Geopolitics

Malaysia aims to be the third US visa-free ASEAN country

Malaysia expressed its interest to participate in the US Visa Waiver Programme (VWP) when former US president Barack Obama was visiting Malaysia on an official trip in April 2014. In a joint statement released by the White House, President Obama and Malaysia’s Prime Minister Najib Razak "stated their decision to consult on Malaysia’s interest in meeting the statutory requirements for participation in the Visa Waiver Program.

18 August 2017
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Drug 'personalities' die in Philippines' big time show

It's just after midnight and Philippine President Rodrigo Duterte's "One Time Big Time" show is getting into full swing as police shoot dead another young "drug personality".The corpse is hauled out of one of Manila's sprawling shantytowns, where so many people have been killed in Duterte's drug war, and taken to a funeral parlour where other bullet-riddled bodies are lying on bare tables or a bloodied concrete floor.Each of the dead men has a number in

18 August 2017
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Six Vietnamese killed by US war-era bomb

Six Vietnamese villagers, including three children, were killed Friday when a US war-era bomb exploded in a mountainous area along the country's south central coast, state media reported.Early reports said authorities believe the ordnance detonated after villagers discovered it in their farmland in Khanh Hoa province."The initial reason for the blast, which killed six, was that people were cutting open the 105 mm shell", reported VGPNews, the government's online mouthpiece

18 August 2017
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Fitch rates Malaysia 'A-', stable economic outlook

Fitch Ratings affirms Malaysia's Long-Term Foreign- and Local-Currency Issuer Default Ratings (IDRs) at 'A-' with a Stable Outlook. In a statement, Fitch said Malaysia’s ‘A-‘ rating (when compared to the median of its ‘A’ category peers) was driven by the country’s sturdy GDP growth, constant current account surpluses and net external creditor position (driven by large private external assets).

18 August 2017
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Kingsgate surges as Thailand lifts gold mine's suspension

Kingsgate Consolidated Ltd., the Australian producer that shuttered Thailand’s biggest gold mine following a licensing dispute, advanced the most in almost 20 years after the nation’s government said a suspension had been lifted. The miner, which in December closed the Chatree operation about 280 kilometers (174 miles) north of Bangkok, jumped as much as 55 percent, the most since October 1997, and was 36 percent higher at 30 Australian cents at 12:57 p.m. in Sydney trading.

18 August 2017
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Asian Games: Indonesia race against time with pride on the line

On a dusty construction site in central Jakarta, amid sacks of cement and bulldozers, hundreds of high-vis clad workers toil away to bring Indonesia's Asian Games dream to life.Exactly one year out from the opening ceremony of the world's largest multi-sport event after the Olympics, the city's Gelora Bung Karno sports complex, which was built more than half a century ago, is undergoing a drastic renovation.Jakarta and Palembang, on the island of Sumatra, will host around 10,0

18 August 2017
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13 dead in Barcelona van carnage, 'terrorists' killed in another incident

A van driver ploughed into crowds of pedestrians on Barcelona's most popular street in broad daylight on Thursday, killing 13 people in an attack claimed by the Islamic State jihadist group.Police announced the arrest of two suspects, identified as a Spaniard and a Moroccan, but said the driver was still on the run.Hours later in Cambrils, a city 120 kilometres south of Barcelona, police said e they shot dead "four suspected terrorists" and left another injured in a "possi

18 August 2017
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Strong economic outlook for Indonesia in its 72 years of independence 

Indonesia with a population of more than 250 million people is geared to transform its economic fundamentals in light of achieving a sustainable economic growth in the coming years.  The year 2017 opened good for the country driven by strong stability, improved domestic fundamentals and supportive global environment.The Southeast Asia’s biggest economy, which is celebrating its independence today, went through hardships during the 1997/98 economic crisis.

18 August 2017
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Thailand under pressure to cope with massive inflow of tourists

Thailand’s travel and tourism industry grew by 11% in 2016, confirming the country’s strength in a sector that accounts for almost one-fifth of national GDP.With an average growth rate of 6.5%, Thailand will be the world’s 10th fastest growing country for the industry over the next decade, according to the World Travel & Tourism Council (WTTC), which released its data at a Global Summit held in Bangkok last April.Thailand is expected to finish the first quarter of 2017 right on target

17 August 2017
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China's growing its share of Southeast Asia's infrastructure pie

China has Southeast Asia in its sights.Companies from the world’s second biggest economy are increasingly targeting the region for investment, especially into infrastructure. That’s a potential boon for developing economies which need a massive upgrade of roads, rail and ports if they are to meet their economic potential.

17 August 2017
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Indonesia at 72 years is alive and stronger than ever

Built upon diversity and the struggle for independence, Indonesia turns 72 years old today. The democratic nation's sovereignty covers 1,904,569 square kilometres and holds approximately 260million in population. It is the largest archipelago known and recognised by the United Nations. Located between two continents, Indonesia is gifted by a diversity in both environment and cultural aspects. It is home to over 300 cultures and over 700 living languages.

17 August 2017
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