Gaza ceasefire talks intensify in Egypt - CNA

PRESSURE FOR DEAL

Before the talks began there was some optimism over a potential deal.

"Things look better this time but whether an agreement is on hand would depend on whether Israel has offered what it takes for that to happen," a Palestinian official with knowledge of the mediation efforts, who asked not to be named, told Reuters.

Washington - which, like other Western powers and Israel, brands Hamas a terrorist group - has urged it to enter a deal.

Progress has stumbled, however, over Hamas' long-standing demand for a commitment to end the offensive by Israel, which insists that after any truce it would resume operations designed to disarm and dismantle the faction.

Hamas said on Friday it would come to Cairo in a "positive spirit" after studying the latest proposal for a deal, little of which has been made public.

Israel has given a preliminary nod to terms which one source said included the return of between 20 and 33 hostages in exchange for the release of hundreds of Palestinian prisoners and a weeks-long suspension of fighting.

That would leave around 100 hostages in Gaza, some of whom Israel says have died in captivity. The source, who asked not to be identified by name or nationality, told Reuters their return may require an additional deal with broader Israeli concessions.

"That could entail a de facto, if not formal, end to the war - unless Israel somehow recovers them through force or generates enough military pressure to make Hamas relent," the source said.

Egyptian sources said CIA Director William Burns arrived in Cairo on Friday. He has been involved in previous truce talks and Washington has signalled there may be progress this time.

The CIA declined to comment on Burns' itinerary.

Egypt made a renewed push to revive negotiations late last month, alarmed by the prospect of an Israeli assault against Hamas in the southern Gaza city of Rafah, where more than 1 million Palestinians have taken shelter near the border with Egypt's Sinai Peninsula.

A major Israeli operation in Rafah could deal a huge blow to fragile humanitarian operations in Gaza and put many more lives at risk, according to UN officials. Israel says it will not be deterred from taking Rafah eventually, and is working on a plan to evacuate civilians.

Saturday's Cairo talks come as Qatar reviews its role as mediator, according to an official familiar with Doha's thinking. Qatar may cease hosting the Hamas political office, said the official, who did not know if, in such a scenario, the Palestinian group's delegates might also be asked to leave. 

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2024-05-04 13:10:00Z
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IN FOCUS: Cambodia's US$16 billion 'eco-city' raises financial and environmental concerns - CNA

FINDING THE MONEY

Finding financial backers and partners for the multi-billion dollar project comes at a time when China - historically a major backer of infrastructure projects in Cambodia - has tightened its purse strings overseas.

The potential troubles facing Prince - and the fluid but strong relationship between Beijing and the new government in Cambodia, led by Mr Hun Sen’s son, Mr Hun Manet - has onlookers concerned about where the vast sources of money needed to finance the Bay of Lights will come from.

“The spigot has stopped, and everyone who lived off of it is living on credit,” said Mr Sophal Ear, associate professor of the global political economy at Arizona State University and an expert on Cambodia-China relations.

“It also seems accurate to say that these investments are changing. This shift could be due to changes in China’s own economic policies, global economic conditions, and Cambodia’s regulatory landscape.

“The new Manet administration’s approach to managing relationships with powerful Chinese groups will be indicative of Cambodia’s future economic and diplomatic direction,” he added.

Canopy Sands said it has “actively engaged with a diverse group of international investors” beyond China, from Singapore, Korea, Japan, the United Arab Emirates, Indonesia, and Thailand, “showcasing the project's global appeal and its potential to redefine urban living”, according to Mr Chen.

In March, it put pen to paper with UAE-based investment platform, the Annual Investment Meeting (AIM) Congress, in an agreement to construct a convention centre within the Bay of Lights and host future investment conferences.

It was a sign of a rare foray into Cambodia by a Middle Eastern outfit.

“This kind of diversification in investment sources could be a positive step for southern Cambodia, potentially bringing in fresh perspectives, new technologies, and innovative approaches to development … provided it respects local needs and sensibilities,” Mr Sophal said.

For average Cambodians, there is entrenched wariness about the influence of Chinese investments throughout the country, which have left many “out in the cold”, according to Mr Virak.

“Domestically, I think there's a lot of pushback against Chinese involvement in investment. If you're not in it, then you won't like what you’ve seen,” he said. 

“I think that has not been helpful in the relationship between your biggest, most important neighbour in the region.”

Cambodians have been priced out of Sihanoukville, amid a construction boom he said, souring locals’ ties with those reaping the financial windfalls.

In recent years, thousands of Cambodians have filed class action lawsuits against Ponzi schemes and prominent tycoons have been arrested for fraud in construction and land investment schemes.

The province’s former governor Yun Min spoke of land and property values doubling, or even quadrupling from 2017 to 2018. Rental market prices surged by up to 10 times compared to before the large-scale Chinese entry into the market, according to local media reports in 2018.

“That has created a skyrocketing bubble. Right now, construction is having a life of its own,” Mr Virak said. 

“It’s become an industry driven by speculation, but also driven by money laundering. Construction is usually a response to a certain demand but then people start to use it as a way to clean their dirty money,” he said.

Vast lengths of the southern Cambodian coastline have been converted to private land in recent years in the name of infrastructure and economic development. Prime waterfront, mangrove forest and national park areas have been carved out for various powerful individuals, conglomerates or overseas investors.

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2024-05-03 22:00:00Z
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Daughter of Thai ex-PM Thaksin calls central bank independence an 'obstacle' - CNA

BANGKOK: The politician daughter of Thailand's influential former premier Thaksin Shinawatra on Friday (May 3) said the central bank's independence was an "obstacle" in resolving economic problems, the latest salvo in an ongoing row over interest rates. 

Paetongtarn Shinawatra, the leader of the ruling Pheu Thai party, was weighing in on a disagreement since last year between Prime Minister Srettha Thavisin and the central bank, which has refused to bow to his constant pressure to cut rates. 

"The law that keeps the Bank of Thailand (BOT) independent from the government ... is a problem and a significant obstacle in fixing economic problems," Paetongtarn told party members.

Srettha maintains an interest rate at a decade high of 2.50 per cent was hurting small businesses and hamstringing government efforts to jumpstart an economy he says is in crisis. Srettha insists he respects the BOT's independence. 

Paetongtarn, who has been tipped as a potential leader of Thailand, said the BOT's monetary policy "refuses to understand and cooperate" and would hamper efforts to reduce high levels of debt. 

The central bank declined to comment on Paetongtarn's remarks when contacted by Reuters.

Its governor on Monday said the BOT would not bow to pressure. He told CNBC the current interest rate was appropriate for the economy and any short-term boost a rate cut could give was "not an efficient trade-off" when weighed against longer-term unintended consequences. 

Comments from Paetongtarn carry weight in Thailand, with her father Thaksin the billionaire figurehead of a party that has long dominated politics, winning all but one election in the past two decades. 

In his first term in office, Thaksin sacked the central bank governor over monetary policy disagreements. 

He is still a towering figure in Thailand and made a dramatic return home in August after 15 years in self-exile to face a jail sentence for conflicts of interest and abuse of power.

He was released in February on parole after six months in detention and maintains he has retired from politics. 

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2024-05-03 12:32:00Z
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Malaysian embarks on solo trip around the world in his Perodua Kenari - The Straits Times

The roof of Mr Jack Voon's car has been transformed into a sleeping cabin capable of withstanding low temperatures. PHOTO: JACK VOON/FACEBOOK

SARAWAK - A man from Sarawak has started his solo trip around the world in his trusty Perodua Kenari on May 1. The journey is expected to take three years.

Mr Jack Voon Kuet Fei, 47, says the expedition is expected to span approximately 200,000km, covering over 108 countries across Asia, Europe, Africa, North America and South America.

Mr Voon has always dreamt of travelling the world since he was young, envisioning the vastness of the globe.

In his proposal, “Bringing Malaysia to the World”, he stated that the objective of his journey is to introduce Malaysia to the world, and foster unity and friendship through cultural exchange.

“In this programme, I will be documenting my journey and creating educational and promotional videos. I am hopeful this programme will build an opportunity to unite people, broaden our horizons and instil the spirit of adventure while promoting Malaysia to the world,” said Mr Voon, who is from Kuching.

He estimates the trip will cost him about RM860,000 (S$245,600), which covers 12 categories of expenses including telecommunications, fuel, meal, accommodation, insurance, vaccines and visa fees.

Mr Jack Voon said the objective of his journey is to introduce Malaysia to the world. PHOTO: JACK VOON/FACEBOOK

Regarding his choice of car, he said the Kenari is economical and safe. His car has been equipped with travelling essentials, including a solar panel, mini fridge, mini stove, spare battery, heating system and halogen headlights.

The back seat of his white car is outfitted with cabinets to store items, while the roof has been transformed into a sleeping cabin capable of withstanding low temperatures.

“The sleeping cabin can endure temperatures as low as negative 40 deg C. Additionally, the back seat is fitted with a mini stove where I can prepare meals,“ he said in a video posted on his Facebook.

According to his travel log on Facebook, his car was struck by an unknown party when he was in Kuala Terengganu on May 2.

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“While packing items in my car at a car park, I noticed my back light was damaged. I don’t know who did it, nor did the person leave their contact number. It looks like I’ll have to pay for the damages.“

However, Mr Voon will certainly not let this small hiccup hamper his journey of a lifetime. THE STAR/ASIA NEWS NETWORK

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Myanmar junta bans men from applying to work abroad - CNA

RECRUITS

The military service law was authored by a previous junta in 2010 but was never brought into force.

It allows the military to summon all men aged 18-35 and women aged 18-27 to serve for at least two years.

That law also has a stipulation that, during a state of emergency, the terms of service can be extended up to five years and those ignoring a summons to serve can be jailed for the same period.

The Myanmar junta announced a state of emergency when it seized power in 2021, with the army recently extending it for a further six months.

A first batch of several thousand recruits has already begun training under the law, according to pro-military Telegram accounts.

A junta spokesman said the law was needed "because of the situation happening in our country", as it battles both so-called People's Defence Forces and more long-standing armed groups belonging to ethnic minorities.

Around 13 million people will be eligible to be called up, he said, though the military only has the capacity to train 50,000 a year.

More than 4,900 people have been killed in the military's crackdown on dissent since its February 2021 coup and more than 26,000 others arrested, according to a local monitoring group.

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Why Taiwan wants to remove its Chiang Kai-shek statues - CNA

WHY DOES THE DPP WANT TO REMOVE HIS STATUES?

The DPP does not consider Taiwan as part of China. When the party won the presidency in 2000, it launched a series of educational reforms to remove Chinese history from high school textbooks. 

The DPP considers Mr Chiang a dictator and his regime a foreign one. It believes his statues should not be in public because they represent symbols of dictatorship and authoritarianism. Under his leadership, there was no freedom of speech. 

In 1947, the arrest of a cigarette vendor in Taipei led to large-scale protests by the native Taiwanese against Chiang’s government. 

Following the protests, thousands, including students, lawyers and doctors, were executed. It is estimated that up to 28,000 people lost their lives in the turmoil. 

During the subsequent years of the “White Terror” period, Mr Chiang’s government ruled Taiwan under martial law, which ended only in the mid-1980s. 

In 2018, the DPP established a transitional justice committee to investigate Mr Chiang’s rule. Among its recommendations was a recommendation to remove Chiang statues from public spaces.

However, there are some factions that think history should be preserved as it is, said Dr Lim Tai Wei, adjunct senior research fellow at the National University of Singapore's East Asian Institute.

Others also believe that given Mr Chiang’s setting up of military academies, participation in a war of resistance against external enemies, and role in building modern Taiwan, he does have a place in history, Dr Lim told CNA’s East Asia Tonight. 

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2024-05-03 06:17:20Z
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Biden breaks silence on college protests over Gaza conflict - CNA

Biden said the United States was not an authoritarian nation that silences critics but that "order must prevail".

"Dissent is essential to democracy but dissent must never lead to disorder or denying the rights of others so students can't finish the semester and college education," he said.

Biden asked whether state governors should call in National Guard troops to restore order if necessary, replied "no".

In response to a reporter's question, Biden said the campus protests had not forced him to reconsider his policies in the Middle East.

Student protesters are calling for an immediate ceasefire in Gaza and demanding schools divest from companies that support Israel's government.

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2024-05-02 19:52:00Z
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