The United States on Tuesday imposed sanctions on four Myanmar military leaders, including the commander-in-chief, in the toughest action taken yet by Washington for alleged human rights abuses against the Rohingya and other minorities.

Vietnam, widely regarded as one of the US-China trade war’s biggest winners, is stepping up efforts to prevent US-bound China-made goods from being transported through its territory to dodge US tariffs.

As a major regional investor and security partner, Tokyo is stepping up

A series of initiatives organized by prominent members of Italy’s elite has developed new links with ASEAN states. The first and best example in this regard is the “Italy-ASEAN Association,” established in 2015 thanks to the initiative of prominent members of the Italian political, academic, diplomatic, and business communities.

ASEAN should have begun to crack and fall apart from the strain of the rising geopolitical rivalries in Asia between the United States and China, if what critics say about its fragility were true. But ASEAN steadily marched through another difficult and challenging year and quietly delivered many positive results that will improve the wellbeing of its 650 million people.

Malaysia has scored a high 0.804 on the United Nations Development Programme’s (UNDP) Human Development Index (HDI) for 2018, placing it in the Very High Human Development category. Malaysia’s ranking rose primarily due to an improved life expectancy and a higher Per Capita Gross National Income.

The European Union imposed five-year tariffs on biodiesel from Indonesia to counter alleged subsidies to producers in the country, a move that could prompt the Indonesian government to retaliate.

Japanese PM Shinzo Abe is flying to New Delhi next week to meet up with Indian PM Modi, with the aim to convince India to take up the Regional Comprehensive Economic Partnership (RCEP). After seven years, the negotiations were completed last November in Bangkok.

The Republic of Singapore Air Force (RSAF) will set up a fighter training detachment in the US territory of Guam under an agreement inked by Singapore and the US, in a sign of deepening defence ties between the two countries.

As the global trade regime threatens to unravel under the Trump administration’s assault on the WTO dispute settlement disciplines and its tearing up the rules in its trade war with China, ASEAN would seem the most unlikely bloc to spring effectively to its defence.

ASEAN continues its impressive growth: according to the latest ASEAN Intregration Report, ASEAN is now the world's fifth largest economy (iif considered as a single entity). Notwithstanding growing uncertainties in the global economy, ASEAN’s overall economic performance remains robust. Thus, the rise of the bloc signals the success of of the regional integration process in South-East Asia.

Thailand’s Education Minister Nataphol Teepsuwan has outlined plans to improve the country’s vocational education sector. These plans have come following expressed fears that Thailand’s education system is not on par with international standards. This is especially important if Thailand hopes to see its ambitious Eastern Economic Corridor (EEC) project become a success. The need for a properly trained and cost-effective workforce is emerging as a key concern for demanding prospective investors.

The government will seek the approval of the Pyidaungsu Hluttaw (Assembly of the Union) to adopt an international treaty that will compel the country to stop the use of child labour. U Thein Swe, minister of Labour, Immigration and Population, told the assembly about the salient points of the Minimum Age Convention of ILO, which includes the abolition of child labour.

La Banca Mondiale e le Filippine hanno firmato un accordo di finanziamento dal valore di 300 milioni di dollari da allocare al programma condizionale di trasferimento di denaro, 4Ps. Con tale programma, il governo filippino spera di ridurre l'incidenza della povertà del paese sotto il 15% entro il 2022.

South Korea and the Philippines have agreed to conclude free trade agreement (FTA) negotiations in the first half of 2020.

Severe to extreme drought is expected to hit the four lower Mekong River Basin countries of Cambodia, Laos, Thailand and Vietnam from now until January, threatening agricultural production.

China’s large-scale investment in Cambodia has won strong support from the Hun Sen government. However, the influx of Chinese people and money has affected the lives of local people and caused dissatisfaction. Sections of Cambodian society are upset about Chinese lifestyle and that they do business with Chinese only.

La Cina si sta muovendo per sviluppare legami economici con la regione del Sud-Est asiatico attraverso la Belt and Road Initiative, cercando allo stesso tempo di consolidare il controllo del Mar Cinese Meridionale.