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.
SINGAPORE: Singapore’s United Overseas Bank ( UOB ) maintained its guidance for 2025 after posting on Wednesday ( Feb 19 ) a 9 per cent rise in fourth-quarter net profit that beat expectations and announcing a S$ 3 billion ( US$ 2.24 billion ) package to return surplus capital. OurContinue Reading
Over 1, 300 immigrants detained from con areas since January, says Myanmar state advertising
PUBLISHED: 18 Feb 2025 at 19: 11
As part of a global crackdown on illegal online activities in the region, a Thai security official announced on Tuesday that China would soar 200 of its citizens home from call-centers found in scams along the Thai-Myanmar border.
According to the United Nations, hundreds of thousands of people have been forced to work in these facilities, which have spread throughout Southeast Asia, including the frontier region between Thailand and Myanmar.
According to Maj Gen Thanathip Sawangsaeng, a spokeswoman for the Thai Ministry of Defence, the Chinese party may be flown up on a commercial plane on Thursday from Mae Sot in Tak state, which borders Myawaddy village in Myanmar.
As a senior Chinese official traveled to frontier towns on both sides of the border, Myanmar authorities reported on Tuesday that 273 foreigners were being detained at scam-operating properties nearby Myawaddy.
Although they have been in operation for years, these centers have only recently come under renewed scrutiny following Wang Xing’s rescue and return to China after being abducted in Thailand and lured there with the promise of a job.
Officials from China, Myanmar and Thailand met in Myawaddy this week, including Liu Zhongyi, the assistant public security minister of China, the state-run Global New Light of Myanmar reported on Tuesday.
The representatives discussed the three countries ‘ preventive systems for telecom fraud at a coordination meeting in Myawaddy, according to the statement.
According to the report from the paper, 1, 303 foreigners have been spotted in Myanmar’s 273 detained on Monday and who have been working in scam-dominiums in the Myawaddy region since the end of January.
Since 2021, Myanmar’s powerful military overthrew an elected government, stoking the junta, which has since grown into a wider civil war. Armed groups now control large areas of the nation, including areas of Myawaddy, which are run by the Karen National Army, a militia led by regional warlord Colonel Saw Chit Thu.
He declared,” We will work until the scam centers and human trafficking are eliminated,” which indicated the growing pressure on his group from regional nations.
Thailand has cut electricity, fuel and internet supplies to some border areas, a tactic that China has asked it to continue with, Thanathip said.
A group of 260 scam centre survivors from Myawaddy entered Thailand last week, most of them victims of human trafficking, said Choocheap Pongchai, the governor of Tak.
Two members of the group have been transferred to the police for further investigation, he added.
Mr. Wong also noted that comments on the Singapore Stock Exchange was unfavorable, yet for businesses that were primarily focused on Singapore or Southeast Asia.  ,
The first set of procedures that Mr. Wong has accepted was created by an Equities Market Review Group, which was set up to work on this.
The suggestions include tax breaks for Singapore-based businesses and fund managers who decide to list and expand their economic activities there.  ,
Additionally, a tax incentive may be implemented for fund managers who make significant investments in Singapore-listed securities. This is to encourage more investment in Singapore’s money markets.  ,
Enterprises may even receive more help scaling up and competing on a global level.  ,
To help organizations choose artificial intelligence options, up to S$ 150 million will be set off for a new Organization Compute Initiative. In accordance with this scheme, ready businesses will work with major cloud service providers to gain access to AI tools, computing power, as well as expert consulting services.  ,
A plan will be extended to December 31, 2030 in order to encourage mergers and acquisitions, allowing Singapore companies to make a qualifying merger of the common stocks of another company to receive tax advantages. It was originally scheduled to expire on December 31 of this year.
Later this month, Singapore’s Economic Development Board will launch a Worldwide Founder Programme to encourage foreign entrepreneurs to establish and expand their businesses.
Mr. Wong also made note of the worldwide emergence of a secret credit market that provides creative financing options to businesses. But few of these secret record funds focus on Asia or Singapore-based companies.  ,
In order to provide more funding options for high-growth local businesses, a fresh S$ 1 billion Personal Credit Growth Fund will be established.  ,