Asean morning news for June 16, 2020

Asean morning news

Compiled by Stella-maris Ewudolu @stmarisewudolu

COVID-19 in Asean: update for June 15 — Malaysian active cases drop below 1,000
As of 00:50 GMT June 15 there was 52,668 active cases of COVID-19 throughout the 10 Asean member countries, a decrease of 64, or -0.13 per cent, on the day prior.
— AEC News Today

Traffickers demand ransoms for Rohingya held at sea in Southeast Asia
Rohingya refugees attempting to reach Malaysia by boat from Bangladesh are being held hostage by human traffickers who have demanded large ransoms from their relatives with threats of violence, according to several families and aid organisations.
— CNA

Singapore to charge for COVID-19 airport entry screening starting Wednesday
Singapore will introduce a user pays COVID-19 screening model for non-citizens or PR holders entering or leaving the island city-state commencing 11:59 June 17.
— AEC News Today

UK launches digital trade network in Asia Pacific
The United Kingdom has launched a network aimed at increasing digital trade and investment opportunities in the Asia Pacific region and also forging partnerships with the region, the British Embassy in Seoul said last week.
— The Korea Times

Cambodia says ASEAN-Russia FMs to discuss COVID-19 via video conference
The foreign ministers of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) and Russia will hold a special meeting on COVID-19 via video conference on Wednesday, said a Cambodian foreign ministry’s statement on Monday.
— China.org.cn

Most South-east Asian economies to fall into recession, rebound in 2021: report
Vietnam will emerge from the pandemic the least affected of all countries in South-east Asia, though it is not immune to the sharp slowdown in trade flows, according to a report by the Institute of Chartered Accountants in England and Wales and Oxford Economics.
— The Star Online

US stands with its partners for a free and open Indo-Pacific
As an Indo-Pacific nation, the United States is committed to ensuring the region remains free and open for all, and upholding the rules and norms that have secured prosperity for nations of all sizes.
— The Straits Times

Asean, S. Korea discuss coronavirus cooperation
South Korea’s foreign Minister Kang Kyung-wha spoke by phone with the chief of the 10-member Association of Southeast Asian Nations (Asean) on Monday and discussed ways for greater cooperation amid the coronavirus pandemic, her office said.
— Inquirer.net

Myanmar, Thai firms bag contracts for PH rice imports
State-owned Philippine International Trading Corp. (PITC) last week started awarding contract bids for the importation of 300,000 metric tons (MT) of rice as part of the government’s contingency plan to ensure food security.
— Philippine Daily Inquirer

ASEAN tourism the way forward
The Federation of ASEAN Travel Associations (FATA) is organising an Online Forum on “Way Forward for Tourism in ASEAN” at 1500 ( Malaysia time +8GMT) Friday 19 June 2020.
— TTR Weekly

The Pandemic Has Given Armies in Southeast Asia a Boost
Some governments in Southeast Asia, slow to respond to the coronavirus pandemic, are now using their militaries to make up for initial inaction.
— Foreign Policy

Is the party over in Southeast Asia’s post-coronavirus tech scene?
Term sheets were exchanged, vetted and accepted. Series A funding for a Singaporean tech start-up was a done deal, or so it had thought. Then Covid-19 struck.
— South China Morning Post

Southeast Asia’s fruit express to China
China has become a major destination for fruit exports from Asean, with Guangxi, Guangdong, Yunnan and Hunan provinces in the south emerging as key markets thanks to their geographical proximity and close trade with Southeast Asian countries.
— Bangkok Post

Purpose and belonging at the core for Southeast Asia workers
The business environment in Southeast Asia is demographically and culturally suited to adapt to changes in the global workforce, according to Deloitte’s latest Human Capital Trends report.
— Consultancy.asia

Is Child Labour On The Rise Amid The Pandemic?
According to the International Labour Organisation (ILO), about 122 million children aged between five- and 14-years old work for their survival in Asia.
— The Asean Post

‘Save Our Seas,’ hip hop anthem for ASEAN solidarity
Love for hip hop brought Tu Pham of Vietnam and Marx Sickmind of the Philippines together as friends and collaborators in Australia.
— Inquirer.net

EMERGING MARKETS-Fears of second virus wave rattle Asia, Philippine stocks fall 5%
Southeast Asian stock markets fell sharply, led by the Philippines, and risk sentiment for currencies took a hit on Monday on fears that a second wave of
coronavirus infections could deepen the economic rout.
— Reuters

Report: Viu tops OTT users in SE Asia
Viu, a pan-regional OTT video service from PCCW Media Group with more than 41 million monthly active users, has revealed that findings from AMPD Research, a subsidiary of Media Partners Asia (MPA), shows it has the highest number of users amongst major video streaming platforms in Southeast Asia.
— Adavanced Television

ASEAN enforcers to gather at GCR Live Singapore
Enforcers from the Association of Southeast Asian Nations region will gather in Singapore in September for the first GCR Live event in more than seven months.
— Global Competition Review

Cambodia morning news

Compiled by Mark Henry Uy

Cambodians Stranded in Malaysia Finally Able to Fly Home
The 143 Cambodians who have been stranded in Malaysia for more than a month due to the Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic will be flown home on June 16, according to an official statement from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs.
— Cambodianess

Small-scale public forums of 50 and fewer encouraged
Minister of Interior Sar Kheng said municipal and provincial administrations can now organise public forums as normal but have to limit the number of participants to less than 50.
— The Phnom Penh Post

Japan provides $6 million emergency assistance to Cambodia
The Government of Japan has decided to extend to the Royal Government of Cambodia an emergency assistance comprising of medical supplies and technical assistance up to $ 6,320,167 through United Nations Office for Project Services (UNOPS).
— Khmer Times

See here for more of today’s Cambodia morning news

Indonesia morning news

Compiled by Justhine De Guzman Uy @justhine.aecnews

Indonesia reports 1,017 new coronavirus infections, 64 deaths
Indonesia reported on Monday 1,017 new coronavirus infections and 64 more deaths, the highest COVID-19 death toll in a single day in the Southeast Asian nation to date.
— Reuters

Indonesia posts US$2.1 billion trade surplus in May 2020
Indonesia recorded a trade surplus of US$2.1 billion in May 2020, according to the Central Bureau of Statistics (BPS).
— Antara News

Elementary Schools Won’t Reopen in July: Nadiem Makarim
The Minister of Education and Culture, Nadiem Makarim, reasserted that elementary schools or locally known SD were not allowed to reopen for face-to-face learning activities in the new 2020/2021 academic year in July.
— Tempo.co

See here for more of today’s Indonesia morning news

Lao PDR morning news

Compiled by Mark Henry Uy

Lao PDR has avoided a major health crisis, yet to be immune to global economic downturn
The Lao PDR has so far avoided a major health crisis but has not been immune from the global economic downturn as the COVID-19-induced economic recession has affected the country through multiple channels including tourism, trade, investment, commodity prices, exchange rates, and lower remittances.
— KPL

Xi says China ready to strengthen anti-pandemic cooperation with Laos
China is ready to strengthen cooperation with Laos in fighting the COVID-19 epidemic, said General Secretary of the Communist Party of China (CPC) Central Committee and Chinese President Xi Jinping on Monday.
— Xinhua

Laos airing TV schooling reruns to encourage distance education
Education experts have consulted on the continued production of a curriculum-based TV programme to encourage distance education in rural areas following a successful airing during the school shutdown.
— The Star

See here for more of today’s Lao morning news

Malaysia morning news

Compiled by Sreypov Men @MenSreypov

5% jobless rate just the beginning, says employers’ federation
Malaysia’s largest employers’ federation has warned that the 5% unemployment rate at the end of April is just the beginning of more job cuts.
— FMT

Covid-19 accelerates Malaysia’s digital agenda, says minister
Covid-19 has not only accelerated the country’s digitalisation agenda but also increased the skills of Malaysians using digital platforms in their day-to-day operations, said Minister in the Prime Minister’s Department (Economic Affairs) Datuk Seri Mustapa Mohamed.
— Malay Mail

High Court rejects request to postpone Najib’s PAC trial over ex-AG Apandi’s affidavit
The High Court here has denied a request by Datuk Seri Najib Razak to postpone his 1Malaysia Development Bhd-linked trial involving allegations of audit report tampering over an affidavit filed by former attorney general Tan Sri Mohamed Apandi Ali, which implicated the case’s lead prosecutor, Datuk Seri Gopal Sri Ram.
— The Star Online

See here for more of today’s Malaysia Morning News

Myanmar morning news

Compiled by Sreypov Men @MenSreypov

Myanmar Extends Bans on Gatherings, Int’l Flights as Imported COVID-19 Cases Rise
The Myanmar government announced on Monday that restrictions on visas, international flights and public gatherings have been extended through June 30.
— Irrawaddy

Myanmar: Lifting of restrictions on importation of alcohol
Myanmar has further eased restrictions on the importation of spirits and liquor, as part of its efforts to improve the safety and quality of alcohol…
— Lexology

Myanmar buoyed by renewed investor interest
The government of Myanmar says foreign investor interest in the country’s garment manufacturing sector remains strong despite the huge financial hit it’s taken throughout the coronavirus pandemic.
— Ecotextile

See here for more of today’s Myanmar morning news

Philippines morning news

Compiled by Stella-maris Ewudolu @stmarisewudolu

Wilfredo Keng says Ressa refused to get his ‘side of story’
Businessman Wilfredo Keng on Monday said he had asked Rappler executive editor and chief executive officer Maria Ressa to correct false public accusations against him or to publish his side, but to no avail.
— Philippine News Agency

Duterte extends GCQ over Metro Manila, other areas until June 30
President Rodrigo Duterte has opted to extend the general community quarantine (GCQ) over Metro Manila and several other areas because of the continued increase in confirmed cases of the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19).
— Inquirer.net

Infrastructure growth to take a hit from budget cuts, lower spending — Fitch unit
Infrastructure growth is expected to take a hit from deep budget cuts and fund reallocations meant to beef up the government’s war chest against the coronavirus outbreak, a Fitch unit said Monday, adding that such a development would not bode well for the state’s economic recovery plan.
— Philippine Star

See here for more of today’s Philippines morning news

Singapore morning news

Compiled by Justhine De Guzman Uy @justhine.aecnews

Singapore GDP forecast to contract by 5.8% in 2020: MAS survey
The Singapore economy is expected to contract by 5.8 per cent this year, according to economists and analysts polled in a survey by the Monetary Authority of Singapore (MAS) released on Monday (Jun 15).
— Channel NewsAsia (very annoying popups)

Singapore records sharpest fall ever in employment, ‘likely to worsen’
Singapore’s workforce shrank by a quarter during the first quarter of the year, the largest fall in recorded history, as unemployment hit a 10-year high.
— Coconuts Singapore

See here for more of today’s Singapore morning news

Thailand morning news

Compiled by John Le Fevre @photo_journ

CAAT to discuss possibility of resuming international flights
The Civil Aviation Authority of Thailand (CAAT) will hold a meeting with international airlines on Tuesday to discuss preparations for the partial resumption of international services.
— Thai PBS News

75,000 Baht ‘Travel Allowance’ for Thai Airways Execs Slammed
Netizens and politicians were shocked to learn that executives of a national airline struggling with bankruptcy are entitled to a massive travel allowance money.
— Khaosod English

Business trips first, tourist flights later
The Civil Aviation Authority of Thailand will begin talks on the resumption of international services with airline representatives on Tuesday, director-general Chula Sukmanop said on Monday.
— Bangkok Post

See here for more of today’s Thailand morning news

Vietnam morning news

Compiled by Sreypov Men @MenSreypov

Vietnam works to promote non-cash payment
To realise the Government’s goals regarding non-cash payments, since 2019, the State Bank of Vietnam (SBV) has nominated June 16 as “Non-cash Day”.
— NDO

Solar Rules Weaken Vietnam’s Love-Hate Relationship to Coal
Near the southern Vietnam beaches filled with kite surfers and mud baths, there sits a hydropower plant called Da Mi.
— VOA

British pilot off antibiotics during COVID-19 treatment in Ho Chi Minh City
A British pilot, Vietnam’s most severe patient of novel coronavirus disease (COVID-19), no longer requires antibiotics while his lung capacity continues to improve during treatment in Ho Chi Minh City.
— Tuoitrenews

See here for more of today’s Vietnam morning news

—

About Asean morning news.

Asean morning news roundup and its individual country morning news roundups are the most comprehensive hand-curated selection of Asean English language news headlines published. Each weekday we scour hundreds of local and international news sites and websites to find the most recent Asean English language news today.

We filter our the dull, the boring, the repetitive, and the click-bait and package all of the Asean daily news that you need to know to start your day into an easy to read, time saving format of Asean news headlines and first paragraphs before 7.30am Bangkok time.

We clearly identify the source of all the Asean news headlines, whether it is behind a paywall, a media release, or whether the news site uses annoying pop-up advertising or auto-play video, in case those things annoy you too. If a website uses particularly invasive pop-up adverts, we’ll tell you.

This enables you to make an informed choice of whether you want to learn more by clicking directly through to the original Asean news article, or keep on reading the remaining Asean daily news headlines.

Click here to get your Asean English language news today by email before 8am Bangkok time daily. Remember to watch out for the confirmation email from us to confirm your subscription. Check your trash folder if you do not see it.

For more immediate updates download the AEC News Today Mobile App from the Apple or Google stores, or follow us on Twitter.

#Independentmedia

Governance, not government; policies not politics.