ASEAN News

On Tuesday, Swatch Group shares reached their highest point in over two and a half years after the world’s largest watchmaker predicted a rebound in luxury demand from China. The manufacturer of high-end Omega, Tissot, and Longines timepieces as well as its own mass-market plastic watches reported that January sales in China had already surpassed the high levels observed in …

Apple wants India to account for as much as 25% of its output, up from the current range of 5%-7%, the commerce minister said at a conference on January 23 as the iPhone manufacturer continues to shift production away from China. Piyush Goyal stated, “Apple, another success story,” when promoting India as a competitive manufacturing site. “They already produce 5 …

India has prohibited the broadcast of a BBC programme that questioned Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s leadership during the Gujarat riots of 2002. India has also prohibited the distribution of any excerpts via social media. Kanchan Gupta, a government adviser, said on his Twitter account on Saturday, January 21, that directives prohibiting the sharing of the video had been issued using …

China stated that the worst was over in its fight against COVID-19 prior to what is set to be the biggest travel day in years on Friday, January 20, a huge movement of people that has stoked worries of a new outbreak. State media reported late on Thursday, January 18 that Vice Premier Sun Chunlan, who oversees China’s virus response, …

Prime Minister Fumio Kishida announced on January 20 that Japan may explore lowering COVID-19 to a less severe infectious illness and reducing its suggestion that people wear masks in public indoor locations as early as this spring. After meeting with relevant ministers, Kishida told the media that he had asked them to study the particular parameters for reclassifying COVID-19 into …

Chinese drugmakers scrambled to produce anti-fever medications and other COVID-19 therapies on Thursday, January 19, after President Xi Jinping expressed concern over the flow of holiday tourists to rural regions unable to deal with surprise outbreaks. Xi’s remarks came little over a month after his administration unexpectedly scrapped his “zero-COVID” rules, which had mainly protected China’s 1.4 billion people from …

State media claimed that Vietnam’s legislature authorized President Nguyen Xuan Phuc’s resignation on Wednesday, amid a substantial escalation in the Southeast Asian nation’s anti-corruption drive. State media said that acting president will be Vice President Vo Thi Anh Xuan. According to sources, a new president is expected to be elected during the May meeting of the National Assembly. Tuesday, the …

On Monday, January 16, French fashion giant Dior made K-pop sensation Jimin a worldwide brand ambassador, announcing the partnership via social media with photographs of the BTS vocalist wearing Kim Jones-designed outdoor-inspired sportswear. European luxury brands are attempting to capitalize on the global appeal of K-pop singers, particularly among younger consumers. The LVMH-owned label has also built ties with K-pop …

The President of South Korea Yoon Suk Yeol and His Highness Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan, the president of UAE exchanged and announced a number of agreements and Memorandums of Understanding (MoUs) to advance cooperation in a number of disciplines in light of the notable strategic links uniting the two nations. The agreements and MoUs that were announced included …

This week, financiers at the center of a $200 billion sector that supports airline fleets are gathering in Dublin, speculating that China’s decision to allow free travel could hasten their recovery from a pandemic recession while warning of a jet scarcity. Three years after the spread of COVID-19 stopped thousands of airliners, air travel demand is soaring again, encouraged by …