Asean morning news
Compiled by Stella-maris Ewudolu @stmarisewudolu
Thailand connects ASEAN to G20
Thailand, led by Prime Minister Prayut Chan-o-cha, as the ASEAN Chair of 2019, is attending the annual G20 Conference in Osaka, Japan.
— NBT World (video)
China accused of entering ‘grey zone’ between war and peace to assert control in disputed waters
China is using a number of tactics that fall in the “grey zone between peace and war” to advance its interests in the disputed East and South China seas, according a leading US defence think tank.
— Spratly Islands
ASEAN Outlook on Indo-Pacific underscores role of organization in regional dynamics
The 34th ASEAN summit hosted by Thailand from June 20 to 23 came at a time when the geopolitical environment in the region was on a simmer with the US throwing its weight behind the Indo-Pacific Strategy.
— Spratly Islands
Southeast Asian countries complete maritime law enforcement exercise
In an attempt to increase maritime security in the region, coast guards from six Southeast Asian countries shared their best practices on tackling illegal fishing and drug trafficking.
— The Jakarta Post
Non-tariff barriers hurdle for Asean community targets
WITHOUT a stronger focus on tackling non-tariff barriers, Asean will not accomplish the objectives of the Asean Economic Community (AEC) and will fail to meet the targets in the AEC Blueprint 2025, warns a June 22 report.
— The Business Times
Time for Asean to act
ASEAN will look back at the unveiling of its Outlook on the Indo-Pacific (AOIP) at the 34th Asean Summit in Bangkok last week as a moment of truth.
— Khmer Times
Russia vows stronger ties with Indonesia, ASEAN
Round of applause: Russian Ambassador to ASEAN Alexander Ivanov (left), former Indonesian foreign minister Alwi Shihab (second left), Coordinating Economic Minister Darmin Nasution (center) and Maritime Affairs and Fisheries Minister Susi Pudjiastuti (second right) applaud as they watch Russian Ambassador to Indonesia Lyudmila Vorobieva cut a cake during a celebration of the National Day of Russia on Friday at Raffles Hotel Jakarta.
— The Jakarta Post (paywall)
ASEAN holds policy dialogue on formalisation of micro enterprises
About 120 participants representing ASEAN Coordinating Committee on Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises (ACCMSME), business registration agencies, and private sector representatives from ASEAN Member States attended a policy dialogue on formalisation of micro enterprises in Bangkok, Thailand yesterday.
— Thailand Business News
Bangkok hosting 7th ASEAN Meeting of Governors
The Bangkok Metropolitan Administration (BMA) is hosting the 7th Meeting of Governors/Mayors of ASEAN Capitals (MGMAC), which is a forum aims to strengthen ties among ASEAN capital cities.
— NBT World (video)
Brunei capital ranked 2nd most expensive ASEAN cities
Bandar Seri Begawan (BSB), the capital of Brunei, is ranked among the most expensive cities in Southeast Asia to live in, according to Mercer’s 25th annual Cost of Living Survey 2019 released recently.
— Xinhuanet
Curbing the waste crisis
The 34th Asean Summit culminated last week with the ratification of two green initiatives that should bode well for the future of the planet.
— Bangkok Post
Indonesia, Malaysia, Thailand committed to developing Rubber City
The world’s top producers of natural rubber – Indonesia, Malaysia and Thailand – are committed to strengthening collaboration to develop Rubber City in the Indonesia-Malaysia-Thailand Growth Triangle (IMT-GT) region to boost rubber consumption and promote downstream industry development.
— The Edge Markets
EU-ASEAN Business Council Launches Second Position Paper on The Digital Economy in ASEAN
Following on this year’s theme for ASEAN “Advancing Partnership for Sustainability” and the strong focus from Thailand on Industry 4.0 under its Chairmanship of ASEAN, the EU-ASEAN Business Council (EU-ABC) today launched its second paper by its Digital Economy Advocacy Group entitled, ‘Growing a Stronger Digital Future in Southeast Asia’.
— Viet Nam News
ASEAN Parliamentarians Renew Call For De Lima’s Freedom
The ASEAN Parliamentarians for Human Rights (APHR) has reiterated its long outstanding call for the “immediate and unconditional” release of Opposition Senator Leila M. de Lima who remains detained on politically-motivated drug charges.
— PageOne.ph
ASEAN wants more World Heritage Sites
There are 38 heritage sites in Southeast Asia that have been gazetted by the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organisation (UNESCO) as World Heritage Sites (WHS).
— The Asean Post
Steel ministry to give view on economic ties with Asean nations, China
The steel ministry will provide a detailed “formal view” to its commerce counterpart on the proposed mega free trade agreement RCEP after having a meeting with its stakeholders, a senior government official said.
— Business Standard
ASEAN consumers gain traction
Faced with a rapidly changing global environment, many exporters in Hong Kong and Mainland China see their neighbours – the rapidly growing members of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) – as good markets.
— Thailand Business News
Upholding multilateral trade system serves the interests of ASEAN members
The 34th ASEAN summit, held in Bangkok, Thailand from June 20 to 23, focused on building a people-centric ASEAN community.
— Global Times
ASEAN capitals leaders view Hua Takhe community
The Bangkok Metropolitan Administration (BMA) has led a group of leaders of ASEAN capitals on a cultural tour to Hua Ta Khe community market in Lad Krabang District, concluding the 7th Meeting of Governors/Mayors of ASEAN Capitals 2019.
— NBT World (video)
Online shoppers are unhappy
Frustrated by how long it took for that t-shirt or pair of shoes you ordered from Shopee or Lazada to arrive? You’re not the only one.
— The Asean Post
Cambodia morning news
Compiled by Justhine De Guzman Uy @justhine.aecnews
ASF spread ‘being monitored’
A government animal health official is monitoring the possible spread of African swine fever into new provinces bordering Vietnam.
— The Phnom Penh Post
Ministry: Dengue fever cases kill 24, see fivefold increase
Twenty-four people have been killed by dengue fever in the first six months of this year – a fivefold increase on the same period last year when seven people died from the virus.
— The Phnom Penh Post
Child eaten after falling into crocodile enclosure
A two-year-old girl was killed by crocodiles on her family’s farm in Siem Reap province’s Siem Reap city today after she wondered off into the enclosure alone, police said.
— Khmer Times
See here for more of today’s Cambodia morning news
Indonesia morning news
Compiled by Justhine De Guzman Uy @justhine.aecnews
President Widodo officially declared winner of Indonesia’s poll
Indonesia’s general election commission or KPU on Sunday officially declared the pair of incumbent President Joko Widodo and his running mate Ma’ruf Amin as the winner of the April 17 presidential poll.
— China.org/ Xinhua
Search for missing MI 17 helicopter continues
The search for the MI 17 helicopter, which disappeared on Friday, continues around the Mol and Aprok mountains near Jayapura, Papua.
— The Jakarta Post
Indonesian students strike gold at international Olympiad
Indonesian senior high school students took home two golds, two silvers and one bronze medal from the Genius Olympiad held in Oswego, the United States, from June 17 to 22, 2019.
— Antara News
See here for more of today’s Indonesia morning news
Lao PDR morning news
Compiled by Justhine De Guzman Uy @justhine.aecnews
Govt struggles to settle debts owed to companies
The government has pledged that it will strive to repay its debts owed to private enterprises to maintain the financial liquidity of those companies despite the country’s rising budgetary tension.
— Vientiane Times (paywall)
Saravan reports 2,500 pig deaths from African swine fever
Local Saravan authorities have confirmed the province is facing serious challenges in preventing the spread of African swine fever with the reported number of pig deaths increasing.
— Vientiane Times (paywall)
Climate change results in early dengue outbreak in Laos say health officials
The Ministry of Health says climate change is partly to blame for the early outbreak of dengue across Laos this year, with abnormal rainfall ahead of rainy season creating breeding grounds for the mosquitos that carry the disease.
— ANN/ Vientiane Times
See here for more of today’s Lao morning news
Malaysia morning news
Compiled by Sreypov Men @MenSreypov
AirAsia can save MAB from ‘dying’ -Kadir Jasin
Low-cost airline giant AirAsia Group Bhd is seen as a successful airline operator with the capability to save national carrier Malaysia Airlines Bhd (MAB) from “dying”, says veteran newsman Datuk A. Kadir Jasin.
— The Borneo Post
Malaysians to cut back on soft drinks once sugar tax kicks in, survey finds
Over half of Malaysians surveyed in a poll say they would consume less soft drinks once the sugar tax takes effect tomorrow. The Star reported today that the poll, conducted by international survey agency YouGov for the.
— Malay Mail
Indonesia, Malaysia, Thailand committed to developing Rubber City
The world’s top producers of natural rubber – Indonesia, Malaysia and Thailand – are committed to strengthening collaboration to develop Rubber City in the Indonesia-Malaysia-Thailand Growth Triangle (IMT-GT) region to boost rubber consumption and promote downstream industry development.
— The Sun Daily
See here for more of today’s Malaysia Morning News
Myanmar morning news
Compiled by Sreypov Men @MenSreypov
US calls for end to mobile data blackout in two Myanmar states
The United States on Saturday (Jun 29) urged an immediate end to a mobile data blackout in parts of two Myanmar states, saying a service restoration would help provide transparency to what the government says are law enforcement actions to avert unrest.
— Channel NewsAsia
Industrial zones in Yangon get upgrades
The region government has started working to upgrade 29 industrial zones, Yangon Region Chief Minister U Phyo Min Thein said at a press conference held at the Office of Yangon Region Government on June 29.
— Eleven Myanmar
CPI hits 153.66 pc in late May
Consumer Price Index (CPI) in late May reached 153.66 per cent, up 9.57 per cent compared with the same period last year, according to the report on the CPI and inflation rate issued by the Central Statistical Organization (CSO).
— Eleven Myanmar
See here for more of today’s Myanmar morning news
Philippines morning news
Compiled by Stella-maris Ewudolu @stmarisewudolu
8 dead in suspected suicide bombing at Sulu military camp
The death toll in the twin blasts at a military camp in Sulu province has risen to eight, authorities said Saturday.
— CNN Philippines
‘Duterte can’t be impeached on just his words’
AN impeachment case against President Duterte, anchored only on his off-the-cuff pronouncement that he allowed China to fish in the Philippines’s exclusive economic zone (EEZ), could be thrown out as premature, Sen. Panfilo Lacson said over the weekend.
— Business Mirror
PhilHealth told to return P139-million allowances, bonuses
The Commission on Audit (COA) has affirmed the validity of notices of disallowance (NDs) previously issued by its corporate government sector against the Philippine Health Insurance Corp. (PHIC or PhilHealth) for the return of P139.473 million in allowances and bonuses found to have been illegally granted to its officials and employees.
— The Philippine Star
See here for more of today’s Philippines morning news
Singapore morning news
Compiled by John Le Fevre @photo_journ
Ng Eng Hen confident that technical glitches in F-35 fighter jet ‘will be solved’ before delivery to Singapore
Glitches in the F-35 will be fixed before the stealth fighter jet is delivered to Singapore, Defence Minister Ng Eng Hen said on Friday (Jun 28).
— Channel NewsAsia (very annoying popups)
Electricity tariff to increase on average 6.4% for the period of 1 July to 30 Sept 2019
Electricity tariffs (before 7% GST) will increase by an average of 6.4% or 1.43 cents per kWh compared with the previous quarter for the period from 1 July to 30 September 2019.
— The Online Citizen
Govt restriction on distributing press releases to accredited alternative media – borne out of fear?
Just a fortnight ago, journalist Nicholas Yong of Yahoo! News Singapore shared his experience with receiving the short stick of the end of an “unequal access” to “the most important press releases, speeches and event invites” from government agencies, as a media practitioner from an alternative news outlet.
— The Online Citizen
See here for more of today’s Singapore morning news
Thailand morning news
Compiled by John Le Fevre @photo_journ
Boom along the border
A group of Chinese investors has poured in close to 10 billion baht to develop a new city in Thmada, a border village in Veal Veng district in Cambodia’s Pursat province — a project which, upon completion, is expected to change the dynamics of trade and tourism along the Thai-Cambodian border.
— Bangkok Post
Fund-raising campaign to help cover Ja New’s medical bills
As calls grow louder for the government to take action to track down the four assailants who seriously injured democracy activist Sirawith Seritiwat, alias Ja New, a campaign has been launched for public donations to fund his medical expenses.
— Thai PBS News
20 smuggled Burmese, including children, found in locked Songkhla warehouse
by Santiparp Ramasutra Songkhla Police, in Thailand’s deep south, have rescued 20 scared and hungry Burmese, victims of traffickers who’d locked them inside a warehouse on the Thai-Malaysian border.
— The Thaiger
See here for more of today’s Thailand morning news
Vietnam morning news
Compiled by Sreypov Men @MenSreypov
Vietnam and European Union sign free-trade agreement
The deal will see the EU lift 85 per cent of its tariffs on Vietnamese goods, while Vietnam will lift 49 per cent of its import duties on EU exports, with other easing of tariffs to take place over the next decade
— South China Morning Post
Vietnam economy grows nearly 7% on trade war tailwinds
Vietnam’s real gross domestic product rose 6.71% on the year in the April-June quarter, marking one of the highest growth rates among key Southeast Asian economies as it shapes up into an alternative export hub to China.
— Nikkei Asian Review
Vietnam proposes establishing global network on ocean-sea data sharing
Prime Minister Nguyen Xuan Phuc proposed an initiative to form a global network on sharing data on oceans and sea, towards a global framework on preventing marine plastic waste at a discussion on climate and environment within the framework of the G20 Summit in Osaka on June 29.
— Sggp News
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.
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