Britain will apply to join a massive 11-nation free-trade bloc of Asia-Pacific countries, it announced Saturday, weeks after leaving the European single market with its departure from the EU. International Trade Secretary Liz Truss will formally request Monday for Britain to join the Comprehensive and Progressive Agreement for Trans-Pacific Partnership (CPTPP), a market representing half […]
The year of 2021 will be critical for the whole world that is struggling to end the COVID-19 pandemic and committed to addressing its long-term impacts. The pandemic has taken a heavy toll on the world economy, disrupted globalization, amplified unilateralism and accelerated a crisis in international cooperation. To tackle those challenges will not be […]
Singapore’s economy suffered its worst ever annual contraction in 2020 as the coronavirus pandemic hammered the city-state’s vital trade and tourism sectors, official data showed Monday. But the 5.8 percent decline was not as bad as feared — official forecasts had predicted a fall of up to 6.5 percent — as economic activity picked up […]
#AsiaPacific #stocks #earnings #growth $DIA $SPY $QQQ $RUTX $VXX “Asia-Pacific’s equity rally augurs a bright earnings outlook for Y 2021, strategists are upbeat across the board”— Paul Ebeling Citigroup Inc., Goldman Sachs Group Inc. and Nomura Holdings Inc. have penciled in earnings growth of more than 20% for Asian shares in Y 2021. Citi and […]
#PresidentTrump #policies #economic #growth #security #liberty #vote #China The President’s primary responsibilities are to protect national security and enable prosperity. His record and Slow Joe Biden’s superficial vision make Donald Trump the better choice. China is more than an economic rival. China’s authoritarian approaches to economics and personal liberty permitted better containment of C-19 coronavirus […]
Here is a list of things I think we should be demanding from our Governments after the Coronavirus. 1 Decriminalize Cash If Governments do have the power to lock us down, imagine what would happen if you are in that situation and your bank collapses, or the Government wants to restrict your financial transaction. This […]
Wednesday, Thailand’s government announced a plan to set up a center to combat unverified news on social media platforms, rejecting concerns that it might be used to suppress free speech. The planned center’s goal would be to fight all kinds of fake news, with a focus on misinformation about disasters and financial matters, Minister of […]
The main group fighting an insurgency in Thailand’s largely Muslim south said it had held its 1st meeting with officials from the new Thai government and had set out demands as a condition for any formal peace talks. The insurgency in the Malay-speaking region of the predominantly Buddhist country has killed some 7,000 people over […]
Thailand’s royalty made an unprecedented move into politics Friday when the sister of King Maha Vajiralongkorn was declared as a Prime Ministerial candidate for the 24 March elections, registration papers showed. The nomination of Princess Ubolratana Rajakanya Sirivadhana Barnavadi, 67 anni, the elder sister of King Maha Vajiralongkorn, promised to upend Thailand’s politics because it […]
China is the last bulwark against a deep crisis in emerging economies going fully global, analysts say, although a prolonged trade war could sap Beijing’s defences. Emerging countries — loosely defined as having fast growing but volatile economies — have seen their currencies battered in recent weeks, plunging their finances into turmoil, and raising fears […]
BRICS Prepare for Trade War Leaders of the BRICS emerging economies — Brazil, Russia, India, China and South Africa — will gather in Johannesburg on Wednesday for a three-day meeting focused on the threat of a US-led global trade war. US President Donald Trump’s hardening stance has compounded fears of an all-out trade war after […]
Travel Warning: Indonesia is Anti-Gay Don’t be fooled in to thinking Bali is some special Buddhist Island, Bali is part of Indonesia and it is an increasingly dangerous place to be Gay. If you are Gay it is probably best to skip Bali, if you do not like a regime that deliberately oppresses Gay people, […]
Thailand Asserts Financial Leadership in Southeast Asia Thailand is forming and leading a new Southeast Asian fund for infrastructure and development projects, Thai Prime Minister Prayuth Chan-ocha told a Summit in Bangkok Saturday to counter reliance on China and the other Asian giants. The fund, which Thailand will jointly manage with 4 countries in the […]
China and the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) will expand cooperation in various fields and forge a closer community with a shared future, said Chinese State Councilor and Foreign Minister Wang Yi on Tuesday. He made the remarks while holding talks with Secretary-General of ASEAN Lim Jock Hoi in Beijing. China and ASEAN would […]
Malaysia and the Trans-Pacific Partnership Malaysia’s newly-elected prime minister called Monday for the Trans-Pacific Partnership to be “renegotiated,” and urged protection for small countries in international trade. Malaysia, along with 10 other countries, pushed ahead with the TPP in March despite Donald Trump having yanked the United States out of the huge multilateral trade deal. […]
AirAsia and Tony Fernandez: Corruption in India and Malaysia In India The CBI alleges that in 2015-16, Air Asia lndia Limited (AAIL) had remitted about $1.8m USD to HNR Trading “for a sham contract on the basis of a bogus agreement on plain papers, which was used for allegedly paying bribe to unknown government servants […]
President Trump’s NKorean Peace Efforts Accelerate President Donald Trump confirmed Tuesday that a top NKorean official is headed to New York for talks on an upcoming Summit between President Trump and NKorean leader Kim Jong Un. President Trump Tweeted that Kim Yong Chol was traveling to New York as part of ongoing meetings between the […]
Malaysian Prime Minister Mahathir Mohamad moved swiftly against predecessor Najib Razak just days after his shock election win, banning him from leaving the country and planning to reopen a probe into a multibillion dollar scandal at a state fund that Najib helped set up. Even as a chastened Najib said he would support a smooth […]
At least 11 people have been killed in three seemingly coordinated suicide bombings that hit churches in the second-largest city of Indonesia, police said. Dozens of people have been injured. “The victims are still being identified,” said East Java police spokesman Frans Barung Mangera. Police say they have also secured a fourth, unexploded bomb at […]
Mahathir Mohamad, 92, a former Malaysian prime minister who led the opposition to achieve a stunning victory in the general election, took the oath of office on Thursday night, becoming the world’s oldest government leader. Mahathir won the election after his coalition Pakatan Harapan secured 113 seats out of the 222 seats at the parliament’s […]
Dr Mahathir 92 the long time leader and now opposition leader said today he feels “very good and confident of winning” Malaysia’s 14th General Election after some five million people followed his final campaign message last night. Mahathir claimed that out of the five million people who followed his speech last night, his online live […]
China and Indonesia Deal Helps ASEAN Ahead of Chinese Premier Li Keqiang’s official visit to Indonesia next week, experts said stable ties between the two major developing economies will also enhance China’s cooperation with the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN). In recent years, China and Indonesia have seen frequent high-level exchanges, enhancing political mutual […]
The Asian Development Bank (ADB) has reiterated its view that the Philippine economy will grow by an even faster clip in the years ahead on the back of rising manufacturing and other investments. Ramesh Subramaniam, ADB Director General for Southeast Asia, said rising labor productivity, as well as investments in manufacturing and technology are building […]
Asian partner countries have vowed to push back against protectionist measures that they warned could derail world economic recovery. “We… recognize the importance of resisting all forms of protectionism,” they said in a joint statement issued at the 21st Asean+3 Finance Ministers’ and Central Bank Governors’ Meeting in Manila. Asean+3 refers to South-east Asia’s 10 […]
Asian nations should pursue an independent foreign policy to achieve their own development goals, without mimicking the West or seeking its blessing, the Filipino leader has suggested to members of the Asian Pacific community. “Asia’s development experience shows us that it is futile to simply mimic the West,” Rodrigo Duterte told delegates at the closing […]
Thai Court Drops Royal Insult Charges Against Academic Wednesday, a Thai Military court dropped royal insult charges against a historian who questioned whether a Thai King had actually defeated a Burmese adversary in combat on elephant-back over 500 years ago. Sulak Sivaraksa, 84 anni, was charged in October under the lese majeste law that protects the […]
President Trump Showcased America as Strong, Proud and Confident President Donald Trump said Wednesday that his 12-day trip to Asia showcased “a strong, proud and confident America” to the World. “Everywhere we went, our foreign hosts greeted the American delegation and myself included with incredible warmth and hospitality and most importantly respect,” President Trump told […]
President Trump Wrapped Up Successful Trip and Heads Home President Donald Trump is heading back to Washington following a lengthy tour of Asia that he declared “tremendously successful.” President Trump says the trip has put the world on notice that the “rules have changed” for countries that want to trade with the US President Trump […]
Presidents Trump and Duterte ‘Candid in their Dealings’ President Donald Trump lauded his “great relationship” with the Philippines President Rodrigo Duterte on Monday, after meeting in Manila. President Trump arrived in the Philippines Sunday for his 1st face-to-face meeting with President Duterte, whose been accused of ordering thousands of extra-judicial killings in his war on […]
Presidents Trump and Putin Meet, “will get to know each other better…” “We seem to have a very good feeling for each other, a good relationship considering we don’t know each other well,” President Trump said on the sidelines of the Asia Summit after a brief meeting with President Putin. Talking after their meeting, President […]
President Trump, “… the US will not be taken advantages of on trade.” Friday, President Donald Trump warned that the US would no longer “turn a blind eye” to trade abuses. “From this day forward we will compete on a fair and equal basis,” President Trump told a gathering of CEOs on the sidelines of […]
No Private Meeting for Presidents Trump and Putin in Vietnam US President Donald Trump will not have a separate meeting with Russian counterpart, Vladimir Putin, at the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) Summit in Vietnam, the White House said Friday. Presidents Trump and Putin are both attending the APEC Summit in the Vietnamese city of Danang. “Regarding a Putin meeting, […]
The US was the ‘1st Victim of Globalization’ Philippine President Rodrigo Duterte says the United States is the 1st victim of “globalization” and that is why President Donald Trump is pushing back with an “America First” stance. President Duterte made the comments at a business conference on the sidelines of a regional summit. He said […]
UN Security Council Pushing Rohingya Muslim #FAKENEWS in Myanmar It is true that in the past month over half a million Rohingya Muslims have fled Myanmar the UN says they are trying to escape an orchestrated campaign of violence described by the UN as “ethnic cleansing.” The reality is Myanmar is responding to a series […]
Yingluck Shinawatra Guilty Gets 5 Years Disgraced former Prime Minister Yingluck Shinawatra was handed a five-year prison sentence today after the country’s highest court found her guilty of negligence in the management of a rice subsidy scheme. Yingluck was due to hear the verdict on Aug. 25, but failed to show up, surprising hundreds of […]
Rohingya Muslims Leave Mass Graves in Myanmar While the #FAKENEWS of the “Rohingya Muslim” crisis the reality is the Rohingya Muslim have been on a murderous rampage in the region. Bodies of 45 Hindus have been discovered in three mass graves in the Myanmar’s conflict-torn northern Rakhine state, the officials said blaming Muslim insurgents for […]
‘America 1st’ Does Not Mean America Alone, but America Leads President Donald Trump’s policy of “America 1st does not mean America alone,” Vice President Mike Pence told the UN Security Council Wednesday as he urged reform to make peacekeeping missions more efficient, effective, accountable and credible. The 15-member council discussed how to improve peacekeeping operations […]
Philippines Drug War Continues It has been reported that twelve people, including a city mayor, were killed earlier today in a shoot-out with police officers during a series of pre-dawn anti-drug raids in the southern Philippines, police and local officials said. Deutsche Presse-Agentur are saying that police officers also arrested the Deputy Mayor of Ozamiz […]
World War 3: US Must Rid North Korea of Nuclear Weapons North Korea is accelerating its drive to acquire a nuclear-armed missile capable of threatening the United States and other nations, and the US regards this as a “clear and present danger,” US Defense Secretary Jim Mattis said Saturday. Speaking at an international security conference […]
ISIS Terrorist Attack in Manila The US State Department has acknowledged the attack and warned citizens to stay away from the vicinity of the mall, including the country’s main Ninoy Aquino Airport, which is responsible for handling over 100,000 passengers daily. Casualties were seen being carried out of Resorts World Manila on stretchers and loaded […]
Duterte a Hero as he Crushes Muslim Terrorists Philippine President Rodrigo Duterte said on Wednesday he would not talk to Muslim rebels who are fighting the military and occupying parts of a southern city, and that he was determined to keep the Islamic State group out of the country. ISIS is no match for Duterte! […]
The military says it has killed at least 61 Maute fighters, bringing the total death toll to over 100 people. The militants seemed significantly weakened by the ongoing military operation and are showing less resistance, but still pose grave danger to locals, Padilla said. “We believe they’re now low on ammunition and food,” he said. […]
Indonesia Becoming the New Afghanistan Indonesia Faces Downgrades as Islamic Extremism Spreads. Government Acceptance of Terrorism and Extremism is a Danger to Regional Nations. Indonesia has an active and violent ISIS community that is continuing to grow it’s influence in the world’s largest Muslim nation. Indonesia is embracing Islamic extremism and that is a danger […]
Bangkok, Bomb Blast at Hospital Wounded 24 People Monday A bomb blast at a hospital in the Thai capital, Bangkok, wounded 24 people Monday, the 3rd Anni of the Y 2014 military coup. There was no claim of responsibility for the blast at the Phramongkutklao Hospital, which is popular with soldiers and their families and […]
Indonesia: Fundamentalism on the Rise in Government After Jakarta elected a fundamentalist mayor that was backed by extremists, the city is now falling under the control of extremism. Last week an Islamic court in Indonesia has sentenced two men to 85 lashes of the cane for having sex together, judges in the conservative province of […]
Islamic Terrorists Strike Thailand At least 56 people were injured when two terrorists bombs exploded in Thailand. The bombs were detonated at the Big C Supercenter in Muang district on Tuesday afternoon. The 1st device hit at 2.10pm and the second shortly after. Another bomb was located at Diana department store in Muang district, Pol […]
Jakarta Moves Toward Fundamentalism as Governor Basuki “Ahok” Tjahaja Purnama Guilty of Blasphemy Jakarta Governor Basuki “Ahok” Tjahaja Purnama has been found guilty of Blasphemy and sentenced to 2 years in prison, a clear indication that Jakarta is leading Indonesia down the dark road to Islamic fundamentalism. The trial has been widely seen as a […]
Bomb Attack in Manila, 2 Dead Two explosions in the Philippine capital on Saturday night killed at least two people and injured four others, police and witnesses said. National Capital Region Police Office Chief Oscar Albayalde told CNN Philippines that investigators have not found any indication of terrorism. An initial blast occurred at about 6:00pm […]
World War 3: The Danger Mounts The US has deployed a fleet in the vicinity of North Korea, and Trump has said that a “major, major conflict” with Kim’s regime is possible. At the same time, the US has been calling for “painful” sanctions against North Korea and asked other countries to suspend diplomatic relations […]
ASEAN Leaders are gathering for the 30th ASEAN Summit and related meetings in Manila this week. President Rodrigo Duterte of the Philippines will play host to fellow Leaders of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) when they gather in Manila on 29 April for the 30th ASEAN Summit. This is the first of two […]
World War 3: North Korea Seeks ASEAN Help North Korea is asking for support from the ASEAN to help prevent what it called a “nuclear holocaust,” at the same time US President Donald Trump has warned of the possibility of a “major conflict” in the Korean Peninsula if diplomacy fails. Donald Trump meanwhile told Reuters […]
The Asian Development Bank’s (ADB) annual operations exceeded the $30 billion mark for the first time in its 50-year history last year as regional demand for development finance and knowledge — particularly on infrastructure — continues to grow, according to the bank’s 2016 Annual Report (AR) released today. ADB’s total lending in 2016, including cofinancing, […]
Developing Asia will need to invest $1.7 trillion per year in infrastructure until 2030 to maintain its growth momentum, tackle poverty, and respond to climate change. This report examines developing Asia’s infrastructure—defined as transport, power, telecommunications, water supply and sanitation. It examines how much the region has been investing in infrastructure and what will likely […]
Trump Turns Focus to ASEAN US President Donald Trump will attend three summits in Asia in November, Vice President Mike Pence said in Jakarta during a visit to the headquarters of Association of Southeast Asian Nations on Thursday. Pence said after meeting the secretary general of Association of Southeast Asian Nations that Trump would attend […]
The foreign ministers of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) members will meet with U.S. Secretary of State Rex Tillerson early next month, an acting spokesman for the Department of Foreign Affairs of the Philippines said Wednesday. Robespierre Bolivar told a news conference that Philippine Foreign Secretary Enrique Manalo will go to the United […]