Asean morning news
Compiled by Stella-maris Ewudolu @stmarisewudolu
Smart Education and Learning Market – Malaysia and Thailand to be Potential Growth Markets
The ASEAN smart education learning market is extremely fragmented on account of a large number of educational institutions offering very similar education.
— The Edition Truth
Southeast Asia making strong gains in disease fight
Tomorrow and on Thursday respectively, the world’s most esteemed political forum — the UN General Assembly (UNGA) — will deliberate on how best to address two equally challenging public health issues: tuberculosis (TB) and noncommunicable diseases (NCDs).
— Bangkok Post
The push for better English
The Education First (EF) 2017 English Proficiency Index does not paint a very good picture for most ASEAN countries with the exception of Singapore which holds fifth place in a study that includes 80 countries.
— The Asean Post
Orangutans saved as Malaysia foils high-seas smuggling bid
A pair of young orangutans, baby crocodiles and rare birds were among over 400 animals rescued from a boat off Malaysia as they were being smuggled from neighbouring Indonesia, officials said Monday.
— Bangkok Post
Japan teams with Southeast Asia to protect property rights
Several newly bred Japanese strawberries and cherries, which are sweeter and juicier than previous varieties in the market, are increasingly copied.
— Fresh Plaza
EU-funded support programme for SMEs: EU Business Avenues Southeast Asia
The EU-funded EU Business Avenues in South East Asia is tasked to help SMEs from EU countries with business internationalisation.
— ScandAsia.com
Southeast Asia consumes most of Vietnamese steel
Southeast Asia has become Vietnam’s biggest iron and steel importer, making up 57.6 percent of the country’s total export volume in the sector, statistics show.
— Saigon Gial Phong Online
Social commerce still massive and growing across Southeast Asia: report
Billions of dollars have been poured into building e-commerce marketplaces like Lazada, Tokopedia, and TaoBao to help individuals and shop owners sell their wares online.
— KrAsia
Weather beating for rice production
It seems like there is either too much or too little water in the Southeast Asian region.
— The Asean Post
Paris Agreement: Bangkok conference awakens debate on developed nations’ commitment
The Bangkok Climate Change Conference, held at the beginning of September, was intended to lay the groundwork for the 24th Conference of Parties (COP24), where guidelines on how to make the Paris Agreement functional will be decided.
— Southeast Asia Globe
Which ASEAN countries are most exposed in the event of a U.S.-China trade war?
The pounding of the trade war drums is growing ever more deafening, with the U.S. and China currently engaged in an escalating, tit-for-tat tariff battle.
— Focus Economics
Asean response to terrorism
Asean member states cannot expect to disincentivise terrorism without attempting to systematically understand the incentives of its practitioners, writes Mathew Bukit.
Asean member states cannot expect to disincentivise terrorism without attempting to systematically understand the incentives of its practitioners, writes Mathew Bukit.
— Khmer Times
3 ways Southeast Asian nations can mitigate the risk of losing skilled work to automation
It’s a tumultuous time in southeast Asian economies. The United Nations’ International Labour Organization estimates that 137 million people (more than half these nations’ workforces) in Cambodia, Indonesia, and Thailand risk losing their jobs to automation over the next two decades.
— Yahoo News
ASEAN does matter, and has achieved a lot
In August 2018, the Centre for Strategic and International Studies (CSIS) hosted the launch event for Marty Natalegawa’s book, Does ASEAN Matter? A View from Within.
— The Jakarta Post
Filipino Youths Address Latest ASEAN Social Economic Issues
The ASEAN Foundation and SAP today concluded the ASEAN Data Science Explorers (DSE) National Finals at the Makati campus of the Mapua University.
— Page One
With a seat on the UN Security Council, what can key ASEAN member Indonesia do to solve the Rohingya crisis?
The United Nations (UN) recently released a report accusing Myanmar’s military of committing genocide.
— MENAFN
Excessive Drinking KilledOver 3 Million People Globally In 2016
While it’s debatable whether moderate drinking has can be beneficial to your health or not, drinking more than that definitely has some serious consequences, including death.
— India Times
Cambodia morning news
Compiled by Michael Johansen @mfjohansen47
Taskforce guards Kem Sokha’s home
A taskforce has been created to guard former opposition leader Kem Sokha who was released on bail earlier this month and confined to a four-block radius around his home in the capital, according to a document obtained by Khmer Times yesterday.
– Khmer Times
Constitutional amendments debated on 25th anniversary
The government yesterday marked the 25th anniversary of the constitution by defending numerous constitutional amendments criticised both nationally and internationally, with some claiming the reforms were made to benefits the CPP.
– Khmer Times
Military officer accused of corruption
A National Military Police taskforce has opened a corruption investigation against Brigadier General Kong Saokun, a Preah Vihear provincial military police commander suspected of funnelling about $20,000 from the Royal Cambodian Armed Forces.
– Khmer Times
See here for more of today’s Cambodia morning news
Indonesia morning news
Compiled by Michael Johansen @mfjohansen47
AGO detains ex-Pertamina boss
The Attorney General’s Office (AGO) detained on Monday the former president director of state-owned oil and gas holding company Pertamina, Karen Agustiawan, who had been named a graft suspect in early April.
– The Jakarta Post
Bank Indonesia to maintain its reference rate: Economists
Bank Indonesia is expected to maintain its seven-day reserve repo rate ( 7DRRR ) at 5.5 percent during a board of governors meeting from Sept. 26 to 27 even though the Federal Reserve is expected to increase its rate to 2.25 percent.
– The Jakarta Post
Ex-Indonesian bank bailout agency chief gets 13 years
The Jakarta Corruption Court sentenced Syafruddin Tumenggung, the former head of the Indonesian bank bailout agency that led the country out of the 1998 financial crisis, to 13 years in prison on Monday for manipulating a commercial bank’s credit status.
– The Jakarta Post
See here for more of today’s Indonesia morning news
Lao PDR morning news
Compiled by Stella-maris Ewudolu @stmarisewudolu
Two of Laos’ least developed towns to benefit from ADB grant
The Asian Development Bank (ADB) last week approved a US$48 million grant for the improvement of urban environmental services and the enhancement of economic connectivity in Paksan and Thakhek, two of the least developed towns along the North-South Economic Corridor of the Greater Mekong Subregion (GMS) in Lao PDR.
— AEC News Today
Bangladesh cuts duty on 602 products for APTA states
Bangladesh has offered duty concessions on import of 602 products from five countries including China and India under the Asia Pacific Trade Agreement (APTA).
— New Age
Feature: Chinese firms contribute to Laos’ economic, social development
“Every project department of China Railway is ready to be dispatched at any time!”
— Xinhua
See here for more of today’s Lao morning news
Malaysia morning news
Compiled by Sreypov Men @MenSreypov
Malaysian finance minister tells developers to cut prices, says no foreigners-only townships
Malaysia’s Finance Minister Lim Guan Eng on Monday (Sep 24) told developers to reduce residential prices, and warned them against building projects exclusively for foreigners.
— Channel NewsAsia
The State of the Nation: Considerations in reforming Malaysia’s tax system
LAST Friday, Finance Minister Lim Guan Eng announced the appointment of Tan Sri Hasmah Abdullah as chair of the newly established Tax Reform Committee. This followed his announcement weeks earlier of the setting up of the committee, along with a public finance committee, tasked with helping to reduce the country’s fiscal deficit, among others.
— The Edge Markets
Sapura Energy bags contracts worth RM815mil
Sapura Energy Bhd has secured three new contracts and a contract extension valued at approximately RM815mil in Australia, Brunei, Malaysia and Nigeria, bringing the group’s total value in contract wins in the current financial year to-date to RM5.3bil.
— The Star Online
See here for more of today’s Malaysia Morning News
Myanmar morning news
Compiled by Stella-maris Ewudolu @stmarisewudolu
US to give US$185 million in aid for Rohingya in Bangladesh, Myanmar
The United States almost doubled its aid for displaced Rohingya Muslims in Bangladesh and Myanmar, US Ambassador to the United Nations Nikki Haley announced on Monday as she pushed for UN investigators to brief the UN Security Council on the crisis.
— South China Morning Post
Exports reach 7.64 billion
Myanmar’s exports to foreign countries reached US$7.64 billion between 1 April and 14 September of mini-budget period, showing an increase of $1.6 billion compared to last fiscal year, according to the Ministry of Commerce, state media reported.
— Mizzima
UAE and ICRC sign agreement worth AED40.4 million to support humanitarian efforts
The UAE Ministry of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation has signed a cooperation agreement with the International Committee of the Red Cross, ICRC, to support the humanitarian response plan in Yemen, Myanmar and the Democratic Republic of Congo, in addition to support ICRC’s budget, totaling AED40.4 million (US$11 million).
— ReliefWeb
See here for more of today’s Myanmar morning news
Philippines morning news
Compiled by Stella-maris Ewudolu @stmarisewudolu
After Piñol slams rice imports, PH to import 1 million MT of rice in 2019
The National Food Authority (NFA) Council approved the standby importation of one million metric tons (MT) of rice for 2019, Agriculture Secretary Emmanuel Piñol announced on Monday, September 24.
— Rappler
Gov’t taps over P134 million from relief fund after typhoon Ompong
THE Department of Budget and Management (DBM) said the government tapped P134.7 million from the quick response fund (QRF) to aid victims of typhoon Ompong (international name: Mangkhut).
— BusinessWorld Online
Pag-IBIG offers P150-K loan to ‘Ompong’-affected members
Pag-IBIG Fund is offering up to PHP150,000 loan to eligible members, whose homes have been affected heavily by Typhoon Ompong (international name Mangkhut), Malacañang announced Monday.
— Philippine News Agency
See here for more of today’s Philippines morning news
Singapore morning news
Compiled by Michael Johansen @mfjohansen47
Singapore Imposes Fines, Restrictions Over Uber-Grab Deal
Regulators fined ride-hailing firms Grab Inc. and Uber Technologies Inc. and imposed operating restrictions on the former after ruling that a merger earlier this year was anticompetitive.
– The Wall Street Journal
Uber, Grab Singapore Fine Shines Spotlight on M&A Notice Rules
Singapore’s first-of-its-kind fine Sept. 24 against Uber Technologies Inc. and rival Grab marks a test case for competition regulation in Southeast Asia and Singapore’s relatively new law.
– Bloomberg
Singapore ‘maids for sale’ ad sparks investigation
Online ads in Singapore offering Indonesian maids for sale have drawn accusations of irresponsible marketing and human trafficking. DW spoke with the NGO Migrant Care about how domestic workers become “commodities.”
– Deutsche Welle
See here for more of today’s Singapore morning news
Thailand morning news
Compiled by John Le Fevre @photo_journ
Airport rail link timeline announced
The contract for the high-speed railway set to link Don Mueang, Suvarnabhumi and U-tapao airports will officially be announced and signed by the winning bidder by next January, the State Railway of Thailand (SRT) has announced.
— Bangkok Post
Thai junta chief eyes role in politics after election
Thai Prime Minister Prayuth Chan-ocha is “interested in politics,” he said on Monday, a sign that he sees a public role for himself after a general election promised next year.
— Reuters
Thailand Publishes List of All Fishing Vessels in Move to End Human Rights Abuse, IUU Fishing
The Government of Thailand announced on Monday that they have published a full list of all registered and licensed fishing vessels, as well as a watchlist containing vessels prohibited from fishing.
— Seafood News
See here for more of today’s Thailand morning news
Vietnam morning news
Compiled by Sreypov Men @MenSreypov
Vietnam firm starts building US$42.7 million solar power plant in Binh Thuan
Once completed, the plant is expected to supply around 80 million kWh of electricity for the national power grid annually.
— The Hanoi Times
Vietnam Gets First Female President, But Just For A Short While
Vietnam’s national assembly appointed Dang Thi Ngoc Thinh as interim president of the Socialist Republic of Vietnam after the death of President Tran Dai Quang on September 21. Thinh will hold office until the next special plenary session in which a new head of state will be elected. She thus becomes the first woman to assume the presidency of the country.
— Investvine
Environmental tax hike to iadd Vietnam’s public revenue by US$673 million
Viet Dragon Securities Corporation (VDSC) estimated that Vietnam`s headline inflation will rise by 4.1-4.2% year-on-year in 2018.
— 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.