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ASEAN-BAC urges concrete action

James Kon

The ASEAN Business Advisory Council (ASEAN-BAC) urged policymakers to take concrete action on trade facilitation, connectivity and digital transformation during its online dialogue session with ASEAN Economic Ministers (AEM) on Wednesday.

ASEAN-BAC Chair Neak Oknha Kith Meng urged the AEM to implement critical reforms which are crucial for the realisation of the 2025 ASEAN Economic Community (AEC) Strategic Blueprint, the five to six perfect annual trajectory growth of ASEAN and ASEAN as the fourth largest economy in the world by 2030.

He also urged economic ministers to push for full Regional Comprehensive Economic Partnership (RCEP) participation of all 10 ASEAN member states, as well as for a green and sustainable economic recovery.

He emphasised that the private and public sectors should work closely to address challenges together to realise the ASEAN aspiration.

Meanwhile, Legislative Council member and Co-Chair of the ASEAN-BAC 2022 Yang Berhormat Siti Rozaimeriyanty binti Dato Seri Laila Jasa Haji Abdul Rahman updated the AEM on the Harnessing Impact With Resilient Employability Digitally (HIRED) legacy project and the Chairmanship 2021 report.

She said three initiatives in the pipeline are data analytics pilot programme working bilaterally with United Kingdom’s (UK)-Department for International trade, launching of a private sector page on the SEA-VET.net in collaboration with GIZ RECOTVET and SEAMEO Voctech, and seeking endorsement support from the ASEAN Coordinating Committee on micro, small and medium enterprises (ACCMSME) in expanding the project across the region.

Minister at the Prime Minister’s Office and Minister of Finance and Economy II Dato Seri Setia Dr Awang Haji Mohd Amin Liew bin Abdullah, Legislative Council member Yang Berhormat Siti Rozaimeriyanty binti Dato Seri Laila Jasa Haji Abdul Rahman, ASEAN Secretary-General Dato Paduka Lim Jock Hoi, Dynamik Technologies CEO Haslina binti Haji Mohd Taib and other ASEAN economic ministers (AEM) during a dialogue session between the AEM and ASEAN-BAC. PHOTO: ASEAN-BAC

She said the ASEAN BAC Chairmanship Annual Report 2021 is in the finalisation process.

ASEAN BAC Brunei member and CEO of Dynamik Technologies Haslina binti Haji Mohd Taib updated the AEM on ASEAN Digital Gateway, an initiative launched during the ASEAN Business and Investment Summit 2021 to facilitate safer travels, seamless processes, and provide standardised, integrated platform, protocols, and ecosystem across ASEAN.

“Since the launch, the legacy project has further called for the standardisation of vaccination certificate, clarity and harmonisation of quarantine period and swabs across the region.

Essential data required for travel are encrypted and exchanged on private permissioned blockchain, while ensuring national data sovereignty,” she said.

The dialogue was chaired by Cambodian Minister of Commerce and AEM Chair Pan Sorasak and was attended by the AEM of 10 ASEAN member countries, senior officials, ASEAN-BAC members and other representatives from various organisations.

ASEAN-BAC members also provided updates on other projects and interventions including ASEAN Travel Wallet, Digital Trade Connect, Smart Growth Connect, MSME Empowerment, Green and Sustainable Economy Working Group, recommendation on issues related to trade facilitation, and Business Sentiment from Myanmar.

The AEM and ASEAN Secretary-General commended the achievements by ASEAN-BAC and took note of recommendations by ASEAN-BAC for consideration and further actions. They urged stakeholders to work closely with ASEAN-BAC.

VW recalls over 246,000 SUVs due to unexpected braking

DETROIT (AP) – Volkswagen (VW) is recalling more than 246,000 SUVs in the United States (US) and Canada because faulty wiring harnesses can make them brake unexpectedly, sometimes while in traffic.

The recall comes three days after The Associated Press reported that 47 people had complained to US safety regulators about the problem, some reporting nearly being rear-ended by other vehicles. Many reported that warning lights and alarms would go off, the driver’s side windows would roll down and the SUVs would suddenly brake while in traffic.

Volkswagen said in documents posted on Friday by the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) that the recall covers certain Atlas SUVs from the 2019 through 2023 model years, as well as the 2020 through 2023 Atlas Cross Sport.

The documents said the electrical contacts on a wiring harness in either of the front doors can corrode, interrupting electrical connections. The problem can cause the side air bags to deploy late in a crash, and the parking brake can come on unexpectedly. Volkswagen said in documents that the SUVs can brake at speeds below three kilometres per hour.

But many of those who complained to NHTSA said the unwanted braking happened while they were driving on city streets, putting them in danger. A driver from Mansfield, Ohio, wrote in a complaint that the braking happened multiple times at speeds of 25 to 70 miles per hour.

Kendall Heiman stands with the loaner car she has driven for the past two months. PHOTO: AP

A Lawrence, Kansas, clinical social worker Kendall Heiman said her 2021 Atlas Cross Sport tried to stop multiple times while she was driving on roads, often while it was decelerating.

Heiman said she was nearly rear-ended by another SUV while heading into a roundabout. It also braked while she was exiting a highway, she said.

She and others complained that VW had no parts available to fix their vehicles, which sat at dealerships for more than two months. Heiman was given loaner cars, but some of those who complained to NHTSA said they were told by dealers that VW would not provide loaners.

Documents filed with the government by VW show the company started getting complaints in 2020. An analysis was started, but VW initially handled the problem as a regular quality issue. In 2021 the company began analysing parts taken from vehicles, and it found the corrosion problem in a lab.

Malay language is important for national unity

Adib Noor

Around 90 participated in a special webinar to discuss the significance of the Malay language to preserve the unity of the nation in conjunction with Brunei Darussalam’s 38th National Day.

The webinar was organised by the Brunei-US Association (BUSA), in collaboration with the Brunei History Association (PESEBAR) and the Language and Literature Bureau (DBP).

During the webinar, President of PESEBAR Dr Muhammad Hadi bin Muhammad Melayong delivered a talk on the heritage and significance of the Malay language in shaping the Sultanate’s identity and ideology of Malay Islamic Monarchy (MIB). An officer from DBP Hajah Norati binti Bakar also gave a special talk.

BUSA President Salimah binti Haji Saim stated that the webinar aimed to increase understanding of BUSA members on the role of the Malay language in national unity.

“It is also hoped that the webinar will bring the participants closer to make use of the Malay language in the day-to-day lives and dignify the Malay language to the American community living in the country,” said the president.

ABOVE & BELOW: Attendees and speakers of a special webinar on the Malay language organised by BUSA. PHOTOS: ADIB NOOR

GM buying Softbank’s stake in Cruise robo-car unit for USD2.1B

DETROIT (AP) – General Motors (GM) said on Friday that it is paying USD2.1 billion to buy out Japanese tech investment firm Softbank’s stake in the Detroit automaker’s Cruise autonomous vehicle subsidiary.

Softbank paid USD2.25 billion for a 20 per cent stake in Cruise in 2018 as part of a wave of investment in self-driving technology.

GM also said it is making an additional USD1.35 billion investment in Cruise, in which it acquired a majority stake in 2016. Others Cruise investors include Honda, Microsoft, mutual fund company T Rowe Price, and Walmart.

Cruise is operating a small fleet of autonomous vehicles in San Francisco that it opened to the general public at the beginning of February.

GM acquired a majority stake in Cruise in 2016. PHOTO: AFP

Swiatek, Sakkari advance to Indian Wells final

INDIAN WELLS, CALIFORNIA (AP) – Iga Swiatek rallied from a break down in each set to beat Simona Halep 7-6 (6), 6-4 early yesterday and reach the final of the BNP Paribas Open.

Maria Sakkari outlasted defending champion Paula Badosa 6-2, 4-6, 6-1 and will play Swiatek in today’s final. Either fourth-ranked Swiatek or sixth-ranked Sakkari would move to number two in the world by earning the title.

It’s a rematch of last month’s semifinals in Doha, where Swiatek beat Sakkari for the first time, 6-4, 6-3 and went on to win the title.

After splitting sets, Sakkari took a 2-0 lead in the third.

”Even though I lost the second set, the way I lost it was by playing aggressive, which helped me a lot on the third set,” Sakkari said.

Badosa broke back, but Sakkari won the last four games to close out the victory and reach the biggest final of her career.

”She served well. She was moving very well. She was playing very fast,” Badosa said. ”She didn’t let me a lot of time to build the points.”

Iga Swiatek returns a shot to Simona Halep during the semifinals of the BNP Paribas Open at the Indian Wells Tennis Garden. PHOTO: AFP

In the first semifinal, Swiatek saved two set points in the first-set tiebreaker when she overcame deficits of 3-1 and 5-3. She won the the final four points, with Halep committing errors on three of those points, before Swiatek cracked a forehand winner off Halep’s second serve. Halep received a racket abuse warning for smashing her racket on the court.

Swiatek took a 2-1 lead in the second set that featured five service breaks. Halep took a medical timeout and had a trainer wrap her upper left thigh.

Halep then broke Swiatek twice while taking the next three games for a 4-2 lead. But Swiatek took over from there. She won the last four games in a row, with Halep winning just four points total on her serve while getting broken twice.

”We had like the longest rallies I played here,” Swiatek said. ”At the beginning I had to adjust a little bit to the new rhythm because Simona was for sure playing good than my opponents in previous rounds, and I’m pretty proud that I did that. Mentally, I was pretty strong.”

On the men’s side, Taylor Fritz defeated Miomir Kecmanovic of Serbia, 7-6 (5), 3-6, 6-1 to reach the semifinals for the second time in five months.

The 24-year-old American is in the midst of the best stretch of his young career, and it all began in the desert in October. That’s when the tournament was held last year, pushed out of its traditional March spot because of the COVID-19 pandemic.

In 2021, Fritz came into Indian Wells ranked 39th in the world. He beat top-10 players Matteo Berrettini and Alexander Zverev before losing in the semis to Nikoloz Basilashvili of Georgia.

He’s now number 20 – having reached a career-high 16th in February – and is 24-8 since last year’s tournament. He’s made the quarterfinals in five tournaments and reached the fourth round of a Grand Slam tournament for the first time in January at the Australian Open.

”Things are starting to come together,” he said. ”I feel like my level as a player has gone up a tonne.”

Fritz has recorded many milestones at Indian Wells, where he’s always a crowd favourite. He first began coming to the event as a kid, having grown up near San Diego as the son of former WTA Tour player Kathy May.

Fritz made his debut in a Masters 1000 main draw at Indian Wells and notched his first top-10 win here in 2017.

His father, Guy Fritz, is a former ATP Tour pro who coaches the men’s tennis team at the nearby College of the Desert. ”It feels like a second home,” he said.

”Just the energy is completely different.”

Fritz is the first American to reach consecutive semifinals at Indian Wells since Andy Roddick in 2009-10.

The last American to win the tournament was Andre Agassi in 2001; Fritz was three years old at the time.

”There’s no place I’d rather have these results than here,” Fritz said.

Fritz next plays number seven seed Andrey Rublev of Russia, who beat Grigor Dimitrov of Bulgaria, 7-5 6-2.

Rublev has won 13 consecutive matches and is coming off back-to-back titles in Marseille and Dubai. He never trailed against Dimitrov and dropped serve just once in the one-and-a-half hour match that paired former world number one junior players.

Four Americans killed in US marine plane crash in Norway

OSLO (AFP) – A United States (US) marine plane taking part in a North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO) exercise has crashed in Norway, killing all four Americans on board, the Scandinavian country’s army said yesterday. The four-person crew were taking part in the Cold Response 2022 military exercises involving 30,000 people from NATO and partner countries.

Their plane, a V-22B Osprey aircraft belonging to the US Marine Corps, was reported missing on Friday evening south of Bodo in northern Norway.

At 1.30am (0030 GMT) yesterday, “the police arrived at the scene. The police in Nordland County now confirm that the crew of four have died. As far as the police know, the four are of American nationality,” it said in a statement.

The US Marine Corps earlier confirmed “a mishap” involving a MV-22B Osprey during the exercises and said Norwegian civil authorities were leading the search and rescue efforts.

Cold Response 2022 aims to test how Norway would manage allied reinforcements on its soil in the event that NATO’s mutual defence clause were triggered.

Tensions between Russia and NATO have soared following Moscow’s invasion of Ukraine, but the exercises were planned long before that offensive began on February 24.

A United States Marine Corps Osprey aircraft. PHOTO: AFP

Firefighters gain ground on Texas wildfires

EASTLAND, TEXAS (AP) – Fire crews in West Texas made progress yesterday against a massive complex of wildfires that have killed one person and burned at least 50 homes, officials said.

Winds diminished yesterday, raising hopes for the attack on the flames, said spokesman for the task force attacking the wildfire complex near Eastland, about 120 miles west of Dallas, Angel Lopez.

However, gusty winds were expected to return, again raising the wildfire threat to critical levels in western and central Texas, he said.

At a news conference in Eastland, Governor Greg Abbott said late on Friday that at least 50 homes had been destroyed by flames with more possibly to be found.

He declared a disaster in the 11 counties hardest hit by wildfires. The Texas A&M Forest Services warned that fires could also affect parts of Oklahoma and Kansas, and Nebraska warned of an extreme fire risk.

Flames quickly spread through dry grass west of Abilene, Texas near Old Highway. PHOTO: AP

The Eastland County Sheriff’s Office released more details on the death of Deputy Sergeant Barbara Fenley. In a statement, the office said she was going door to door, getting residents to evacuate their homes on Thursday and it was “last heard that she was going to check on an elderly individual”.

“With the extreme deteriorating conditions and low visibility from smoke, Sergeant Fenley ran off the roadway and was engulfed in the fire,” the sheriff’s statement said. As of Friday afternoon, the fires had burned about 130 square miles, about 70 square miles in the Eastland Complex alone, according to Texas A&M Forest Service. The fires in that complex were only four per cent contained late on Friday, with fires burning in thick brush and grass fields.

About 18,000 people live in Eastland County. About 475 homes were evacuated in the town of Gorman, said spokesman for Texas A&M Forest Service Matthew Ford.

Several months of dry, windy weather have fuelled deadly wildfires in Kansas and Oklahoma, including one a few weeks ago. In remote, western Nebraska ranching country, a large wildfire has been burning for several days. Meteorologists said they were hopeful that rain showers expected early next week across the Plains would reduce the risk.

“We’ve been so dry that even an inch of rain would make a difference,” said National Weather Service meteorologist in Wichita Kansas Robb Lawson.

Facilitating regional cross-border trade

Twenty-nine representatives from public and private sectors attended a virtual outreach event on the ASEAN Trade Repository (ATR) and the ASEAN Solutions for Investments, Services and Trade (ASSIST) on Tuesday.

The event was organised by the ASEAN Regional Integration Support from the European Union (ARISE Plus), in partnership and collaboration with ASEAN Business Advisroy Council (ASEAN-BAC) Brunei and DARe (Darussalam Enterprise).

DARe CEO Javed Ahmad said, “Trade facilitation is particularly important for the micro, small and medium enterprises (MSMEs) as they are hit hardest by the crisis. 

“In the midst of this global crisis, international cooperation in trade facilitation will remain important to keep trade flowing,” he said.

Legislative Council member Yang Berhormat Siti Rozaimeriyanty binti Dato Seri Laila Jasa Haji Abdul Rahman said, “ASEAN-BAC always emphasises on the importance of public-private sector engagement in driving regional economic integration and trade facilitation as our priority.

Legislative Council member Yang Berhormat Siti Rozaimeriyanty binti Dato Seri Laila Jasa Haji Abdul Rahman and other participants at the outreach programme. PHOTO: ATR-ASSIST

“We believe it has to go in tandem to achieve our ASEAN Economic Community (AEC) goals. After all, ASEAN has to remain in solidarity for collective action as we are set to become the fourth largest economy by 2030.”

Representatives from National Chamber of Commerce and Industry Brunei Darussalam (NCCIBD), Brunei Malay Chamber of Commerce and Industry (DPPMB), French Bruneian Business Association (FBBA), SME business owners and other trade associations attended the outreach event.

Meanwhile, an ASSIST Train-the-Trainers Workshop was held on March 16-17, to helped participants develop, organise and deliver training modules on how to use ASSIST.

“Businesses can also leverage on the adoption of technology and digital tools, such as the ASSIST platform and reap the benefits of an online, consultative mechanism to find solutions to problems encountered by the ASEAN private sector on cross-border issues,” said CEO of Dynamik Technologies Haslina binti Haji Mohd Taib.

Managing Director of Adinin Group of Companies Haji Musa bin Haji Adnin said, “Participants that are now elevated to the role of trainers are encouraged to benefit from the ASSIST platform by sharing the information to their colleagues, business organisations and fellow entrepreneurs.”

James scores 35, Lakers beat Raptors, snap three-game skid

TORONTO (AP) – LeBron James scored 19 of his 36 points in the fourth quarter and overtime, Russell Westbrook had 22 points, 10 rebounds, and 10 assists, and the Los Angeles Lakers snapped a three-game losing streak by beating the Toronto Raptors 128-123 early yesterday.

Avery Bradley hit a go-ahead three-pointer with 32.5 seconds left in the extra session, putting the visitors up 125-123, then added a pair of free throws after a turnover by Toronto rookie Scottie Barnes.

”To be able to come into a very hostile environment and win a basketball game, and the way we won it, was big for our team,” James said. ”We needed literally every minute, all 53 of them, to accomplish that.”

Wenyen Gabriel scored 17 points, Bradley had 14 and Austin Reaves 10 as Los Angeles avenged last Monday’s home loss to the Raptors and ended Toronto’s winning streak at five.

”I thought we did a great job of just sticking to our principles, grinding the game out,” Westbrook said. ”This was a grind-out game.”

The Lakers snapped an 11-game road losing streak that dated back to a January 25 victory at Brooklyn. Los Angeles also ended a seven-game losing streak north of the border.

Toronto Raptors Dalano Banton has his shot blocked by Los Angeles Lakers’ LeBron James. PHOTO: AP

”It’s a great feeling,” Bradley said. ”It was a great accomplishment for us tonight to go out there and be able to play the right way on both ends of the floor. It was really refreshing.”
James shot 15 for 26 and went two for seven from three-point range. He had nine rebounds.

”That’s part of what makes him the greatest is his ability to just make whatever play is necessary, whatever side of the floor,” Lakers coach Frank Vogel said.

Barnes set career-highs with 31 points and 17 rebounds, Gary Trent Jr scored 23 points and Fred Van Vleet 20. Precious Achiuwa scored 18 points, but made a costly turnover that led to Westbrook’s tying three with less than a second to play.

Toronto looked to have the game won after Trent hit a go-ahead three with 25 seconds left, and James and Westbrook both missed from distance at the other end, with Trent grabbing the rebound.

Los Angeles got a break when Achiuwa turned the ball over with five seconds left and Westbrook hit a tying three with less than one second remaining.

Westbrook said he snuck a look at his feet and slid his right toe back to make sure he wasn’t on the line for his pivotal shot. His triple-double was his 10th of the season and the 194th of his career.

Toronto couldn’t get a shot off on its final possession, sending it to OT.

The Lakers made their first six field-goal attempts of the game, including three from long range, to lead 15-5, but Toronto reclaimed the advantage with a 18-3 spurt. Making his first start for Los Angeles, Gabriel shot six for six in the first quarter and scored 14 points as the Lakers led 33-30 after one.

James scored 12 points in the second. Los Angeles led 59-55 at the half, but Barnes had 12 in the third as Toronto took an 89-88 lead to the fourth.

Argentina recall Messi, add Man Utd starlet for World Cup qualifiers

BUENOS AIRES (AFP) – Star forward Lionel Messi returns to the Argentina fold for two World Cup qualifiers later this month after he was included in coach Lionel Scaloni’s squad announced on Friday.

But the big surprise was the inclusion of seven teenagers playing for academy teams in Europe, including Manchester United winger Alejandro Garnacho.

Born in Spain to Argentine parents, 17-year-old Garnacho moved from Atletico Madrid to Manchester two years ago but has not yet played for the first team.

However, he caught the eye earlier this season with a stunning length-of-the-field solo goal against Everton in the FA Youth Cup.

Like the other young players in Scaloni’s squad – Nicolas Paz of Real Madrid, Villarreal’s Tiago Geralnik, Inter Milan brothers Franco and Valentin Carboni, Matias Soule of Juventus and Lazio’s Lucas Romero – Garnacho qualifies to play for another country.

Scaloni has been quick to include them in his senior plans in an attempt to tie their futures to the two-time World Cup winners.

Garnacho and Paz, the son of former Argentina international Pablo Paz, have already played for Spain’s age-grade teams.

Seven-time Ballon d’Or winner Messi missed the previous two qualifiers in January having contracted COVID in December.

But the 35-year-old – his country’s captain, most capped player and record goalscorer – will be available to face Venezuela in Buenos Aires on March 25 and Ecuador in Quito four days later.

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Borneo Bulletin is the leading English daily in the country. It was first published by Brunei Press. Today, Borneo Bulletin has become the foremost source of information on local and foreign affairs, and the region’s business news.

© 2013 Borneo Bulletin Online - The Independent Newspaper in Brunei Darussalam, Sabah and Sarawak

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