Asean morning news for August 5

Asean morning news

Compiled by Stella-maris Ewudolu @stmarisewudolu

Rohingya activists slam ASEAN’s call for dialogue with Myanmar
Efforts by the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) to encourage “dialogue” between Rohingya refugees and the Myanmar government have sparked fierce criticism from Rohingya activists, who accuse the bloc of whitewashing the Myanmar military’s crimes and legitimising deeply flawed repatriation plans.
— Aljazeera

Asean urges Myanmar to ensure security in Rakhine
ASEAN has called on the Myanmar government to guarantee the safety of the Rohingya community, both in the country and in exile, as the region’s foreign ministers push for more dialogue with the refugees in the ongoing repatriation process.
— The Jakarta Post (paywall)

ASEAN highlights milestones in bloc’s 50-year history
The mechanisms established by the Association of Southeast Asian Nations, ASEAN, contributed to maintaining strategic balance, as well as peace and stability in the region, according to a top ASEAN official.
— MENAFN

EU struggles to strike trade pacts with major ASEAN countries
After the European Union secured free trade agreements this year with Singapore and Vietnam, there is even greater incentive for other large Southeast Asian economies to speed up the pace of clinching their own trade pacts, but negotiations with the EU are certain to prove difficult.
— Nikkei Asian Review (paywall)

RCEP is now vital in defending the global trading order
The principal founder of the WTO-based global trading order, the United States, appears hell bent on tearing it down by flouting its rules and undermining its core institution — the appellate board at the heart of its dispute settlement process.
— East Asia Forum

China, ASEAN countries make progress on COC, vow broader cooperation
China and the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) countries have made crucial progress in talks on a widely-anticipated Code of Conduct (COC), which demonstrates relevant countries’ joint determination and efforts in formulating regional rules and safeguarding peace and prosperity in the South China Sea.
— Xinhuanet (video)

China Is Testing Even More Anti-Ship Missiles in the South China Sea
Since the 1960s, the principal anti-ship threat has come from cruise missiles, which skim on a horizontal trajectory a few meters above the surface of the ocean have served as the principal anti-ship weapon.
— The National Interest

With record meth busts and thriving transnational crime, has South-East Asia’s ‘war on drugs’ failed?
While thousands of drug convicts sit on death row in prisons across South-East Asia, the local trade in methamphetamine and other illicit drugs is flourishing.
— ABC News

More RCEP market access issues sealed
IN the face of escalating trade tensions between Japan and South Korea, negotiators of the Regional Comprehensive Economic Partnership (RCEP) are poised to conclude the trade deal by November after resolving over two-thirds of market access issues.
— Business Mirror

Belt & Road cushions impact of trade war
The China-proposed Belt and Road Initiative (BRI) has greatly boosted China’s foreign trade, achieving major progress in Europe and Asia and also cushioned the negative impact brought on by the US-initiated trade war, Chinese analysts said over the weekend.
— Global Times

Damming the Mekong to environmental hell
Major dam construction projects have become a favourite pastime of some autocratic governments, with China leading the way.
— The Asean Post

Timor-Leste eyes Asean fold
It has been eight years since Timor-Leste submitted a formal application to be a member of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (Asean) but so far, the regional bloc has not accepted what would be its 11th member.
— Bangkok Post

Upskilling for the future
Technological disruption will significantly affect ASEAN’s workforce, driving growth and creating new demand for workers.
— The Asean Post

Intensifying ASEAN’s cybersecurity efforts
While ASEAN is increasingly coordinating its efforts to reinforce regional cybersecurity, more needs to be done to address the constantly evolving threats.
— The Asean Post

Engaging tomorrow’s customers: The opportunity in Asean
ASEAN is coming of age. Sixty per cent of the Asean population today is under 35 years old.
— The Business Times

Managing Asean’s nature parks effectively
Managers and senior staff of Asean region’s best nature parks gathered in Kota Kinabalu, Sabah, Malaysia, recently to share good practices in effective parks management.
— Business Mirror

Cambodia morning news

Compiled by Raksmey Khoem @raksmey.aecnews

Nuon Chea: Cambodian former Khmer Rouge deputy leader dies
Known as Brother Number Two, Nuon Chea was second only to the regime’s leader Pol Pot during Khmer Rouge rule over Cambodia from 1975 to 1979.
— BBC

Corrupted officials must be fired: Hun Sen
Prime Minister Hun Sen warned of termination and seizure of properties belonging to members of the armed forces and government officials who are involved with corruption, illegal logging and state land grabbing.
— Khmer Times

ADB: Cambodia’s Economic Growth to Hit 7%, the Highest among ASEAN Countries in 2019
The Asian Development Bank (ADB) forecasts a 7 percent growth in gross domestic product (GDP) of Cambodia by 2019, the highest among any other ASEAN member states.
— Fresh News

See here for more of today’s Cambodia morning news

Indonesia morning news

Compiled by Justhine De Guzman Uy @justhine.aecnews

Power restored to most of Indonesia capital after 9-hour blackout
Power has been restored in most parts of Indonesia’s capital, Jakarta, after the city of 10 million people went without electricity for more than nine hours due to technical issues, according to the state power company.
— Aljazeera

2019 Sees 200 Cases of Sexual Assault against Children
The National Police HQ recorded there are 236 cases of child sexual assault occurred in January to May this year; yet only 50 percent of the total case was handled by the law enforcer.
— Tempo.co

Indonesia urged to ratify ILO convention, combat gender-based violence at work
Yuliana, a 25-year-old Indonesian worker in the garment industry, was sitting at her desk when a leader at the footwear factory she worked for suddenly grabbed her from behind.
— The Jakarta Post

See here for more of today’s Indonesia morning news

Lao PDR morning news

Compiled by Raksmey Khoem @raksmey.aecnews

Red tape slashed to ease business operations
Concrete progress has been made since Prime Minister Thongloun Sisoulith issued executive order No. 2 aimed at improving the business environment.
— ANN/ Vientiane Times

One Year After Laos Dam Disaster 10,000 Survivors Have Returned Home But Still Struggle to Rebuild
One year after a dam collapse in Laos caused a major flooding disaster, 10,000 survivors have returned to their villages, but are still suffering hardship as they try to piece their homes and lives together.
— Relief Web

Agriculture experiences slow growth rate
The agriculture sector has not grown as anticipated, as a result of weather extremes, according to a recent government recent report.
— Vientiane Times (paywall)

See here for more of today’s Lao morning news

Malaysia morning news

Compiled by Sreypov Men @MenSreypov

Headwinds continue to plague M’sia’s industries
Manufacturing activity slowed further in July, analysts note, and the latest Malaysia’s Purchasing Manager’s Index (PMI) data suggest that the third quarter of 2019 (3Q19) gross domestic product (GDP) growth may soften as compared with 2Q19.
— The Borneo post

S’wak CCID records 146 loan scam cases involving losses of RM1.25 mln
The Sarawak Commercial Crime Investigations Department (CCID) has recorded a total of 146 loan scam cases as of Aug 3 this year with losses amounting to about RM1.25 million.
— The Borneo Post

Malaysian man held at Chennai airport after diamonds worth RM1.3m found hidden on his body, in luggage
A Malaysian man was arrested at Chennai International Airport on Saturday in an attempt to smuggle diamonds worth 22.5 million rupees (RM1.34 million) into India.
— Malay Mail

See here for more of today’s Malaysia Morning News

Myanmar morning news

Compiled by Sreypov Men @MenSreypov

China-Myanmar joint venture rolls out first car assembled in Myanmar
The China-Myanmar joint venture Gold AYA Motors International Group Co. Ltd. has introduced its first car that was assembled in Myanmar.
— VietnamPlus

Thilawa SEZ in need of international-standard jetties and logistics services
For the extensive operations of factories, Thilawa Special Economic Zone is in need of international-standard jetties and logistics services, said Win Aung, chair of Myanmar Thilawa Special Economic Zone Holdings Public Co., Ltd (MTSH).
— Eleven Myanmar

See here for more of today’s Myanmar morning news

Philippines morning news

Compiled by Stella-maris Ewudolu @stmarisewudolu

Dark ages: 13 million Pinoys still living without electricity
More than two million families consisting of 13 million Filipinos remain literally in the dark as they are still without electricity, the head of the Party-list Coalition in the House of Representatives said yesterday.
— The Philippine Star

Death toll in Iloilo sea tragedy hits 31
The death toll from three boats that sank off Iloilo last weekend has surged to 31 as rescuers continue to search for the missing, the Philippine Coast Guard (PCG) said.
— The Philippine Star

Policy rate cut seen as inflation slows
INFLATION likely slowed further in July as food prices sustained a decline, analysts said in a poll, adding that this would give space for the central bank to resume trimming benchmark interest rates after “a prudent pause” in its June 20 policy review.
— BusinessWorld Online

See here for more of today’s Philippines morning news

Singapore morning news

Compiled by Justhine De Guzman Uy @justhine.aecnews

Ikea Singapore apologises after more than 400 e-mail IDs revealed to customers
Swedish retailer Ikea apologised to affected customers in Singapore on Sunday (Aug 4) after the company inserted 410 individual e-mail addresses in the wrong message field of a promotional mailer and sent it out.
— Straits Times (annoying popups)

Singapore banks brace for rate impact
SINGAPORE banks have flagged muted loan demand amid dour sentiment as they head into the second half of this year, with flattish rates also set to weigh on lending margins.
— The Business Times

KPMG to pay auditors 20% more if they get SCA qualification by next July
KPMG in Singapore will raise salaries by 20 per cent for its auditors who obtain the Singapore Chartered Accountant (SCA) qualification by July 1, 2020, in a bid to improve the quality of audits for its clients and benefit the capital markets.
— The Business Times

See here for more of today’s Singapore morning news

Thailand morning news

Compiled by John Le Fevre @photo_journ

Army chief ridicules claim Thailand behind chemical attack in Japan
An exiled critic of the country’s military and monarchy said he was attacked in his home in Japan last month and believes Thai authorities were behind the incident, an accusation that was ridiculed by the kingdom’s army chief.
— Bangkok Post

Economic plans to be finished in three months
In the face of the world’s volatile economic situation, Finance Minister Uttama Savanayana has ordered agencies in the care of his ministry to set out economic plans in line with national strategic plans and focus on the upgrading of the country’s competitiveness and reduction in social inequality.
— NBT World (video)

50 Thai fishermen stranded on fishing vessels in Somalian sea appeal for help
About 50 Thai fishermen, stranded on board two fishing vessels in the sea of Somalia with their water, food and fuel running low, are appealing for help to get them back to Thailand.
— Thai PBS News

See here for more of today’s Thailand morning news

Vietnam morning news

Compiled by Sreypov Men @MenSreypov

Huge opportunities await foreign investors in Vietnam’s telco industry
Vietnam’s telecommunication market is becoming more attractive to foreign investors as it has returned to the growth path in the first half of 2019 after a long period of saturation.
— The Hanoitimes

Vietnam’s Longest Serving Female Prisoner of Conscience Released from Prison
Authorities in Vietnam released an activist who had been one of the country’s longest serving political prisoners Friday, after she had endured eight years detention for documenting peaceful demonstrations.
— Radio Free Asia

Vietnam ministry announces criteria for “made in Vietnam” products amid rampant trade fraud
In addition to having a localization rate of 30%, made-in-Vietnam products are required to be partly produced in Vietnam, not just basic processing.
— The Hanoitimes

See here for more of today’s Vietnam morning news

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