Asean morning news
Compiled by Stella-maris Ewudolu @stmarisewudolu
South China Sea tensions: ‘Step up patrols – or face dictatorship’, Australia warned
And failure to act ran the risk of Australian itself eventually finding itself “strategically reliant on the benevolence of an expansionist dictatorship”, it warned.
— Spratly Islands
Duterte dares Western nations to ‘seize’ Spratly Islands
President Rodrigo Duterte on Wednesday dared western countries to “assemble” and “seize” the Spratly Islands amid calls for him to defend the Philippine territory against China’s incursion.
— Spratly Islands
Chinese military conducts missile tests in the South China Sea
China is in the midst of conducting a series of anti-ship ballistic missile tests in the hotly contested waters of the South China Sea, according to two U.S. officials with knowledge of the matter.
— Spratly Islands
China begins naval exercise in the South China Sea
Here’s a weekly look at recent developments in the South China Sea, where China is pitted against smaller neighbors in multiple disputes over islands, coral reefs and lagoons in waters crucial for global commerce and rich in fish and potential oil and gas reserves.
— Spratly Islands
Southeast Asia starts to dump single-use plastics
Governments and businesses in Asia’s emerging economies are trying to reduce plastic pollution in an effort to burnish their green credentials before the international community, not the least its global investors.
— Nikkei Asian Review (paywall)
ASEAN nations join hands in fisheries development
Measures for fisheries development of the Association of the Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) were discussed at a number of recent meetings, according to the Directorate of Fisheries under the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development.
— Vietnamplus
Relief warehouse activation to boost Asean disaster response
The activation of the Disaster Emergency Logistics Systems for Asean (DELSA) Phase II warehouse in Camp Aguinaldo, Quezon City will greatly boost the organization’s emergency preparedness and response capabilities.
— Philippine News Agency
Projecting power through Asean unity
It only took a few seconds to change the substance of the discussion between Thai Foreign Minister Don Pramudwinai and his Brunei counterpart, Second Minister of Foreign Affairs and Trade, Erywan Yusof, during their bilateral meeting on June 21.
— Bangkok Post
Why Asean is fast losing its relevance
After more than five decades as a regional grouping, the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (Asean), formed at the height of the Cold War on Aug. 8, l967, is fast losing its relevance in resolving the major concerns of its 10 member countries.
— Inquirer.net
Several Countries Express Support for Indonesia’s ‘Asean Outlook on Indo-Pacific’ Initiative
Japan, South Korea, India and Australia, as partners of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations, have welcomed the Asean Outlook on the Indo-Pacific, adopted during a leader’s summit in Bangkok on June 22.
— Jakarta Globe
Are governments crying wolf?
Towards the end of last month, on 21 June, the government of Myanmar ordered mobile phone operators in the country to shut down all Internet data across at least eight townships in Rakhine and one in neighbouring Chin state.
— The Asean Post
South China Sea tensions: Filipino leader accuses US of ‘testing who can fire first shot’
Beijing claims the majority of the South China Sea but this is contested by other countries including the Philippines, Malaysia, Brunei, Taiwan and Vietnam.
— Spratly Islands
“Fortifying Cybersecurity for a Seamless ASEAN Connected to the World”
“Seamlessly connected” is how ASEAN aspires to facilitate and expand people-to-people interactions among its diverse population and build a common community with a shared sense of ownership.
— Bangkok Post
Not feasible for all 10 Asean countries to host 2034 World Cup, says Hamidin
It is not feasible for all 10 Asean countries to be joint-hosts of the 2034 World Cup, Football Association of Malaysia (FAM) president Datuk Hamidin Mohd Amin said today.
— Malay Mail
What Asean can do about waste
IN January 2018, the world’s biggest importer of scrap plastic, China, imposed a country-wide ban on importing plastic waste, effectively halting the export of plastic waste to China.
— The Star Online
Globe Telecom tops anew in corporate governance in ASEAN
Globe Telecom showed once again why it is one of the top organizations in the Philippines after it was named among the 6 top-performing publicly-listed companies (PLCs) in the country under the ASEAN Corporate Governance Scorecard (ACGS) 2018.
— Inquirer.net
Cambodia morning news
Compiled by Justhine De Guzman Uy @justhine.aecnews
Cambodia Rejects Suspicions Reversal on US Base Upgrade Signals Plans to Host Chinese Military Assets
Cambodia’s Minister of Defense Tea Banh on Monday dismissed suspicions that his government had reneged on accepting an offer from the U.S. to upgrade buildings at a naval base in Preah Sihanouk province because it plans to host Chinese military assets at the site.
— RFA
IOM: Cambodian migrants in Thailand relatively poor
A study released on Friday by the International Organisation for Migration (IOM) and Thailand’s Chulalongkorn University has said that the majority of Cambodian migrants in Thailand were “relatively poor”, with many depending on jobs paying less than the country’s minimum wage.
— The Phnom Penh Post
Cambodia Startup Advisers set to launch non-technical, practical guide for start-ups
Cambodia Startup Advisers (CSA) is set to launch its Cambodia Startup Handbook as a tool for the Kingdom’s entrepreneurs, its press release said on Friday.
— The Phnom Penh Post
See here for more of today’s Cambodia morning news
Indonesia morning news
Compiled by Justhine De Guzman Uy @justhine.aecnews
Government will not rush to establish 5G network
The government will not rush to establish the fifth generation of internet network frequency (5G) in Indonesia, according to Communications and Information Ministry’s Postal and Information Technology Resources Director General Ismail.
— Antara News
Indonesia’s arrest of JI leader Para Wijayanto exposes militant group’s active recruitment in bid to establish caliphate
Indonesian police’s arrest of the leader of Jemaah Islamiah (JI), the Southeast Asian offshoot of the international terrorism network al-Qaeda, has exposed that JI is on the resurgence, actively recruiting members and cultivating palm oil plantations to fund its bid to establish a caliphate in the country.
— South China Morning Post
LinkAja to become Indonesia’s largest digital payment service
PT Fintek Karya Nusantara (Finarya), a company established by a number of state-owned enterprises (SOEs), launched on Sunday its LinkAja platform, aimed at becoming the largest digital payment service in the country
— The Jakarta Post
See here for more of today’s Indonesia morning news
Lao PDR morning news
Compiled by Justhine De Guzman Uy @justhine.aecnews
Salavanh Province Sees Increase in Swine Fever Pig Deaths
Salavanh Province, located in the south of Laos, is witnessing an increase in the number of pig deaths amid the spread of African swine fever (ASF).
— The Laotian Times
Embrace 5G cloud future: Huawei’s debut at Lao expo
Laos’ Ministry of Post and Telecommunications (MPT) joined hands with Huawei, LTC and other operators to organise the Laos ICT Expo 2019 which was held last week in Vientiane.
— The Phnom Penh Post
Controlling goods prices not easy in Laos
The Ministry of Industry and Commerce is encountering hurdles in stabilising the prices of goods in Laos as most are imports from Thailand, according to a ministerial report.
— Vientiane Times (paywall)
See here for more of today’s Lao morning news
Malaysia morning news
Compiled by Sreypov Men @MenSreypov
Penang official: Withholding 20 sen fee for plastic bags could cost supermarkets licences
Authorities will pursue supermarkets that fail to submit the 20 sen collected for each plastic bag sold as part of a campaign to reduce single-use plastics in the state, said Phee Boon Poh.
— Malay Mail
Malaysia’s Health Ministry suspends licence of Starfresh bottled water factory
Malaysia’s Health ministry has suspended the licence of the factory which produces Starfresh bottled drinking water, following the recall of the product in Singapore for containing bacteria.
— Channel NewsAsia
World Bank expects Malaysia’s GDP to grow 4.6pc
Malaysia’s economy is expected to expand at a relatively moderate rate, with the gross domestic product (GDP) projected to record 4.6 per cent in 2019, says World Bank.
— Malay Mail
See here for more of today’s Malaysia Morning News
Myanmar morning news
Compiled by Sreypov Men @MenSreypov
First commercial solar power plant launched in Myanmar
State Counsellor Daw Aung San Suu Kyi last week launched the first phase of Myanmar’s first commercial solar-power plant in Minbu, Magwe Region, adding 40MW of power to the national grid.
— Myanmar Times
Myanmar to Send Envoys to Rohingya Camps in Bangladesh
Myanmar is sending a high-level delegation soon to camps in Bangladesh to attempt to convince hundreds of thousands of Rohingya Muslims they can return home, Myanmar’s U.N. ambassador said Monday.
— The Globe post
A Digital Nation for the Stateless Rohingya?
A team of Rohingya Muslims is using blockchain technology to forge digital identities for the persecuted minority’s diaspora.
— The Diplomat
See here for more of today’s Myanmar morning news
Philippines morning news
Compiled by Stella-maris Ewudolu @stmarisewudolu
Duterte’s deal with China ‘valid and binding’: Palace
President Rodrigo Duterte’s deal with Beijing that allows Chinese fishermen to venture in the Philippines’ exclusive economic zone is “valid and binding,” Malacañang said Monday.
— ABS-CBN News
Sotto bill seeks 14th month pay for private sector employees
Senate President Vicente Sotto III filed a bill on Monday seeking to give employees in the private sector a 14th month pay.
— GMA News
China rejects third party in Recto Bank allision probe – Palace
China does not agree with the proposed presence of an independent body in the ongoing Recto Bank allision investigation, Malacañang said Monday.
— CNN Philippines
See here for more of today’s Philippines morning news
Singapore morning news
Compiled by John Le Fevre @photo_journ
Singapore imposes least burden in VAT, GST compliance: study
SINGAPORE came out tops in a latest study by UNSW Sydney and KPMG that considered the compliance requirements and administrative burden associated with adhering to Value Added Tax (VAT) and Goods and Services Tax (GST) rules.
— The Business Times
Graft probe on IG Aviation Singapore directors scuppers parent’s IPO
INVESTIGATIONS into alleged corrupt acts by three directors of IG Aviation Singapore Pte Ltd (IGA) have thwarted plans by the company’s parent, IG Logistics Group Pte Ltd, to seek a listing on the Singapore Exchange (SGX).
— The Business Times
ST edited their article to remove any mention of Lee Hsien Yang and family attending this year’s Pink Dot Rally
Last Saturday (29 June) was Pink Dot’s 11th Rally. Hong Lim Park was painted pink as the local LGBTQ+ community gathered for the annual Pink Dot SG event to highlight the challenges and discrimination the community faces in Singapore.
— The Online Citizen
See here for more of today’s Singapore morning news
Thailand morning news
Compiled by John Le Fevre @photo_journ
Firms push for gradual daily wage increases
Business operators are urging the new government to raise the country’s daily minimum wage in line with a resolution of the tripartite committee and avoid the sharp rise promised during the general election campaign.
— Bangkok Post
Ja New’s mum scotches loan-shark debt rumours
The mother of political activist Sirawith Seritiwat, who was badly injured in an assault by four men wearing motorcycle helmets last Friday, on Monday insisted it was unlikely to be the work of a loan shark despite having past financial problems.
— Bangkok Post
Critics slam expressway debt-swap
Opposition is intensifying to the Expressway Authority of Thailand (Exat) board’s decision to grant Bangkok Expressway and Metro Plc (BEM) the right to operate three expressways for 30 more years in a bid to clear its debts to the company.
— Bangkok Post
See here for more of today’s Thailand morning news
Vietnam morning news
Compiled by Sreypov Men @MenSreypov
Vietnam and Japan firms ink gas deal as Hanoi looks beyond coal
Japan’s JXTG Nippon Oil & Energy will tie up with a Vietnamese state-owned oil company on liquefied natural gas, the companies said Monday, with the duo expected to build facilities and collaborate on procurement in the Southeast Asian country.
— Nikkei Asian Review
JBIC provides 200 mln USD credit for Vietnam’s energy projects
The Commercial Bank for Foreign Trade of Vietnam (Vietcombank) and the Japan Bank for International Cooperation (JBIC) exchanged a credit contract worth 200 million USD to fund renewable energy projects in Vietnam.
— VietnamPlus
Vietnam’s Bamboo Airlines plans to launch direct US flights – with an A380
Vietnamese start-up carrier Bamboo Airlines plans to launch direct flights to the United States using a leased Airbus A380 superjumbo, the Financial Times reports.
— Business Traveller
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 July 2 added by Digital Editor on
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