Israel-Hamas crisis tears a splintering ASEAN in half

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Following the most recent round of hostilities in the Middle East, the Philippine national palace said in a statement that the country” convenes its deepest sympathies and sympathies to those who have lost family members and loved ones in new problems.”

The South Asian country added,” The Philippines condemns the attacks, particularly against human populations ,” in reference to the extraordinary Hamas business attacks in Israel that have claimed hundreds of lives, including citizens.

In stark contrast to the Philippines’ place, neighboring Malaysia reiterated its support for the Arab people in the wake of the Hamas attack on Israel.

Anwar Ibrahim, the prime minister of Malaysia, took to social media to criticize the reportedly biased global coverage of the most recent round of violence, highlighting the fate of Palestinians who had been imprisoned for a long time in occupied areas.

Anwar referred to the mass eviction of Palestinians following decades of Arab-Israeli issue in a post on X, saying that the” Israel government” is relentless in its seizure of land and property owned by the Arab people. He continued,” Lots of innocent lives were sacrificed as a result of this injustice, shifting the blame to Israel.”

The Malaysian foreign ministry portrayed Israel” as the occupier ,” which subjected Palestinians to” prolonged illegal occupation, blockade, and suffering ,” in a forcefully phrased statement. Indonesia, which has a majority of Muslims, even reiterated its help for the Palestinians’ fight for independence.

Similar to this, the largest country in Southeast Asia argued that”[ t ] the root of the conflict, namely the occupation by Israel, must be resolved, in accordance with the parameters agreed upon by the UN ,” referring to various UN Security Council Resolutions endorsing a two-state solution to the Palestine-Israel conflict.

Indonesia, an emerging world power, made an effort to project management by stressing the necessity of” an immediate end to violence to prevent further animal casualties.” The third-largest democracy in the world, Southeast Asia, has recently made an effort to establish itself as a possible mediator in numerous conflict districts, including those of the Middle East and Eastern Europe.

For their part, the other two major Southeast Asian countries of Vietnam and Thailand adopted an even more neutral stance on the escalating conflict, reflecting deep divisions among the Association of Southeast Asia Nations( ASEAN)’ s core members on yet another significant conflict.

Various Interests

ASEAN has recently had a difficult time bridging strong divisions over numerous problems in its own garden. On the one hand, the local body hasn’t come up with a popular approach to resolving the South China Sea’s festering disputes.

East Asian countries haven’t reached a consensus on China’s growing military presence in the contentious water after decades of negotiations. As the ASEAN chairman for this year, Beijing-friendly member states undermined Indonesia’s plans for all-ASEAN marine drills, and the US-allied Philippines completely avoided the occasion.

Groups are even more pronounced in Myanmar due to the escalating legal war. Thailand and Cambodia have preferred direct confrontation with the ruling commanders, whereas Indonesia and Malaysia have favored a more aggressive approach against the military dictatorship in support of Myanmar’s exiled democratically elected government. The dominance of local politics and national objectives has repeatedly torpedoed ASEAN 1.

The Philippines has generally been more tolerant of Israel’s status as a US agreement ally. In actuality, the ballot of the Southeast Asian country played a significant role in the establishment of Israel. Strong diplomatic economic relations exist as well: In the 1980s, as many as 100,000 Filipinos worked in Israel.

The President of the Philippines Rodrigo Duterte (1st-R) and his daughter look at pictures of Jewish Holocaust victims at the Hall of Names on September 3, 2018 during his visit to the Yad Vashem Holocaust Memorial museum in Jerusalem commemorating the six million Jews killed by the German Nazis and their collaborators during World War II. / AFP PHOTO / GALI TIBBON
Then, on September 3, 2018, during his visit to the Yad Vashem Holocaust Memorial museum in Jerusalem honoring the six million Jews killed by the German Nazis and their collaborators during World War II, Philippine president Rodrigo Duterte ( 1st – R ) and his now-vice president daughter Sara dutertel look at pictures of Jewish Holocaust victims at the Hall of Names. AFP / Gali Tibbon image

The Philippine Presidential Communications Office( PCO) emphasized the significance of ensuring the safety of near to 29, 000 Filipino staff in the midst of the most recent round of violence in a statement, saying that the government is carefully coordinating with the Philippine Embassy in Tel Aviv and the Migrant Workers Organization( MWO) in Israel to ensure their safety and security.

In addition to having 14 significant diplomatic agreements, the two nations have been looking into strengthening their protection ties, including the potential acquisition of superior surveillance and missile systems as part of an ongoing military modernization initiative in the Philippines.

Thailand has historically adopted a more ambivalent attitude on polarizing issues, despite being an official US treaty ally.

Thailand” joins the global community in condemning any use of murder and indiscriminate attacks and calls upon all parties involved to desist from any activities that would further rise tensions.” The Thai unusual government expressed its hope that things in Israel will quickly return to normal.

It continued, emphasizing the South Eastern country’s similar worries about the security of its people working and residing in the Middle Eastern country,” The Thai government is seriously concerned with the safety of Thai citizens working in Israel who have been affected by such violent situations.”

Vietnam, which was ruled by communists, stated that it was” intensely concerned” and generally adopted a stance that is much more in line with the position of Eastern power like China and Russia, who did not directly support Israel.

According to a statement from Vietnam’s foreign ministry,” we call on relevant parties to exercise restraint, refrain from taking actions that complicate the situation, and soon resume negotiations to resolve disagreements through peaceful means, on the basis of international law and the relevant resolutions & nbsp, of the United Nations Security Council and ensuring the safety and legitimate interests of civilians.”

allying with Palestine

Governments that were democratically elected in Malaysia and Indonesia, where the vast majority of Muslims support the Palestinian reason, adopted fundamentally different stances. & nbsp,

The Malaysian Foreign Ministry stated in a statement over the weekend that” Palestinians have been subjected to the prolonged illegal occupation, blockade and suffering, the desecration of al-Aqsa ] mosque ,” as well as the politics of dispossession at the hands of Israel as an occupier.

It continued, discouraging Israel from taking any disproportionate action that might cause significant suffering among Israeli civilians in occupied territories.” At this crucial time, more loss of life, suffering, and destruction should stop and parties must exercise maximum restraint and de-escalate.”

Malaysia also emphasized the significance of carrying out pertinent global agreements in order to achieve a fair peace and urged the UN to act quickly to de-escalate the issue.

According to the government, the Council needs to call an emergency session right away to demand that all parties stop the violence and respect and safeguard the lives of defenseless civilians.

Indonesia, the largest country in the world with a majority of Muslims, even tended to sympathize with the Palestinian cause.

A few years ago, Indonesian leaders publicly denounced America’s decision to recognize Jerusalem as the capital of Israel at the expense of a future independent Palestinian state in accordance with pertinent UN agreements, warning that”[ t ] his can rock global security and stability.”

When Israeli Prime Minister Mohammad Shtayyeh paid a visit to Jakarta in October 2022, President Joko Widdo reiterated his commitment to the Arab lands. In 2011, Indonesia used donations from Indonesians to construct a doctor in Beit Lahiya, Gaza Strip. & nbsp,

Joko Widodok, the leader of Indonesia, favors Palestine over Israel. Asia Times Files, AFP, and Bagus Indahono picture

In the East Asian country, anti-Israel attitudes are pervasive. FIFA revoked Indonesia’s permission to sponsor the Under-20 World Cup earlier this year in response to objections to Israel taking part in the competition.

Three elements of Indonesia’s support for Palestinians, according to a speech, are diplomacy, trade, and humanitarian aid.

However, it is unclear how the Southeast Asian country did resolve its own different views on the matter, much less unite a region that is sharply divided over the most recent Middle Eastern conflict.

Follow Richard Javad Heydarian, formerly X, on Twitter at @ RicheyDarian.

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Laying the BRICS for a reshaped global order

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Brazil, Russia, India, China, and South Africa, the bloc’s five members, announced the offer of six new nations at the BRICS Summit in Johannesburg on August 24, 2023, including Argentina, Egypt, Ethiopia, Iran, Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates. As of January 1, 2024, BRICS nations may account for nearly half of the country’s population.

While BRICS has worked hard to achieve concrete results, the impulse may now be changing. With this development, BRICS economies would grow at higher demographic and socioeconomic rates than G7 members, surpassing them in terms of total gross domestic product.

Given Iran’s admission and the current membership of Russia and China, the BRICS expansion & nbsp could help ease tensions among the Middle Eastern member states of the group. However, it could also provoke the United States and NATO.

A growing number of nations have expressed a desire to join the BRICS class. However, there are internal conflicts over how the party may proceed. India has expressed worry about admitting some new members very rapidly, while China and Russia have pushed for a rapid growth of the BRICS to increase their political influence.

India’s worry is largely related to its long-standing, contentious boundary disputes with China as well as the recent strength of its diplomatic ties with the US. India’s role in preventing the BRICS from emerging as openly anti-Western only serves to highlight the nation for the United States on a geopolitical level. During his visit to the White House in June 2023 and nbsp, US President Joe Biden absolutely pulled out the red carpet for Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi.

Some nations and nations see BRICS as an alternative to organizations like the G7 or G20, which base rank on particular values and commitments to foreign policy. For instance, India is at risk of receiving retaliation from the global trading system due to its renewed ethnonationalist plans.

China will strengthen its position in the developing world through the expansion of BRICS, helping to spread its” non-interventionism” model. This model is supported by members like Brazil and Ethiopia who have expressed their disinterest in the economic and geopolitical disputes between China and the US and Russia, preferring to take advantage of another BRICS-offered economic opportunities.

Twenty countries have applied for membership, and plans for expanded rank are in the works. No political or ideological foundation is necessary for participation. Nigeria, Angola, Mozambique, and the Democratic Republic of the Congo have all submitted applications for account, all of which have very troubling human privileges records and local political weight.

The BRICS offers a chance for claims to break away from the West, according to some officials in the developing world who are already observing the gap in reaches between them and the G7.

However, there are significant restrictions on the BRICS rise. In favor of alternative currencies like the Chinese yuan and the Brazilian real, the group has been pushing to & nbsp, decouple from dollarization, and other currencies. Some nations, such as Argentina, Brazil, and nbsp, have made significant efforts to de-dollarize, while others have been more cautious.

A fresh joint money is being considered by the BRICS countries. Photograph: Twitter, Bitcoin, and Shutterstock.com

The great authority figures in the bloc and its smaller individuals also seem to lack much harmony. With little material support from China and Russia, both permanent members, Brazil, India, and South Africa have all been vying for membership on the & nbsp, United Nations Security Council.

Beyond their desire to change the world order, some BRICS members share little cultural, economic, and geopolitical similarities with the G7.

However, the BRICS & nbsp has been coherent, meticulously but slowly consuming the West’s influence on the world order. BRICS members have taken over recently liberal-led international institutions and created new institutions while receiving assistance from China, Russia, and occasionally India.

The BRICS nations are providing a means of engagement for nations that do not want to abide by liberal ideals and values but still seek to benefit from the world order’s financial benefits. Through the BRICS bank and other Chinese-led financial institutions, new members will also have easier access to andnbsp, Chinese project financing and & nBSP.

Another warning concerns China’s non-interventionist posture and worth forecast. In Taiwan, Hong Kong, Tibet, Xinjiang, the South China Sea, and Africa, China-aligned states are willing to take Beijing’s message and neglect its interventionist policies andnbsp in exchange for political and financial advantages.

However, China’s rhetoric appears to resonate with some regions of the world that were recently damaged by European colonial activities, such as Latin America, Southeast Asia, and the Middle East.

Due to the West’s inability to change its perception of the world, its own overseas military campaigns, and its ties to American military blocs and NATO, the G7 is frequently grouped and nbsp with these campaigns. Therefore, even though China’s position may get seriously weak, some regions of the world are looking for an option.

As Chinese funding and business programs relate in tangible benefits to engagement, economic and diplomatic proximity with China is, in some countries, more popular internally andnbsp than proximity with the West.

Given that the G7 nations have remained steadfast in their support of” values” and the preservation of the” liberal order ,” among other important principles, it is possible that they are influencing BRICS more and more. Developmental countries may simply visit the other alliances if the United States and G7 push test checks to hard.

The sole strategies to halt the growth of BRICS may be internal political developments and a potent counterreaction.

Freelance blogger Joseph Bouchard is a Carleton University, Ottawa, master of international politics candidate who focuses on politics and fight.

Sophie Egar is a master’s prospect at the Johns Hopkins School of Advanced International Studies and an Visiting Researcher at Iracambi Rainforest Research and Conservation.

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How Moody’s new affiliate VIS Rating will boost the development of Vietnam’s local corporate bond market | FinanceAsia

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Southeast Asia’s thriving economies, including Vietnam, will continue to fuel growth in the region’s developing domestic corporate bond markets. In particular, Vietnam’s local corporate bond market is set to get a boost with the recent launch of a new local credit rating agency (CRA) in the country by Moody’s and several leading local financial institutions.

“Moody’s has long recognised the pivotal role that domestic bond markets play in financing investments to propel growth not only in Southeast Asian economies but also the broader Asia region,” said Wendy Cheong, managing director and regional head of APAC, Moody’s Investors Service. She added, “Over the years, we have formed domestic strategic alliances in China, India, Korea and Malaysia with local CRAs that have actively contributed to the sustainable expansion and advancement of their bond markets.”

Wendy Cheong, MD and regional head of APAC, Moody’s Investors Service

More recently, Moody’s has made another bold commitment to its domestic strategy. In September, it formally launched Vietnam Investors Service And Credit Rating Agency Joint Stock Company (VIS Rating) in partnership with several leading local financial institutions in Vietnam. Moody’s is the largest minority shareholder of the domestic CRA. VIS Rating is Moody’s first investment in a greenfield CRA in a frontier market.

“VIS Rating is ready to support the development of efficient and liquid debt capital markets in Vietnam with the aim of providing independent, best-in-class rating services to corporate bond issuers in the country,” said Tran Le Minh, managing director of VIS Rating. He added, “At the same time, we will continue to draw on Moody’s global expertise and deep insights to introduce best practices to the domestic market.”

Tran Le Minh, MD, VIS Rating

Moody’s firm commitment rides on the back of the large growth potential of Southeast Asia’s (ex-Singapore) economies and domestic corporate bond markets, including Vietnam. Over 2017-2022, the region’s local bond markets collectively recorded a cumulative annual growth rate (CAGR) of 6.4% and are now almost triple the size of the cross-border market in terms of issuance volume. Domestic corporate bond issuance volumes have returned to pre-Covid levels at about $140 billion in 2022[1]. Meanwhile, on a macroeconomic level, the region’s GDP accounts for 12% of Asia’s emerging markets and grew at 4.8% CAGR over 2017-2022.

Moreover, multinationals are scouring Southeast Asia, including Vietnam, to diversify their supply chains amid elevated geopolitical tensions. Given Southeast Asia’s large consumer base and infrastructure development needs, the region’s economies are set to expand further. Vietnam is no exception. Moody’s projects the economy will grow faster than most peers[2] in Southeast Asia through 2024.

Furthermore, the country’s local bond market has large room to grow with outstanding corporate bonds consisting of just 13% of GDP as of August 2023. This level comes after brisk growth of 30% CAGR over 2017-2022. As Vietnam’s domestic corporate bond market develops, credit ratings and research will play a meaningful role by helping companies access new sources of capital, diversify their funding base, enhance market transparency, as well as maintain investor confidence during times of market stress.

“In Vietnam, VIS Rating is well placed to empower bond market participants with informed decision-making through its independent domestic credit ratings,” said Tran. He added, “Our activities such as joint events with Moody’s, foundational and market educational outreach will help deepen Vietnam’s credit culture and bring value to local market participants.”

Leveraging Moody’s global best practices and extensive capabilities, VIS Rating has built out its ratings and research function. These include developing its rating methodologies; publishing research reports; engaging in market outreach through podcasts, media interviews and industry events; as well as developing its own database and ratings platform.

VIS Rating outreach activity with market participants

“For Moody’s, VIS Rating not only broadens our network of domestic partners in Asia but also complements our cross-border coverage,” said Cheong. She added “Since we first assigned a sovereign rating to Vietnam in 1997, we have grown to become the leading global rating agency in terms of cross-border coverage in the country.”

Beyond ratings, Moody’s continues to harness its global insights and local expertise to offer timely and high-quality research on Vietnam. For example, it has been hosting its annual Inside ASEAN investor conference virtually and in-person in Hanoi and Ho Chi Minh City since 2016.

As Vietnam’s domestic bond market flourishes, Moody’s is undoubtedly there for the long haul. It remains committed to providing talent and technical support to VIS Rating as the company embarks on an exciting journey to become the country’s rating agency of choice. 

[1] Source: Moody’s, AsianBondsOnline, BIS, Securities and Exchange Board of India.

[2] Source: Moody’s sovereign report, titled, “Government of Vietnam – Ba2 stable: Update following change in economic strength score and GDP forecasts” published 13 July 2023.

 

¬ Haymarket Media Limited. All rights reserved.

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Haze hits Singapore as air quality falls into unhealthy range for the first time since 2019

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In Southeast Asia, transborder fog is a persistent issue.

Every year during the dry time, there are fires in Indonesia, but this is the first time since September 2019 that they have brought Singapore’s PSI rates down.

According to NEA, there has been a” major boost” in the number of areas in Sumatra, with 212 on Friday as opposed to 65 on Thursday and 15 on Wednesday.

It issued a warning that if the fires continue and the wind direction is unfavorable, cloud will affect Singapore this trip.

The culture minister of Malaysia has urged Indonesia to respond to the flames, which has had an impact on the nation as well.

The Indian government was informed by our text, which we submitted on Thursday, pleading with them to take action. This was stated by Malaysia’s minister of natural resources, the environment, and climate change, Nik Nazmi Nuk Ahmad.

” We cannot continue to treat fog as a standard occurrence.”

The Singaporean atmosphere agency announced last Friday that the government’s haze task force, which is made up of 28 people agencies, is prepared to release their individual risk assessment plans in preparation for the threat.

Singaporeans you examine the most recent air quality readings and recommendations on web. fog. governor. the myENV apps and sg.

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‘Olympic-style’ robotics competition hosted by Singapore a springboard for growth, says organiser

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Computers ARE BEING BUILT TO Create HYDROGEN.

This year’s theme is centered on” an issue of global importance ,” especially hydrogen, just like in previous editions. The task at hand for participating teams is to create a robot and pilot it through emulating an environment to generate hydrogen, which is then used to store, transport, and transfer energy.

Teams will collaborate in arbitrarily chosen multi-country relationships to score points during the competition, a practice that promotes international cooperation and mutual understanding, according to FIRST Global.

According to Mr. Stalford,” this year’s style of Hydrogen Horizons was chosen to help students learn about the position hydrogen technologies may enjoy in our energy future as well as to acquire the broader challenges related to international energy access.” & nbsp,

Since gas is the gas with the highest power material by weight and can be stored and transported as a liquid or gas, it is easier to distribute in large quantities. It is also possible to generate” natural hydrogen” strength without adding coal to the environment. & nbsp,

By 2050, the US Energy Information Administration projects that the world’s electricity demand may reach 45 trillion Watt, or nearly 20 trillion more kWh than what was produced in 2018. & nbsp,

That implies that we must generate more power, and that energy may be available to everyone. According to Mr. Stalford, gas holds promise as a systems for addressing this important strong. & nbsp,

The FIRST International team will also take part in The New Technology Experience, a different aspect of the competition. The sector was created in 2021 as a way for the students to remain current with cutting-edge technology.

Participating groups will know about all forms of renewable energy, including gas technologies, and the steps to build a prospect of fresh energy this year under the concept of Energy Evolution.

To improve the implementation of and increase access to clean energy, the teams will need to conduct research and create their own cutting-edge solutions.

Group FROM ACS( I ) TO COMPETE

A group of five members from the Robotics Technology Society at Anglo-Chinese School( Independent ) will represent Singapore.

According to Mr. Stalford, ACS ( I ), which has represented the nation in each edition of the FIRST Global Challenge since 2017, is also the event’s in-country partner.

The in-country lover, who is in charge of putting together and leading the national team, oversees the selection process for each FIRST World team. & nbsp,

According to him, FIRST Global encourages partners to choose individuals who are passionate about and committed to working together to distribute STEM learning globally, as well as inclusive national representation and attracting new students each time.

Mr. Stalford stated that there are 23 various awards teams can win, each with a unique set of requirements.

The most esteemed group prize, the Albert Einstein Award for FIRST Global International Excellence, is given to teams whose computers demonstrated all of the community’s principles during the technology problem.

According to Mr. Stalford, the courts are chosen from a group of individuals who have collectively officiated FIRST Global events for many years. & nbsp,

The three winners of the Temasek Women in STEM Award in this year’s contest will receive an additional prize, even though the prizes normally only include the awards and ribbon that winning team receive. & nbsp,

Each of the three FIRST International winners will receive US$ 1, 000, 50 Experiential Robotics Platforms, as well as education, professional evidence, and lessons to assist in reaching out to younger women in their communities.

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SE Asia’s casinos driving a cybercrime boom

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This article was originally published by ProPublica, a Pulitzer Prize-winning investigative newsroom. Sign up for The Big Story newsletter to receive stories like this one in your inbox.

Mr Big had a problem. He needed to move what he called “fraud funds” back to China, but a crackdown was making that difficult. So in August, Mr Big, who, needless to say, did not list his real name, posted an ad on a Telegram channel. He sought a “group of smuggling teams” to, as he put it, “complete the final conversion” of the stolen money by smuggling gold and precious stones from Myanmar into southern China, in exchange for a 10% cut.

It’s unclear whether Mr Big ultimately succeeded; his ad has since been deleted, and ProPublica was unable to reach him. But the online forum where he posted his ad says a lot about why Americans and people around the world have found themselves targeted by an unprecedented wave of fraud originating out of Southeast Asia, whose vast scale is now becoming apparent.

In a single recent criminal investigation, Singapore police seized more than $2 billion in money laundered from a syndicate with alleged ties to organized crime, including “scams and online gambling.”

The Telegram channel that featured Mr. Big’s plea for assistance was a Chinese-language forum offering access to “white capital” – money that has been laundered – “guaranteed” by a casino operator in Myanmar, Fully Light Group, that purports to ensure that deals struck on the forum go through.

Fully Light also operates its own Telegram channels that advertise similar services. One such channel, with 117,000 participants, featured offers to swap cryptocurrency for “pure white” Chinese renminbi or “white capital” Singaporean dollars. (Telegram took down that channel after ProPublica inquired about it. Fully Light did not respond to requests for comment.)

The presence of a casino in facilitating such deals is no coincidence. A growing number of gambling operations across Southeast Asia have become key pillars in a vast underground banking system serving organized criminal groups, according to new research by the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime. The research has not been published, but the agency shared its findings with ProPublica.

There are now over 340 physical casinos across Southeast Asia (as well as countless online ones), and many of them show accelerating levels of infiltration by organized crime, according to the UNODC.

The casinos function as “a shadow banking system that allows people to move money quickly, seamlessly, jurisdiction-to-jurisdiction, with almost no restriction,” Jeremy Douglas, UNODC’s top official in Southeast Asia, told ProPublica in September. That has made money laundering “easier than ever before,” he said, and it’s been “fundamental to the expansion of the transnational criminal economy” in the region — especially cybercrime.

As ProPublica reported in detail last year, Southeast Asia has become a major hub for cryptocurrency investment scams that often start as innocent-sounding “wrong number”-type text messages. The messages frequently originate from seedy casino towns in Cambodia, Laos and Myanmar, where criminal syndicates lure workers with the promise of lucrative jobs, only to force them to work as online scammers.

UNODC’s map of known or suspected scam compounds shows a clear overlap with gambling hubs in Laos, Myanmar and Cambodia, where allegations of forced online scam labor have become so widespread that they recently prompted Interpol to issue a global warning about the problem, which the international police agency said was occurring on “an industrial scale.”

Gambling has long attracted organized crime, but never more than in Myanmar, Cambodia, Laos and the Philippines, where loose regulations and endemic corruption allow casinos to operate with little oversight or responsibility to report suspicious transactions.

Before the Covid-19 pandemic began, officials in those countries wooed Chinese casino operators in an effort to attract foreign direct investment. Criminal bosses, facing a crackdown in China and sanctions imposed by the US, began investing in casinos and cutting deals to run their own special economic zones in Myanmar and elsewhere where they could operate unfettered.

When the pandemic struck in 2020, travel restrictions emptied newly built casinos, hotels and offices of workers and visitors across the region. Criminal syndicates repurposed the facilities to house online fraud operations and turned to human smugglers to staff them up.

(For example, when Philippine authorities raided several online gambling operators between May and August, they discovered more than 4,400 laborers, most of them human trafficking victims forced to perpetrate online fraud.)

Fraud capital: Sihanoukville, Cambodia, where many human trafficking victims were forced to perpetrate online fraud. Photo: Wikimedia Commons

Online casinos can be easily used for money laundering: They often accept cryptocurrency deposits that can be converted to virtual chips and placed in bets or cashed out in currency, making them seem like proceeds of legitimate gambling. That method of money laundering is becoming increasingly common in Southeast Asia.

Physical casinos have their own attractions for money laundering. They have become a draw for a parallel industry of junket operators, who organize gambling trips for high-rollers. Those junkets also attract organized criminal groups that need to move money across borders and do so using junkets’ gambling accounts, according to recent prosecutions by Chinese authorities.

Last year, 36 individuals connected to Suncity Group, once one of the biggest junket operators in the world, were convicted in China of facilitating about $160 million in illegal cross-border payments and transactions. The company’s ex-CEO, Alvin Chau, is in jail for running a criminal syndicate and other charges.

In northeast Myanmar, Fully Light Group has emerged as a “multi-billion-dollar business conglomerate and a key player” in casinos and illegal online gambling, according to research by Jason Tower, Myanmar country director for the United States Institute of Peace.

“These are not normal casinos in any way,” Tower said, because they’re located in what he calls “criminal enclaves” that are more under the control of organized crime than any government authority.

For instance, Tower found hundreds of criminal convictions by Chinese courts related to illegal casinos, fraud, kidnapping, drugs and weapons charges in the Kokang Special Administrative Zone, near Myanmar’s border with China, where Fully Light is based.

In its review, UNODC found Kokang casinos – owned by Fully Light or by others – also played a major role in money laundering. They operate Telegram channels that openly advertise money laundering services, including some that link back to official Fully Light channels and offer the company’s guarantee to cross-border exchanges of cryptocurrencies.

Some Fully Light-affiliated Telegram channels include solicitations to participate in what are known as money mule “motorcades” that move funds through multiple cryptocurrency wallets or bank accounts.

Billions of dollars more are likely flowing into the region, thanks to online scams that show no signs of abating. Nick Smart of the cryptocurrency analytics firm Crystal Blockchain has been tracing the flows of crypto funds deposited into online platforms that are set up to look like investing sites in order to fleece victims.

Following the money trail from just one such website, which he suspects to be linked to criminal organizations in Myanmar, led him to a wallet that also pooled funds from 14 other known crypto scams. The wallet received about $44 million in various cryptocurrencies between December and July, when it ceased activity.

With thousands of such websites popping up every day, victims’ losses are easily “in the billions,” said Smart, the director of blockchain intelligence at Crystal.

The global cybercrime spree has prompted countries across the region to take a bolder tack. In June, Thailand cut off electricity to two cyberfraud hot spots across its border with Myanmar (with disappointing results).

More recently, Thai officials shut down six illegal cellular towers suspected of providing internet service to scam compounds in Myanmar.

Chinese authorities have also arrested thousands of their own citizens in dramatic operations that included a humiliating perp walk of hundreds of suspected cybercriminals across a border crossing from Myanmar to China’s southern Yunnan Province on September 6.

On September 26, UNODC unveiled an agreement with China and the 10-member Association of Southeast Asian Nations to jointly combat organized crime and human trafficking linked with casinos and scams. An action plan accompanying the agreement calls on the countries to “make anti-money laundering and wider anti-corruption efforts a higher priority.”

But the challenge is steep. Even as multiple countries crack down, Laos, one of the poorest nations in the region, is getting ready to allow online gambling operators to set up shop within its borders and target foreigners.

And governments need to broaden their focus. Anti-money-laundering regulations often zero in on bank cash transfers of $10,000 or more. The UNODC’s Douglas said governments will need to turn their attention to casinos and other nontraditional financial players.

“Everyone’s been focusing on transactions of $10,000 going through banks and flagging suspicious transactions,” Douglas said, “and these guys are moving millions around the corner through the casino, laughing at the system.”

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ASEAN, EU should work more closely tackling maritime cybercrime

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The regional bloc in Bangkok launched the ASEAN Outlook on the Indo-Pacific ( AOIP ) in 2019, which focuses on four areas of collaboration spanning maritime, connectivity, Sustainable Development Goals, economic, and other potential sectors of cooperation. & nbsp,

The Association of Southeast Asian Nations emphasizes maritime cooperation even more in the first edition of the ASEAN Maritime Outlook( AMO ), which was published in early August. & nbsp,

AMO, probably ASEAN’s second step in making its Indo-Pacific moves more significant, is a well-written policy document covering marine issues in accordance with the institutional architectures of the regional bloc. It acts as the policy directive for the leaders, policymakers, regional bodies, and dialogue partners in assessing the current and upcoming challenges managed by various sector-based bodies.

With AMO, ASEAN demonstrates its dedication to furthering marine cooperation and looking into ways to provide its member states with technical and financial support to improve their capabilities. The safety setup of one of ASEAN’s corporate partners, the European Union, seems to fit together with its needs like a puzzle.

The EU emphasizes six enhanced objectives in the most recent revision of its Maritime Security Strategy ( EUMSS ). One of them is to educate and train civilians in particular education programs in order to increase cross and computer security credentials, particularly among its non-EU partners.

After all, thanks to the success of its” Operation Atalanta,” which was launched in 2008 to combat pirates in the Gulf of Aden alongside the North Atlantic Treaty Organization and other East Asian nations through mutual activities, diplomacy, and capacity-building, the EU has a quite exceptional reputation for maintaining and enhancing maritime security throughout the Asian continent.

Secondly, if the two most significant regional organizations were to become more institutionalized in their cyber-maritime assistance, it would not be the first time that both organizations had engaged in cybersecurity-related partnership.

The 2019 EU-ASEAN Statement on Cybersecurity Cooperation, which the EU and ASEAN jointly launched, represents the long-term responsibility of both parties to support security growth, change best practices, and advance digital literacy and norms across numerous channels and activities.

However, the EU and ASEAN may step up their efforts to combat cyber-maritime participation because offences escalate and thrive in high-level disputes, particularly in the face of continued global tensions like the Russian invasion of Ukraine, China and the US conflict, and post-pandemic global economic recovery woes.

For instance, as Russia started turning to its Asian neighbors for assistance, there is always a danger of regional and substitute spillover of the war in the northeastern sphere.

No defensive Southeast Asia

Southeast Asia is still the” next front” on maritime cyber-catastrophes, despite how fancy it may seem to a person.

In this regard, the NotPetya affair is relevant. On June 27, 2017, Ukraine launched NotPetya, the deadliest state-sponsored malware the world has ever seen. This had a significant global impact on other foreign and international businesses operating there.

The Danish-based Maersk Line, the largest shipping company in the world, suffered a loss of about US$ 300 million at the time. The system closing rendered almost half of its 76 world terminals, which are spread across nations from the Americas to Central Asia, inoperable, preventing them from receiving the required electronic data interchange records from approaching boats.

Also, due to the damaged infrastructure, vehicles headed for the waterways were unable to provide.

The domino effect started when an aristocracy hacking group connected to the Kremlin called Softworm inserted an illegal wormhole in the servers of a Russian software company that sold products like MeDoc, which are frequently used by companies and accounting firms operating within the state.

The malware took less than a minute to break down the system of significant Ukrainian industries, including banks and hospitals, on the day of the attack. Therefore, it didn’t take long for it to spread to large corporations that had MeDoc program installed on their computers, including Maersk’s business in the port town of Odessa in Ukraine.

The total amount of harm done to other victims, including Merck, FedEx, Mondelez, Reckitt Benckiser, and Saint-Gobain, according to the White House calculate, was a staggering$ 10 billion.

Such was the magnitude of the Russian-originating malware’s dangerous power; rather than seeking financial gain like ransomware does, it was designed to issue political warnings to nations that supported Ukraine in its initial invasion of Ukraine.

Worse yet, there is always a possibility that equally dangerous cyber-weapons will return at any time or location in the future for an unknown number of reasons, disrupting networks in land, sea, and air spaces and ultimately causing negative losses of assets, properties, as well as, of course, globally interconnected economies via the complex supply chain networks.

Preventative measures are required.

There haven’t yet been any immediate and strong crime threats of this magnitude in Southeast Asia. The only moment it even came close to one was in 2017, when Maersk cargo ships blocked delivery roads and ports due to its end operation’s immobilized sites.

Without proper preventive measures and policies, the South Eastern coastal region— which is home to some of the busiest marine straits in the world — could be extremely vulnerable to coastal cybercrime activities. This could very well expose it to irreparable negative effects. & nbsp,

Since these marine passageways have been the focus of attention in the Southeast Asian local coastal insecurities, maritime crimes like theft, fraud, terrorism, illegal immigration, and trafficking are nothing new. & nbsp,

However, these worries are not as serious as those posed by cyber-borne threats, which have no physical limits and have the potential to have severe effects on global economic activity, especially in light of the increasing level of digitization in nautical infrastructures and sectors.

Although the ASEAN Cybersecurity Cooperation Strategy ( 2021 – 2025 ) places a strong emphasis on strategic planning for increased capacity-building, coordination, and cooperation among member states to develop secure cyberspace in the region, the regional bloc actually consists of different levels of cybercapabilities and experiences in each nation, as well as lacked infrastructure, cyberexpertise, etc.

Despite how alarming it may sound, ASEAN’s capacity deficiencies in dealing with marine cyber-threats are clear, leaving its members resilient in the face of a world that is becoming more and more digitized and robotized, and which is already moving toward artificial intelligence and hybrid warfare techniques. & nbsp,

If ASEAN’s policies are not supported by sufficient pre-emptive measures and vigilant local consensus against the known and unknown threats, it may become a sitting duck in maritime matters generally and maritime-cyber matters in particular.

The EU Budapest Convention on Cybercrime, which enables practitioners in the witness states to discuss knowledge and forge valuable connections for participation in different fields as well as during emergencies, does not have a local security framework like ASEAN does.

The experience and high standards, such as those for data protection, are even worth working with. The EU may contribute to sharing experiences with regional frameworks to combat cybersecurity threats.

Simply the Philippines has ratified the ASEAN Convention as of right now out of the group’s 10 people. If ASEAN wants to collaborate with the EU on coastal computer security, it should do nicely to guarantee its commitment to the cause going forward.

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Booth, CelcomDigi unveil Malaysia’s first global prepaid card with paylater in collaboration with MasterCard

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First card to issue Mastercard Travel Rewards in M’sia & amp, SEAUsers can use a pre-approved credit line and obtain money from their Boost wallet.The Beyond Card, a two-in-one foreign passport in Malaysia powered by the Mastercard system, has been unveiled by Boost and CelcomDigi. & nbsp,This revolutionary card, according to…Continue Reading

Malaysia maintains 36th spot out of 132 countries in Global Innovation Index 2023

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The second-most impressive nation out of 36 upper-middle-income nations, after ChinaAdvancements in the categories of” Institutions” and” Human Captial and Research” ( nbsp ),In this year’s Global Innovation Index ( GII ) 2023, Malaysia has maintained its 36th place among 132 nations. According to a report released by the World Intellectual…Continue Reading

Korat zoo welcomes new member – sun bear

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In: South-East Asia

PUBLISHED: 5 October 2023 at 10:50

Korat zoo welcomes new member - sun bear
A moon bear, whose sex has not yet been determined, has joined the family, according to the Nakhon Ratchasima Zoo. Prasit Tangprasert( picture )

A one-month-old sun bear ( Helarctos malayanus ), a species on the verge of extinction and under protection, has joined the Nakhon Ratchasima Zoo.

The yet-to-be-named lad is strong and healthy, according to park director Thanachon Khensing on Thursday. It was born on August 24 to a pair of 10-year-old male and female moon bears.

Seven sun bears— three male, three female, and the newborn, whose gender is still unknown — are currently housed at Nakhon Ratchasima Zoo, also known as Korat Zoo.

According to Mr. Thanachon, the park has written a document outlining its research and breeding success for sun bears. At the 31st Southeast Asian Zoos and Aquarium Association( SEAZA ) Conference in Taiping, Malaysia, which is scheduled for November 5 – 8, 2023, the zoo has been selected to represent the Zoological Park Organization of Thailand. During the meeting, the statement will get presented.

Sun animals are essential to conservation efforts because they are a protected species that is on the verge of extinction.

They are members of the Ursidae family and live in the tropical forests of Southeast Asia. They measure between 25 and 65 kilograms in weight and almost 70 centimeters at the neck. These plump mammals have rounded ears, a small snout, large paws, and claws that are strongly curved.

Southeast Asia’s tropical rainforest, which includes areas from northern India, Bangladesh, Myanmar, southern Thailand, Peninsular Malaysia, Laos, Cambodia, and Vietnam to southeastern Yunnan province in China, is home to moon animals. On the islands of Sumatra and Borneo, they are also present.

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