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☆ China's imports surprise with growth in October, but exports fall more than expected
▼ + stars: | 2023-11-07 | by ( Evelyn Cheng | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +1 min

BEIJING — China reported a worse-than-expected drop in exports in October, while imports surprisingly rose for the month from a year ago. China's customs agency said exports in U.S. dollar terms fell by 6.4% in October from a year ago. Imports rose by 3% in U.S. dollar terms in October from a year ago. However, China's imports from the U.S. were down by 3.7% in October versus the year ago period, CNBC calculations of customs data showed. China's imports from the European Union rose by more than 5%, while those from the Association of Southeast Asian Nations grew by 10.2%, the analysis showed.

Organizations: Reuters, European, Association of Southeast Asian Nations Locations: Shenzhen, Guangdong province, China, BEIJING — China, U.S

☆ Australia's Albanese retraces historic Beijing walk on visit to mend ties
▼ + stars: | 2023-11-06 | by ( Ryan Woo | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +4 min

Australia's Prime Minister Anthony Albanese speaks during the bilateral meeting with Indonesia's President Joko Widodo on the sidelines of the 43rd Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) Summit in Jakarta, Indonesia, 07 September 2023. Albanese, who arrived on Saturday, was due to meet President Xi Jinping later on Monday, their second face-to-face talks in a year. At the Temple of Heaven, Albanese posed for a photograph at the circular Echo Wall, the same spot where Australia's then prime minister, Gough Whitlam, stood in 1973, a year after the two countries established ties. China and Australia for decades built a relationship on trade, with China becoming Australia's biggest trading partner with its purchases of Australian food and natural resources. 'PROMISING SIGNS'But Albanese took steps to stabilise relations after he became prime minister in May last year and met Xi on the sidelines of a G20 summit in Indonesia in November.

Persons: Anthony Albanese, Joko Widodo, BAGUS, Albanese, Xi Jinping, Australia's, Gough Whitlam, " Albanese, Xi, We've, Ryan Woo, Robert Birsel Organizations: Australia's, 43rd Association of Southeast Asian Nations, ASEAN, Rights, Australian, Beijing's, Twitter, Huawei Technologies, South China, Thomson Locations: Jakarta, Indonesia, Rights BEIJING, China, Beijing, Australia, Australian, Wuhan, Pacific, United States, Britain, South, Japan, South Korea

U.S. President Joe Biden holds an event about American retirement economics in the State Dining Room at the White House in Washington, U.S., October 31, 2023. The White House said it had no updates on Biden's travel plans. “President Biden has led and delivered on the most ambitious climate agenda in history, both at home and abroad. Such a deal would be a feather in the Democratic president's cap ahead of a 2024 presidential election where many liberal and younger voters rank climate change as a top issue. Asked if she would attend COP28, a spokesperson for Harris said "we don't have any travel to announce."

Persons: Joe Biden, Leah Millis, “, Biden, ”, Abdel Fattah al, Jordan's King Abdullah II, Emmanuel Macron, Donald Trump, Kamala Harris, Harris, Trevor Hunnicutt, Jeff Mason, Alexander Cornwell, Valerie Volcovici, Heather Timmons, Stephen Coates Organizations: White, REUTERS, WASHINGTON, United Nations, Conference, Republican, Democratic, Association of Southeast Asian Nations, ASEAN, Thomson Locations: Washington , U.S, ABU DHABI, Dubai, United Arab Emirates, Gaza, Jordan, Paris, U.S, Egypt

☆ Russia's Shoigu accuses West of seeking to expand Ukraine war to Asia-Pacific
▼ + stars: | 2023-10-30 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

BEIJING, Oct 30 (Reuters) - Russian Defence Minister Sergei Shoigu said the West wants to expand the conflict in the Ukraine to the Asia-Pacific region, Russian state media reported, citing comments made at a Beijing defence forum on Monday. Shoigu said NATO countries were promoting an arms race in the region, increasing their military presence and the frequency and scale of military drills there. U.S. forces will use information exchanges with Tokyo and Seoul on missile launches to deter Russia and China, Shoigu said. "We are only seeking to restore parity with the United States, who have not ratified this treaty," Russia's RIA news agency quoted Shoigu as saying. Shoigu said that Moscow was ready for talks on the post-conflict settlement of the Ukraine crisis on further 'co-existence' with the West, but that Western countries needed to stop seeking Russia's strategic defeat.

Persons: Sergei Shoigu, Shoigu, Russia's, Lidia Kelly, Liz Lee, Laurie Chen, Olzhas, Christopher Cushing, Gerry Doyle Organizations: Russian Defence, Xiangshan, NATO, Russia's TASS, Association of Southeast Asian Nations, ASEAN, United Nations Security, Thomson Locations: BEIJING, Ukraine, Asia, Pacific, Beijing, U.S, Tokyo, Seoul, Russia, China, United States, Moscow, Sydney, Almaty

☆ Saudi Arabia, UAE leaders meet as Israel-Hamas war threatens to spill over
▼ + stars: | 2023-10-20 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

Saudi state news agency SPA showed footage of Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman, the kingdom's de facto ruler, receiving UAE President Mohammed bin Zayed Al Nahyan at Riyadh's airport. Public meetings between the crown prince and Sheikh Mohammed have been rare in recent years as the close allies competed for investment and regional influence. Sheikh Mohammed attended a summit between the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) and the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) in Riyadh on Friday, Saudi and UAE state media said. Last year, Prince Mohammed and Sheikh Mohammed met when Prince Mohammed visited Abu Dhabi to offer his condolences on the death of Sheikh Khalifa, the UAE's previous president. Sheikh Mohammed also visited Jeddah last year, and the two leaders met on the sidelines of the G20 summit in November.

Persons: Prince Mohamed bin Salman bin Abdulaziz, Crown Prince, Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan, Prince Mohammed bin Salman, Mohammed bin Zayed Al Nahyan, Sheikh Mohammed, Prince Mohammed, Abu, Sheikh Khalifa, Aziz El Yaakoubi, Kirsten Donovan Organizations: Defence, United Arab Emirates, Gulf Cooperation Council, Association of Southeast Asian Nations, ASEAN, GCC, Thomson Locations: RIYADH, SAUDI ARABIA, Saudi Arabia, Saudi, Israel, East, Riyadh's, Riyadh, UAE, Iran, Gaza, Abu Dhabi, Jeddah

☆ China's Xi tells Vietnam not to forget roots of their friendship
▼ + stars: | 2023-10-20 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

REUTERS/Kham/File Photo Acquire Licensing RightsBEIJING, Oct 20 (Reuters) - Chinese leader Xi Jinping told Vietnam's second-highest ranking official on Friday that both countries must not forget the "original intention" of their traditional friendship. China has traditionally strong ties with Vietnam since diplomatic relations were established in 1950, despite a brief war in 1979. "Faced with the ever-changing international situation and arduous domestic development tasks, the two countries must not forget the original intention of their traditional friendship," Xi told visiting Vietnamese President Vo Van Thuong. "The two sides should adhere to the principle of joint consultation," Xi told Thuong, adding that China and Vietnam should capitalise on their geographical proximity and industrial complementarity. There was no mention of any Xi visit in the Chinese state media readout of their meeting.

Persons: Wang Yi, Pham Binh Minh, Xi Jinping, Vietnam's, Xi, Vo Van, Nguyen Phu Trong, Thuong, Vladimir Putin, Joe Biden, Ryan Woo, Raju Gopalakrishnan Organizations: China's, Government, REUTERS, Rights, Beijing, Communist Party General, Reuters, Thomson Locations: Hanoi, Vietnam, Rights BEIJING, China, United States, Washington, Moscow, Beijing, France, Saigon

☆ China's Xi wants to expand cooperation with Indonesia in several key markets
▼ + stars: | 2023-10-17 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

Chinese President Xi Jinping attends a ceremony to welcome participants of the Belt and Road Forum in Beijing, China, October 17, 2023. Sputnik/Sergei Savostyanov/Pool via REUTERS/File Photo Acquire Licensing RightsBEIJING, Oct 17 (Reuters) - China is willing to expand and strengthen cooperation with Indonesia in emerging industries such as the digital economy, photovoltaics and new energy vehicles, President Xi Jinping said on Tuesday. In October, Widodo inaugurated a $7.3 billion high-speed railway connecting the country's capital with the city of Bandung. Widodo said Indonesia regards China as an important strategic partner in national economic development and construction, and "looks forward to further strengthening communication and cooperation with China," state media reported. Reporting by Ethan Wang and Bernard Orr; editing by Christina Fincher and Chizu NomiyamaOur Standards: The Thomson Reuters Trust Principles.

Persons: Xi Jinping, Sergei Savostyanov, Xi, Joko Widodo, Widodo, Ethan Wang, Bernard Orr, Christina Fincher, Chizu Organizations: Forum, Sputnik, Rights, China Central Television, Initiative, of Southeast Asian Nations, Thomson Locations: Beijing, China, Rights BEIJING, Indonesia, Bandung

☆ Southeast Asia looks to renewable power for energy security
▼ + stars: | 2023-10-17 | by ( Audrey Wan | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +4 min

As energy demand grows, the region is turning to renewable energy to safeguard its energy security. Most, if not all, Southeast Asian markets have taken strides to announce renewable energy targets and formulate their low-carbon energy transition plans, said Thoo. Other planned developments include an integrated renewable energy zone, five centralized large-scale solar parks and three green hydrogen production plants. These projects will leverage Malaysia's estimated 290 gigawatts of technical renewable energy potential to create a more resilient, low-carbon power system, said the ministry. Renewable energy sources such as wind and solar are projected to account for at least 31% of national energy needs by 2030, the government said, according to Reuters.

Persons: EDPR, Bryan van der Beek, Zulfikar Yurnaidi, David Thoo, Zulfikar Organizations: EDPR Sunseap, Energias de Portugal SA, Bloomberg, Getty, Energy, International Energy Agency, ASEAN Center for Energy, BMI Fitch Solutions, Zulfikar Yurnaidi ASEAN Center for Energy, Indonesia Malaysia Malaysia, Ministry, Reuters Locations: Energias, Woodlands, Singapore, Asia, Southeast Asia, Ukraine, Israel, Europe, Malaysia, Indonesia, Vietnam

☆ Southeast Asia haze returns as peatland fires fan global warming fears
▼ + stars: | 2023-10-16 | by ( Clement Tan | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +9 min

watch now"The issue is that currently, most governments haven't really looked at the haze and climate change as a unified issue, yet. Something seasonal, that comes and goes, while climate change is something constant and developing," she added. United Nations Environment ProgramMalaysian officials are undoubtedly haunted by the memory of the 2015 and 2019 transboundary haze episodes. School closures were effected in Indonesia, Malaysia and Singapore — affecting nearly four million students in Malaysia alone. Vicious cycle in the peatlandsThe haze in southern Southeast Asia is emitted mostly from massive peatland fires in Sumatra and Borneo.

Persons: Al Zulkifli, Helena Varkkey, haven't, Siti Nurbaya Bakar, Jusuf Kalla, El Nino, El, Vicious, Varkkey, Sharon Seah, Ulet Ifansasti Organizations: Afp, Getty, El Nino, Universiti, CNBC, ASEAN, Jakarta Globe, United Nations Environment Program Malaysian, World Bank, Kuala, Airport, Nurphoto, ASEAN Specialized Meteorological, Asia, Yusof, Institute, United Nations Environment Program, UNEP, Malaysian, Anadolu Agency, Global, Greenpeace, Oil Locations: Ogan Ilir, South Sumatra, Al, Southeast Asia, Asia, Universiti Malaya, Kuala Lumpur, Peninsular Malaysia, Indonesia, Kalimantan, Malaysia, Indonesian, Jakarta, Brunei, Singapore, Thailand, Philippines, Sumatra, El Nino, Borneo, Palem Raya, Borneo . Forest, Anadolu, Eco

☆ China's exports and imports drop again in September
▼ + stars: | 2023-10-13 | by ( Evelyn Cheng | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +3 min

In U.S.-dollar terms, exports fell by 6.2% last month from a year ago. China's exports have fallen on a year-on-year basis every month this year starting in May. The last positive print for imports on a year-on-year basis was in September last year. For the first three quarters of the year, China's exports to the U.S. fell by 16.4%, while imports dropped by 6% during that time. The volume of China's cosmetics imports fell by 14.2% in the first three quarters compared to a year ago.

Organizations: Future Publishing, Getty, Imports, Reuters, European Union, CNBC, Association of Southeast, Nations, EU, U.S, Monetary Fund, Initiative Locations: Qingdao, Shandong province, BEIJING, China, U.S, Russia, Europe, Southeast Asia

Reuters reviewed a confidential draft of the 10-member Association of Southeast Asian Nations' (ASEAN) "guide to AI ethics and governance," whose content has not previously been reported. In contrast to the EU's AI Act, the ASEAN "AI guide" asks companies to take countries' cultural differences into consideration and doesn’t prescribe unacceptable risk categories, according to the current version reviewed. With almost 700 million people and over a thousand ethnic groups and cultures, Southeast Asian countries have widely divergent rules governing censorship, misinformation, public content and hate speech that would likely affect AI regulation. The ASEAN guide advises companies to put in place an AI risk assessment structure and AI governance training, but leaves specifics to companies and local regulators. EU officials and lawmakers told Reuters that the bloc would continue to hold talks with Southeast Asian states to align over broader principles.

Persons: Stephen Braim, Alexandra van Huffelen, Fanny Potkin, Supantha Mukherjee, Panu, Sam Holmes Organizations: Reuters, Association of Southeast Asian Nations, ASEAN Digital, Companies, IBM, Google, ASEAN, Technology, United States, NIST, U.S . Department of Commerce's National Institute of Standards, Meta, Southeast, EU, European Commission, Thomson Locations: SINGAPORE, STOCKHOLM, Thailand, United, Southeast Asia, Japan, South Korea, Brussels, Singapore, Stockholm, Bangkok

☆ ASEAN nations to prioritise members' rice needs - Malaysia state media
▼ + stars: | 2023-10-07 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +1 min

KUALA LUMPUR, Oct 7 (Reuters) - Southeast Asian countries have agreed to prioritise helping each other overcome rice supply shortages and other food-related problems, Malaysia state news agency Bernama reported, citing the agricultural minister. The Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) reached the agreement at a meeting in Kuala Lumpur this week, Agriculture and Food Security Minister Mohamad Sabu said on Friday, according to the agency. "ASEAN collaboration means if we face rice issues, ASEAN member countries will give priority to ASEAN nations first," he said. Malaysia, which imports about 38% of its rice needs, is among several countries affected by top exporters like India restricting shipments. Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim warned of legal action against anyone found hoarding rice, to prevent consumers from stockpiling local grains.

Persons: Bernama, Mohamad Sabu, Mohamad, Anwar Ibrahim, Danial Azhar, William Mallard Organizations: The Association of Southeast Asian Nations, ASEAN, Food Security, Monday, Thomson Locations: KUALA LUMPUR, Malaysia, Kuala Lumpur, Agriculture, ASEAN, Vietnam, Cambodia, Thailand, India

☆ What's causing the chronic haze across Southeast Asia?
▼ + stars: | 2023-10-06 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +4 min

Despite pleas by Malaysia this week not to "normalise" the haze, Indonesia has flatly denied any responsibility. Global consumption of palm oil, used in a wide range of products such as cookies, candles and as a cooking oil, is growing rapidly. Palm oil is the world's most used edible oil, accounting for 60% of global vegetable oil exports. For Indonesia, the world's biggest palm oil producer, the product is one of the biggest export earners after coal. Export earnings from palm oil and its derivatives stood at $39.28 billion in 2022, according to the Indonesian Palm Oil Association.

Persons: Siti Nurbaya Bakar, Ananda Teresia, Kate Lamb, Bernadette Christina, Naveen Thukral Organizations: of Southeast Asian Nations, Control, ACC, El, Greenpeace, Indonesian Palm Oil Association, Thomson Locations: JAKARTA, Southeast Asia, Indonesian, WHAT'S, Malaysia, Indonesia, Borneo, Singapore, Greenpeace Indonesia

☆ Indonesia defends haze-fighting effort after Malaysia urges action
▼ + stars: | 2023-10-06 | by ( Ananda Teresia | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +3 min

No haze has been detected heading for Malaysia, however, Environment Minister Siti Nurbaya said, a day after it urged Indonesia and fellow Southeast Asian nations to take action against worsening air quality. "We are already working to prevent and extinguish fires, but not based on Malaysia's request," the minister told Reuters. Indonesia is using helicopters to quench the fires with water bombing while inducing rain with cloud seeding methods, Siti Nurbaya said. In 2015 and 2019, such fires burned millions of hectares of land in Indonesia and sent haze billowing across several Southeast Asian countries, generating record-breaking emissions, scientists have said. Southeast Asian agriculture and forestry officials agreed on Friday to take action to minimise, and eventually stamp out, crop burning.

Persons: Antara, Haze, Siti Nurbaya, Nik Nazmi Nik Ahmad, Lax, Rozanna Latiff, Danial, Kanupriya Kapoor, Clarence Fernandez Organizations: ASEAN, Reuters, Malaysian, Association of Southeast Asian Nations, Thomson Locations: Palembang, South Sumatra, Indonesia, ASEAN Indonesia, JAKARTA, cloudseeding, Malaysia, Sumatra, Borneo, Singapore, Malaysian, Danial Azhar, Kuala Lumpur

☆ Explainer: What's causing the chronic haze across Southeast Asia?
▼ + stars: | 2023-10-06 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +4 min

☆ 'Haze cannot be the norm': Malaysia urges Indonesia to take action
▼ + stars: | 2023-10-05 | by ( Danial Azhar | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

KUALA LUMPUR, Oct 5 (Reuters) - Malaysia called on neighbour Indonesia and a grouping of Southeast Asian nations to take action as air quality worsens across the country due to fires in Indonesia, its environment minister told Reuters on Thursday. Air quality has hit unhealthy levels in several parts of Malaysia in recent days, with Kuala Lumpur blaming fires in Indonesia -- though Jakarta has denied detecting any smoke drifting over its borders into Malaysia. Fires that sent haze billowing across the region in 2015 and 2019 burned millions of hectares of land and produced record-breaking emissions, according to scientists. He called for joint action by the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) either through legislation or agreement to prevent the yearly haze. He said Malaysia was still "seriously" considering a law similar to Singapore that holds companies liable for air pollution.

Persons: Nik Nazmi Nik Ahmad, polluters, Danial Azhar, Kanupriya Kapoor Organizations: Association of Southeast Asian Nations, ASEAN, Thomson Locations: KUALA LUMPUR, Malaysia, Indonesia, Kuala Lumpur, Jakarta, Indonesian, Malaysian, Singapore

☆ 'Haze Cannot Be the Norm': Malaysia Urges Indonesia to Take Action
▼ + stars: | 2023-10-05 | by ( Oct. | At A.M. | ) www.usnews.com time to read: +2 min

By Danial AzharKUALA LUMPUR (Reuters) - Malaysia called on neighbour Indonesia and a grouping of Southeast Asian nations to take action as air quality worsens across the country due to fires in Indonesia, its environment minister told Reuters on Thursday. Air quality has hit unhealthy levels in several parts of Malaysia in recent days, with Kuala Lumpur blaming fires in Indonesia -- though Jakarta has denied detecting any smoke drifting over its borders into Malaysia. Fires that sent haze billowing across the region in 2015 and 2019 burned millions of hectares of land and produced record-breaking emissions, according to scientists. He called for joint action by the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) either through legislation or agreement to prevent the yearly haze. He said Malaysia was still "seriously" considering a law similar to Singapore that holds companies liable for air pollution.

Persons: Nik Nazmi Nik Ahmad, polluters, Danial Azhar, Kanupriya Kapoor Organizations: Azhar KUALA LUMPUR, Reuters, Association of Southeast Asian Nations, ASEAN Locations: Azhar KUALA, Malaysia, Indonesia, Kuala Lumpur, Jakarta, Indonesian, Malaysian, Singapore

☆ South China Sea: Philippines says three fishermen killed after boat rammed by 'foreign' vessel near Scarborough Shoal
▼ + stars: | 2023-10-03 | by ( Kathleen Magramo | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +3 min

CNN —Three Filipino fishermen have died after an “unidentified commercial vessel” allegedly rammed their fishing boat near Scarborough Shoal, the Philippine coast guard said Wednesday, compounding tensions in a region of the disputed South China Sea that is already a flashpoint. Philippine President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. said the coast guard is “backtracking and checking all monitored vessels in the area as part of its ongoing investigation,” according to a post on X, formerly known as Twitter. The South China Sea is a 1.3 million-square-mile waterway that is vital to international trade, with an estimated third of global shipping worth trillions of dollars passing through each year. Over the past two decades, China has occupied a number of obscure reefs and atolls far from its shoreline across the South China Sea, building up military installations, including runways and ports. Philippine Coast GuardPhotos released by the Philippine coast guard show the scene at Barangay Cato on October 3.

Persons: FFB Dearyn, –, Ferdinand Marcos Jr, ” Marcos Organizations: CNN, Cato, Philippine Coast Guard, Barangay Cato, Philippine Coast Guard Scarborough Locations: Scarborough Shoal, Philippine, China, Pangasinan, Luzon, Beijing, Infanta, Pangasinan province, Philippines, Bajo, Masinloc, Manila, The Hague, South China

☆ Australia PM rallies support for Indigenous referendum as early voting starts
▼ + stars: | 2023-10-02 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

BAGUS INDAHONO/Pool via REUTERS/File Photo Acquire Licensing RightsSYDNEY, Oct 2 (Reuters) - Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese said on Monday he would focus on having one-on-one conversations with Australians to rally support for the Indigenous referendum, as early voting began in some parts of the country. In a landmark referendum, Australians will decide on Oct. 14 whether to approve altering the constitution to enshrine an Indigenous advisory body called the "Voice to Parliament" that can give advice on matters that affect Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people. The proposal, backed by Albanese's Labor government, has been struggling to get majority support with recent opinion polls showing voters will reject it. In a bid to mobilise support, Albanese said if Australians are focused on what the question is from the referendum amid the distractions, they will vote yes, and there is nothing to fear from this campaign. Early voting on the referendum in New South Wales and Australian Capital Territory will begin on Tuesday.

Persons: Anthony Albanese, Joko Widodo, BAGUS, Albanese, Stella Qiu, Lincoln Organizations: Australia's, 43rd Association of Southeast Asian Nations, ASEAN, Rights, Australian, Torres Strait, Albanese's Labor, Aboriginal, Australian Capital, Thomson Locations: Jakarta, Indonesia, Melbourne, New South Wales, Australian Capital Territory

BAY ISMOYO/Pool via REUTERS/File Photo Acquire Licensing RightsWASHINGTON, Sept 29 (Reuters) - Indian Foreign Minister Subrahmanyam Jaishankar said on Friday there was a "climate of violence" and an "atmosphere of intimidation" against Indian diplomats in Canada, where the presence of Sikh separatist groups has frustrated New Delhi. "Because there is freedom of speech, to make threats and intimidate diplomats, I don't think that's acceptable," Jaishankar told reporters on Friday evening in Washington. Canada is home to an influential Sikh community, and Indian leaders say some fringe groups there remain sympathetic to the cause of an independent Sikh state. The insurgency killed tens of thousands of people and the Khalistan movement is considered a security threat by the Indian government. Indian Prime Minister Indira Gandhi was assassinated in 1984 by two Sikh bodyguards after she allowed the storming of the holiest Sikh temple, aimed at flushing out Sikh separatists.

Persons: Subrahmanyam Jaishankar, Jaishankar, Justin Trudeau, Hardeep Singh Nijjar, Trudeau, Indira Gandhi, Kanishka Singh, Leslie Adler Organizations: India's, Association of Southeast Asian Nations, ASEAN, India, ASEAN Foreign Ministers, Rights, Indian, Washington . Relations, Canadian, Air, Air India Boeing, Thomson Locations: Jakarta, Canada, New Delhi, Washington, India, Punjab, Air India

☆ South China Sea tensions are flaring between the Philippines and China. Here's why it matters for the world
▼ + stars: | 2023-09-29 | by ( Kathleen Magramo | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +10 min

Over the past two decades, China has occupied a number of obscure reefs and atolls far from its shoreline across the South China Sea, building up military installations, including runways and ports. Video Ad Feedback Why it matters who owns the seas (April 2021) 03:48 - Source: CNNWhy does the South China Sea matter? The South China Sea is home to hundreds of largely uninhabited islands and coral atolls and diverse wildlife at risk from climate change and marine pollution. The US is not a claimant to the South China Sea, but says the waters are crucial to its national interest of guaranteeing freedom of the seas worldwide. Marcos has strengthened US relations that had frayed under his predecessor, with the two allies touting potential future joint patrols in the South China Sea.

Persons: It’s, China’s, Defense Lindsey Ford, ”, Stringer, Ferdinand “ Bongbong ” Marcos Jr, Jay Batongbacal, “, Marcos Jr, Rodrigo Duterte, Marcos, Gregory Poling Organizations: Hong Kong CNN —, Navy, CNN, US Energy Information Agency, Communist Party, United, US Navy, Defense, Asia, Washington -, Strategic, International Studies, Ford, Spratly Islands, University of the, Philippine Coast Guard, China’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Transparency, Philippines Mutual Defense Locations: Hong Kong, South China, China, Beijing, Philippines, United States, South, The Philippines, Malaysia, Vietnam, Brunei, Taiwan, The Hague, Manila, Scarborough, Spratly, People’s Republic of China, Washington, Philippine, University of the Philippines, Asia

☆ India told Canada it is open to looking into specific information on Sikh separatist killing -Jaishankar
▼ + stars: | 2023-09-26 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +1 min

India's Foreign Minister Subrahmanyam Jaishankar looks on as he delivers his speech in the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) Post Ministerial Conference with India during the ASEAN Foreign Ministers' meeting in Jakarta, on July 13, 2023, where Myanmar's seat was left empty. BAY ISMOYO/Pool via REUTERS REFILE - QUALITY REPEAT Acquire Licensing RightsWASHINGTON, Sept 26 (Reuters) - India's foreign minister, Subrahmanyam Jaishankar, said on Tuesday that India has told Canada it was open to looking into any specific information it provides on the killing of Sikh separatist Hardeep Singh Nijjar. Speaking at a Council on Foreign Relations event, Jaishankar said India had told Canada, "This is not the government of India's policy," after Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau said last week that Canada was pursuing "credible allegations" that Indian government agents may be linked to the killing. Reporting by Simon Lewis and David Brunnstrom; Editing by Leslie AdlerOur Standards: The Thomson Reuters Trust Principles.

Persons: Subrahmanyam Jaishankar, Hardeep Singh, Jaishankar, Justin Trudeau, Simon Lewis, David Brunnstrom, Leslie Adler Organizations: India's, Association of Southeast Asian Nations, ASEAN, India, ASEAN Foreign Ministers, REUTERS, Rights, Foreign Relations, Canada, Canadian, Thomson Locations: Jakarta, India, Canada

These include power plants built by industrial firms such as nickel smelters for their own consumption. Under JETP, Indonesia is committed to cap and peak power sector's carbon emissions at 290 million metric tons by 2030. How does Indonesia plan to deploy JETP funds? Indonesia also wants JETP to finance the early retirement of some of its coal power plants, however some banks are reluctant to finance these early retirement for fear of being seen as financing coal projects. Indonesia is also considering expanding the green label to loans for coal power plants used by industries that make products considered sustainable, such as batteries for electric vehicles (EV).

Persons: JETP, Quoc Khanh, Tran Hong Ha, Fransiska Nangoy, Khanh Vu, Florence Tan Organizations: Association of Southeast Asian Nations, Natural Resources, Deputy, EV, Marine Spatial, Thomson Locations: JAKARTA, HANOI, Indonesia, South Africa, Vietnam, INDONESIA Indonesia, JETP, VIETNAM

☆ Indonesia's EV ambitions could help boost investments in the rest of Southeast Asia
▼ + stars: | 2023-09-25 | by ( Quek Jie Ann | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +1 min

Korean automobile manufacturer Kia displays the electric vehicle "EV6 GT-Line" during the 30th Gaikindo Indonesia International Auto Show in Tangerang on August 10, 2023. Indonesia's EV-friendly policies have lured global investors to the country, but experts say they could also boost investments in Southeast Asia's automotive industry more broadly. Indonesia could be the "gateway" to the rest of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations, said Anindya Novyan Bakrie, CEO and president director of Bakrie & Brothers, an Indonesian conglomerate whose electric vehicle unit VKTR manufactures electric buses as well as EV parts. The Southeast Asian country is rich in copper, nickel, cobalt and bauxite — materials essential for the manufacturing of electric vehicle batteries. Indonesia is the largest nickel exporter, accounting for 22% of the world's reserves, according to a report by the ASEAN Briefing.

Persons: Anindya Novyan Bakrie, Tesla Organizations: Kia, Indonesia's, Association of Southeast Asian Nations, Bakrie, Brothers, ASEAN, BMI Fitch Solutions, CNBC Locations: Indonesia, Tangerang, Indonesian

☆ China, resource-rich East Timor upgrade bilateral ties
▼ + stars: | 2023-09-23 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +3 min

He said he would continue to foster a relationship with the United States, but added that East Timor would not be implicated in any rivalry between Beijing and Washington. East Timor welcomes strong ties with all countries, including its southern neighbour Australia, Ramos-Horta said last year. Upgrading their ties, China and East Timor agreed to cooperation under the Belt and Road Initiative championed by Xi, that could open the way for investment in infrastructure. China sent its military-run hospital ship to the Pacific in July to visit countries including East Timor and the Solomon islands. In a joint declaration, released on state run China Central Television (CCTV) on Saturday, China said it would provide help for East Timor's economic and societal development.

Persons: Xanana Gusmao, Mast, Xi Jinping, Jose Ramos, Ramos, Horta, Xi, Albee Zhang, Ryan Woo, Simon Cameron, Moore Organizations: Timor's, 43rd Association of Southeast Asian Nations, ASEAN, Rights, East Timor's, Asian Games, East, Washington . East Timor, Initiative, Pacific, China Central Television, Greater, Thomson Locations: Jakarta, Indonesia, Rights BEIJING, China, East Timor, Beijing, Hangzhou, Horta, United States, Timor, Washington . East, Australia, Southeast Asia, New Zealand, Solomon, Greater Sunrise

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