ASEAN signs AEC blueprint to create single market by 2015

"ASEAN countries have a combined population of 580 million with a gross domestic product of US$1.1 trillion. In 2006, the bloc`s trade with the rest of the world reached US$742,657 million compared to US$383,854 million in 2002. Meanwhile, trade among ASEAN countries rose to...

Asian leaders promote green region, nuclear power

"Leaders from 10 Southeast Asian nations, along with their counterparts from Australia, China, India, Japan, New Zealand and South Korea, are to release the statement when they meet Wednesday for the East Asia summit. In the draft, the leaders pledge to work towards an...

Indonesia expects Myanmar to respect ASEAN charter

"Myanmar and Indonesia alongside other countries in the 10-nation Association of South East Asian Nations (ASEAN) are due to sign the charter on Nov. 20 at a meeting in Singapore.The charter should transform the association into a regional body and give it a legal identity,...

Draft ASEAN Charter ready for signing in S`pore: minister

"The signing of the ASEAN Charter was expected to encourage efforts to turn the Association of Southeast Asian Nations into a more solid regional grouping based on three pillars, namely ASEAN Security Community, ASEAN Economic Community and ASEAN Socio-cultural Community, he...

Asean to issue declaration on greening region by 2020

"ASEAN`s Web site says the leaders will sign a declaration on environmental sustainability to protect and manage the environment. The Web site also says the leaders will declare their support for a successful outcome of negotiations at the annual UN climate conference to be...

Indonesia to ban CFC use in manufacturing process starting July 2008

"Meanwhile, Blaise Horisberger, UNEP (United Nations Environment Program) Network and Policy Manager of the OzonAction, in his remarks at the conference, congratulated Indonesia for its decision to ban the import of CFCs from the beginning of 2008. The UNEP official referred...

UNEP Organizes meeting OF ODS officers in Bali

"Ozone Depleting Substance (ODS) officers from 25 countries are attending a Joint Meeting of the South Asia, Southeast Asia, and the Pacific Network of ODS officers in Sanur, Bali Island, from November 12 to 14, 2007. The regional meeting was organized by the United Nations...

Filipinos top tipplers in Southeast Asia: survey

""We discovered that overall consumption levels of alcohol among affluent Filipinos have risen steadily in the country by four percent since last year," it said. "Rising alcohol consumption levels would both indicate that more affluent Filipinos have higher levels of...

Tennessee town has run out of water

For a while now the California Fires have overshadowed climate problems in other parts of the southern US.  Sadly we'll likely be seeing more news about water shortages if present usage patterns continue."ORME, Tenn. - As twilight falls over this Tennessee town, Mayor...

Indonesia should take leading anti-corruption role: watchdog

""We need more countries to ratify it, and we recommended to the president... that he should take a leadership role in ensuring that there is a strong monitoring of this convention, so that it is not just a piece of paper," Labelle was quoted as saying by AFP. Labelle said...

Indonesia Total unit plans $1.5 bln investment

"Indonesia, Asia Pacific's only OPEC member, has stepped up efforts to lure more foreign investment into the energy sector in a bid to increase the country's dwindling output. "We will develop existing, as well as, new production, fields," Ananda Idris, Total's spokesman, was...