Since Laos ‘ communist rulers first opened the nation to tourists decades ago, Vang Vieng has become a fixture on the Southeast Asian traveller path. The city was previously associated with bad behavior among travelers at forest parties, but it has since been rebranded as an eco-tourism hotspot. The LaosContinue Reading
China has pledged to expand business with South American nations through the use of its new container harbor in Chancay, Peru, and establish a new route for the shipment of goods there.  ,
In 2019, the state-owned Cosco Shipping Ports acquired 60 % of the Chancay interface from a Colombian sulphides worker for US$ 225 million. The port’s switch cost US$ 3.5 billion before being completed. According to Xinhua, the initial phase of the slot project reduces shipping times between China and Peru by 35 to 23 days, resulting in a 20%-plus-2 % reduction in shipping charges.
On November 14th, Xi Jinping, the Taiwanese president, held a meeting online in Peru to officially launch the Chancay megaport. Since then, Taiwanese press and commentators have been promoting the agency’s anticipated contribution to China’s expansion of trade and implementation of its Belt and Road Initiative. According to the pundits, the claims that Chinese exporters you relabel their goods or resell them and send them to the US are of particular interest to US trade warriors.
It’s still to be seen how that may turn out. Mauricio Claver-Carone, an assistant to US President-elect Donald Trump’s transition group, has said that the 60 % tariffs that Trump has vowed to impose on Chinese products may also apply to items that go through the fresh Chancay deep-water dock from any state.
” Any product going through Chancay or any Chinese-owned or controlled port in the region should be subject to 60 % tariff, as if the product was from China”, Bloomberg quoted Claver-Carone as saying in a phone interview.
He added that the work would protect the US from cargo, a process that allows Chinese goods to enter the US through a third region and finally re-export to the US at lower tax rates than strong shipments.  ,
He said cargo in Latin American countries, like as Mexico, has been a vital issue to the US for some time.
Some Chinese experts point out that this is not China’s first “bathing bases” set up abroad for the transshipment of its goods.
More and more Chinese firms are willing to “take a bath” by putting” Made in Vietnam” names on their semi-finished goods and re-export them to the US and Europe as a result of the growing business tension between China and the US, according to a Hubei-based journalist who uses the moniker” Yinlujiao” in an article.
He claims that China’s renewable products account for more than 90 % of the world’s business share and that the US and Europe are primary import locations for them. However, in recent years, Foreign thermal product manufacturers have been forced to set up factories and assemble their semi-finished goods in Vietnam to avoid additional tariffs due to trade barriers in Europe and the US.
He claims that Chinese center managers, suppliers, and manufacturers have all contributed significantly to Vietnam’s rapidly expanding cotton and technology industries.
In addition, many Chinese manufacturers of automobile, computer, and construction equipment have established factories in Mexico, trying to “wash away” their products ‘ country of origin and rebrand them as” Made in Mexico.”
The new levies, according to the Global Times, are mostly symbolic because the US is not a major market place for Chinese steel and aluminum materials, despite US officials ‘ claims that the walk might close a significant gap that China had relied on to avoid US taxes.  ,
Since the US-China trade war broke out in 2018, Chinese companies have relied on Vietnam and Mexico as shipping centers to avert an additional 25 % US price, according to Ma Yu-chun, an assistant research fellow at the Chung-Hua Institute for Economic Research.
According to Ma, Chinese manufacturers gradually increased their local production capacities in Vietnam and Mexico to maintain low US tariffs when Washington began to complain about these transshipments. In such circumstances, he says, the US has to tighten its rules further – for example, by imposing tariffs on products that use Chinese components.  ,
According to a writer in Beijing who uses the pseudonym” Huashan Qiongjian,” the Trump administration might not want to impose additional tariffs on products from Peru because the US has a trade surplus with the South American nation.  ,
If steel products from Mexico are melted and poured in Mexico, Canada, or the US, the Biden administration announced in July of this year that they will be subject to a 25 % tariff.  ,
Trump frequently criticizes South American nations, including China and Mexico, but he says he rarely criticizes those who have a trade surplus with the US.  ,
Besides, he says, Chinese goods can first go to Japan, South Korea and Southeast Asia before departing for Chancay port. He claims that this approach can promote trade between China and its neighbors.  ,
In short, Beijing’s strategy to fight Trump’s war is simple: Ship its products to and assemble them in third countries before re-exporting them to the US. The US is unable to impose additional tariffs because the network’s sophistication makes it more difficult to do so.
Yong Jian, a Chinese journalist who specializes in Chinese technology, economy and politics, is a regular contributor to Asia Times.
Read: US slaps’ symbolic’ tariffs on China steel, aluminum
Read: Note to Trump: Targeted tariffs can work, broad ones never do
Read more about China’s analysis of the effects of its regaining the status of most popular nation.
Read more about Trump’s tariffs as a plot to smuggle China.
In the statement, Muhammadyiddin Yassin and Najib Razak ranked fourth and fifth, both.  ,
According to the report,” Leaders like Ismail Sabri Yaakob and Mahathir Mohamad made more significant improvement within comparable time frames,” adding that even Mr. Anwar’s performance was subpar in comparison to that of Najib’s first expression despite his administration’s position at the bottom due to Najib’s subsequent steps in undermining important organizations for his political gain during his second term.  ,
” The Unity Government’s optimistic and progressive view has slowed reform momentum and diminished people confidence”, added the document.
A post-election coalition government, according to Mr. Ooi, should not be an excuse to break all reform commitments, noting that BN and PH shared four key promises that have n’t fully been broken.  ,
He claimed that legislative scrutiny of significant appointments at public institutions like the MACC and EC was one of the common guarantees made by both coalitions in their manifestos. However, this has not yet been the case.
In May of this year, Mr. Baki was reappointed as MACC’s key director without going through legislative attention.  ,
In Jan. 2022, Rafizi Ramli, secretary of economy, claimed that some of the MACC’s actions against PH were political harassment and that he would be interrogated if the government was created.  ,
Election proposals are bound even when parties form coalitions. Partnerships may be formed to expand and accomplish these goals, not to set them aside”, said Mr Ooi.  ,
Following the 15th General Election, which failed to produce a clear win and ended in a hung parliament, Mr. Anwar was sworn in as prime minister on November 24, 2022.  ,  ,
He leads a unity government comprising Pakatan Harapan ( PH), previous ruling coalition Barisan Nasional ( BN), Gabungan Parti Sarawak ( GPS), Gabungan Rakyat Sabah ( GRS ) and Parti Warisan ( Warisan ) among others.  ,
Some of the government’s plans and ideas have likewise drawn criticism.  ,
Malaysia is being” smoking backward,” according to Ms. Sophie Lemière, an adjunct fellow with the Center for Strategic and International Studies ‘ Southeast Asia Program. Among the proposed reforms are the” Mufti bill,” amendments to its citizenship bills, and other proposed changes.
In an article published on November 1, she stated that” the security of the state and the present desperate need for financial recovery are the repetitive political arguments that justification cooperating with existing energy structures while satisfying the most liberal segments of society,” even if that means compromising civic liberties.  ,
The” Mufti Bill” aims to define the role and responsibilities of the Islamic jurors in the Federal Territories, which include Kuala Lumpur, Labuan, and Putrajaya.  ,
Mr. Anwar told the legislature on Thursday that the government was still in its early stages and was improve over time as a result of BERSIH’s marking.  ,
” About BERSIH’s ( rating ), it’s okay if they want to give us a ‘ D’. At least it’s not an’ F’. ( If in UPSR ) we get a’ D’, later during SPM we should get an’ A’. ( Because ) we are still very new”, he was quoted as saying by news portal Malaysiakini.  ,
The SPM is the same as the O-levels test taken by fifth-year secondary school students, but the UPSR refers to the today discontinued open exam for major students.  ,
As the death toll from contaminated alcohol rises to six, the owner of a Vietnam dormitory is detained.
PUBLISHED: 22 Nov 2024 at 17: 31
A second American girl has passed away from suspected alcohol poisoning, bringing the total number of international tourists who have passed away in Laos to six.
The two young Australians who had been staying at the backpacker hostel before becoming violently ill were detained by police in Laos, according to the Australian Broadcasting Corp ( ABC ) reported.
The home of Holly Bowles, 19, said they were “heartbroken” to confirm her death at Bangkok Hospital in the Thai money, more than a week after she fell ill in the tourist town of Vang Vieng.
Her companion Bianca Jones, even 19, and the American attorney Simone White, 28, from London, were confirmed to have died on Thursday.
An unknown American male and two Swedish girls, aged 19 and 20, are also among the subjects of the suspected poison.
Holly’s family said in a statement to the media on Friday that she had “brought so much joy and happiness to so many folks” as relaxation.
When she became ill, they continued, claiming that she had been living “her best existence traveling through Southeast Asia, meeting new people, and having amazing encounters.”
Holly Bowles ‘ horrible departure may be heartbreaking to all Australians, according to Australian Foreign Minister Penny Wong in a statement. ” Only yesterday, Holly lost her best friend, Bianca Jones”.
After failing to check out of their dormitory in Vang Vieng, which is located about two days northeast of the Chinese capital, on Wednesday, November 13, the two Australians were taken to a hospital in Vientiane.
After their circumstances worsened, they were transferred to institutions in Thailand: Bianca to Udon Thani and Holly to Bangkok.
On November 12th, the Australians were staying at the Nana Backpacker Hostel, which claims to have provided free whiskey pictures to around 100 customers.
No other customers have developed illness, according to the hostel’s manager, according to the US news agency The Associated Press. He claimed earlier to ABC that his table did not serve the coffee. He argued that those who developed illness may have drank the poison at a different area bar.
Although little information has been revealed thus far, Australian authorities are pressing Thai authorities for a thorough and impartial investigation into what transpired.
Authorities were gathering information and see accounts following the foreigners ‘ deaths due to suspected” ingestion of contaminated adult beverages,” according to the Chinese state-run media company KPL on Friday. Immediately, an formal declaration was anticipated.
In Laos, counterfeits of well-known alcoholic beverages and dessert souls are a concern. Australian and British people have issued a warning to consumers when drinking alcohol that.
On Friday, the US embassy in Laos issued a warning to its members to stay on the lookout for potential alcohol poison in spirit-based beverages and to check for any evidence of tampering or counterfeiting.
Methanol is a harmful alcohol used in commercial and home items like coolant, photocopier liquid, paint thinner, gloss and windshield wiper fluid.
It can sometimes be used in cheap house drink despite being toxic to people.
“We heard that the US might withdraw from the ( Paris ) Agreement. If it happens, it will be negative for the world environment area. This is a worry, ” said Dr Ching Thoo Ki, the secretary-general of Malaysia’s Ministry Of Natural Resources And Environmental Sustainability.
In battling climate change, the Global North must be good with the Global South.
“Put away all the political issues, rely on what is on the table today, and this is climate change. The ice are melting. Sea rates are rising. So it’s happening, ” he said.
The Philippines is a key person in helping countries that suffer the most from weather impacts get more funding for a Loss and Damage Fund. It is currently hosting the fund’s table.
The Philippines must remain rational as we move forward, according to Ms. Maria Antonia Yulo-Loyzaga, Secretary of Environment and Natural Resources.
“The common sense, I think, for the Philippines is that we move on, ” she said.
“Of program, there are political, geostrategic considerations to every decision that we make, but we know how resilient we are, and so our paths will generally stay on track. ”
Mr. Hanif Faisol Nurofiq, Indonesia’s new minister for surroundings, did not directly comment on the influence of Mr. Trump’s re-election, but he did raise questions about the lack of cooperation and improvement in climate diplomacy in the current political climate.
With the COP29 chance, we hope that all nations will open themselves up to taking bold, achievable actions. If all countries can work together, then it will be easier to achieve results that can be agreed globally, ” he said.
We will only have a discussion that will stop in nothing if we get to sucked into it and continue to build and emit greenhouse gases. ”
Bianca Jones, an American teenager, is the third tourist to pass away in Laos from a rumored mass poisoning.
The 19-year-old’s home confirmed her death to the internet on Thursday. An National person died in the tourist town of Vang Vieng, according to the US State Department earlier in a 24-hour update.
Two Danish people, aged 19 and 20, likewise died last week in Laos, Danish government confirmed, declining to reveal more due to security issues.
Although the deaths are still being investigated by the police, various travelers ‘ online testimony and news accounts suggest they perhaps have consumed alcohol laced with methanol, a fatal substance that can be found in bootleg liquor.
Jones’s companion Holly Bowles is in hospital on existence help, while a British woman is also reportedly in hospital. How many more people have died from the alleged poison remain a mystery.
The department of foreign affairs confirmed Jones ‘ death, according to Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese.
On Thursday evening, Albanese stated,” Her family and friends are grieving a horrible and cruel loss. Our thoughts are with her.”
Every parent has the worst nightmares and nightmares that no one should experience.
He said he hoped Ms Bowles, who is already at Bangkok Hospital, would recover also.
The US State Department stated that it was” strongly monitoring” the victim’s condition in terms of the American target and that local authorities were in charge of determining the cause of suicide.
Australian and UK authorities have each warned their citizens to be careful of methanol poisoning when consuming alcohol in Laos.
Nana Backpacker Hostel, where the two American ladies stayed in Vang Vieng, told the BBC that it was closed for police research.
The two girls were among more than 100 visitors who received completely Lao vodka shots, according to the hostel’s manager, according to the hostel’s manager. He claimed the piece left the next day and headed home, noting that no other friends had reported health issues.
The hostel’s director claimed he hoped the analysis had eventually remove the name, but that they have since stopped providing free pictures.
In a speech to Australian news the Herald Sun, Jones’s community expressed their “deepest thanks for the enormous support, passion, and prayer we’ve received from across Australia”.
As we move past our pain and begin to heal,” We politely ask for protection,” the statement read.
Unli e eth a drinks, alcohol is toxic to humans. Bootleg wine producers often add it to their drinks, but, as a cheap way to increase liquor articles.
Earlier this year, at least 57 people in India died after consuming methanol-laced liquor. Similar cases of mass poisoning have also been reported across the world, from the Philippines to Peru.
A little river area in central Laos and a tourist destination for Southeast Asians, Vang Vieng is a gateway.
At the APEC Leaders ‘ Summit last week, NYSE-listed BlackBerry Ltd, expressed its gratitude for the Government of Canada’s announcement to invest Canadian$ 3.9 million ( RM12.48 million ) in Malaysia. The money will go toward strengthening Southeast Asia’s capacity-building and threat intelligence initiatives.  ,
Canada’s support will be delivered by BlackBerry in partnership with the Toronto Metropolitan University’s ( TMU’s ) Rogers Cybersecure Catalyst, with a goal to train 3, 500 cyber-defenders from Malaysia and other ASEAN members. Aligned with Canada’s Indo-Pacific approach, the program establishes Malaysia as a gateway of local security superiority in Southeast Asia, said BlackBerry in a speech.
The government of Canada will help with the creation, development, and delivery of a comprehensive security education, including programs for women, while expanding the offerings from the world-class Malaysia Cybersecurity Center of Excellence (CCoE ), which was co-founded in Cyberjaya and the Malaysian Communications and Multimedia Commission (MCMC).
The goal is to promote the CCoE as a regional hub for learning and intelligence-sharing, enabling government and industry to greater stop, hinder, and organize responses to incidents that may influence operational resilience and national security, and to help more men and women take advantage of the region’s most in-demand cybersecurity roles.
Role-based learning and professional tracks as well as certifications in security and women in security management courses may be offered at the Malaysia CCoE. In line with Canada’s Indo-Pacific Strategy, which aims to promote and attach people, funding from the government will also help Malay and local participants gain bursaries and bursaries to take courses at the CCoE and obtain security certifications from respected business bodies.  ,
The Cyber Security Center of Excellence has the potential to become a global destination for emerging cyber threats, according to Malaysia’s Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim, who inaugurated the facility on March 26 in Cyberjaya. To share knowledge, threat intelligence, and collaborate on developing methods and strategies to strengthen national and regional cyber-resilience, Malaysian and Canadian universities, research institutions, and skilled practitioners.
Justin Trudeau ( pic ), Prime Minister of Canada said, “Cybersecurity is a pillar of Canada’s Indo-Pacific Strategy. With our government’s investment in Malaysia’s Cybersecurity Center of Excellence in collaboration with BlackBerry, Canada will share cyber-expertise, train the cyber workforce across ASEAN countries, increase public-private sector collaboration, and strengthen our collective capacity to counter, deter and respond to cyber threats”.
BlackBerry CEO, John Giamatteo, added,” BlackBerry is honored to partner with the Governments of Malaysia, Canada, and Toronto Metropolitan University’s Rogers Cybersecure Catalyst to establish the Malaysia Cybersecurity Center of Excellence. This top-notch facility also serves as a global hub for coordinating regional incident response and training and upskilling Malaysian and regional cyber workforces. No matter how advanced your cybersecurity arsenal is, countries need a well-trained cyber-workforce to support their front lines of defense in a growing digital economy.
The collaboration between Rogers Cybersecure Catalyst at Toronto Metropolitan University and BlackBerry will help to provide cybersecurity skills training in this crucial region for international security, which now more than ever needs technology security, according to Dr. Mohamed Lachemi, President and Vice Chancellor of Toronto Metropolitan University.
The announcement comes one and a half months after BlackBerry and the Malaysian government made a long-term software and services agreement to advance regional digital workforces through training in advanced cybersecurity technology and training at a specialized facility.  ,
Visit this link for the CCoE’s current course information.
Datuk Sari Mohamed Khaled Nordin, the country’s defense minister, expressed his gratitude and appreciation to the Laosi government for successfully leading Asean this time.
General Chansamone Chanyalath, the deputy prime minister of Laos and general Chansamone Chanyalath, met with Mohamed Khaled on Wednesday ( Nov. 20 ) for a meeting at the Asean Defence Ministers ‘ Meeting ( ADMM), which praised Laos ‘ efforts to advance Asean, particularly in promoting regional defense cooperation.
” Under Laos ‘ advice, Asean has made significant progress in enhancing military engagement, elevating the army plan to new amounts.
Malaysia anticipates Laos ‘ ongoing support as we prepare to appoint an Asean head in 2025, Shah said in a Twitter post.
In the same conference, Khaled likewise had informal meetings with the United States Secretary of Defence, Lloyd Austin. He emphasized the importance of the US playing a discourse role in promoting stability and security in Southeast Asia.
The US has fully acknowledge Asean’s strategy for addressing local security issues and the importance of putting Asean’s position at the center of local security frameworks at its disposal.
Khaled and his team made their way to Laos on Tuesday ( Nov 19 ), where Malaysia also suggested expanding Asean’s Humanitarian Assistance and Disaster Relief ( HADR) mission.
All ASEAN part state would gain from a more efficient and coordinated response to local disasters. – Bernama
More stringent tariffs could force businesses to relocate full industrial ecosystems in his second term. South Asian nations are well-positioned to provide themselves as steady and trustworthy alternatives to high-tech supply chains.
Thailand’s Commerce Minister Pichai Naripthaphan sees opportunity back, noting,” Trump’s win may be useful for Thailand because Republicans are pro-business, and the US-China trade war will continue and effect in more opportunities”.
However, realising this opportunity wo n’t be straightforward. It requires moving beyond low-cost production to create more advanced value-added features. The US may also exert pressure on ASEAN nations or initiate immediate action to restrict Chinese influence in key areas.
In the upcoming years, Southeast Asia will have to put up a significant check.
Following the initial trade war, China’s developments in emerging industries like electrical automobiles and clean energy technologies present a new concern for ASEAN. ASEAN must balance geopolitical concerns with priorities for business growth because of China’s cost advantages and dominance in these industries, which makes it harder to realize substantial diversification of supply chains.
Balancing the pressures of Trump’s business plans with relationships with both the US and China may involve agility, vision and assistance.
Locad, a leading intelligent electronic logistics motor empowering consumer businesses with its Cloud Supply Chain-as-a-Service for international distribution, announced a US$ 9 million ( RM40 million ) Pre-Series B campaign co-led by Global Ventures and Reefknot Investments. Other traders include Sumitomo Equity Ventures, Antler Elevate, Febe Ventures, and JG Summit.
The funding may accelerate Locad’s global expansion, starting in the UAE and Saudi Arabia in Q4 2024 as part of its” Grow Global, Go Native” strategy for businesses, and further enhance its AI-driven shipping functions. Locad aims to build modern supply chain infrastructure, connecting manufacturers to customers in development areas through a integrated, cloud-based transportation system.
Through a seamless operating system and supply chain infrastructure as a support, Locad’s sky supply chain makes wise online shipping and empty trading possible for client companies. The company allows brands to join all sales channels in e-commerce and wholesale to a single share of stock and a bright logistics system, managed via its Control Tower orchestration platform, which provides real-time visibility, analytics, and AI-enhanced workflow automation.
Constantin Robertz, CEO and co-founder of Locad, said,” We are on a mission to enable smart digital logistics for consumer brands. In APAC, we have developed a cloud supply chain platform over the past four years that enables brands to integrate their omnichannel distribution and access localized fulfillment in growth markets in SEA and AU. We are now looking forward to expanding our business to other countries by expanding our footprint to the US and joining the GCC to facilitate brand distribution.
Noor Sweid, founder and managing partner of Global Ventures, said,” We are delighted to lead Locad’s funding round. With our goal of decentralized and resilient supply chains that are in line with our vision, Locad’s innovative engine is changing the way brands manage supply chains, enabling faster and more effective customer reach.
” Locad exemplifies this shift, offering localised, efficient solutions. We are confident it is well-positioned to capitalise on opportunities in evolving markets like MENA, embodying the future of agile, sustainable logistics”, he added.
Marc Dragon, managing director of Reefknot Investments, said,” We are excited to co-lead this oversubscribed round and deepen our commitment to Locad as they expand globally. Since our Series A investment, Locad has scaled its asset-light fulfilment model across Southeast Asia, Australia, and China while enhancing AI-driven features like demand, inventory, and carrier analytics &, optimisation”.
We are confident that Locad’s global expansion and innovation focus will add significant value to brands looking to expand internationally and improve customer experiences, he added.
Shrey Jain, co-founder and CTO of Locad, said,” By combining smart digital logistics with AI-driven insights, we empower brands to optimise supply chains by positioning inventory closer to demand, reducing delivery times, and improving customer satisfaction. In light of this fundraise, we can increase the efficiency and support brands in a dynamic business environment, further strengthening our tech-enabled logistics ecosystem.
Since its Series A round in 2023, Locad has grown significantly in size and scope, supporting over 300 consumer brands in Southeast Asia and Australia. The business improves customer experiences and operational efficiency by offering innovative digital logistics solutions. Its logistics engine seamlessly integrates with leading e-commerce platforms like Shopify, Shopee, Amazon, and TikTok, helping brands optimise inventory and delivery management across multiple sales channels.
Brands can expand their distribution through Locad’s platform as more markets are opened up by the GCC and the USA.