South-east Asia’s children face ‘double burden’ of obesity and undernutrition – UN report (UN News, 28 March 2016)
South-east Asia’s children face ‘double burden’ of obesity and undernutrition – UN report (UN News, 28 March 2016) A joint report released by the United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF), the World Health Organization (WHO) and the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) has shed new light on the nutrition situation of children across the region.…
Read MoreMyanmar: UN chief welcomes election of first civilian President in more than 50 years (UN News, 16 March 2016)
Myanmar: UN chief welcomes election of first civilian President in more than 50 years (UN News, 16 March 2016) Following the historic national polls last 8 November, United Nations Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon congratulated Htin Kyaw, who was elected by the Myanmar Parliament as the first civilian President in more than five decades. “He welcomes this as…
Read MoreUN warns of dark side of greater ASEAN integration (Straits Times, 26 February 2016)
UN warns of dark side of greater ASEAN integration (Straits Times, 26 February 2016) Increasing trade ties in South-east Asia are a boon not only for business but also for crime, though local officials have not quite figured out how to control the latter. The United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC), in a…
Read MoreUN development agenda seeks to reach ‘those farthest behind,’ Ban tells Human Rights Council (UN News 29 February 2016)
UN development agenda seeks to reach ‘those farthest behind,’ Ban tells Human Rights Council (UN News 29 February 2016) At the opening of the 31st session of the United Nations Human Rights Council, senior UN officials emphasized the powerful link between the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development and the right to development, highlighting that people on the…
Read MorePhilippines asks China to respect sea dispute arbitration (Channel News Asia, 27 February 2016)
Philippines asks China to respect sea dispute arbitration (Channel News Asia, 27 February 2016) The Philippines has urged China to respect a forthcoming ruling by an arbitration court in The Hague on a territorial dispute in the South China Sea after Beijing accused Manila of “political provocation”. China claims almost the entire South China Sea,…
Read MoreChina Urges U.S. to Stand down on South China Sea Issue (Xinhua, 29 February 2016)
China Urges U.S. to Stand down on South China Sea Issue (Xinhua, 29 February 2016) China has urged the United States to not position itself as the “international judge” on the South China Sea issue. Hong Lei, a spokesperson of the Foreign Ministry, made the remarks at a daily press briefing after Daniel Kritenbrink, U.S. White…
Read MoreSingapore will work to formulate Code of Conduct in South China Sea: Vivian Balakrishnan (Channel News Asia, 27 February 2016)
Singapore will work to formulate Code of Conduct in South China Sea: Vivian Balakrishnan (Channel News Asia, 27 February 2016) As country coordinator of ASEAN-China relations, Singapore will focus on the formulation of the Code of Conduct in the South China Sea, said Foreign Affairs Minister Dr Vivian Balakrishnan on Saturday (Feb 27). Speaking to…
Read MoreUS wins WTO dispute against India’s solar rules (Reuters, 25 February 2016)
US wins WTO dispute against India’s solar rules (Reuters, 25 February 2016) The United States won a ruling against India at the World Trade Organization on Wednesday after challenging the rules on the origin of solar cells and solar modules used in India’s national solar power program. In a statement, the US Trade Representative’s office…
Read MoreThe Philippines asks WTO to force Thailand to comply on cigarette import ruling (Manila Bulletin, 3 February 2016)
The Philippines asks WTO to force Thailand to comply on cigarette import ruling (Manila Bulletin, 3 February 2016) The Philippines has formally asked the World Trade Organization (WTO) to compel Thailand to act consistently with the multilateral trade body’s ruling favouring the customs valuation of Philippine-made cigarette imports. The move was prompted by a legal…
Read MoreNew UN report finds migrants play critical role in Asia-Pacific development (UN News 29 February 2016)
New UN report finds migrants play critical role in Asia-Pacific development (UN News 29 February 2016) Migrants from countries across Asia and the Pacific play a key role by helping to drive economic growth in their countries of destination while also supporting families in their countries of origin, but the benefits of migration remain under-acknowledged,…
Read MoreBay of Bengal ‘three times more deadly’ than Mediterranean for migrants and refugees (UN News, 23 February 2016)
Bay of Bengal ‘three times more deadly’ than Mediterranean for migrants and refugees (UN News, 23 February 2016) Refugees and migrants crossing the seas of Southeast Asia died at a rate three times higher than those in the Mediterranean last year, a new United Nations report has found, highlighting the urgency of greater life-saving cooperation…
Read MoreASEAN must step up to promote rule of law in region, experts say (Today, 15 January 2016)
ASEAN must step up to promote rule of law in region, experts say (Today, 15 January 2016) With major world powers stepping up their engagement with Southeast Asia, the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) will have to take on a bigger role to create a robust rules-based regional order. “The Barack Obama administration has…
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