SINGAPORE: Travelling with Singapore Airlines? On your way, you can now watch some of CNA’s top films and current affairs programs.  , An extensive selection of content produced by CNA is now available on SIA’s in-flight entertainment system, KrisWorld, Mediacorp announced on Friday ( Feb 21 ). The programs willContinue Reading
Tokyo – The chances of Donald Trump becoming more interested in business deals than business wars are rapidly waning. The US leader stated to reporters that a new trade agreement with China was “possible,” but there are still other important signs that Asia will experience.  ,  ,
The 10 % tariffs Trump imposed on China and the 25 % on aluminum and steel were sufficient economic drag. But the 25 % income Trump announced this week on trucks, chips and medicine, to become formalized on April 2, raises the stakes greatly for Asia’s view.
Newsrooms from Tokyo to Seoul to Bangkok are emitted with waves of stress. Managers at Toyota, Honda, Nissan, Hyundai, Kia and different manufacturers are now bracing for the worst-case situation.
In Thailand, known as the” Detroit of Asia” for its car-making skills, lords and government leaders everywhere are bracing for the way Trump 2.0 might destroy auto supply stores.  ,
” Expected tariffs on cars pose a particular danger to Japan and South Korea”, says Dave Chia, an analyst at Moody’s Analytics.
Yoshimasa Hayashi, the head of Japan’s top cabinet, tells Tokyo to “respond appropriately by looking into the ( tariffs ) details when they are revealed and how they impact Japan.”
Hayashi insists that Toyota and various Chinese automakers must compete in the US. ” We have already raised the issue with the US state, given the importance of the car business”, Hayashi says.
But Southeast Asia is exceedingly in harm’s way, also. Newsrooms in Bangkok are unable to tell whether the market is in a good or bad shape, according to Kringkrai Thiennukul, the president of the Federation of Thai Industries.  ,
Kriengkrai says,” we may advantage if automobile companies decide to travel or increase their production facilities in Southeast Asia, including Thailand, which is a big production base,” taking the view that” we may benefit from such a situation.”
But no one really knows how large, or how far, Trump will go with restrictions on exports into the world’s biggest market. There are very few indications that Trump will leave his” Tax Man” bay at home in the first month of Trump 2.0.
True, Trump’s business limits aren’t as harsh as he has threatened. The taxes on China so far are a far cry from 60 % or even 100 %. Though smaller than feared, in some regards, Trump is going more extensive with his income.
Trump’s most recent obsession with “reciprocal” tariffs indicates that basically every economically important one is now looking over its shoulder. Which, of course, may be the place. The math might be to accumulate preemptive concessions all over the world.
But with Trump using taxes first and then asking concerns later, it’s good to know if the optimists who believe it’s just a negotiating technique have mistaken.
According to analysts at Capital Economics,” Trump’s propensity to work first and discuss later makes it still seem probable that taxes may increase prices this year and that the Federal Reserve will be on maintain as a result.”
Chia points out that Asia is currently having trouble regaining some of its economic rise from the previous five years. “Economic parameters vary extensively across the place”, he says. Several economies can match the outstanding performance of the US when comparing GDP to its pre-pandemic path.
Output in the US, Chia information, “is about where it would have been, if hardly a little higher, had pre-pandemic development continued”.
Established Asian economies — including Japan, South Korea, Taiwan, Singapore and Hong Kong— are about 3 % behind as failure in conventional manufacturing surpasses booming it imports.
For Asia, things may get even worse. Trump stated in explaining his plans for a trade war that taxes on semiconductor chips and medicine may begin at” 25 % or higher and will go very significantly higher over the course of a time.”
Trump’s auto-tax danger definitely comes with a keep-rivals-on-their-toes active, the White House has more consciously refused to identify which countries, sectors or parts it will be targeting.
Japan Inc, though, is wasting no time in assessing the collateral damage to come. According to research firm MarkLines in Tokyo, Trump’s tariffs could cost the country’s six major automakers roughly US$ 21 billion, making it even more difficult for those outside the top three to compete globally, such as Mazda and Subaru.
In 2024, imports made up 52 % of Mazda’s sales in the US and 44 % of Subaru’s versus 17 % for Nissan.
The only positive thing that Xi Jinping’s China has to say is that Trump appears to be more interested in criticizing US allies than his geopolitical rivals. After ruining 2025 for Ottawa and Mexico City, Trump is now focused on showing Brussels who’s boss.
For instance, Trump made an appearance to support Russian President Vladimir Putin in the election, even calling Volodymyr Zelensky a “dictator.”
” Despite Zelensky’s and European leaders ‘ best efforts to get on Trump’s good side, the US is no longer a reliable or a good-faith partner”, says Ian Bremmer, CEO at Eurasia Group.
If Vice President JD Vance’s speech at the Munich Security Conference debating European democracy had not made that clear enough, Bremmer writes that” US Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent’s attempt to shake down Zelensky for 50 % of Ukraine’s present and future mineral wealth revenues — not in exchange for future US support but as payment for past military aid disbursed under the Biden administration — should have.”
Bremmer points out that these terms account for a larger portion of the GDP of Ukraine than the reparations imposed on Germany by the Versailles Treaty of 1919.
Especially troubling, Bremmer says, is Trump’s effort to force a wartime election on Ukraine. Bremmer claims that doing this” to further the imperialist agenda” of Putin’s regime “is a stain on the United States and its role in the world” rather than” to advance American interests.”
All of this places the EU’s leaders in Berlin, Paris, and other locations in a very difficult position. Add in Trump’s vague tariff threats.
So far this year, Trump’s widening tariff blasts haven’t stopped European stock markets from rising.
” Markets are pricing in a deterioration in US-EU relations, a risk premium tied to Sunday’s German elections, and the potential for higher insurance costs as European nations seek to finance a sharp increase in defense spending”, says researcher Michael Brown at broker Pepperstone.
Analysts at Goldman Sach write that, if enacted, reciprocal tariffs front-run Trump’s most severe trade-war tools. The only positive aspect may be that, according to Goldman analysts, “it is also possible that a reciprocal tariff policy could incrementally reduce trade policy uncertainty once it is announced.”
Even before Trump’s tariffs, many of Europe’s biggest carmakers were facing intensifying headwinds, says Michael , Dunne, CEO of auto industry advisory ZoZoGo.
” Privately, European automakers tell me they sense real danger – existential danger”.
Last year, Dunne says, Volkswagen delivered 1 million fewer cars in Europe than it did in 2019. ” Sales in China are collapsing”, he says. VW is shutting down its factories in Germany for the first time in recent memory.
Japan is also anticipating the worst. With each passing tariff threat, hopes that Shigeru Ishiba, the country’s prime minister, will “break” with Trump are thwarted.
Initial expectations were placed on Ishiba pulling off the kind of bond Shinzo Abe and Trump 1.0 created. Though it didn’t earn Japan many deliverables, Tokyo believes Abe shielded Japan from the trade war.
Japan is becoming aware that even the most unlikely scenario could have a devastating impact on the economy. In December, before he took office, Trump talked often about how he had contacts with Chinese leader Xi. ” We’ve had communication”, Trump said. He continued,” I had an agreement with President Xi, who I got along with very well.”
The deal concerned illegal drugs like fentanyl that might be coming from China. Ishiba worries that Trump’s true second-term objective is a “grand bargain” trade agreement with China, leaving Japan with no one else to watch from. So do executives at Toyota, Honda and Nissan.
According to Cody Acree, an analyst at Benchmark Co, the tariffs Trump has proposed would increase the average cost of cars and components from Mexico and Canada by$ 5,790.
Given its sheer volume of trade dollars, the complexity of the intertwined supply and manufacturing channel that has been developed over decades, and the sheer number of our companies that participate in support of this key consumer industry, Acree says,” we believe the auto sector is the most exposed to the risks of increased tariffs.”
Japan values the auto industry even more highly. Tokyo has no choice but to batten down the economic hatches and exploit the worst-case scenarios as Trump expands his tariffs plans to an industry crucial to Japan while keeping deflation in the rearview mirror.
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Just 15 years after its founding, the Arakan Army ( AA ) has risen to dominate Rakhine state in western Myanmar, controlling 15 of 17 key townships and over 90 % of the territory, including the entire 271-kilometer border with Bangladesh.
These military developments include the historical record of Ann township’s Western Regional Command office, cementing the AA’s military and administrative supremacy.
The AA’s leadership of key Rakhine state functions, from the judiciary to the public health, underpins its desire for greater autonomy under confederate status, through its Arakan People’s Revolutionary Government ( APRG ).
With Rakhine’s corporate site, natural resources and closeness to China-backed system, the AA’s increase reshapes the country’s political and security dynamics, presenting both opportunities and challenges for dialogue and stability.
The AA has established itself as the de facto governing body in much of Rakhine State in a amazing display of endurance and plan. The APRG has assumed roles formerly held by the central power, including leadership, court, and public providers, underscoring the AA’s charge for legitimacy.
Tensions between the Myanmar military and the AA have gotten worse as a result of their fast territorial expansion. The military coup has used divisions within Myanmar to exploit groups by recruiting members of Rohingya military organizations like the Arakan Rohingya Salvation Army and the Rohingya Solidarity Organization, trying to keep its grip on power.
These actions have exacerbated racial tensions between the Rohingya Muslim minority and the Rohingya Buddhist majority, causing suspicion to worsen and putting a stop to violent cycles.
While the AA has articulated a vision for equality, especially through the APRG’s operational framework, building confidence with disadvantaged communities—including the Rohingya—remains challenging.
The AA’s ability to foster dialogue and exhibit diverse leadership will determine its ability to achieve long-term stability in Rakhine.
Myanmar state is a focal point of China’s Belt and Road Initiative because of its abundance of natural resources and strategic location along the Bay of Bengal.
Important infrastructure projects, such as the Kyaukphyu deep-sea dock and the Shwe oil pipeline, represent Beijing’s economic ambitions and political priorities in the region.
These initiatives not only protected important energy pathways for China, but they also improve its access to the Indian Ocean, giving Myanmar a crucial network in its wider geographical plan.
In light of the ongoing legal fight, Chinese investments in Myanmar are becoming more resilient. Since the start of” Operation 1027“, anti-junta forces have taken control of 23 out of 34 Chinese-funded projects, with vital areas affected including Rakhine, northern Shan state, and the northern plains.
But the Three Brotherhood Alliance and the National Unity Government’s People’s Defense Forces ( PDFs ) have refrained from directly targeting Chinese initiatives.
However, studies suggest that the junta-backed Pyusawhti military allegedly attacked the Taiwanese Consulate in Mandalay in October 2024. This is only the next occurrence in China-Myanmar diplomatic ties ‘ seven decades.
To prevent these investments, China has partnered with Myanmar’s coup to establish a cooperative security firm. The junta is reviewing the logistical ramifications of a draft memorandum of understanding for the joint venture, including importing security and weapons, to make sure the strategy does not violate Myanmar’s sovereignty.
The proposal indicates Beijing’s lack of confidence in the junta’s ability to maintain control and security. The presence of foreign security forces could lead to resistance from local armed organizations, including the AA, who has already a significant influence in the area, which could be exacerbated by this action.
While Chinese investments are vital to Myanmar’s economy, overt alignment with the military junta risks alienating other stakeholders, including ethnic armed groups. Beijing needs to stay in Rakhine while avoiding furthering existing conflicts, so it will be crucial to keep these tensions at bay.
Deep-rooted mistrust and historical rifts characterize the relationship between the Arakan Army and the Rohingya groups. Ethno-nationalism has often marginalized the Rohingya, while human rights violations by the AA have further strained relations.
These tensions present a significant barrier to achieving lasting peace in Rakhine. However, opportunities for reconciliation exist. A potential shift in its approach is reflected in the AA’s recent statements advocating for an open and inclusive Rakhine and political dialogue.
Building trust will require concrete actions, such as addressing human rights allegations, ensuring the Rohingya have fair representation in government positions, and encouraging mutual respect.
In Cox’s Bazar, refugee camps have become recruitment grounds for armed groups, further complicating the conflict landscape. Taus of Rohingya have been drafted into the military junta as a result of reports of forced recruitment and citizenship promises.
These dynamics underscore the need for coordinated interventions to combat armed group abuse and promote peace and security. While the AA has indicated a willingness to include the Rohingya in its vision of an autonomous Rakhine, serious action will be required to move beyond rhetoric.
Greater integration of Rohingya communities into government structures and a focus on equitable development could lay the groundwork for trust and coexistence. International actors are crucial in bridging this gap. Facilitated discussions between the AA, Rohingya leaders, and other parties might provide a framework for cooperation.
These efforts must be supported by transparency and accountability to ensure they produce meaningful outcomes. A unified governance system that includes diverse viewpoints could provide the foundation for Rakhine’s long-term stability.
As Rakhine’s immediate neighbors, India and Bangladesh have a critical role to play in shaping the region’s future. India’s strategic initiatives, such as the Kaladan Multi-Modal Transit Transport Project, aim to enhance connectivity between its northeastern states and Southeast Asia.
However, the AA’s territorial control poses both challenges and opportunities for New Delhi. Having direct ties to the AA might help India secure its infrastructure projects and promote regional trade.
Pragmatic cooperation would increase India’s influence in Rakhine as well as safeguard its investments. Additionally, India’s engagement could serve as a counterbalance to China’s growing presence in the region.
For Bangladesh, the ongoing Rohingya crisis remains a pressing concern. Over a million refugees have been displaced, which has increased domestic tensions and stretched Dhaka’s resources.
Bangladesh could explore new avenues for cooperation, such as establishing humanitarian corridors and addressing cross-border security issues, by adopting a more flexible approach to the AA. The AA’s dialogue could also help to facilitate the voluntary and honorable repatriation of Rohingya refugees.
Both Bangladesh and India should acknowledge that the AA is de facto a major player in Rakhine and work with it as a key player. Such a strategy could promote regional interests that are mutually beneficial.
The path to sustainable peace and stability in Rakhine requires a multifaceted strategy that prioritizes governance, regional collaboration, and humanitarian relief. Key steps include:
Rakhine’s challenges are immense but not insurmountable. Through inclusive governance, strategic cooperation and sustained international support, the region can transition from conflict to stability.
Rakhine has the potential to serve as a model of resilience and progress in a troubled environment by addressing historical grievances and encouraging collaboration.
Aung Thura Ko Ko ( aung@pacforum .org )  , is a research fellow at the Pacific Forum and holds a Master of Public Policy from the University of Oxford. With the author’s kind permission, this article first appeared on Pacific Forum.
JAKARTA: Indonesia’s planned expansion of” captive” coal plants used to power industry is threatening its pledge to cut CO2 emissions by 2030 and close all coal-fired plants by a decade later, said a report published on Thursday ( Feb 20 ). Coal-dependent Indonesia, Southeast Asia’s largest economy, is one ofContinue Reading
People from a number of nations are awaiting assistance from embassy personnel in Tak defense camps.
PUBLISHED: 19 Feb 2025 at 21: 37
Four African people inside a Thai military camp on Wednesday displayed the wounds and scars on their body, which they claimed were the result of abuse in one of Myanmar’s most notorious scam materials.
” I got a lot of consequences”, said 19-year-old Yotor, who gave just one name and had reduces along his foot. ” Every day, I get electronic upsets.”
As a global assault on fraud centers along the border between the two nations progresses, Yotor and his countrymen are among the 260 people who were sent from Myanmar to Thailand last week, the majority of whom were victims of human trafficking.
Criminal groups have been trafficking hundreds of thousands of people into shady locations across Southeast Asia for centuries, including along the Thai-Myanmar border, where patients have been forced to work in illegitimate online businesses, according to the UN.
However, last month, Thai government launched their first major crackdown following the violence of Chinese artist Wang Xing, who had been lured to Thailand by the promise of a profitable acting position.
Wang after found near the Myanmar city of Myawaddy, where he afterward went back to his home. However, the Thai government took notice of the resultant attention in China, which frightened Thai travelers.
Thailand this month cut power, energy and online products to three borders areas, a technique that China has asked it to continue. A senior security standard has been sent to Thailand to handle the relocation of both criminals and victims.
Yotor, who was taken to Myanmar after being saved from the Myawaddy region and is now residing in a military station, claimed to have been drawn to Thailand for work. ” They lied”, he said.
Around 7, 000 individuals who were saved from fraudulent buildings in Myanmar are awaiting transfer to Thailand, according to Myanmar’s prime minister on Wednesday.
Around 600 Foreign citizens will be flown home on three flights from the airport at Mae Sot once they cross the border, according to Thai Defense Minister Phumtham Wechayachai, starting on Thursday.
Some of the people who were rescued from the con artists claimed they were forced to work almost 20 hours a day to mislead people using WhatsApp and other instant messaging services.
” When a customer says ‘ I love you’, therefore we start washing his mind how to get money”, said Faysal, 21, from Bangladesh.
But when con staff were unable to meet target, he said, they were beaten.
” We are never cybercriminals”, said Faysal. ” We are subjects”.
As they wait for their embassies to pick them up at the 310th Military District ( Fort Wachiraprakan ) in Tak province on February 19, victims of scam centers who were trafficked into working in Myanmar and returned to Thailand on February 12 amid a growing crackdown on the lawless border region queue for food. ( Photo: Reuters )  ,
SINGAPORE: Advancements in nuclear technology, specifically modular reactors, have made nuclear power a more appropriate opportunity for land-scarce Singapore compared to a decade ago.
However, spectators told CNA that in order to harness this potent source of clean energy, concerns about how to manage nuclear waste and win public support must first be answered.
In his Budget 2025 speech on Tuesday ( Feb. 18 ), Prime Minister Lawrence Wong stated that Singapore would research potential nuclear deployment and develop its capabilities in this area.
Given the technologies at the time, a government pre-feasibility research in 2012 determined that nuclear power was impractical for use in Singapore.
A century later, nuclear power appeared in an expert document on Singapore’s energy transition to 2050 , as , a clear alternative that could meet the fuel mix once “technologically intelligent and economically feasible”.
And last year, Singapore signed a” 123 Agreement” on civil nuclear cooperation with the United States after announcing plans to build a pool of about 100 nuclear energy experts in the medium to long run.
Energy experts told CNA that small modular reactors ( SMRs ) are a key innovation that has made this change in stance possible.
Compact and scalable, SMRs are a fraction of the size of a conventional nuclear reactor, and can be prefabricated for easier transport and installation. Their output is about one-third the generating capacity of conventional reactors, or 300 megawatts per unit.
They are also safer, said Mr Somnath Kansabanik, principal at Rystad Energy.
” Gen III and IV reactors, which are newer generations of nuclear technology, feature’ passive safety systems ‘ designed to significantly reduce accident risks”, he said.
SMRs are already in use in China and Russia. The United States, Europe and Britain are also pursuing SMR projects, and corporations like Meta, Google and Amazon have recently announced large investments in nuclear technologies, including SMRs.
In a more personal way, Mr. Kansabanik noted that Indonesia, the Philippines, and Thailand have joined the US’s program called” Foundation for the Responsible Use of Small Modular Reactor Technology ( FIRS T ) and have begun nuclear feasibility studies.
Advanced SMR technologies are at a “tipping point for becoming commercially viable,” according to Mr. Nick Ash, Southeast Asia energy business leader at Arup.
Nuclear power could enhance Singapore’s energy security and support its goal of achieving net-zero emissions by 2050, he noted.
Singapore still relies on natural gas, a fossil fuel, for about 95 per cent of its electricity supply, making it vulnerable to price volatility and supply chain disruptions.
According to Professor Lee Poh Seng, executive director of the Energy Studies Institute, if advanced nuclear technology is made practical, it could account for 10 % of the country’s electricity supply by 2050.
HSBC’s profit before tax ( PBT ) climbed by$ 2 billion to$ 32.3 billion for the financial year ending December 31, 2024, according to a regulatory announcement, profit after tax increased by$ 400 million to$ 25 billion. Overall revenue across the group climbed from$ 66 billion to$ 66.85 billion.  ,
¬ Capitol Media Limited. All rights reserved.
HSBC’s profit before tax rose by$ 2 billion to$ 32.3 billion for the financial year ending December 31, 2024, according to a regulatory announcement, profit after tax increased by$ 400 million to$ 25 billion. Overall revenue across the group climves from$ 66 billion to$ 66.85 billion.  ,
¬ Plaza Media Limited. All rights reserved.
HSBC’s profit before tax rose by$ 2 billion to$ 32.3 billion for the financial year ending December 31, 2024, according to a regulatory announcement, profit after tax increased by$ 400 million to$ 25 billion.
¬ Capitol Media Limited. All rights reserved.
Sarawak Digital Economy Corporation ( SDEC ) and Kintone Southeast Asia Sdn Bhd ( Kintone ) have joined forces to drive Sarawak’s digital future. In an effort to advance Sarawak’s modern economy through the use of cutting-edge technologies, the two businesses recently signed a Memorandum of Understanding. This collaboration is in line with Sarawak’s desire for a round, green economy based on technological advancement and responsible growth.
To support Sarawak’s small and medium-sized enterprises ( SMEs ) in their digital transformation journey, SDEC and Kintone successfully co-hosted the inaugural SME Digital Transformation Seminar in Kuching, Sarawak, on 18 February. The seminar made a major step forward in providing Sarawak’s small and medium-sized businesses with the resources, expertise, and tools necessary to grow their businesses and stay competitive in an increasingly electric world.
Sarawak’s attempts to digitalize have attracted more attention, and the state government is actively investing in digital equipment. The partnership between SDEC and Kintone is in line with the growing need for versatile, available options for local organizations and supports the goals set out in the Sarawak Digital Economy Blueprint 2030.
SMEs account for approximately 97 % of all businesses in Malaysia, making them the backbone of the nation’s economy. ” Kintone’s no-code platform simplifies sophisticated process techniques, enabling SMEs across industries—including hospitality, building, and retail—to develop user-friendly custom programs tailored to their needs at a fraction of the cost. This reduces the stress of high-cost IT investments that many small companies struggle to maintain, according to Tsubasa Nakazawa, Kintone Southeast Asia’s managing director.
” Our final goal is to help businesses of all sizes connect this answer, transform their business processes, and promote flexible growth,” said the company. Kintone now serves over 37, 000 customers worldwide, empowering businesses, government agencies, and communities to improve productivity, engagement, and performance. This action reflects our broader commitment to supporting SMEs across Sarawak, Borneo, and Malaysia as a whole”, he added.
The SDEC by Kintone workshop brought up senior government officials, business leaders, and business owners, offering enterprises of all sizes an opportunity to understand how online tools can simplify operations and travel cost-efficient improvements—without requiring IT expertise. Attendees gained practical knowledge of how Kintone’s simple software aids organizations in managing workflows and enhancing collaboration at a reasonable pace. Additionally, the occasion provided networking opportunities for individuals to exchange ideas and link.
This workshop reinforced the shared idea that technology should be an innovator as Sarawak’s market continues to be shaped by modern change. Through practical demonstrations and expert-led discussions, participants witnessed firsthand how Kintone’s flexible platform can streamline workflows, reduce operational bottlenecks, and empower businesses to adapt to a rapidly digitising world.