Asean morning news
Compiled by Stella-maris Ewudolu @stmarisewudolu
US calls for int’l pushback vs aggressive sea acts
The United States has called on claimant states in the South China Sea to spurn antagonistic behavior that does not follow international protocol, given China’s “gross” manifestation of its forces in the disputed waters.
— The Philippine Star
Malaysia, Vietnam show PH can stand up to China
Malaysia and Vietnam’s continued oil and gas operations in the South China Sea despite tense encounters with Chinese Coast Guard vessels in their own waters showed there was a way the Philippines could stand up to Chinese aggression should it pursue oil explorations in the West Philippine …
— Rappler
Forecasts lowered for some Asean+3 markets: report
GROWTH forecasts for several Asean markets have been lowered by the Asean+3 Macroeconomic Research Office (AMRO) in its July monthly update, on the back of continuing weakness in manufacturing and export figures.
— The Business Times
ADB approves $50 mln additional contribution for CGIF
The Asian Development Bank (ADB) has approved a US $ 50 million additional capital contribution to support the guarantee operations of the Credit Guarantee Investment Facility (CGIF), a trust fund of ADB created to promote the development of deep and liquid local currency and regional bond markets in the ASEAN+3 region.
— Associated Press of Pakistan
Level of Mekong, tributaries forecast to rise in coming weeks
The level of the Mekong River – the longest river in Southeast Asia – will increase gradually in the coming weeks after falling to a record rainy-season low that is affecting farmers and businesses.
— Vientiane Times
Drug-resistant malaria spreading in Southeast Asia: Study
A strain of malaria resistant to two key anti-malarial medicines has become dominant in Vietnam, Laos and northern Thailand after spreading rapidly from Cambodia, scientists have warned.
— Aljazeera
China’s Emerging Security Partnerships in Southeast Asia: Current Trends and Future Prospects
In recent years, even as China has criticized U.S. alliances in the Asia-Pacific, Beijing has also been working to develop its own new security partnerships in the region as part of its effort to shape the existing regional architecture.
— The Diplomat
High level conference on China-ASEAN media cooperation kicks off in Jakarta
Indonesian capital of Jakarta hosted on Tuesday the High Level Conference on China-ASEAN Media Cooperation, aimed at strengthening further media cooperation to build closer community relations between the two sides.
— Xinhuanet
China-ASEAN trade continues to boom amid global growth slowdown, uncertainties
The planting of durians has been picking up steam across Malaysia in recent years owing to an increasing demand from China, the world’s largest market for this thorny and pungent “king of fruits.”
— Xinhuanet
Regional cooperation the way forward for education in SEA
Education Minister Dr Maszlee Malik has called for greater cooperation among Southeast Asian countries to boost the education sector in the region.
— New Straits Times
Thai Expert Confident In China-ASEAN Trade’s Economic Prowess
Senior Vice President of Thailand’s Kasikorn Bank, Wichai Kinchong Choi, said on Tuesday that he believes bilateral trade between China and member countries of the ASEAN region have the ability to boost activities that propel the world’s economy.
— Business Times
12th ASEAN-China education cooperation week opens
The 12th Education Cooperation Week between the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) and China began in Guiyang city of China’s Guizhou province on July 22.
— Vietnamplus
US reaffirms enduring ties, strategic cooperation with ASEAN: State Department
On the tenth commemoration of the promotion of the United States to the Treaty of Amity and Cooperation in Southeast Asia, Washington celebrates its enduring relationship and flourishing strategic cooperation with Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN).
— The Indian Wire
Education Ministry presents learning house to ASEAN countries
The Ministry of Education and Culture (Kemendikbud) presented a learning house digital platform during a conference session of the Southeast Asian Ministers of Education Organization (SEAMEO) Council in Selangor, Malaysia, Tuesday, July 23, 2019.
— Antara News
How Instagram is shaking up Southeast Asia’s tourism industry
If a tree falls in the forest and no one posts a photo of it on Instagram, did it still happen?
— KrAsia
Bagan to host Mekong Tourism Forum
Myanmar has switched the 2020 venue for the annual Mekong Tourism Forum from Mandalay to the World Heritage town of Bagan.
— TTR Weekly
ASEAN-Japan Music Festival 2019 to be held
The ASEAN-Japan Music Festival 2019 will take place at the National Convention Centre, My Dinh, Hanoi, on July 28, with the participation of Vietnamese singers Noo Phuoc Thinh, Dong Nhi and Trong Hieu, as well as many international artistes.
— Nhan Dan Online
Cambodia morning news
Compiled by Justhine De Guzman Uy @justhine.aecnews
Nine governors rapped over drugs
National Police chief General Neth Savoeun yesterday said nine provincial governors have not firmly executed orders to implement measures against illicit drug use and distribution in nightclubs and KTV outlets.
— Khmer Times
Cambodia sees rise in crackdowns on human, sex trafficking crimes in H1
Cambodia has seen a 25.8 percent increase in crackdowns on human and sex trafficking crimes in the first half of 2019, the National Police said on Tuesday.
— Xinhua
Fifth dead Irrawaddy dolphin of year found
A Mekong River conservation area head ranger told The Post on Tuesday that a fifth Irrawaddy dolphin has been found dead due to illegal fishing.
— 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
Govt to reduce spending after revenue growth slows in first half
Finance Minister Sri Mulyani Indrawati has said the government will reduce spending in the coming months as revenue growth was slow in the first half of 2019.
— The Jakarta Post
Integrated system to improve services for higher learning institutions
SIL@T, an application of the Integrated Information and Service System, is expected to improve the services of Indonesia’s Higher Education Institutions (LLDIKTI) for Area III, for higher education institutions, especially those in LLDIKTI’s work areas.
— Antara News
Indonesian Couple Carried Out Philippines Cathedral Bombing, Police Say
A deadly cathedral bombing in the Philippines in January was a suicide attack carried out by an Indonesian couple who once tried to reach Islamic State territory and were deported from Turkey, the Indonesian police said on Tuesday.
— The New York Times (paywall)
See here for more of today’s Indonesia morning news
Lao PDR morning news
Compiled by Justhine De Guzman Uy @justhine.aecnews
New Report Pleads for Accountablility on First Anniversary of Laos Dam Collapse
On the first anniversary Tuesday of Laos’ Xe Pian-Xe Namnoy (PNPC) dam disaster, a new report from two NGOs found that nobody has been held accountable for the catastrophe that caused what has been described as Laos’ worst flooding in decades.
— RFA
Drug-resistant Malaria Found in Laos
A new study has found that Malaria parasites resistant to essential drugs have spread to Laos and other parts of Southeast Asia.
— The Laotian Times
Drought destroying the future of Lao farmers
Low rainfall and high temperatures are destroying the crops of Lao farmers across the country against the backdrop of an ongoing drought in the Southeast Asian region.
— Vientiane Times
See here for more of today’s Lao morning news
Malaysia morning news
Compiled by Sreypov Men @MenSreypov
Sell-off imminent for Malaysia Airlines, says Najib after Morgan Stanley entry
The ex-prime minister says an investment bank is usually hired to sell assets while a union question’s Khazanah’s decision, saying Morgan Stanley won’t know the ‘ins and outs’ of the airline.
— FMT News
What’s Behind Malaysia’s New South China Sea Missile Launches?
Last week, Malaysia concluded exercises that featured a series of missile firings in the South China Sea. While this was a pre-planned development, it nonetheless spotlighted the ongoing question of the evolving shape of Malaysia’s South China Sea approach in the context of wider regional developments.
— The Diplomat
Malaysia gets a new ‘Visit Malaysia 2020’ logo and it’s way better than the previous one
The Southeast Asian country has finally unveiled a brand new Visit Malaysia 2020 logo and the design is far better than this… thing.
— Mashable
See here for more of today’s Malaysia Morning News
Myanmar morning news
Compiled by Sreypov Men @MenSreypov
Investors must repay tax exemptions if businesses shutdown: MIC
Licensed investors shall repay the tax exemptions if they want to close their businesses, according to a press conference by the Myanmar Investment Commission (MIC).
— Eleven Myanmar
Report shows Myanmar not prepared for return of Rohingya refugees
A new report by Australian researchers has contradicted assurances from the Government of Myanmar that it’s preparing for the return of hundreds of thousands of Rohingya refugees, currently trapped in neighbouring Bangladesh.
— ABC
Myanmar hosts workshop for sustainability of diverse ecosystems
Myanmar has hosted a workshop on teaching skills and information for carrying out community-based forest conservation in regions with different agricultural systems, according to the Ministry of Agriculture, Livestock and Irrigation Tuesday.
— Xinhua
See here for more of today’s Myanmar morning news
Philippines morning news
Compiled by Stella-maris Ewudolu @stmarisewudolu
Duterte Cites Missiles On Disputed Islands, Says China Controls West Philippine Sea
Philippine President Rodrigo Duterte delivered his State of the Nation Address on Monday and said that while the Philippines “owns” a disputed area of the South China Sea, the Chinese controls the waters.
— Spratly Islands
Trial opens for Rappler CEO on cyber libel; Ressa insists gov’t trying to intimidate her
Rappler CEO Maria Ressa’s cyber libel trial opened Tuesday, July 23, in a case which stemmed from a 2012 article that claimed that a wealthy businessman had shady deals linked to illegal drugs and human trafficking even if there was no evidence that pointed to this.
— Eagle News
Dismay, questions as Duterte SONA reduces Marawi terror siege to a drug issue
President Rodrigo Duterte mentioned terrorism and the 2017 siege of Marawi City once in his State of the Nation Address (SONA) on Monday, July 22, and it was to pitch to Congress the reinstatement of the death penalty for “heinous crimes related to drugs, as well as plunder.”
— Rappler
See here for more of today’s Philippines morning news
Singapore morning news
Compiled by John Le Fevre @photo_journ
Video shows SCDF officers arguing over instruction to push victim
Video footage of an exchange between two Singapore Civil Defence Force officers taken on the night Corporal Kok Yuen Chin fell into a fire station pump well showed the officers arguing over whether one had told the other to push the full-time national serviceman into the well.
— Straits Times (annoying popups)
Record 8.8 tonnes of ivory worth $17.6m seized
A record 8.8 tonnes of elephant ivory were seized from three containers on Sunday night, in what is believed to be one of the largest hauls seen worldwide in recent years.
— Straits Times (annoying popups)
Singapore’s core inflation hits two-year low in June
A fall in inflation last month – by one measure to levels not seen for more than two years – has heightened expectations that policy changes loom for the Singdollar in October.
— Straits Times (annoying popups)
See here for more of today’s Singapore morning news
Thailand morning news
Compiled by John Le Fevre @photo_journ
Calls for suspension of EEC city plan
A group of residents is urging Prime Minister Prayut Chan-o-cha to suspend a city plan being mulled for development of the Eastern Economic Corridor (EEC) project, saying it lacks local input.
— Bangkok Post
Former DPM Suthep found at fault over alleged collusion in police station project
Thailand’s National Anti-Corruption Commission has faulted former deputy prime minister Suthep Thaugsuban, former acting national police chief Pol Gen Pateep Tanprasert and several others for alleged collusion concerning the construction of 396 police stations nationwide, a project worth an estimated 5.8 billion baht.
— Thai PBS News
Report from Ministry of Tourism that tourism is up disputed by different government Ministry, accused of spin doctoring
Reports from the government that Thai tourism is up were disputed today by another government branch, showing that the true picture of tourism is, at best, murky.
— The Pattaya News
See here for more of today’s Thailand morning news
Vietnam morning news
Compiled by Sreypov Men @MenSreypov
VN needs to extend further visa exemption policy for tourists
Việt Nam should extend visa exemption policies for foreign tourists to encourage more visitors to return.
— Viet Nam News
VN exports $2.24 billion of steel and iron in H1
Viêt Nam exported 3.44 million tonnes of steel and iron worth US$2.24 billion in the first half of this year, up 4 per cent in value and 21 per cent in volume from the same period last year.
— Viet Nam News
US wary of Chinese products passed off as made in Vietnam
The Vietnamese government has begun taking steps to clamp down on shipments of products from China and elsewhere that pass through Vietnam and are relabeled as Vietnamese to avoid U.S. tariffs.
— Vietnam Insider
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 24 added by Digital Editor on
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