These are the top stories making the front pages of major newspapers from across Southeast Asia today.
Get up to speed with what’s happening in the fastest growing region in the world.
Ministry to woo trade war victims
The Industry Ministry is keen to attract foreign direct investment from China, convinced that Thailand is a safe haven amid the growing US-China trade war.
Industry Minister Suriya Jungrungreangkit said Thailand and Southeast Asia stood to benefit from the trade war, as Chinese investors were seeking new locations to avoid the fallout.
"The government will hold investment roadshows in China as part of efforts to attract new investment to the flagship Eastern Economic Corridor [EEC] scheme," he said at the Bangkok Post Forum on Monday, adding that the roadshow would also visit Japan. – Bangkok Post
Sources: Malaysia plans to extend licence for Lynas
Malaysia plans to extend Lynas Corp’s licence to operate a rare earths processing plant, though it could be for a shorter duration than the usual three years, two sources with direct knowledge of the matter said.
The Australian company has been running the plant in Malaysia since 2012 using rare earths mined from Mount Weld in Western Australia, despite a dispute over the removal of low-level radioactive waste produced by the plant. – New Straits Times
‘Hanna’ to intensify to severe storm but won’t make landfall
Tropical Storm “Hanna” might intensify into a severe tropical storm on Tuesday afternoon, but was not expected to bring more rains to the country as it slowly moves west, the Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration (Pagasa) said on Monday.
As of 10 p.m. on Monday, Hanna was spotted 2,525 kilometres east of Aparri, Cagayan province. – Philippine Daily Inquirer
New basic school curriculum ‘a hit with students, parents’
Experts hired by the Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA) to help reform basic education in Myanmar say students in Standards 1, 2, and 3 using the new curriculum are more active and motivated in class.
The findings are based on the results of observation visits and a survey conducted in 200 schools across Myanmar. – Myanmar Times
Outsiders should not try to interfere in South China Sea issue: Cambodian official, experts
Cambodian government spokesman and experts have said that outsiders should not try to interfere in the South China Sea issue, saying that their interference is “harmful, not helpful.”
Government spokesman Phay Siphan said on Monday that the current situation of the South China Sea is stable, but envisages that there can be tensions if there is continued interference from the outsiders. – Khmer Times