Asean Morning News For July 4

Asean Morning News

Compiled by Stella-maris Ewudolu @stmarisewudolu

Xinhua Headlines: How Lancang-Mekong Cooperation is changing the region
For Seng Voleak, a 23-year-old bank employee in Phnom Penh, Cambodia, her commute home has become easier thanks to buses donated by China.
— Xinhua

Southeast Asian forest loss greater than expected, with negative climate implications
Researchers using satellite imaging have found much greater than expected deforestation since 2000 in the highlands of Southeast Asia, a critically important world ecosystem.
— Science Daily

Asean on the big screen
The Bangkok Asean Film Festival returns for its fourth edition tomorrow to SF World Cinema at CentralWorld and this year promises to be better than ever with 10 of the 13 movies selected vying for recognition in the Best Asean Film Award competition.
— The Nation

At a glance: Tax rates across Asean
The Association of Southeast Asian Nations (Asean) has taken significant steps towards economic integration, particularly with the launch of the Asean Economic Community.
— The Business Times

The return of fuel subsidies in Asean: Maybank Kim Eng
Amid upcoming elections and rising global oil prices, several Asean governments – Malaysia, Indonesia and Thailand – have since reintroduced fuel subsidies.
— The Business Times

E-commerce forum to bridge ASEAN, Korean markets
The ASEAN-Korea Centre and the Korea International Trade Association will co-host the 2018 ASEAN Digital Commerce Forum at Trade Tower in Seoul from Thursday through Friday.
— The Korea Herald

Asian countries collaborate to reduce cross-border animal disease
The UN Food and Agriculture Organisation (FAO) has entered into a three-way partnership with China and five other countries in Southeast Asia to limit the spread of trans-boundary animal diseases (TADs).
— Far Eastern Agriculture

At Thailand-Laos Border, A Shadow Economy Thrives
A silhouette of the casino’s golden domes and gaudy crown appears in the distance, standing out like a sore thumb against the landscape of lush tropical hills in this northwestern corner of Laos.
— WorldCrunch

Airbnb Shares Statistics from Greater Mekong Subregion (GMS)
At last week’s Mekong Tourism Forum 2018 in Nakhon Phanom, Thailand, Mich Goh, Airbnb’s Head of Public Policy for Southeast Asia, said that Airbnb had welcomed 5 million inbound guest arrivals to the Greater Mekong Subregion ( Cambodia, China, Laos, Myanmar, Thailand, and Vietnam) in 2017.
— Travel NewsAsia

ASEAN countries seek to enhance business links with Turkey
The ASEAN Ankara Committee (AAC) recently had a working session with Secretary General of the Ankara Development Agency (ADA) Arif Sayik, aiming to boost investment and business partnerships between ASEAN countries and the capital city of Turkey.
— Vietnam Plus

Cambodia Morning News

Compiled by Sreypov Men @MenSreypov

Cambodia Summons Media Over Online Information Controls Ahead of General Election
Cambodia’s government on Tuesday summoned representatives of the country’s press to “educate” them on its decision to monitor and “control” online news ahead of a controversial general election in July, prompting NGOs and media watchdogs to decry the move as censorship.
— Radio Free Asia

Cambodia’s ‘one party state’ prepares for polls
The election at the end of this month will be farce at best after strongman Hun Sen dissolved the opposition party. Simon Kenton and Becky Lake report
— New Internationalist

Rice storage facilities in Battambang finally ready
Two new rice-storing facilities in Battambang, funded through a government-led lending scheme, were officially launched yesterday.
— Khmer Times

See here for more of today’s Cambodia Morning News

Indonesia Morning News

Compiled by Stella-maris Ewudolu @stmarisewudolu

AIIB Approves $250M Loan To Modernize Irrigation in Indonesia
Asian Infrastructure Investment Bank (AIIB) announced that its board of directors has approved a US$250 million loan to improve irrigation services and management accountability in Indonesia.
— China Money Network

Indonesian trade mission to Morocco reaches US$10.96 million
Indonesian Trade Mission to Morocco, under the Trade Ministry Program, which showed off domestic flagship products, has managed to reach potential deals of US$10.96 million or Rp153.5 billion.
— Antara News

BREAKING: Aceh governor reportedly arrested by KPK
Corruption Eradication Commission (KPK) investigators reportedly arrested Aceh Governor Irwandi Yusuf during an operation in Aceh on Tuesday evening.
— The Jakarta Post

See here for more of today’s Indonesia Morning News

Lao PDR Morning News

Compiled by Sreypov Men @MenSreypov

Spending cuts mulled to minimise budgetary tensions
The government is contemplating a cut in budget expenditure to maintain financial liquidity following a revenue shortfall during the past four months of this year.
— Vientiane Times

Vientiane’s Problematic Donnokkhoum to Nakhuay Road to be Expedited
Authorities in Vientiane Capital hope to resolve the problems facing construction of a new road stretching from Donnokkhoum to Nakhuay villages, connecting to the 450 Years Road in Saysettha District.
— Laotian Times

Local delicacies likely to lure Chinese tourists, editor notes
Other Mekong-Lancang countries are more likely to receive increased visitors from China if the region offers up delicious local food for them to enjoy, according to a Chinese media executive.
— Vientiane Times

See here for more of today’s Lao Morning News

Malaysia Morning News

Compiled by Sreypov Men @MenSreypov

Malaysia arrests ex-PM Najib Razak as ‘Mission Mahathir’ comes full circle
Malaysian police have arrested former prime minister Najib Razak a little more than a month after he lost the electoral battle against mentor-turned-foe Mahathir Mohamad.
— International Business Times

1MDB: Malaysia’s extraordinary financial scandal
Malaysia’s extraordinary 1MDB corruption scandal allegedly saw billions stolen from the country’s soverign wealth fund and spent on everything from Hollywood films to handbags.
— Yahoo News

Malaysia: Durian prices drop due to abundant supply
It has been an extraordinary season for durians in Malaysia. Fruiting is heavy according to orchard owner Arman Ishak, who said he had to tie the branches of the trees and put up netting so the fruits won’t fall on the ground.
— Fresh Plaza

See here for more of today’s Malaysia Morning News

Myanmar Morning News

Compiled by Stella-maris Ewudolu @stmarisewudolu

Myanma Apex Bank gives loans to almost 700 farmers this harvesting season
A pilot project which provides loans to farmers spearheaded by Myanma Apex Bank (MAB) and Myanmar Rice Federation (MRF) has supported almost 700 farmers for this harvesting season to date, according to the MRF.
— Myanmar Times

Number of days for tourist visits to Bagan cut
The number of days that tourists can spend in Bagan’s ancient cultural zone has been reduced from five to three starting this month, said U Kyaw Lwin Oo, director general of the Department of Archaeology and National Museums, on Sunday.
— Myanmar Times

Protest Against Planned Statue of Gen. Aung San in Loikaw Turns Violent
Demonstrators clashed with police in the Karenni State capital, Loikaw, on Tuesday during a march to protest the regional government’s plan to erect a statue of General Aung San.
— The Irrawaddy

See here for more of today’s Myanmar Morning News

Philippines Morning News

Compiled by Stella-maris Ewudolu @stmarisewudolu

Group offers $3B LRT in Cebu
A Singaporean-Chinese and Filipino consortium has submitted a proposal to construct a $3-billion Light Rail Transit (LRT) system in Metro Cebu as the major component of the Integrated Transportation System (ITS) that will help address the worsening traffic congestion, the Department of Transportation (DOTr) said.
— Malaya

ADB approves technical assistance for flood risk management project
THE ASIAN Development Bank (ADB) on June 21 said it approved a technical assistance grant for the Integrated Flood Risk Management Sector Project covering various river basins across the Philippines.
— BusinessWorld Online

Foreign investments under Duterte total $16B, four times bigger than Aquino’s $4B
DESPITE the concerted misinformation, by the Yellow Cult here and the US East Coast media, against President Duterte’s administration, foreign direct investments in his first 21 months in office (July 2016 to March 2018), totaled $16 billion.
— The Manila Times

See here for more of today’s Philippines Morning News

Singapore Morning News

Compiled by John Le Fevre @photo_journ

New ElderFund to help the low-income with severe disabilities
The Ministry of Health (MOH) is setting up a new fund to help the severely disabled who are in financial need.
— The Straits Times

Singapore institutes collaborate with ROK to develop innovative drugs
Scientists and clinicians from Singapore institutes are collaborating with C&C Research Laboratories, a leading research institute from the Republic of Korea (ROK), to develop innovative drugs.
— BioSpectrumAsia

Amazon sales event Prime Day to debut in Singapore on July 16
AMAZON’S largest annual sales event, Prime Day, will launch in Singapore for the first time this year.
— The Business Times (annoying popups)

See here for more of today’s Singapore Morning News

Thailand Morning News

Compiled by John Le Fevre @photo_journ

BoT warns of high volatility for baht
Bank of Thailand governor Veerathai Santiprabhob has warned that the baht’s volatility will remain high in the foreseeable future, prompted by tightened monetary policy in advanced economies and tit-for-tat trade tariffs among economic behemoths.
— Bangkok Post

Export hopes high despite trade rows
THE spectre of trade protectionism has failed to dent optimism for sustained strength in exports in the year’s second half, say business leaders, even though some concede that certain types of products could be caught into the fallout of an escalating conflict.
— The Nation

Cabinet freezes VAT at 7 percent for another year
The Cabinet today decided to maintain the value-added tax at 7 percent for another year as of October 1.
— Thai PBS

See here for more of today’s Thailand Morning News

Vietnam Morning News

Compiled by Sreypov Men @MenSreypov

Vietnam upstart Bamboo Airways seeks to ride tourism wave
Bamboo Airways is set to take off by the end of this year, complementing Vietnamese peers including flag carrier Vietnam Airlines and Vietjet, the country’s biggest low-cost carrier, said Dang Tat Thang, chairman and CEO, in a recent interview with the Nikkei Asian Review.
— Nikkei Asian Review

Vietnam Tracks China with Tough New Cybersecurity Law
A new cybersecurity law in Vietnam may usher in a new era of increased online censorship, privacy-invasive data processing methods, and deprivation of internet connections for organizations and individuals who publish “prohibited” content.
— The News Lens

Industrial production up 10.5% in six months
Viet Nam’s index of industrial production (IIP) increased 10.5 per cent on-year in the first half of 2018, the General Statistics Office (GSO) reported.
— Bizhub

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.