Manila - Economic growth in East Asia will slow down in 2008 and 2009, weighed down by higher-than-expected inflation and a protracted slowdown in the United States, the Asian Development Bank (ADB) said Tuesday.

In the July issue of its Asia Economic Monitor report, the Manila-based ADB said East Asia's economic growth will moderate to 7.6 per cent in 2008, from 9 per cent in 2007.

The same growth rate is forecast for 2009.

The forecast covers China, Hong Kong, South Korea, Taiwan and the members of the Association of South-East Asian Nations (ASEAN) - Brunei, Indonesia, Malaysia, the Philippines, Thailand, Singapore, Vietnam, Laos, Cambodia and Myanmar.

Singapore - Myanmar ratified the Association of South-East Asian Nation's landmark charter Tuesday and vowed to uphold and enhance its democratic ideals.

Myanmar, vilified for its dictatorial government and human rights abuses, became the seventh of the 10-member regional grouping to ratify the document, which was signed by the leaders in November last year.

"Myanmar's ratification of the charter demonstrates our strong commitment to embrace the common values and aspirations of the peoples of ASEAN," Foreign Minister Nyan Win said.

Singapore - Foreign ministers of the Association of South-East Asian Nations (ASEAN) started meeting in Singapore Thursday with the aim of early ratification of a landmark charter giving the organi

Singapore - The sealing off of air vents along the corridors of nine housing blocks has raised the ire of residents who were not consulted and are unhappy about less light and air entering their go

Singapore - The entertainment and media (E&M) market in the Asia-Pacific region is forecast to grow quickly over the next five years particularly in China and India, a published study said Mond

Wellington - A stranded orca whale was given a 43-kilometre trailer ride across Auckland city's roads on Saturday to be returned to the sea because weather conditions were better on the eastern coa