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☆ How Singapore has become a leading force in tech innovation
▼ + stars: | 2023-07-07 | by ( Sponsor Post | Created Insider Studios With Edb Singapore | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +8 min

Over 13 years ago, AvePoint, a SaaS solutions provider based in New Jersey, recognized the potential of Southeast Asia and found its entry point in Singapore. "While Singapore is a very small country, the country's focus on talent development and productivity results in it leading the forefront of innovation with a strong tech ecosystem for talent and corporate success," he said. In Singapore, ServiceNow was able to access a unique business partnership with Singapore Airlines, the world's most-awarded airline and one of the region's largest customers, developing a system called SQNow, which streamlines and manages IT workflows. "Being successful in Singapore is often a gateway into other markets around Southeast Asia," Nehammer added. Why Singapore's brand continues to thriveSingapore's ascent as a global tech powerhouse is anchored on the pillars of innovation, business networks, and robust tech infrastructure.

Persons: Tianyi Jiang, ServiceNow, it's, Jiang, Nehammer, AvePoint Organizations: ASEAN, Association of Southeast Asian Nations, Singapore government's Smart, Smart, Singapore, Singapore Airlines, NCS, Tech, Monetary Authority of Singapore, MAS, Higher, Insider Studios, Singapore Economic Development Board Locations: Singapore, New Jersey, Southeast Asia, Asia, Rhode

☆ OCBC is looking to Greater China and Southeast Asia for a $2.2 billion boost in revenue
▼ + stars: | 2023-07-04 | by ( Lim Hui Jie | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +1 min

Singapore's Oversea-Chinese Banking Corporation has set its sights on "longer term opportunities" in Greater China and Southeast Asia and expects the strategy to bring an additional revenue of $2.2 billion by 2025, CEO Helen Wong told CNBC on Monday. Southeast Asia's second largest bank announced Monday that it will be unifying its brand across its core markets in Greater China — which includes Hong Kong and Macao — as well as Southeast Asia. "If you look at macro trends, Greater China and ASEAN together is going to continue to contribute more to the world's GDP growth," Wong told CNBC, referring to the 10-nation Association of South East Asian Nations bloc. "If you look at the trade numbers for the last four years, China and ASEAN — they're growing at a CAGR of 13%," she added. As such, while the OCBC has seen slowing economic growth in some countries in the region, Wong said she's confident it will be able to capture growth as it "puts our act together."

Persons: Singapore's Oversea, Helen Wong, Wong Organizations: Chinese Banking Corporation, CNBC, Macao —, Association of South East Asian Nations, ASEAN —, ASEAN Locations: Greater China, Southeast Asia, Asia's, Hong Kong, Macao, China, ASEAN

☆ OCBC looks to ASEAN-China links to achieve additional $2.2 billion in revenue by 2025
▼ + stars: | 2023-07-04 | by ( ) www.cnbc.com time to read: 1 min

Share Share Article via Facebook Share Article via Twitter Share Article via LinkedIn Share Article via EmailOCBC looks to ASEAN-China links to achieve additional $2.2 billion in revenue by 2025CEO Helen Wong expects trade links between ASEAN and the Greater China region — including Hong Kong and Macao — to grow, benefiting OCBC which has a sizable presence in the region.

Persons: Helen Wong Organizations: ASEAN Locations: ASEAN, China, Greater China, Hong Kong, Macao

☆ Singapore's OCBC expects to deliver $2.2 billion in extra revenue by 2025
▼ + stars: | 2023-07-03 | by ( ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +1 min

Singapore's second-biggest lender Oversea-Chinese Banking Corp , or OCBC, said on Monday it expects to deliver an additional revenue of 3 billion Singapore dollars, or $2.22 billion, by 2025, after it posted a record first-quarter profit in May. The bank did not disclose its 2025 total revenue target. Its total revenue in 2022 was SG$11.68 billion. OCBC will invest more than SG$50 million over the next three years to build up its transaction banking capabilities in greater China, it said in its statement. It targets to achieve more than 500 regional mandates for cash management over the next five years, it added.

Persons: Singapore's, OCBC, Helen Wong Organizations: Chinese Banking Corp, ASEAN Locations: China, Southeast Asia

☆ Hydrocarbons will be important part of future ASEAN energy mix
▼ + stars: | 2023-06-26 | by ( Mei Mei Chu | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

[1/4] Logo of Energy Asia conference is seen during the event in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia June 26, 2023. REUTERS/Hasnoor HussainKUALA LUMPUR, June 26 (Reuters) - Hydrocarbons will continue to be an important part of the energy mix in Southeast Asia, Malaysian Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim said on Monday, as affordability and energy security remain key concerns for the region of more than half a billion people. Achieving net-zero emissions targets should not come "at the expense of economic growth or vice versa", Anwar said in opening the inaugural Energy Asia conference, hosted by Malaysia's state oil firm Petronas (PETRA.UL). Anwar said natural gas would play an important role in the energy mix for Malaysia, which is among the world's top five LNG exporters. The event brings together global energy leaders, companies and policymakers to discuss the region's energy transition.

Persons: Anwar Ibrahim, Anwar, IRENA, Kanupriya Kapoor, Kim Coghill, Himani Organizations: Energy Asia, REUTERS, Malaysian, Petronas, Malaysia, Organization of, Petroleum, International Renewable Energy Agency, Saudi Aramco, TotalEnergies, Thomson Locations: Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia, Hussain KUALA LUMPUR, Southeast Asia, Asia, Saudi

☆ Indonesia moves site of ASEAN military drills away from South China Sea
▼ + stars: | 2023-06-22 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

JAKARTA, June 22 (Reuters) - Indonesia has changed where it will host ASEAN's first-ever joint military exercise to a location away from the South China Sea where several countries including China have overlapping territorial claims, its military said on Thursday. The non-combat drills for members of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) were originally set to take place in the southernmost waters of the South China Sea, which are also claimed by Beijing. But the September 18-25 exercise will now be moved out of the strategic waterway altogether to the South Natuna Sea in Indonesian waters, said military spokesperson Julius Widjojono. ASEAN's unity has for years been tested by a rivalry between the United States and China that is being played out in the South China Sea, a conduit for about $3.5 trillion of annual ship-borne trade. China claims sovereignty over the area via an expansive 'nine-dash line' based on its historic maps, which an international arbitration court in 2016 ruled had no legal basis.

Persons: ASEAN's, Julius Widjojono, Stanley Widianto, Kanupriya Kapoor Organizations: Association of Southeast Asian Nations, ASEAN, Beijing, Myanmar's, Thomson Locations: JAKARTA, Indonesia, South China, China, Beijing, Batam, Malacca Strait, United States, Vietnam, Philippines, Brunei, Malaysia, Cambodia, Myanmar

JAKARTA, June 21 (Reuters) - Southeast Asian neighbours of conflict-riven Myanmar must consider imposing measures to hold its military rulers accountable, a United Nations expert said on Wednesday, adding the bloc is "deadlocked" over how to resolve the ongoing crisis. "It is time to consider alternative options to break what has become a deadly stalemate," he said at a press conference in Jakarta. "ASEAN must consider measures to impose accountability on the junta for its grave human rights violations and blatant disregard for implementation of the Five-Point Consensus." In November, an ASEAN leaders' summit issued a warning to Myanmar's junta and concluded a need for "concrete, practical and measurable indicators with a specific timeline." Andrews said the meeting in Thailand "can have the dangerous effect of legitimising the junta and undermining ASEAN unity".

Persons: Thomas Andrews, Andrews, Stanley Widianto, Kanupriya Kapoor, Lincoln Organizations: United, United Nations, Association of Southeast Asian Nations, ASEAN, Thomson Locations: JAKARTA, Myanmar, United Nations, Jakarta, U.S, Indonesia, Thailand

☆ U.S. to slap new sanctions on Myanmar state-owned banks - sources
▼ + stars: | 2023-06-21 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +3 min

The Thai reports, published on Tuesday, said Washington would announce new sanctions on Myanmar Foreign Trade Bank and Myanmar Investment and Commercial Bank as early as Wednesday. A spokesman for Myanmar's military junta said it was not worried about any new sanctions. Zaw Min Tun told the state media channel MWD on Tuesday evening that the country has experienced sanctions before and they will not face losses if there are new sanctions on Myanmar state-owned banks. He said the United States was "just doing this to cause difficulties in economics and politics". One of the Thai media reports, by Bangkok Business News, cited Thai sources as saying the sanctions would impact Thailand and other countries in the region financially because of connections with local banks.

Persons: Washington, Aung, Kyi, Min Tun, Critics, Prayuth Chan, Panu, Poppy McPherson, Kay Johnson, Raju Gopalakrishnan, Simon Cameron, Moore Organizations: United, Myanmar Foreign Trade Bank, Myanmar Investment, Commercial Bank, Reuters, Embassy, Bangkok Business, Thai, Thomson Locations: BANGKOK, United States, U.S, Thailand, States, Myanmar, Bangkok, Pattaya, ASEAN

☆ Maybank's ASEAN presence gives it a 'good foundation' to reap the region's opportunities, says CEO
▼ + stars: | 2023-06-20 | by ( ) www.cnbc.com time to read: 1 min

Share Share Article via Facebook Share Article via Twitter Share Article via LinkedIn Share Article via EmailMaybank's ASEAN presence gives it a 'good foundation' to reap the region's opportunities, says CEOKhairussaleh Ramli, CEO of Maybank, discusses the benefits of the bank's presence in 10 ASEAN countries, and says the region's population is "growing in affluence."

Persons: Khairussaleh Ramli Organizations: ASEAN

☆ Thais host Myanmar junta official for talks; key ASEAN members stay away
▼ + stars: | 2023-06-19 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +4 min

Myanmar's junta-appointed foreign minister, Than Swe, is due to join the talks, two sources with knowledge of the meeting told Reuters. But some ASEAN members have declined to attend and others are only sending junior officials. ASEAN FRUSTRATIONThe military took over in Myanmar in 1962, isolating it for decades until a tentative opening up began in 2011. Malaysia's foreign minister has also declined to attend the Thai talks, saying it remained supportive of the efforts being undertaken by Indonesia. Cambodia on Monday said Foreign Minister Prak Sokhonn, who last year served as an ASEAN special envoy to Myanmar, would be represented by his deputy.

Persons: Aung, Athit, Don Pramudwinai, Don, Retno Marsudi, Suu Kyi, Prak Sokhonn, Panu, Ananda, Kanupriya Kapoor, Kay Johnson, Robert Birsel Organizations: Protesters, Embassy, REUTERS, Monday, Association of Southeast Nations, ASEAN, Myanmar's, Reuters, Thai PBS, Indonesian, Peace, Myanmar, ASEAN Chair, Malaysian, Cambodian, Thomson Locations: Myanmar, Bangkok, Thailand, BANGKOK, ASEAN, Indonesia, Suu, Cambodia, Ananda Teresia, Jakarta, Rozanna, Kuala Lumpur

Only Cambodia has so far officially confirmed it intended to attend the talks. Myanmar's junta spokesman could not be reached for comment on Sunday. Thailand's foreign ministry was tight-lipped about exactly who was attending the two-day gathering in the resort town of Pattaya, for which outgoing Foreign Minister Don Pramudwinai sent invitation letters just four days before its start. Cambodian Foreign Minister Prak Sokhonn was to attend the meeting, his government said in a statement on Friday. Vietnam's government said its foreign minister would not attend "due to a prior engagement".

Persons: Nobel, Aung, Myanmar's, Swe, Don Pramudwinai, Don, Prak Sokhonn, Vivian Balakrishnan, Nantiwat Samart, Suu Kyi's, Panu, Phuong Nguyen, Ananda Teresia, Stefanno Sulaiman, Poppy McPherson, Devjyot, Kay Johnson, William Mallard Organizations: Association of Southeast Asian Nations, ASEAN, Reuters, Cambodian, Nation TV, National Unity Government, Thai, Ananda, Thomson Locations: BANGKOK, Cambodia, Suu, Thailand, Pattaya, Myanmar, Indonesia, Singapore, Thai, ASEAN, Malaysia, Philippines, Bangkok, Hanoi, Kuala Lumpur, Jakarta, Shoon

Senior Southeast Asian officials said the so-called ASEAN Guide on AI Governance and Ethics was taking shape and would try to balance the economic benefits of the technology with its many risks. The other ASEAN countries are Brunei, Cambodia, Indonesia, Laos, Malaysia, Myanmar, the Philippines, Singapore, Thailand and Vietnam. The sources declined to comment further on what the AI guide would look like, given the early stage of the discussions and confidentiality of the ASEAN process. The sources, who included officials in three Southeast Asian countries, declined to be identified as they were not authorised to speak to the media. The island city-state has been at the forefront of AI strategy in the region and is leading the talks to draw up the AI guide, according to three sources.

Persons: Fanny Potkin, Panu, Stephen Coates, William Mallard Organizations: Reuters, Regulators, Association of Southeast Asian Nations, ASEAN, Senior Southeast, ASEAN Digital Ministers, Singapore’s Ministry for Communications, Information, European Union, Media Development Authority, Thomson Locations: SINGAPORE, BANGKOK, ASEAN, Brunei, Cambodia, Indonesia, Laos, Malaysia, Myanmar, Philippines, Singapore, Thailand, Vietnam, United States, Europe, U.S

SINGAPORE/BANGKOK, June 16 (Reuters) - Southeast Asian countries are drawing up governance and ethics guidelines for artificial intelligence (AI) that will impose "guardrails" on the booming technology, five officials with direct knowledge of the matter told Reuters. Senior Southeast Asian officials said the so-called ASEAN Guide on AI Governance and Ethics was taking shape and would try to balance the economic benefits of the technology with its many risks. The other ASEAN countries are Brunei, Cambodia, Indonesia, Laos, Malaysia, Myanmar, the Philippines, Singapore, Thailand and Vietnam. The sources, who included officials in three Southeast Asian countries, declined to be identified as they were not authorised to speak to the media. The island city-state has been at the forefront of AI strategy in the region and is leading the talks to draw up the AI guide, according to three sources.

Two sources with knowledge of Sunday's meeting told Reuters that Myanmar's junta-appointed foreign minister had been invited. Myanmar's military spokesman did not respond to phone calls on Friday night. ASEAN chair Indonesia has declined to attend the proposed meeting, according to three sources. Phil Robertson, deputy Asia director of Human Rights Watch, said the Thai foreign minister had shown "arrogance" by inviting his junta counterpart who other regional neighbours have shunned. Indonesia last month cited progress in its own behind-the-scenes efforts to engage multiple parties in Myanmar's conflict in a bid to advance a peace process agreed by ASEAN leaders and Myanmar's military in April 2021.

Persons: Don Pramudwinai, Nobel, Aung, hasn't, Myanmar's, Prayuth Chan, ocha, Don's, Don, Phil Robertson, Ananda Teresia, Devjyot Ghoshal, Kay Johnson, Stanley Widianto, Martin Petty, Devjyot, Angus MacSwan Organizations: ASEAN, of Southeast Asian Nations, Thailand's Foreign, Reuters, Myanmar's, Foreign Ministry, Human Rights, Party, United Nations, Thomson Locations: Myanmar, Thailand, Indonesia, Thailand BANGKOK, Suu, Jakarta, Asia, Bangkok, Shoon

☆ Philippines says China's Yadea to invest $1 bln in e-motorcycle plant
▼ + stars: | 2023-06-15 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

MANILA, June 15 (Reuters) - China's Yadea Group Holdings (1585.HK), one of the world's biggest electric two-wheeled vehicle makers, plans to invest about $1 billion in an e-motorcycle factory in the Philippines, the country's investment promotions agency chief said on Thursday. Yadea is one of a several electric vehicle (EV) manufacturers looking at the Southeast Asian nation for expansion of their manufacturing sites, Tereso Panga, director-general of government-run Philippine Economic Zone Authority (PEZA), told reporters. The Philippines is also touting its abundance of nickel, copper and cobalt, which are key raw materials for the EV industry. American and British electric vehicle firms are also scouting for battery and e-motorcycle manufacturing sites, Panga said. PEZA targets a 10% increase in investment approvals this year from 140.7 billion pesos ($2.51 billion) in 2022.

Persons: Yadea, Tereso Panga, Panga, Neil Jerome Morales, Martin Petty Organizations: Yadea, Holdings, HK, Economic Zone Authority, ASEAN Automotive Federation, Thomson Locations: MANILA, Philippines, China, Vietnam, Batangas, Manila, Thailand, Indonesia, British

☆ Partnerships with China remain crucial, says ADB governors from Switzerland and Germany
▼ + stars: | 2023-06-15 | by ( ) www.cnbc.com time to read: 1 min

Share Share Article via Facebook Share Article via Twitter Share Article via LinkedIn Share Article via EmailPartnerships with China remain crucial, says ADB governors from Switzerland and GermanyAt the ADB Annual Meeting 2023, CNBC's Chery Kang caught up with ADB governors from Switzerland and Germany on their geopolitical strategy regarding China. Sri Mulyani Indrawati, Indonesia's finance minister, also spoke about the ASEAN+3 Finance Ministers' and Central Bank Governors' Meeting that happened on the sidelines of the ADB event.

Persons: CNBC's Chery Kang, Mulyani Organizations: ADB, ASEAN, Ministers, Central Bank Governors Locations: China, Switzerland, Germany

☆ Ahead of Blinken's Beijing visit, Singapore urges the U.S. and China to stave off conflict
▼ + stars: | 2023-06-12 | by ( Clement Tan | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +2 min

SINGAPORE — Singapore renewed calls for China and the U.S. to cool tensions, warning of "great costs and hardship across the world" if these feuding global powers do not step back from the brink. The comments come as U.S. Secretary of State Anthony Blinken is reportedly preparing to visit Beijing for talks this week. China rejected U.S. defense officials' request for dialogue at a security summit in Singapore two weeks ago. "Unbridled and unchecked competition with no guardrails will generate great costs and hardship, across the world. "It is every country's interest, especially the U.S. and China, to develop a new architecture that enables inclusive and sustainable development."

Persons: State Anthony Blinken, —, Heng Swee Kiat, Heng Organizations: U.S, State, Asia New Vision Locations: Beijing, Singapore, China, U.S, SINGAPORE — Singapore, South Carolina, Asia, Taiwan Strait, South, ASEAN

☆ China can't rely on Southeast Asian exports to offset a U.S. slowdown
▼ + stars: | 2023-06-09 | by ( Evelyn Cheng | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +1 min

Exports to the Association of Southeast Asia Nations have been growing. The 10-member bloc surpassed the European Union during the pandemic to become China's largest trading partner on a regional basis. Data showed that exports to Southeast Asia fell by 16% in May compared to a year ago, dragging down China's overall exports. Exports to the U.S. — China's largest trading partner on a single-country basis — fell by 18% from a year ago in U.S. dollar terms in May. At $42.48 billion, the U.S. exports in May were more than the $41.49 billion China exported to Southeast Asia that month, according to customs data.

Persons: That's, Bruce Pang, Pang Organizations: Association of Southeast Asia Nations, Union, Exports, —, ASEAN Locations: China's, Indonesia, BEIJING, China, Southeast Asia, U.S, Asia, JLL, Brunei, Cambodia, Laos, Malaysia, Myanmar, Philippines, Singapore, Thailand, Vietnam, The U.S

☆ ASEAN to hold first joint military exercise in the South China Sea
▼ + stars: | 2023-06-08 | by ( ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +2 min

The Southeast Asian bloc ASEAN will hold its first-ever joint military exercise in the South China Sea, its chair Indonesia said on Thursday, the latest multilateral security drills at a time of rising tension and uncertainty in the region. The decision was taken at a meeting of military commanders of the 10-member Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) in Indonesia, which will host the exercise in the North Natuna Sea, the southernmost waters of the South China Sea. The purpose, Margono said, was strengthening “ASEAN centrality.”ASEAN’s unity has for years been tested by a rivalry between the United States and China that is being played out in the South China Sea. China claims sovereignty via an expansive “nine-dash line” based on its historic maps, which an international arbitration court in 2016 ruled had no legal basis. The Philippines chided China’s coast guard for “dangerous manoeuvres” and “aggressive tactics” and plans to hold joint patrols with the United States, on top of an inaugural trilateral coast guard exercise they held with Japan this week.

Persons: Admiral Yudo Margono, Margono, Julius Widjojono Organizations: ASEAN, Association of Southeast Asian Nations, Beijing, South China Locations: South China, Indonesia, North, United States, China, ASEAN, Vietnam, Philippines, Brunei, Malaysia, Indonesian, Asia, Southeast Asia, South, Beijing, India, China’s, Japan

☆ Demand from the Asia-Pacific has been 'fantastic,' Malaysia Airlines CEO says
▼ + stars: | 2023-06-05 | by ( ) www.cnbc.com time to read: 1 min

Share Share Article via Facebook Share Article via Twitter Share Article via LinkedIn Share Article via EmailDemand from the Asia-Pacific has been 'fantastic,' Malaysia Airlines CEO saysIzham Ismail, Malaysia Airlines Group CEO, says there's been "extensive demand" from South Asia, Australia and the ASEAN region, thanks to China's reopening.

Persons: Izham Ismail, there's Organizations: Malaysia Airlines, Malaysia Airlines Group, ASEAN Locations: Asia, Pacific, South Asia, Australia

☆ Opinion | Fareed Zakaria on Where Russia’s War in Ukraine Stands — and Much More
▼ + stars: | 2023-06-02 | by ( The Ezra Klein Show | ) www.nytimes.com time to read: +96 min

Obviously, the line is not perfect, but I think that’s a very sensible line. And I don’t think that’s all about absorption capability. But I don’t think it’s fair to say that the Russians have done everything they can. fareed zakaria[LAUGHS] And by the way, I think that’s some key to understanding the alliance is a personal one. I think India, Israel, and Poland — usually, in the 70 percent-plus say they like — have a favorable view of America.

Persons: ezra klein, it’s, Fareed Zakaria, Zakaria, “ Fareed Zakaria, fareed zakaria, Ezra, Putin, They’ve, there’s, fareed zakaria It’s, they’re, It’s, Fidel Castro, Sean Penn, haven’t, you’re, won’t, Biden, They’re, Washington, Winston Churchill, Merkel, wouldn’t, —, Nancy Gibbs, Khomeini, Macron, Ron DeSantis, YouGov, fareed zakaria I’m, that’s, DeSantis, Lindsey Grahams, Mitch McConnell, Xi Jinping, ezra klein Yes, Xi, Gorbachev, Zelensky, Trump, Obama, Bush, United States —, McCarthy’s, I’ve, they’d, doesn’t, didn’t, ezra klein They’re, fareed zakaria They’re, we’ve, Simpson, I’m, Janet Yellen, Colin Powell, unquote, That’s, Jonathan Haidt, We’ve, he’s, fareed zakaria That’s, they’ve, fareed zakaria Well, gee, TikTok, we’re, George Kennan, Mike Gallagher, klein, Nirupama Rao, Bob Kagan, can’t, — fareed zakaria, Lord Mountbatten, Gandhi, Franklin Roosevelt, Ho Chi Minh, fareed zakaria Right, narratively —, Modi, you’ve, China’s —, fareed zakaria Modi, India’s, Advani, Vajpayee, you’d, There’s, India, Joe Biden, fareed zakaria I’ve, Benedict Anderson’s “, Orville Schell, John Delury, Sunil Khilnani, ezra klein Fareed Zakaria Organizations: CNN, The Washington Post, Putin, Starbucks, Russia, Revolutionary Guard, NATO, Ukrainian, Communist, European Union, U.S, Republican Party’s, Republican Party, Republicans, ASEAN, Trump, Defense, United, U.S ., Democrats, Chinese Communist Party, State, Facebook, Google, Soviet Union, Huawei, Twitter, South China Seas, Foreign Affairs, Yale Law, International Criminal, South China, . Security, Trade Organization, Pax Americana, Americana, New York Fed, America, Republican, Fox, Beijing Locations: ezra klein Russia, Ukraine, Russia, America, Europe, China, India, Russian, United States, Relatedly, Japan, Turkey, Holland, South Korea, Singapore, Iran, Venezuela, Central America, Southeast Asia, Washington, Britain, ‘, U.S, United Europe, Germany, Soviet Union, Vietnam, Beijing, Trump, Asia, Iraq, Hainan, Montana, Republic, Soviet, weirdly, South, Taiwan, Pakistan, New Delhi, South Africa, Kuwait, Russia’s, Eden, Saudi Arabia, Indonesia, Kashmir, it’s, Cuba, Pax, American, Mumbai, Shanghai, Israel, Poland, Indian, Nigeria

☆ Asia security summit kicks off amid US-China tensions
▼ + stars: | 2023-06-02 | by ( Joe Brock | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +3 min

The Shangri-La Dialogue, which attracts senior military officers, diplomats, weapons makers and security analysts from around the globe, is taking place June 2-4 in Singapore. Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese will deliver the keynote address on Friday evening, before U.S. Defence Secretary Lloyd Austin and China's new Defence Minister Li Shangfu are expected to trade barbs in speeches over the weekend. Li, who was named China's new defence minister in March, was sanctioned by the U.S. in 2018 over weapons purchases from Russia. The United States is Australia's biggest security ally, and Beijing has criticised a deal announced in March to buy U.S. nuclear-powered submarines. Australia’s defence chief has said that as great power competition in the region persists, his country is focused on deterring conflict and deepening engagement with partners, including Pacific island and South East Asian nations.

Persons: Dr Ng Eng Hen, Lloyd Austin, Anthony Albanese, Li Shangfu, Li, Austin . Li, National Intelligence Avril Haines, Zhu Qichao, Joe Brock, Greg Torode, Kanupriya Kapoor, Xinghui Kok, Chen Lin, Raju Gopalakrishnan, Kirsty Needham, Gerry Doyle Organizations: U.S . Defense, Singapore Ministry of Defence, REUTERS, Singapore . Australian, U.S, Defence, Austin, National Intelligence, China, New Zealand, Albanese Labor, ASEAN, South East, Thomson Locations: Singapore, REUTERS SINGAPORE, United States, China, Taiwan, South China, Washington, Beijing, U.S, Russia, American, ., AUSTRALIA, Australia, Britain, Canada, New, Pacific, South

☆ Southeast Asia's digital economy may be set to hit $1 trillion, but roadblocks remain
▼ + stars: | 2023-06-01 | by ( Sheila Chiang | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +1 min

A woman (R) adjusts the Philippines flag before the 51st Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN)- Republic of Korea Ministerial Meeting in Singapore on August 3, 2018. Southeast Asia's digital economy has plenty of growth potential, backed by strong fundamentals including over 460 million digital consumers, young and tech-savvy populations, as well as rising internet penetration. The digital economy across six countries within the Association of Southeast Asian Nations bloc — known as ASEAN-6 and comprising Indonesia, Malaysia, the Philippines, Singapore, Thailand, and Vietnam — is projected to grow 6% annually. From the urban-rural divide to low digital literacy, the region continues to grapple with challenges that could hold back that growth. "ASEAN's digital economy is expanding, but there is the digital divide," said Anthony Toh, research analyst at S. Rajaratnam School of International Studies, a think-tank within Nanyang Technological University.

Persons: Anthony Toh, Toh Organizations: 51st Association of Southeast Asian Nations, ASEAN, Association of Southeast Asian Nations, Google, Temasek, Bain & Company, Rajaratnam, of International Studies, Nanyang Technological University, & $ Locations: Philippines, Republic, Korea, Singapore, ASEAN, Indonesia, Malaysia, Thailand, Vietnam, Nanyang, Brunei, Myanmar, Laos, Cambodia

People are reflected in an electronic quotation board displaying the 225-issue Nikkei Stock Average (top) as they cross a street in Tokyo on May 17, 2023. (Photo by Kazuhiro NOGI / AFP) (Photo by KAZUHIRO NOGI/AFP via Getty Images)Asia-Pacific markets were mostly higher on Thursday ahead of a final vote on the bill to raise the U.S. debt ceiling after it passed a key procedural hurdle in the House overnight. Private surveys for factory activity data for China, Japan, South Korea as well as several Asean countries will be released later today. In Japan, the Nikkei 225 saw a 0.18% gain after it retreated from the 31,000 mark on Wednesday, with the Topix also up by 0.22%. HSI futures stood at the lowest the index has been since Nov 28, 2022.

Persons: Kazuhiro NOGI, KAZUHIRO NOGI, Australia's Organizations: Nikkei, Getty Images, Asean Locations: Tokyo, AFP, Asia, Pacific, China, Japan, South Korea

☆ US Defense Secretary Austin says China's meeting snub unfortunate
▼ + stars: | 2023-06-01 | by ( Tim Kelly | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +3 min

[1/6] US Secretary of Defense Lloyd Austin reviews the guard of honour at the Japanese Defense Ministry in Tokyo, Japan, 01 June 2023. After Japan, Secretary of Defense Austin will travel to Singapore, India and France. Austin stopped in Tokyo on his way to the annual Shangri-La Dialogue Asian security summit, which starts in Singapore on Friday. At their meeting in Tokyo, Austin and Hamada said they had discussed North Korea's rocket launch on Wednesday, tensions with China and Russia's attack on Ukraine. "North Korea's dangerous and destabilising nuclear and missile programs threaten peace and stability in the region," Austin said.

Persons: Defense Lloyd Austin, Defense Austin, FRANCK ROBICHON, Lloyd Austin, Austin, of National Defence Li Shangfu, Li, Yasukazu Hamada, Hamada, Tim Kelly, Mariko Katsumura, Tom Hogue, Gerry Doyle Organizations: Defense, Japanese Defense Ministry, REUTERS, . Defense, of National Defence, Austin, Japanese Defence, Ukraine, ASEAN, Association of Southeast Asia, Thomson Locations: Tokyo, Japan, Singapore, India, France, REUTERS TOKYO, U.S, Chinese, South China, China, Austin, Ukraine, North Korea, South Korea, Russia, Australia, Korea, United States, Republic of Korea, Association of Southeast Asia Nations

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