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South China Morning Post
6 days ago
- Business
- South China Morning Post
Can Southeast Asia contain growing threat of cyber scams?
As Southeast Asian leaders focus on navigating trade tariffs and the US-China rivalry, a growing threat to the region's economic resilience is being largely overlooked: the rise of billion-dollar cyber scam centres operating with impunity. These operations not only endanger financial stability and investor confidence, but are also eroding national sovereignty – all while exploiting the region's young, tech-savvy populations who are increasingly dependent on digital services. The scale of the problem was laid bare earlier when US authorities imposed financial restrictions on entities in Cambodia, Myanmar and the Philippines accused of enabling large-scale cyber scams. Officials alleged that billions of dollars had been laundered through loosely regulated digital payment networks and bulk IP infrastructure, facilitating schemes ranging from crypto investment fraud to hacks attributed to sanctioned state-linked groups. While the moves were hailed as a regulatory breakthrough, analysts warn it is a temporary win at best as the criminal networks behind these scams are highly mobile and adaptable, often resurfacing under different guises after enforcement actions. 08:49 The Chinese criminal gangs behind Southeast Asia's scam centres The Chinese criminal gangs behind Southeast Asia's scam centres According to an April report by the UN Office on Drugs and Crime, 'it is now increasingly clear that a potentially irreversible spillover has taken place in Southeast Asia, leaving criminal groups free to pick, choose, and move jurisdictions, operations, and value as needed.'
Qatar Tribune
21-05-2025
- Health
- Qatar Tribune
Qatar stresses Palestinian people suffer tragic, serious health conditions
GENEVA: The State of Qatar has stressed that the fraternal Palestinian people are suffering from tragic and serious health conditions that cannot and should not be ignored or tolerated, specifically highlighting the situation in the Gaza Strip, which has been subjected to an unjust blockade since 2006 and to a brutal aggression, massacres, and genocide since Oct 7, 2023, which has led to a near-total collapse of the health system, amid unprecedented destruction and widespread devastation of health facilities. This came in a speech delivered by Deputy Permanent Representative of the Permanent Delegation of the State of Qatar in the UN Office in Geneva Jawhara bint Abdulaziz Al Suwaidi, during the discussion session of the draft resolution entitled: 'Health conditions in the occupied Palestinian territory, including East Jerusalem, and in the occupied Syrian Golan', during the 78th World Health Assembly. Jawhara bint Abdulaziz Al Suwaidi indicated that the main reason behind the deterioration of the health situation is primarily due to the aggression, policies and measures practiced by the Israeli occupation authorities - represented by repeated attacks and assaults on Palestinians, the deliberate targeting of hospitals, health facilities and their staff, and food production and distribution sites, depriving them of water, medicine, electricity and fuel, imposing a starvation policy, and preventing the arrival of humanitarian and medical aid. She pointed to discriminatory restrictions on access to health services, the denial of freedom of movement, the closure of crossings, the establishment of settlements, severe restrictions on the movement of ambulances, health workers, patients, and the wounded, and the failure to provide adequate health care to Palestinian detainees and prisoners in Israeli prisons. She also strongly condemned all Israeli policies that violate all international laws, including human rights law and international humanitarian law, and reflect a disregard for the lives of Palestinians, the sick, and the wounded, who are in dire need of treatment and healthcare. She emphasized the Palestinian people's right to access healthcare services that guarantee their dignity and right to life. She added that what is deeply worrying is Israel's, the occupying power, cynical treatment of resolutions issued by international organizations and UN bodies. Instead of respecting, abiding by, and implementing these resolutions, its response has been to continue its genocide of the Palestinian people and commit the most heinous crimes and violations. She urged the international community to shoulder its moral and legal responsibilities, exert greater pressure, and take all necessary measures and actions to put an end to the violations. It also called on the international community to ensure adequate funding to support the immediate and future needs of WHO health programs in the occupied Palestinian territories, including East Jerusalem, and to rebuild the Palestinian health system, in full cooperation with the WHO and relevant United Nations agencies. The Deputy Permanent Representative of the State of Qatar to Geneva urged all countries to support the draft resolution entitled 'Health conditions in the occupied Palestinian territory, including East Jerusalem, and in the occupied Syrian Golan'.
Saudi Gazette
02-04-2025
- Politics
- Saudi Gazette
Saudi Arabia urges stronger global action to protect children in cyberspace at UN
Saudi Gazette report GENEVA — Saudi Arabia has delivered a unified international call for enhanced protection of children in cyberspace during the 58th session of the Human Rights Council in Geneva. Speaking on behalf of more than 70 countries, Ambassador Abdulmohsen bin Khothaila, the Kingdom's Permanent Representative to the UN Office and other international organizations in Geneva, emphasized the urgent need for capacity building and international cooperation to safeguard children online. In his statement, Ambassador Khothaila underscored that protecting children in the digital realm is not just a technical concern, but a vital investment in global security and sustainability. The statement noted significant disparities in resources and infrastructure that leave many developing countries ill-equipped to address the growing digital risks facing children. The ambassador urged stronger collaboration between governments and the private sector to establish effective, practical, and sustainable solutions. He also called on the Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights to provide targeted technical support to countries in need — particularly in developing national legislation, training law enforcement, and implementing secure mechanisms for reporting abuse. The statement concluded by highlighting the shared global responsibility to create a safe digital environment that upholds children's rights and dignity. It also pointed to the Kingdom's leadership in this arena through the recent launch of the Child Protection in Cyberspace (CPC) Global Summit by Crown Prince and Prime Minister Mohammed bin Salman — an initiative aimed at unifying international efforts against online threats to children.
Arab News
03-03-2025
- Politics
- Arab News
West African mission leaves Guinea-Bissau following threats
DAKAR: A mission by a West African regional bloc sent to Guinea-Bissau to resolve a dispute over elections there has left the country following threats by President Umaro Sissoco Embalo, according to a statement. The dispute over the end date of Embalo's term has escalated tensions and raised fears of unrest in the West African nation of Guinea-Bissau, which has endured multiple coups since gaining independence from Portugal over 50 years ago. The opposition argues that Embalo's term, which began in 2020, should have ended last week, while the country's Supreme Court ruled that it ends on Sept. 4. Last month, Embalo announced that the next presidential and parliamentary elections would be held on Nov. 30. The bloc, ECOWAS, said its mission left early on Saturday. It was deployed from Feb. 21 to Feb. 28, together with the UN Office for West Africa and the Sahel, to help broker a consensus on when to hold the presidential election. ECOWAS is West Africa's top political and economic authority, often collaborating with states to solve various domestic challenges. In recent years, however, it has struggled to reverse coups in the region and disputes with citizens complaining of not benefitting from their country's natural resources. Embalo says he has survived two attempts to overthrow him. After the most recent one in Dec. 2023, which involved a shootout between the national and presidential guard, he dissolved the opposition-controlled parliament, accusing it of passivity. Last week, Embalo met with Russian President Vladimir Putin to discuss potential economic and security ties. Russia has emerged as the security partner of choice for many African governments, displacing traditional allies such as France and the US.
Arab Times
28-02-2025
- Politics
- Arab Times
Kuwait Urges Global Action to Protect Palestinian Rights at UNHRC Session
KUWAIT CITY, Feb 27: Kuwait's Permanent Representative to the UN Office and Other International Organizations in Geneva Naser Abdullah Al-Hayen urged the international community to shoulder their responsibility for protecting the inalienable rights of the Palestinian people. In an interactive dialogue with UN High Commissioner for Human Rights during the 58th session of the UN Human Rights Council (UNHRC), Ambassador Al-Hayen stressed the importance of immediate cessation of hostilities in the occupied Palestinian territories and guaranteeing unhindered delivery of humanitarian assistance. He expressed profound concern over the persistence of the occupying power (Israel) in committing serious violations of the provisions of the International Humanitarian Law and the UN Charter. The situations in the Gaza Strip and the occupied West Bank bear the hallmarks of unprecedented atrocities, large-scale destruction of infrastructure and forcible eviction of civilians, most recent of which was in Jenin refugee camp, Ambassador Al-Hayen pointed out. Reiterating rejection of using double standards in dealing with humanitarian issues, he reaffirmed Kuwait's principled stand in support of the establishment of an independent state of Palestine with East Jerusalem as its capital city within the borders of June 4, 1967, as per the provisions of the relevant UN resolutions and the Arab peace initiative. (KUNA)
