Overuse and misuse of antibiotics in food is rife in Southeast Asia, a Food and Agriculture Organisation (FAO) official said on January 31 (Illustrative photo: VNA) Hanoi (VNA) - Overuse and misuse of antibiotics in food is rife in Southeast Asia, a Food and Agriculture Organisation (FAO) official said on January 31, warning of serious risks for people and animals as bacterial infections become more resistant to treatment. The FAO's Chief Veterinary Officer Juan Lubroth issued the warning on the sidelines of an international meeting in Bangkok, Thailand, which focused on antimicrobial resistance (AMR). He said that threat of AMR was magnified in places, like Asia's megacities, where there was high population growth and intense agriculture development. Southeast Asia is a hotpot because of the population growth, urbanisation and the production of food, Lubroth said. A report published on January 29 by the World Health Organisation said that a global surveillance … [Read more...] about Southeast Asia a ‘hotspot’ for antibiotic abuse: FAO official
Southeast asia
Shivering in the tropics: Southeast Asia faces ‘cooling crisis’
Southeast Asia faces a "cooling crisis" as more and more people crank up inefficient air-conditioning to cope with rising temperatures and worsening air pollution, researchers said. More than 420 managers and experts from government agencies and multinational companies in Indonesia, Malaysia, Singapore, Thailand, the Philippines and Vietnam took part in a survey on cooling systems and energy efficiency, conducted by Eco-Business and released at a Bangkok conference on Monday. Energy demand from members of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) climbed 70 percent from 2000 to 2016, with air-conditioning accounting for a large part of household electricity demand, the report said. The trend is likely to continue as populations grow, cities expand and wealth levels increase. "The domestic aspect of electricity consumption has grown massively - more so than industry and the service sector in ASEAN - and as a result the air-conditioning bill is going through the roof," said … [Read more...] about Shivering in the tropics: Southeast Asia faces ‘cooling crisis’
India plans closer Southeast Asia maritime ties to counter China
India is gathering the leaders of the Association of Southeast Asian Regional Cooperation (ASEAN) for a summit on Thursday to promote maritime security in a region dominated by China, officials and diplomats said. India has been pursuing an "Act East" policy of developing political and economic ties with Southeast Asia, but its efforts have been tentative and far trail China, whose trade with ASEAN was more than six times India's in 2016-17 at $470 million. China has also expanded its presence in South Asia, building ports and power plants in countries around India's periphery, such as Pakistan and Sri Lanka, and spurring New Delhi to seek new allies. Prime Minister Narendra Modi has invited the leaders of all 10 ASEAN nations to join him in the Republic Day celebrations on Friday in the biggest ever gathering of foreign leaders at the parade that showcases military might and cultural diversity. The leaders, who include Myanmar's Aung San Suu Kyi, Indonesian President Joko Widodo … [Read more...] about India plans closer Southeast Asia maritime ties to counter China
HCM city to be developed into major economic centre of Southeast Asia
Deputy Minister Phan Thi My Linh handed over the document of the adjustments to Mr. Tran Vinh Tuyen. (Photo: VGP)The plan aims to develop Ho Chi Minh city into a dynamic and sustainable urban area with an important position in Southeast Asia; a modern economic area and major economic centre of the whole country and the region. It will also be developed into a centre of commerce-finance, scientific research-service, hi-tech and specialized industry, culture, education-training, science-technology and high-quality health care in the region. In her speech, Ms. Phan Thi My Linh, Deputy Minister of Construction, said the adjustments to the plan will meet the requirements of the city in comprehensive and close connection with other provinces and cities, and will foster socio-economic development of the whole region, creating favourable conditions for the city to promote its nuclear role. As planned, the southern hub will cover the whole administrative boundary of its and seven neighbouring … [Read more...] about HCM city to be developed into major economic centre of Southeast Asia
Hanoi, HCMC among cheapest cities in Southeast Asia
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Hanoi was ranked in seventh place and Ho Chi Minh City in ninth place in the Cost of Living Index 2018 conducted by Numero, a global database providing indexes on living standards in major cities around the world. Two on list from Numero on cheapest regional cities to live in. Photo: Bestie.vn The list is based on the cost of restaurants, house rentals, groceries, and local purchasing power, etc., which were compared to those in New York City, which has 100 points. It was conducted on 27 cities in the region. Hanoi has a lower cost of living than Ho Chi Minh City, with 39.89 points compared to 41.28. The cost of house rentals and groceries in Ho Chi Minh City is also higher than in Hanoi, with 18.81 and 42.17 points compared to 14.56 and 40.28 points, respectively. Purchasing power of local people in Ho Chi Minh City is 36.02 points, also much higher than in Hanoi, with 27.09 points. The only index where Hanoi was higher than in Ho Chi Minh City was restaurant costs, at 22.71 … [Read more...] about Hanoi, HCMC among cheapest cities in Southeast Asia
China looks to boost trade ties with South, Southeast Asia
China looks to boosts trade ties with countries in Southeast Asia (Photo: linkedin.com)Beijing (VNA) – A conference seeking ways to promote economic connection betweenChina and countries in South and Southeast Asia kicked off in Beijing, China onJanuary 19.Hosted by the China investment commerce promotion forum, the three-day eventattracted the participation of representatives in charge of trade from theembassies of Vietnam, Nepal, and Bangladesh, and those from over 400 Chineseand foreign businesses.Among issues on the agenda, the focus of attention is expected to be on the ever-movingglobalcapital flow, the industrial revolutionary 4.0, along with the rapiddevelopment of artificial intelligence (AI), Internet of things(IoT) and Big Data, which greatly impact on business activities in manycountries in the regions. The organiser’s representative said the event gives opportunity to China andits partner in South and Southeast Asia countries to review and assess developmentand … [Read more...] about China looks to boost trade ties with South, Southeast Asia
Hanoi, Saigon among Southeast Asia’s cheapest cities
HCM City, the southern metropolis, took the 9th position when Hanoi secured the 7th spot, as shown in the Cost of Living Index 2018 conducted by Numbeo, the world’s largest database of user contributed data about cities and countries worldwide.Valenzuela in the Philippines is the city with lowest cost of living in the region.Aside from the two Vietnamese cities, the rest in the top ten are in the Philippines (PHL) and Indonesia (IDN).Numbeo measures the cost of restaurants, house renting, groceries and the purchasing power to come up with the average index for the cost of living in each country.The top five most expensive cities in Southeast Asia are Singapore, Bangkok of Thailand, Makati of the Philippines, Phuket of Thailand and Johor Bahru of Malaysia.In February last year, Vietnam was ranked as one of the cheapest destinations by Forbes after the magazine interviewed 14 travel experts who made it their business to keep track of the best bargains around the world to … [Read more...] about Hanoi, Saigon among Southeast Asia’s cheapest cities
Analysis: Southeast Asia’s illegal fuel market
An alleged oil heist in Singapore that has already led to 20 arrests, the seizure of at least one tanker and allegations that thieves siphoned thousands of tons of fuel from Shell's biggest refinery is shining a spotlight on an illegal trade worth tens of billions of dollars worldwide. Working routes in a triangle of sea anchored by Thailand, Vietnam and Singapore and encompassing the oil facilities of Malaysia, the smugglers take advantage of a difficult-to-patrol sea and enticing black market prices, experts say. The suspects in the latest case are accused of stealing oil from Royal Dutch Shell's Pulau Bukom refinery, often during business hours, and distributing it around the region. Several of the men charged worked for Shell. Employees of a major Singaporean fuel trading company and a London-listed business that inspects and certifies cargos have also been charged. "Siphoning off fuel is a common thing in Southeast Asia. There is a huge black market for it," said Ben Stewart, … [Read more...] about Analysis: Southeast Asia’s illegal fuel market
JD.com widens Southeast Asia presence by investing in Vietnam’s Tiki.vn
BEIJING -- Chinese online retailer JD.com Inc has made an investment in Vietnamese e-commerce firm Tiki.vn, expanding its Southeast Asia business amid growing competition in the region from Alibaba Group Holding Ltd and Amazon.com Inc. JD.com co-led the financing with Vietnamese entertainment and social media firm VNG Corp, which is an existing investor, China’s second-biggest e-commerce firm behind Alibaba said in a statement on Tuesday. The firm did not disclose the size of the funding but said that JD.com will become one of Tiki’s largest shareholders alongside VNG following the deal. Vietnamese media had reported in November that the round was worth roughly 1 trillion dong ($44.04 million). JD.com declined to give a dollar number for the investment, when contacted by Reuters. “With JD’s expertise in leveraging social media for e-commerce, Tiki.vn’s partnership with VNG in social network and mobile payments is a natural fit,” Winston Cheng, … [Read more...] about JD.com widens Southeast Asia presence by investing in Vietnam’s Tiki.vn
Vietjet improving regional rank with first A321neo in Southeast Asia
The happy news on New YearTan Son Nhat International Airport became more colourful in the first days of 2018 as the red of Vietjet’s fleet gained a richer hue after the landing of the A321neo (new engine option).This A321neo is the first and only aircraft in Southeast Asia which is equipped with Pratt & Whitney’s GTF jet engines. This superior engine was launched in 2016 and Vietjet became the only carrier in Vietnam and Southeast Asia to already put them in use for the benefit of its customers.In general, there is not much difference in the shapes of the A321neo and the A320neo, however, customers will see the difference at the first glance at the interior.Notably, fitted out with 230 comfortable leather seats and high-quality carpeting, the first five rows of Vietjet’s spacious new A321neo have been specially designed to accommodate passengers flying Skyboss, the airline’s premium service.The aircraft’s interior also features a unique … [Read more...] about Vietjet improving regional rank with first A321neo in Southeast Asia