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Top News Headlines In Indonesia, Myanmar, Singapore, Thailand & Vietnam: July 27, 2025

Top News Headlines In Indonesia, Myanmar, Singapore, Thailand & Vietnam: July 27, 2025

Barnamaa day ago
The UN climate boss said Saturday that Indonesia should set more ambitious targets in its efforts to tackle global warming, saying that such a move would be necessary if it wished to unlock green financing and investments.
Human Rights Minister Natalius Pigai has clarified that the data transfer clause in the newly announced Indonesia-United States reciprocal trade agreement framework will not infringe on human rights.
MYANMAR
1.FARM GOODS, GEMSTONES TO BE EXHIBITED IN CHINA -- THE GLOBAL NEW LIGHT OF MYANMAR
Myanmar will exhibit about 80 booths at the 22nd China-ASEAN Expo in Nanning, China, scheduled to be held from September 17 to 21. Agro-based products and gemstones will be exhibited among other Myanmar products.
2.NEARLY 50 PER CENT OF STUDENTS PASSED MATRICULATION -- THE GLOBAL NEW LIGHT OF MYANMAR
Almost 48 per cent of the students who sat for the March 2025 metrication exams passed their examinations. Over 200,000 students took the exam and 99,000 passed. This includes those who reset in June due to the March earthquake.
SINGAPORE
1.TRUMP SAYS THAILAND AND CAMBODIA AGREE TO HOLD IMMEDIATE CEASEFIRE TALKS -- THE STRAITS TIMES/REUTERS
US President Donald Trump said on July 26 that the leaders of Cambodia and Thailand had agreed to meet immediately to quickly work out a ceasefire, as he sought to broker peace after three days of fighting along their border.
2.TRUMP SAYS THAILAND, CAMBODIA AGREE TO HOLD IMMEDIATE CEASEFIRE TALKS -- CNA/REUTERS
US President Donald Trump said on Saturday (Jul 26) that the leaders of Cambodia and Thailand had agreed to meet immediately to quickly work out a ceasefire, as he sought to broker peace after three days of fighting along their border.
THAILAND
1. FLOODING CRISIS IN SUKHOTHAI AND PHRAE PROVINCES AS RIVER LEVELS RISE, EMERGENCY WARNINGS ISSUED -- THE NATION Severe flooding in Sukhothai and Phrae prompts emergency warnings. Citizens urged to evacuate as floodwaters surge, with up to 3-metre levels reported.
2. GOVT WARNS AGAINST ONLINE HATRED -- BANGKOK POST The government has issued a strong warning to local youths and social media influencers against inciting or engaging in violence towards Cambodian nationals in Thailand.
VIETNAM
1.URBAN RAILWAY PROJECTS TO BEGIN SOON -- VIETNAMPLUS
Hanoi has instructed local authorities to be ready to begin the construction of its urban railway projects this year. The Hanoi Metropolitan Railway Management will work with local departments and communes to ensure the project is implemented smoothly.
2.NAVY PREPARING TO MARK 80TH ANNIVERSARY -- VIETNAM NEWS
The Vietnam People's Navy will commemorate its 80th anniversary on September 2. It also coincides with the 80th anniversary of the August Revolution and National Day on the same date. An armed forces parade will be held at sea to mark the celebration.
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Urgent need for 'global approach' on AI regulation: UN tech chief
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Urgent need for 'global approach' on AI regulation: UN tech chief

GENEVA: The world urgently needs to find a global approach on regulating artificial intelligence, the United Nations' top tech chief said this week, warning that fragmentation could deepen risks and inequalities. Doreen Bogdan-Martin, head of the UN's International Telecommunications Union (ITU) agency, told AFP she hoped that AI "can actually benefit humanity". But as concerns mount over the risks posed by the fast-moving technology – including fears of mass job losses, the spread of deepfakes and disinformation, and society's fabric fraying – she insisted that regulation was key. "There's an urgency to try to get... the right framework in place," she said, stressing the need for "a global approach". Her comments came after US President Donald Trump this week unveiled an aggressive, low-regulation strategy aimed at ensuring the United States stays ahead of China on AI. Among more than 90 proposals, Trump's plan calls for sweeping deregulation, with the administration promising to "remove red tape and onerous regulation" that could hinder private sector AI development. Asked if she had concerns about an approach that urges less, not more, regulation of AI technologies, Bogdan-Martin refrained from commenting, saying she was "still trying to digest" the US plan. 'Critical' "I think there are different approaches," she said. "We have the EU approach. We have the Chinese approach. Now we're seeing the US approach. I think what's needed is for those approaches to dialogue," she said. At the same time, she highlighted that "85 percent of countries don't yet have AI policies or strategies". A consistent theme among those strategies that do exist is the focus on innovation, capacity building and infrastructure investments, Bogdan-Martin said. "But where I think the debate still needs to happen at a global level is trying to figure out how much regulation, how little regulation, is needed," she said. Bogdan-Martin, who grew up in New Jersey and has spent most of her more than three-decade career at the ITU, insisted the Geneva-based telecoms agency that sets standards for new technologies was well-placed to help facilitate much-needed dialogue on the issue. "The need for a global approach I think is critical," she said, cautioning that "fragmented approaches will not help serve and reach all". As countries and companies sprint to cement their dominance in the booming sector, there are concerns that precautions could be thrown to the wind – and that those who lose the race or do not have the capacity to participate will be left behind. 'Huge gap' The ITU chief hailed "mind-blowing" advances within artificial intelligence, with the potential to improve everything from education to agriculture to health care – but insisted the benefits must be shared. Without a concerted effort, there is a risk that AI will end up standing for "advancing inequalities", she warned, cautioning against deepening an already dire digital divide worldwide. "We have 2.6 billion people that have no access to the internet, which means they have no access to artificial intelligence", Bogdan-Martin pointed out. "We have to tackle those divides if we're actually going to have something that is beneficial to all of humanity." Bogdan-Martin, the first woman to serve as ITU secretary-general in the organisation's nearly 160-year history, also stressed the need to get more women into the digital space. "We have a huge gap," she said. "We definitely don't have enough women... in artificial intelligence." The 58-year-old mother of four said it was "a big honour" to be the first woman in her position, to be "breaking the glass ceiling (and) paving the path for future generations". But she acknowledged there was a lot of pressure, "not just to achieve, but to almost overachieve". Bogdan-Martin, who is being backed by the Trump administration to stand for re-election when her four-year mandate ends next year, said she was eager to stay on for a second term. "There is a lot to do." – AFP

Peace meeting between Thailand and Cambodia begins in Putrajaya
Peace meeting between Thailand and Cambodia begins in Putrajaya

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Peace meeting between Thailand and Cambodia begins in Putrajaya

PUTRAJAYA: The much-anticipated peace meeting between leaders of Malaysia, Thailand, and Cambodia officially began at 3.15 p.m. on Monday (July 28) at Kompleks Seri Perdana. The closed-door session is chaired by Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim, with Cambodian Prime Minister Hun Manet and Thailand's acting Prime Minister Phumtham Wechayachai in attendance. These high-level talks aim to resolve the recent border conflict between Thailand and Cambodia. Also present are US Ambassador to Malaysia Edgard D. Kagan and Chinese Ambassador to Malaysia Ouyang Yujing, signifying strong international backing for the mediation. Both Washington and Beijing have urged restraint and encouraged a diplomatic solution to the growing tensions. A live broadcast of a joint press conference is expected later this evening, where the three leaders are likely to announce the outcomes of the meeting. Anwar had earlier said that both Thailand and Cambodia had approached Malaysia to mediate the talks, with an immediate ceasefire being the foremost agenda item. He said the discussion between the two leaders came about after US President Donald Trump urged them to find a solution to the crisis. He also mentioned that a team from Malaysia and possibly some from neighbouring countries are set to monitor the discussion to ensure it is executed well. "So, within our means, we try our best. We are given that confidence and respect, and they are of course our close friends, our neighbours, and we work together,' said Anwar.

Chinese consumer complaints show widespread padding of car sales figures
Chinese consumer complaints show widespread padding of car sales figures

New Straits Times

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Chinese consumer complaints show widespread padding of car sales figures

BEIJING: A tactic used by Chinese automakers and dealers to inflate car sales has grown increasingly common in recent years in response to a bruising price war in the world's largest auto market, a Reuters analysis of consumer complaints has found. Earlier this month, Reuters reported EV brands Neta and Zeekr had arranged for cars to be insured before buyers purchased them, a scheme that effectively inflates sales numbers and gives the appearance the companies were hitting periodic targets. But the controversial tactic was not limited to the two companies and was employed elsewhere in the industry, according to a Reuters review of 97 separate consumer complaints published on three widely used Chinese websites. In more than a dozen cases, buyers said they were informed by dealerships that the practice was specifically designed to meet sales targets. The allegations cover some of China's largest domestic and foreign brands by sales volume, including homegrown champion BYD and Toyota, Volkswagen and Buick. The three foreign brands operate their China businesses in partnerships with state-owned giants GAC and SAIC Motor Group. While the earliest complaints date back to 2021, the majority were published this year and last as a price war squeezed an industry crucial to China's export-driven economy. Reuters reviewed complaints posted on a third-party site used for consumer dispute resolutions, and two other similar sites. The platforms require owners to verify their identity and submit proof of their allegations. In most of the cases reviewed, the automakers responded publicly, saying they sought to resolve problems. Reuters was not able to independently verify the complaints or their resolutions. It is not clear what portion of China's car sales were inflated by the insurance scheme. SAIC, which is a China joint venture partner for Volkswagen and Buick-owner General Motors, said it is committed to providing users with high-quality and standardised sales services but did not elaborate. The practice effectively disguises how much inventory automakers actually held, said Yale Zhang, managing director at consultancy Automotive Foresight. "That could lead to a misjudgement of monthly demand within the industry and result in increased production scheduling," Zhang said. Consumer anger Between 2021 and 2025, 48 separate buyers said on that they purchased new cars only to later discover they were already insured by the dealer. Many of the buyers said they felt deceived by the dealerships, especially when they realised the insurance on their cars was registered in other names. Likewise, there were 26 separate complaints published between 2021 and 2025 on the 315 auto consumer complaint platform, run by the state-owned China Internet Information Center. Another 23 were posted between 2022 and 2025 on Black Cat, a widely used consumer complaint platform run by tech firm Sina. In 14 complaints on the three platforms, buyers of BYD-, Neta-, Toyota-, Buick- and Chevrolet-branded cars said they were told by dealers the practice was aimed at booking sales early to meet targets. One complaint, filed in December against a SAIC GM dealer on alleged the automaker required 60 cars to be insured without buyers to meet sales targets. Another complaint on filed in April alleged a BYD store in Shaanxi told a buyer it had 12 cars insured in a batch to inflate sales last July. Buyers of Li Auto, Changan, FAW-Volkswagen and Geely also reported cars being insured pre-purchase. A Volkswagen Group China spokesperson said it refused to boost sales figures through insurance and that complaints would be investigated. Dealer complaints Separately, Reuters identified 29 official media reports from 2020 to 2025 that detailed complaints against dealers of major brands, including BYD and Changan and foreign brands Volkswagen, GM, Toyota, Nissan and Honda, run by their joint ventures with state-owned Chinese automakers. The media outlets, across 15 provinces and cities, are controlled and owned by the regional governments. In nine cases, dealers representing FAW Hongqi, SAIC Roewe, SAIC VW, Dongfeng Nissan, GAC Toyota, GAC Honda and SAIC GM told official media that insuring unsold vehicles was for booking purchases early to meet sales targets. A Honda spokesperson said that GAC Honda prohibits dealers from taking out compulsory insurance before selling new cars and that any dealers found doing so would be dealt with severely. FAW Hongqi said it does not use insurance plans to pre-confirm sales and any such activity was not official company action. 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Wholesale figures reported by automakers to the industry association show sales from automakers to dealers, while retail data compiled from mandatory traffic insurance registrations show the number of sales to users. Accusations of selling cars with existing insurance policies date back to 2016 when a Cadillac buyer told a regional radio programme he found the car was insured before his purchase. The practice appears to have picked up after the price war started in early 2023, when several brands led by Li Auto started posting weekly sales rankings on social media based on insurance registrations. The China Association of Automobile Manufacturers has criticised such postings as unreliable and this month blamed them for intensifying "vicious" competition.

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