinese gambling boom looms over Cambodia’s Kampot
Kampot is one of Cambodia’s cultural jewels, but as George Styllis writes, a flood of Chinese gambling money is making residents of this small sleepy town nervous.
— BBC
Foreign Influence: How Cambodia’s government is recruiting students in Australia
Hun Sen’s Cambodian People’s Party (CPP) is extending its influence into Australia by recruiting students who come here to study, often on scholarships provided by the Australian government.
— ABC News
Mourning period for Dr Beat Richner extended by 100 days
The Ministry of Health and the Kantha Bopha Children’s Hospital have decided to extend the mourning period for the hospital founder Dr Beat Richner by three months, noting that many supporters of the beloved doctor want to pay their respects.
— Khmer Times
See here for more of today’s Cambodia morning news
Indonesia morning news
Compiled by Michael Johansen @mfjohansen47
Militants free 3 Indonesian hostages in southern Philippines
Muslim militants have freed three Indonesian men they kidnapped at sea early last year off Malaysia then brought them to their jungle hideouts in the southern Philippines, officials said Sunday.
— Associated Press
Bali prepares 30 helicopters for heads of state for IMF-WB meeting
As many as 30 helicopters will be prepared to evacuate heads of state who will attend the IMF-World Bank meeting from October 8-14, 2018 in case of a tsunami and earthquake.
— Antara
Quake-hit Lombok Declares Health Emergency over Malaria
Lombok is battling malaria, authorities said on Saturday, Sept. 15, declaring a health emergency after a series of earthquakes in July and August forced hundreds of thousands to flee their homes.
— Tempo
See here for more of today’s Indonesia morning news
Lao PDR morning news
Compiled by Stella-maris Ewudolu @stmarisewudolu
Laos on alert for Typhoon Mangkhut
The north and central regions of Laos have been put on alert for heavy downpours after weather forecasters warned that Typhoon Mangkhut and Tropical Storm Barijat are expected to pass over Laos on coming Monday and Tuesday.
— Xinhua
Chinese company completes transmission lines project in Laos
The completion ceremony of the 230 KV Thavieng S/S-Laksao S/S and 115 KV Nam Phay HPP-Thongkoun2 S/S Transmission Lines Project undertaken by a Chinese company was held on Friday in Lao capital Vientiane.
— Xinhua/ Infosurhoy
Tourist sites reopening as floods recede
Some tourist attractions have now opened after being forced to close during the recent heavy downpours, while others are still closed because the entrance roads are muddy and impassable.
— Vientiane Times
See here for more of today’s Lao morning news
Malaysia morning news
Compiled by Sreypov Men @MenSreypov
Malaysia’s Fake News Bill Delay Chance to Manage Racial Disinformation
The politics of delay around the repeal of Malaysia’s Fake News Bill offers an opportunity to manage racial disinformation that can lead to social tensions.
— The Independent
Sarawak Report’s Rewcastle-Brown briefly detained in Singapore
Sarawak Report founder and investigative journalist Clare Rewcastle-Brown was briefly detained in Singapore two nights ago after her book launch.
— FMT
Tourism contributes 14.9 pct to Malaysia’s economy
The tourism industry continued its significant contribution to the country’s economic growth with a share of 14.9 per cent last year as compared to 10.4 per cent in 2005.
— New Straits Times
See here for more of today’s Malaysia Morning News
Myanmar morning news
Compiled by Joanne Encantador @encantador_jo
Agreement signed to build China-Myanmar Economic Corridor
Myanmar and China signed a memorandum of understanding to set up the China-Myanmar Economic Corridor (CMEC) as part of Beijing’s Belt and Road Initiative, according to a statement from the China National Development and Reform Commission.
— Investine
Myanmar youth, journalists demonstrate against jailing of Reuters reporters
At least 100 Myanmar youth activists and journalists called for the release of two jailed Reuters journalists on Sunday, warning that the seven-year prison terms handed to the pair this month threaten the public’s right to information.
— Reuters
Surbana Jurong Capital and Mitsubishi forms US$500m fund for urban developments
Focusing on Myanmar, Vietnam, Philippines, Indonesia, India, and Sri Lanka, the partners will inject $342.4m (US$250m) each for the 50:50 JV which will gear towards project that may include transit-oriented developments (TOD) such as aviation or rail-related developments, affordable housing, as well as other urban-related infrastructure.
— Singapore Business Review
Dozens of inmates escape in Myanmar jail break
Myanmar police are hunting dozens of escaped inmates who hijacked a delivery truck and smashed through the gates of their jail in a daring prison break on Sunday (Sep 16), officials said.
— Channel NewsAsia
See here for more of today’s Myanmar morning news
Philippines morning news
Compiled by Stella-maris Ewudolu @stmarisewudolu
‘Ompong’ death toll rises to 65
THE death toll in the aftermath of Typhoon “Ompong” rose to 65 on Sunday while scores remained missing, authorities said, as northern Luzon reeled from flooding, landslides and power outages.
— The Manila Times
Cagayan’s agriculture ‘totally devastated’; infra damage at P40M
TYPHOON Ompong, which exited the Philippines after leaving behind a trail of destruction—and killing at least 18 people—wrought billions in farm damage mostly in Northern Luzon, but Transportation Secretary Arthur P. Tugade said damage to transportation infrastructure appeared to be much less, initially at P40 million, for Cagayan.
— Business Mirror
Fund set for typhoon-hit electric cooperatives
With the fury of typhoon Ompong heavily disrupting services of many electric cooperatives in the country, Senate Committee on Energy Chairman Sherwin T. Gatchalian has prodded the National Electrification Administration (NEA) to immediately activate the P750- million emergency capital support that could be funneled to the affected power utilities.
— Manila Bulletin
See here for more of today’s Philippines morning news
Singapore morning news
Compiled by Joanne Encantador @encantador_jo
Singapore saw the ninth highest hike in Q2 home prices: study
Singapore placed ninth amongst countries which saw the highest increase in home prices in Q2, a study by Knight Frank revealed.
— Singapore Business Review
Temasek loses at least S$1.2b in 5 months for betting on Bayer
It was reported in Apr this year that German drugmaker Bayer sold 3.6 per cent stake to Singapore’s Temasek Holdings for 3 billion euros at 96.77 euros per share.
— TOC
Validus boosts Singapore SMEs, targets rising appetite for growth capital
Singapore-based Validus Capital announced during the week that it has so provided more than S$120 million (about US$87.5 million) in funding to date to Singapore small and medium-sized enterprises (SME) and other businesses.
— AEC News Today
See here for more of today’s Singapore morning news
Thailand morning news
Compiled by John Le Fevre @photo_journ
40 provinces face heavy rain from Typhoon Mangkhut
Forty provinces have been warned to brace for heavy rain and possibly very heavy rain today and the next few days as an indirect effect from super Typhoon Mangkhut which hit the Philippines this morning.
— Thai PBS World
THAI to deploy larger planes to HK for stranded passengers
Thai Airways International will use larger aircraft to transport its passengers affected by flight cancellations in Hong Kong as Typhoon Mangkhut ripped through the city.
— Bangkok Post
Thailand in need of 53,000 in fishing industry
The government considers labor shortages in the fishery sector an urgent issue and is serious about easing this problem, as Thailand is one of the top exporters of fishery products in the world.
— News Today (video)
See here for more of today’s Thailand morning news
Vietnam morning news
Compiled by Sreypov Men @MenSreypov
Vietnam sees high-speed train flying high
The trans-Vietnam high-speed rail is back on the agenda, with officials saying it can compete with aeroplanes for business.
— VnExpress
Vietnam sets to lift foreign ownership cap in aviation industry
The government has planned to increase foreign shareholding in Vietnamese airlines in a move to seek more investment to meet the country’s rapidly growing air transport demand.
— The Hanoi Times
Vietnam urges Facebook to open office ahead of controversial cyber law
Vietnam has asked Facebook (FB.O) to open a local office as the Communist-ruled country increases pressure on global technology firms to abide by a controversial cyber security law.
— Reuters
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.
Asean morning news for September 17 added by Digital Editor on
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