South China Morning Post Southeast Asia's latest news, current affairs, politics and regional issues.
- China slow to curb coal financing as Japan, South Korea ‘accept new reality’ on phasing out fossil fuelsby Harry Pearl on August 15, 2020 at 4:00 am
China risks being left behind as South Korea and Japan signal a shift away from financing overseas coal power in response to growing criticism over their support for the dirty fossil fuel.The three countries are the top global lenders for coal energy infrastructure, bankrolling projects beyond their borders through export credit agencies and developing new markets to export coal plant technology.But there are signs that Japan and South Korea may be preparing to scale back official support amid…
- Hun Manet, Cambodia’s leader in waiting: US military-educated, but China’s man?by Danielle Keeton-Olsen on August 15, 2020 at 1:00 am
When Cambodia’s long-serving Prime Minister Hun Sen visited Beijing in February, trailing behind him as he shook hands with Foreign Minister Wang Yi was his eldest son, Hun Manet.To discerning eyes, the scene was evidence not only of Hun Sen’s strengthening ties with Beijing – the visit took place despite the widespread suspension of flights to China amid the first wave of coronavirus infections – but also of Manet’s ascendancy as his father’s preferred successor.While other countries have…
- Thailand eyes rich expats from Hong Kong, Australia with ‘coronavirus haven’ visa schemeby Bloomberg on August 15, 2020 at 12:00 am
Thailand’s “pay to stay” visa programme for wealthy foreigners is seeing an expansion opportunity, with visions of the country becoming a haven for expats from Hong Kong, Australia and farther abroad, thanks to its relative success in containing the coronavirus.The Thailand Elite Card is a residential-visa scheme for affluent expats, investors and long-stay groups.Membership, which ranges from 500,000 baht to 2 million baht (US$16,000 to US$64,000), provides for a renewable five-year visa. It…
- Philippines bans chicken imports from Brazil after Chinese reportsby Reuters on August 14, 2020 at 12:54 pm
The Philippines on Friday imposed a temporary ban on poultry meat imports from Brazil after two cities in China found traces of the new coronavirus in cargoes of imported frozen food, including chicken wings from the South American country.Shenzhen city authorities identified the chicken as originating from a plant owned by Aurora, Brazil’s third-largest poultry and pork exporter.Brazil has the world’s second-worst Covid-19 outbreak after the United States, recording more than 3.2 million cases…
- Cambodian police chief accused of sexually abusing women officersby Thomson Reuters Foundation on August 14, 2020 at 11:56 am
A high-ranking police official in Cambodia has been suspended from duties pending an investigation into “unprecedented” allegations of sexual misconduct made by four junior female officers that hit the headlines, according to the Interior Ministry.Ouk Kosal, a two-star major general and provincial police chief, is accused of forcing officers to perform sex acts at work under the threat of blocking their progress in the force.Previous complaints against the senior official were met with ridicule…