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☆ Why Singapore isn't imposing new travel rules on visitors from China
▼ + stars: | 2023-01-13 | by ( Monica Pitrelli | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +6 min

watch nowBut he said travel volumes between Singapore and China are "very low" — with fewer than 1,000 people arriving from China daily. "As of now, we run 38 weekly flights from China to Singapore, compared to around 400 flights pre-Covid," he said. Current rules are effectiveSo far, more than a dozen countries have announced new rules for visitors from China. In the same month, seven imported cases became severely ill, and only one was from China, he said. 'We do not discriminate'Ong noted that while some countries are imposing a pre-departure test requirement on visitors from China, Singapore will "not discriminate because severe cases can originate from any country."

☆ Asian companies see earnings upgrades by analysts over the past month
▼ + stars: | 2023-01-10 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

Jan 10 (Reuters) - Analysts raised 2023 earnings estimates for Asian companies over the past month, contrasting with the raft of earnings downgrades in the last year, as China's reopening and slowing inflationary pressures boost optimism. MSCI Asia-Pacific's (.MIAP00000PUS) 2023 earnings estimates were raised by 2.5% over the past month, with China's earnings raised by 3.1%, followed by Japan's 2.3%. By sector, analysts lifted consumer discretionary and industrials earnings by over 2% in the past month, while financials and tech companies were increased by 1.2% each. Last year, analysts cut their forward 12-month earnings by 7% as the region's revenues shrank due to China's stricter COVID-restrictions and as higher product prices affected companies' profit margins. Breakdown by sector for estimates changes"In general, valuations of Asian equities look attractive compared with those of developed markets.

☆ Philippines' Marcos picks ex-military chief and COVID tsar as defence minister
▼ + stars: | 2023-01-09 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +1 min

[1/2] President of the Philippines Ferdinand "Bongbong" Marcos Jr. attends a news conference after the European Union (EU) and the Association of South-East Asian Nations (ASEAN) commemorative summit in Brussels, Belgium December 14, 2022. REUTERS/Johanna GeronMANILA, Jan 9 (Reuters) - Philippine President Ferdinand Marcos Jr has chosen a former military chief who led the country's fight against the coronavirus as his new defense minister, his office said on Monday. He replaces Jose Faustino, whose resignation as acting defence chief was announced by the president's office, without providing a reason. Galvez, who served as armed forces chief in 2018, will be responsible for protecting the Philippines maritime territory and its exclusive economic zone, amid tension with China over the prolonged presence in the South China Sea of fishing boats believed to be manned by militia. Reporting by Karen Lema; Editing by Martin PettyOur Standards: The Thomson Reuters Trust Principles.

☆ Myanmar junta hits out at critics while thanking some countries for help
▼ + stars: | 2023-01-04 | by ( ) www.nbcnews.com time to read: +3 min

Myanmar’s junta chief on Wednesday lashed out at countries for intervening in his country’s affairs while thanking others for “positively” cooperating, noting how it was working closely with neighbors such as China, India and Thailand. We will work together for border stability and development,” Min Aung Hlaing said in a televised speech from a national day parade in the capital, Naypyitaw. Suu Kyi is being held in a jail in Naypyitaw in solitary confinement, and the military insists she has received due process in an independent court. The United States, the European Union and countries such as Britain and Canada have imposed sanctions on Myanmar’s military and individuals deemed to have helped the junta come to power. Referring to international pressure, Min Aung Hlaing hit out at what he said were “disruptions from countries and organizations who want to intervene in Myanmar’s internal affairs.”Still, the junta has maintained some international support.

☆ Myanmar junta hits out at critics, thanks neighbours for help
▼ + stars: | 2023-01-04 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +4 min

Jan 4 (Reuters) - Myanmar's junta chief on Wednesday lashed out at countries for intervening in his country's affairs while thanking others for "positively" cooperating, noting how it was working closely with neighbours such as China, India and Thailand. We will work together for border stability and development," Min Aung Hlaing said in a televised speech from a national day parade in the capital Naypyitaw. Suu Kyi is being held in a jail in Naypyitaw in solitary confinement and the military insist she has received due process by an independent court. The United States, the European Union and countries such as Britain and Canada, have imposed sanctions on Myanmar's military and individuals deemed to have helped the junta come to power. Referring to international pressure, Min Aung Hlaing hit out at what he said were "disruptions from countries and organizations who want to intervene in Myanmar's internal affairs."

☆ Stocks advance, U.S. dollar retreats as China drops quarantine rule
▼ + stars: | 2022-12-27 | by ( Xie Yu | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +4 min

China will stop requiring inbound travellers to go into quarantine starting from Jan. 8, the National Health Commission said on Monday. It will also downgrade the seriousness of COVID-19 as it has become less virulent and will gradually evolve into a common respiratory infection. read moreBy Tuesday morning in Hong Kong, MSCI's broadest index of Asia-Pacific shares outside Japan (.MIAPJ0000PUS) was up 0.5%. China's bluechip gained 0.6% and Japan's Nikkei stock index (.N225) rose 0.43%. The dollar moved broadly lower on Tuesday while Australia's and New Zealand's currencies jumped as risk appetite grew after China scrapped its quarantine rule.

☆ Thailand hosts Myanmar junta figures in talks, key ASEAN nations skip
▼ + stars: | 2022-12-22 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +4 min

Foreign ministers of Myanmar, Laos and Cambodia and Vietnam's deputy foreign minister joined the talks hosted by Thailand's foreign minister, according to Thai foreign ministry spokeswoman Kanchana Patarachoke. "The consultation was a non-ASEAN meeting but intended to complement ASEAN’s ongoing collective efforts to find a peaceful political resolution," Kanchana said in a statement. Myanmar Foreign Minister Wunna Maung Lwin attended along with Kan Zaw, minister for investment and foreign economic relations, and Ko Ko Hlaing, minister for international cooperation, Myanmar's foreign ministry said in a statement. The Philippines said its foreign minister would also not join, without elaborating. "Any meeting convened under ASEAN, formal or informal, should not divert from this decision," it said, according to the source.

☆ China's economy looks different than it was going into the pandemic
▼ + stars: | 2022-12-22 | by ( Evelyn Cheng | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +4 min

China's exports started to fall year-on-year in October — for the first time since May 2020, according to Wind Information. Net exports had supported China's GDP growth over the last several years, contributing as much as 1.7 percentage points in 2021, the analysts said. But China's exports to the Association of Southeast Asian Nations have picked up, surpassing those to the U.S. and EU on a monthly basis in November, according to customs data. They expect ASEAN's GDP growth to rebound in 2023, while the U.S. and EU spend part of next year in recession. Jin pointed out that China's car exports, especially of electric cars and related parts, helped support overall exports this year.

☆ Exclusive: U.S. defence companies in talks to sell Vietnam helicopters, drones -sources
▼ + stars: | 2022-12-15 | by ( Francesco Guarascio | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +4 min

A source who was present at the weapons discussions said they involved the Ministry of Public Security and Ministry of National Defence. A second person familiar with the matter said talks on drones and helicopters began before the arms fair and have involved more weapons. The U.S. embassy in Hanoi declined to comment, but Ambassador Marc Knapper has said the U.S. stood ready to discuss any military item Vietnam might want to acquire. Sources and analysts said Vietnam is also considering deals with suppliers from Israel, India, and European and Northeast Asian countries. In the last decade, Israel has been the second-biggest seller of weapons to Vietnam after Russia.

☆ Exclusive: U.S. defence companies in talks to sell Vietnam helicopters, drones
▼ + stars: | 2022-12-15 | by ( Francesco Guarascio | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +4 min

☆ Germany's Scholz says EU firmly on Ukraine's side
▼ + stars: | 2022-12-14 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +1 min

[1/3] German Chancellor Olaf Scholz addresses parliament ahead of the EU-ASEAN commemorative summit, in the plenary hall of the Bundestag in Berlin, Germany December 14, 2022. Budapest earlier this week dropped its objections to an EU loan to Kyiv after the partial unfreezing of financial support for Hungary. The EU had blocked the funds over rule of law concerns. Support for Ukraine, including sanctions against Russia, would be maintained and intensified for as long as President Vladimir Putin kept up his war against Kyiv, Scholz added. "Nobody is suffering as much from Russia's war as the Ukrainians - and we stand firmly by their side," he said.

☆ Southeast Asian markets are in for a 'bungee jump' in 2023, says JPMorgan
▼ + stars: | 2022-12-12 | by ( Lee Ying Shan | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +1 min

JPMorgan analysts expect Southeast Asian markets to experience a "sharp fall followed by a rapid increase in altitude (bear market rally) followed by another decline until eventually markets come to rest at rock-bottom" in 2023. Southeast Asia's markets will move in a way similar to that of a "bungee jump" in 2023, plunging before surging in the second half of the year, according to JPMorgan analysts. They attributed that to weakened purchasing power in light of monetary policy tightening, lower savings and the higher cost of borrowing. The MSCI ASEAN Index fell 22% from February's high to the year's lowest in October. The index subsequently rebounded 10%, buoyed by hopes of China reopening and a pivot from the U.S. Federal Reserve.

☆ Myanmar families plea for help after 7 students sentenced to death
▼ + stars: | 2022-12-06 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

Dec 6 (Reuters) - Relatives of some of the seven Myanmar students sentenced to death by a closed court in the military-ruled country called on Tuesday for global help, as critics slammed the ruling as a new bid by the junta to stamp out dissent. The students, all under 25 years old, were sentenced by a military court for their alleged involvement in a shooting in April that killed a former military officer. They are among more than 130 people put on death row since the military seized power in a coup last year, according to the United Nations. I want to request the world to help us," a sister of one of the students, who asked not to be named, said by telephone. Thein Shwe, the father of another condemned student, was in tears as he called the punishment "unfair".

But she warned the outlook was "exceptionally" uncertain and dominated by risks, such as the fallout from Russia's war in Ukraine, global financial tightening and a slowdown in China's growth. But we need to rebuild and preserve buffers and be prepared to fully use our policy tool-kit," she told the same forum. The fallout from China's slowdown has been particularly painful in Asia, where factory activity slumped across the region in November. At the forum, Bank of Japan Governor Haruhiko Kuroda said he did not see a significant risk of Asia facing a sudden loss of confidence or a renewed financial crisis. "ASEAN policymakers must be vigilant" to risks and offer "clear, sufficient and timely communication to avoid unintended outcomes," he said.

☆ Malaysia's new prime minister Anwar Ibrahim vows to unify the country and fight corruption
▼ + stars: | 2022-11-25 | by ( Su-Lin Tan | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +4 min

watch nowNew prime minister Anwar Ibrahim has pledged to make "Malaysia for all Malaysians," fight corruption and reiterated that he won't be taking a salary as Malaysians battle rising costs of living. International relationsCongratulations poured in from leaders from all over the world including Indonesian President Joko Widodo and Singapore Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong. Malaysia's Anwar Ibrahim takes his first press conference after being appointed prime minister. Perikatan Nasional won 73 seats and was runner-up to Anwar's Pakatan Harapan which won 82 seats. Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim swron in by Malaysia's King Sultan Abdullah Sultan Ahmad Shah on Thursday Mohd Rasfan | Afp | Getty Images

☆ Pentagon chief raises concern about Beijing's 'dangerous' behavior with Chinese counterpart
▼ + stars: | 2022-11-22 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +4 min

REUTERS/Willy Kurniawan/PoolPHNOM PENH, Nov 22 (Reuters) - U.S. Defence Secretary Lloyd Austin on Tuesday emphasized the need to improve crisis communications during a meeting with his Chinese counterpart while raising concern about "increasingly dangerous" behavior by Chinese military aircraft. In June, a Chinese fighter aircraft dangerously intercepted an Australian military surveillance plane in the South China Sea region in May, Australia's defence department said. Tuesday's meeting of the defence ministers took place on the sidelines of an ASEAN gathering in Siem Reap, Cambodia. read moreAfter Pelosi's visit, China announced it was halting dialogue with the United States in a number of areas, including between theater-level military commanders. The United States has no formal diplomatic relations with Taiwan but is bound by law to provide the island with the means to defend itself.

☆ U.S., China defence ministers meet for second time this year
▼ + stars: | 2022-11-22 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +3 min

In June, a Chinese fighter aircraft dangerously intercepted an Australian military surveillance plane in the South China Sea region in May, Australia's defence department said. Tuesday's meeting of the defence ministers took place on the sidelines of an ASEAN gathering in Siem Reap, Cambodia. read moreAfter Pelosi's visit, China announced it was halting dialogue with the United States in a number of areas, including between theater-level military commanders. Pelosi's Taiwan trip infuriated China, which saw it as a U.S. attempt to interfere in its internal affairs. The United States has no formal diplomatic relations with Taiwan but is bound by law to provide the island with the means to defend itself.

More than 22,000 homes were destroyed and over 58,000 people have been displaced, BNPB Major General Suharyanto said on Tuesday. “The majority of those who died were children,” West Java’s governor, Ridwan Kamil, told reporters Monday, adding the death toll was likely to increase further. “So many incidents occurred at several Islamic schools.”Villagers salvage items from damaged houses following a 5.6-magnitude earthquake in Cianjur on November 22, 2022. “We hug each other, strengthen each other, and continue to pray.”Municipality officers in Cianjur evacuate an injured colleague following the earthquake. Workers inspect a school damaged in the earthquake in Cianjur, West Java.

☆ China says open to meeting with U.S. defence secretary
▼ + stars: | 2022-11-20 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

[1/2] China's State Councilor and Defence Minister General Wei Fenghe speaks at a plenary session during the 19th Shangri-La Dialogue in Singapore June 12, 2022. REUTERS/Caroline ChiaBEIJING, Nov 20 (Reuters) - China said on Sunday it is open to a meeting with the U.S. defence secretary on the sidelines of a regional security forum in Cambodia this week, in a sign of thawing relations after the countries' top leaders met earlier this month. China Defence Minister Wei Fenghe and U.S. Secretary of Defense Austin Lloyd previously confirmed separately that they would attend the forum with Southeast Asian countries, the ASEAN Defence Ministers' Meeting-Plus. On Sunday, China's defence ministry issued a statement featuring a question about whether the two would meet, with spokesman Tan Kefei quoted as saying, "China holds a proactive and open attitude for exchange with the United States." A meeting would represent the first high-level military exchange between the countries since China halted regular dialogue between military commanders in August in retaliation for U.S. House Speaker Nancy Pelosi's visit to Taiwan.

☆ With Philippines visit VP Harris seeks to reset relations
▼ + stars: | 2022-11-20 | by ( Trevor Hunnicutt | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +6 min

REBUILDING TIESThe visit by Harris will be the highest-level trip to the Philippines by an administration official and marks a sharp turnaround in relations. With Marcos in office, the Biden administration is attempting a reset. China claims 90% of the South China Sea as its sovereign territory, but is opposed by five Southeast Asian states and Taiwan. Arsenio Andolong, a Philippine defense department spokesman, told Reuters there is no reason for China to fear Harris' visit. A senior Biden administration official offered a different summary.

☆ After ASEAN and G-20, diplomats make last push on Ukraine crisis at APEC
▼ + stars: | 2022-11-18 | by ( Sri Jegarajah | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +1 min

A possible spillover of the war in Ukraine into Europe's eastern flank, which risks sparking a new phase of the conflict, will overshadow the agenda at this week's APEC Summit in Bangkok. Nurphoto | Getty ImagesBANGKOK — A possible spillover of the war in Ukraine into Europe's eastern flank, which risks sparking a new phase of the conflict, will overshadow the agenda at this week's APEC Summit in Bangkok. The latest developments in Europe are likely to eclipse the Asia Pacific Economic Cooperation forum as business leaders, heads of state and diplomats try to find a way out of the conflict in Ukraine. The war has led to a stubbornly high global inflation that's challenged policymakers and caused a crippling cost of living crisis. Thailand has shown exceptional leadership in steering APEC through a challenging time," he said.

☆ JPMorgan says these global travel stocks are poised to pop as China eases Covid restrictions
▼ + stars: | 2022-11-18 | by ( Charmaine Jacob | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +3 min

It added that the uncertain economic outlook hasn't yet eaten into leisure travel spending — with the International Air Transport Association continuing to see strong forward international air travel bookings. The bank's key picks to play the sector are Beijing Capital International Airport and Shanghai Airport. Other airline stocks that are among JPMorgan's picks include Air China and Qantas Airways . Other stocks that could take flight Apart from airport and airline stocks, China's reopening would also benefit hotels, restaurants and leisure sectors , according to a Goldman Sachs note from Nov. 6. These stocks include casino operators Galaxy Entertainment and Sands China , food chain Yum China , as well as Trip.com .

☆ Fact Check-World leaders wear traditional Cambodian clothing for 2022 East Asia Summit gala dinner
▼ + stars: | 2022-11-17 | by ( Reuters Fact Check | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

Social media users are sharing images of world leaders wearing traditional Cambodian clothing for a Nov. 2022 East Asia Summit gala dinner. What other gathering of world leaders has had weird uniforms for them all to wear? False claims that Biden was wearing "Mao clothing" have been addressed by the Associated Press (here). World leaders were not wearing similar shirts to the 2022 East Asia Summit gala dinner as part of a new uniform, nor to imitate former Chinese leader Mao. They were dressed in traditional clothing of the host nation, Cambodia, as often happens at international gatherings.

☆ New Zealand's Ardern set to meet China's President Xi
▼ + stars: | 2022-11-17 | by ( Lucy Craymer | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +1 min

[1/2] New Zealands' Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern addresses the 77th United Nations General Assembly at U.N. headquarters in New York City, New York, U.S., September 23, 2022. REUTERS/Caitlin OchsWELLINGTON, Nov 17 (Reuters) - New Zealand Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern expects to meet Chinese President Xi Jinping on Friday on the sidelines of the meeting of the Asia-Pacific trade group APEC, a New Zealand government spokesperson said on Thursday. It will be their first meeting in person since 2019, although they spoke by telephone in 2021. Ardern flew to Cambodia this week to attend the East Asia Summit of the Association of South East Asian Nations (ASEAN), hold two-way meetings and attend related events. Reporting by Lucy Craymer; Editing by Stephen CoatesOur Standards: The Thomson Reuters Trust Principles.

☆ Kamala Harris, Philippines' Marcos to discuss Taiwan -envoy
▼ + stars: | 2022-11-17 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +1 min

Vice-President Kamala Harris delivers remarks at the Pennsylvania Democratic Party's third annual Independence Dinner in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, U.S., October 28, 2022. Reuters/Tasos KatopodisMANILA, Nov 17 (Reuters) - Tension over Taiwan is expected to be on the agenda when U.S. Vice President Kamala Harris meets Philippine President Ferdinand Marcos Jr next week, Manila's ambassador to Washington said on Thursday. "I'm sure they will touch on the Taiwan situation," Ambassador Jose Manuel Romualdez told Reuters by telephone, adding that the Philippines wants to play a role in peaceful co-existence between the United States and China. It has frequently accused the United States in recent years of encouraging Taiwan independence. If there is a conflict that happens in Taiwan, nobody is going to be spared," Romualdez said.

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