KHARTOUM (AFP) – The United Nations (UN) will launch talks to help Sudan resolve its escalating political crisis triggered by last year’s military coup, the UN envoy said, earning a mixed response.
“It is time to end the violence and enter into a comprehensive consultative process,” said UN special representative Volker Perthes, vowing at a press conference to facilitate “indirect talks” between all sides.
His comments came a day after Sudanese security forces again fired tear gas at anti-coup protesters, leaving two demonstrators dead including one who died on Monday morning from wounds to the head.
Perthes said consultations would be held with political and social actors along with armed and civil society groups. But he stressed that “the UN is not coming up with any project, draft or vision for a solution”.
“These are all Sudanese issues for the Sudanese to agree on,” he said, ahead of a scheduled meeting by the UN Security Council today to discuss the crisis in the northeast African country.
People chant slogans during a protest to denounce the October 2021 military coup in Khartoum, Sudan. PHOTO: AP
Sudan was thrown into turmoil when Army Chief General Abdel Fattah al-Burhan launched the power grab on October 25, detaining Prime Minister Abdalla Hamdok and his Cabinet for several weeks.
The putsch derailed a fragile power-sharing transition between the military and civilian leaders that followed the 2019 ouster of longtime autocrat Omar al-Bashir.
Crowds of Sudanese have taken to the streets since – sometimes in their tens of thousands – to demand civilian rule.
At least 63 people have been killed in a violent crackdown, according to medics.
Later on Monday, Sudan’s ruling sovereign council – formed by Burhan following the coup with himself as its chair – welcomed the UN push.
In a statement, the council also called for the African Union – which suspended Sudan following the coup – “to back the initiative and contribute to the success of the Sudanese dialogue efforts.”
The UN-facilitated talks now “aim to support the Sudanese to reach an agreement on a way out of the current crisis,” said Perthes, who heads the UN Integrated Transition Assistance Mission in Sudan (UNITAMS).
NEW YORK (AFP) – Video game publisher Take-Two announced on Monday it reached a deal to acquire Farmville creator Zynga for USD12.7 billion, in a major mobile gaming push by the maker of Grand Theft Auto.
The merger brings Take-Two, a leader in console and personal computing games, together with a company with strength in interactive games played on mobile devices, such as Farmville, which first became a phenomenon in the 2010s on Facebook.
The deal comes as Take-Two plans more smart phone versions of its games, which also include Red Dead Redemption and NBA2K.
The transaction also is designed to promote Take-Two’s growth outside of its core markets in the United States and Western Europe. Take-Two officials emphasised that Zynga has a presence in more than 175 countries.
Zynga’s games are generally free to play and the company generates revenues through the sale of in-game virtual items and advertising. “We are thrilled to announce our transformative transaction with Zynga, which significantly diversifies our business and establishes our leadership position in mobile, the fastest growing segment of the interactive entertainment industry,” Take-Two Chief Executive Strauss Zelnick said in a statement.
Zelnick, in a conference call with analysts, highlighted Zynga’s expertise in “free-to-play” games which could allow for greater growth in India, parts of Latin America and the Middle East.
A pedestrian walks in front of a Zynga building in San Francisco. PHOTO: AP
“We basically have 80 per cent of the world’s geography that is greenfield opportunity for us,” Zelnick said. “Large parts of that geography really is driven by free-to-play and that’s where Zynga’s expertise lies.”
Zynga’s Chief Executive Officer Frank Gibeau noted a growth opportunity in the deal, citing the combining of “Zynga’s expertise in mobile and next-generation platforms with Take-Two’s best-in-class capabilities and intellectual property”.
The transaction prices Zynga at USD9.86 per share, a 64-per-cent premium on last Friday’s stock price.
About one-third of the payment will be in cash and the rest in Take-Two shares.
Zelnick is set to lead the combined company, with Zynga’s team led by Gibeau and President of Publishing Bernard Kim, overseeing the combined company’s mobile gaming efforts. New York-based Take-Two had revenues of USD3.4 billion at the end of its last fiscal year and just shy of 5,100 employees. San Francisco-based Zynga had revenues of USD2 billion and about 3,000 employees.
The deal includes a “go shop” provision that allows Zynga and its representatives to solicit and receive alternative bids for 45 days. The transaction is expected to close in the spring of 2022, the companies said. Video gaming specialist at Wedbush Securities Michael Pachter views the proposed purchase as a “wise move” for Take-Two.
“The deal transforms Take-Two from 10 per cent mobile to over 50 per cent, and mobile is the fastest growing segment of video games,” he said.
Bank Islam Brunei Darussalam (BIBD) kicked off its first 10-part of the ‘BIBD SME360 Series’ yesterday with a virtual forum discussing the food and beverage (F&B) industry in Brunei.
The two-day event began with discussions on the market overview during the Transition Phase of the pandemic, reflecting on market sentiments and how F&B businesses are adapting to the new norms.
Over 150 participants from the F&B industry attended the session yesterday.
The virtual forum also covered topics on leadership, operational safety, innovations as well as sustainability and social impact – in line with BIBD’s effort to help SMEs rebuild in the wake of COVID-19 pandemic.
Speakers included CEO of DARe (Darussalam Enterprise) Javed Ahmad; BIBD Head of Government Relations and Special Projects Haji Mohammad Yusri bin Haji Wahsalfelah; Royal Brunei Culinary (RBC) General Manager Haji Jeff Hadiman bin Dato Paduka Haji Danial, CEO of Serikandi Group of Companies Revi Bhaskaran; Head of Brunei Climate Change Secretariat Noor Dina binti Haji Yahya; Managing Partner of Deloitte Zulfariq Zainuddin; Co-founder of Bake Culture Nicky Wong; and food influencer/blogger Thanis Lim.
Haji Mohammad Yusri, in his session titled ‘Protecting your staff and businesses from risk of COVID-19’, highlighted that strict adherence and compliance to the government’s standard operating procedures as well as guidelines on precautionary measures was key in ensuring the well-being and safety of all BIBD personnel were looked after.
ABOVE & BELOW: Food and beverage industry experts engage in discussion during the forum. PHOTOS: IZAH AZAHARI
Some participants during the forum
He also shared that BIBD’s business continuity plan also played a vital role in guiding the bank to navigate around the challenges of COVID-19 and in ensuring business operations remained smooth and orderly.
BIBD also introduced several initiatives to help businesses recover and remain resilient throughout the pandemic. Through its ‘Go!’ campaign launched during the first wave of COVID-19 in Brunei, BIBD promoted conducting banking needs on its digital platforms.
Local businesses were able to make use of BIBD Biznet allowing them to conduct business transactions online and make cashless payments to avoid the need to physically visit the
bank’s branches.
Meanwhile, BIBD’s corporate social responsibility initiative, Community for Brunei (CFB), launched during the first wave of COVID-19, also offered zero per cent transaction fees for micro enterprises affected by the COVID-19 control measures.
The public is welcome to join the ‘BIBD SME360 SERIES’ on F&B industry which continues today from 2.30-5.30pm by registering at curiousmind.biz/sme360.
The SME360 SERIES, which runs from January to May, will feature two industry highlights every month. The series of virtual forums aims to gather thought leaders and industry experts from 10 main business sectors across the Sultanate, in engagement sessions with business owners and stakeholders to discuss the challenges, best practices, perspectives and opportunities.
The programme is organised by BIBD in collaboration with DARe as its strategic partner, co-curated by Firelight Sdn Bhd and Curious Mind. It is also supported by 10 of Brunei’s major trade association partners and key market players namely the Malay, Chinese, Indian and National Chamber of Commerce, LiveWIRE Brunei, BIMP-EAGA, Young Entrepreneurs Association of Brunei, RBC, McDonald’s Brunei, Serikandi Group of Companies, GoMamam, Ghanim International Corporation (bruneihalalfoods), Jab Gym, Hua Ho and Soon Lee.
The upcoming series will cover the retail and e-commerce industry, from January 25-26. The bank hopes the SME360 Series will benefit businesses and provide all the advice and assistance towards growth of a more vibrant, dynamic and sustainable entrepreneurial environment in Brunei – consistent with the bank’s role as the Partner in Progress.
UNITED NATIONS, UNITED STATES (AFP) – Cross-border humanitarian aid to northwest Syria – not green-lit by Damascus – remains “essential,” the United Nations (UN) said, as the measure was de facto extended for six months without a new Security Council vote.
The council had previously renewed the authorisation allowing aid into rebel-held areas in the country’s northwest “for a period of six months… until 10 January 2022,” through the crossing at Bab al-Hawa on the Syrian border with Turkey.
The text provided for “an extension of an additional six months, that is, until 10 July 2022,” subject to a report by the UN Secretary-General.
For the West, the renewal to July had been interpreted as automatic, while Russia had raised the possibility of requesting a new Security Council vote, though it has not taken that step.
In his December report, UN chief Antonio Guterres had stressed the impossibility of replacing at this stage the cross-border mechanism for one that crossed front lines from Damascus.
Moscow favours this method as recognition of the Syrian government’s sovereignty over the whole country.
Aid through the Bab al-Hawa crossing primarily serves the roughly three million people living in the Idlib region, which remains outside Damascus’ control.
“The cross-border delivery of aid is essential,” UN spokesman Stephane Dujarric said during his daily briefing.
“We need aid to be delivered through cross-border and through cross-line. Those are essential elements for us to meet the humanitarian needs of all Syrians.”
A ground crew member directs the loading of a shipment of items donated to Syria, on the tarmac of an airport. PHOTO: AP
THE PHNOM PENH POST/ANN – Construction of RMA (Cambodia) Plc’s vehicle assembly plant is 100 per cent complete and installation of the facilities and equipment is nearing the 70 per cent mark, with all signs indicating that production could begin in early April, according to the locally-listed firm’s Chief Executive Officer Ngorn Saing.
The company has reportedly received approval from Ford Motor Co to manufacture Ranger pickups and Everest SUVs, and has signed a land leasing agreement for a 4ha site in Pursat province’s easternmost district of Krakor, as well as separate contracts with a construction manager and general contractor.
According to online news outlet Fresh News, the factory is located in Savoan village of central Krakor’s Sna Ansa commune. Ngorn Saing affirmed to The Post on Monday that the plant is in “Krakor Special Economic Zone”.
“Based on the progress and milestones we’ve achieved, I understand we’re right on schedule to fire up the assembly line before the upcoming Khmer New Year (on April 14),” he said. But this success is also accompanied by a number of speedbumps, notably those related to expensive logistics systems, Saing underlined.
Director-General of state-run electricity supplier Electricite du Cambodge (EdC) Keo Rottanak recently noted that the factory was the culmination of more than five years of efforts by authorities at all levels, and would contribute to the development of the province and bring new jobs for locals.
The factory is located in Savoan village of central Krakor’s Sna Ansa commune. PHOTO: THE PHNOM PENH POST/ANN
Barring unforeseen changes to the plan, the assembly plant “will start production during April before the Khmer New Year, within the territory of our Krakor district”, he declared.
“We are now trying to convince them (RMA) to bring in more of their partners to produce components in the territory of Krakor,” he said.
Saing recognised that the smooth progress of work on the plant was due to the support of authorities at every level, especially the preferential tax treatment received from the government and the assistance provided by the Council for the Development of Cambodia.
He said 200 employees had been recruited and trained for the first phase of the factory and would start work in late March or early April. Up to 500 workers will be needed in the second phase, he added.
“At this initial stage, we will assemble 4,500 vehicles a year to meet market demand. But the factory’s total annual production capacity is up to 10,000 units,” he said.
According to Saing, Ford has topped the domestic new-vehicle market for a number of years consecutively, with a 45-per-cent market share.
In the past five years, bilateral trade volumes between Brunei Darussalam and China increased by 2.5 times. China’s investment in the Sultanate has jumped by nearly seven times. During the pandemic, cooperation between both countries showed strong resilience, and the trade volume has grown, repeatedly recording new highs.
Ambassador of China to Brunei Darussalam Yu Hong said this yesterday in her capacity as guest of honour at a re-election ceremony for Brunei-China One Belt One Road Association President Jackson Ting for the 2022-2024 term. The official appointment letter presentation and oath-taking ceremony was held last week.
Yu Hong highlighted the importance of the One Belt One Road initiative, the Belt and Road Initiative (BRI).
“In November last year, the third symposium on the development of the BRI and the third symposium on the Belt and Road construction, were held in Beijing where President Xi Jinping delivered an important speech. Since its inception, the BRI has shown thriving vigour and vitality, benefitting the countries and people along the route. It has become the most extensive and largest international cooperation platform in the world today, bringing tangible benefits to the development of countries along the route.
“In the face of the pandemic, the BRI has shown resilience and vitality by making positive contributions to countries combatting COVID-19, stabilising the economy and promoting people’s livelihood of the countries involved. China has signed 206 cooperation documents on the joint construction development in the ‘Belt and Road’ BRI, with 140 countries and 32 international organisations. After eight years, the circle of friends of the ‘Belt and Road’ BRI has expanded, with the number of partners increasing, the quality of cooperation getting higher and the development prospects getting better.”
She pointed out that BRI flagship projects such as the Jakarta-Bandung High-Speed Railway, China-Laos Railway, Budapest-Belgrade Railway, Mombasa–Nairobi Standard Gauge Railway, Gwadar Port and Hambantota Port are projects that have brought benefits to locals.
ABOVE & BELOW: Ambassador of China to Brunei Darussalam Yu Hong delivers her speech; and Brunei-China One Belt One Road Association President Jackson Ting. PHOTOS: JAMES KON
Yu Hong witnesses Jackson Ting signing the official appointment letter
The Brunei-China One Belt One Road Association, she said, “was established in 2018. Its establishment reflects the forward-looking vision of its president, Jackson Ting, and outstanding insights of the founding directors. With the support of the governments of countries as well as enterprises and people from all walks of life, the ‘Belt and Road’ China-Brunei BRI cooperation has achieved fruitful and commendable results.”
Yu Hong added, “In 2018, Brunei Darussalam and China upgraded their bilateral relationship to a ‘strategic cooperative partnership’ and signed the ‘Belt and Road’ cooperation plan. In 2019, His Majesty Sultan Haji Hassanal Bolkiah Mu’izzaddin Waddaulah ibni Al-Marhum Sultan Haji Omar ‘Ali Saifuddien Sa’adul Khairi Waddien, Sultan and Yang Di-Pertuan of Brunei Darussalam attended the second Belt and Road Forum for International Cooperation in China.
Both governments have established a joint steering committee, of which two meetings have been held on intergovernmental cooperation. The communications of both governments have been continuously strengthened. The areas of cooperation between the two countries continue to expand and deepen,” she added.
Meanwhile, Ting highlighted that just as things were starting to move following the association’s establishment, COVID had hit. This has meant that the association has not been able to carry out much of its promised activities, he said.
He expressed hopes the association would continue to move forward and contribute to cultural exchanges, trade, investment and people-to-people exchanges between both countries.
The Brunei-China One Belt One Road Association sees Lim Han Chiong and Zhang Qingrui holding the position of Vice Presidents of the Executive Committee; and Lau Shiew Yuan, Tan Kah Boon, Chieng Ing Nang, Lau How Teck, Lau Kah Huon, Dato Tiong Ing Ping, Dato Lai Heng Wai, and Yang Chow Min as vice presidents.
MOSUL, IRAQ (AFP) – Iraqi authorities have repatriated 111 Iraqi families linked to the Islamic State (IS) group from a Kurdish-run camp in northern Syria, a local official said.
They arrived on Saturday and were transferred to Al-Jadaa camp south of Mosul, in Nineveh province, said the official who declined to be named.
Since May 2021, at least 339 families linked to the extremist IS group have been moved from Al-Hol camp in northeast Syria to Al-Jadaa which hosts around 7,500 internally displaced people.
These include families of extremists, some of whom hail from other parts of Iraq, including the provinces of Salaheddine and Ramadi, according to Iraqi authorities.
The prospect of their return to their places of origin has sparked concern among residents who survived the brutal rule of IS when it occupied one third of Iraq between 2014 and 2017.
In late 2017, Iraq declared “victory” over IS after driving the extremists from all urban areas, with support from a United States (US)-led coalition.
Iraqi authorities announced last month their intention to close Al-Jadaa, the last camp sheltering displaced in Iraq, outside of the autonomous region of Kurdistan.
But the process is long and facing resistance from local populations who don’t want IS families among them.
According to the International Organisation for Migration, six million Iraqis were displaced during the IS rule.
Around 1.2 million of them still have not been able to go home, including more than 100,000 who live outside camps in “informal sites”.
Members of Mukim and Village Consultative Councils in Tutong District will now be able to better utilise the PMKK e-Voting system and mobile application following a briefing at the home of Acting Tutong District Officer Mohd Amirul Hadi bin Haji Mohd Tajudin yesterday.
This was the second of such briefings, following the first held in Temburong District last December.
Mohd Amirul Hadi said, “Alhamdulillah, several mukim penghulu and village head positions (for Tutong District) have been open for e-voting. Insya Allah, the voting of candidates for such positions will be held soon via the mobile app.”
He said Tutong District residents have registered to cast their votes via the e-voting system, demonstrating their support for a system to select a leader for their mukim or village.Mohd Amirul Hadi also encouraged all Tutong District residents to make use of the e-voting system.
Meanwhile, Head of the Local Authorities and Communities Division (District) at the Ministry of Home Affairs (MoHA) Jaimah binti Tuah said, “The PMKK e-Voting system and mobile application was officially launched by Minister of Home Affairs Pehin Orang Kaya Seri Kerna Dato Seri Setia (Dr) Haji Awang Abu Bakar bin Haji Apong on October 2, 2021,” adding that “the web-based system is used for vote casting to choose mukim penghulu and village head candidates. It is an additional alternative to the conventional vote casting.”
Acting Tutong District Officer Mohd Amirul Hadi bin Haji Mohd Tajudin speaks at the eventHead of the Local Authorities and Communities Division (District) at the Ministry of Home Affairs Jaimah binti Tuah explains about the systemA section of the attendees at the briefing. PHOTOS: JAMES KON
The system functions to open a terminal for the casting of votes, check on the vote validity, counting of votes and the issue of results and vote validation. It features candidates’ information, checks on the vote figures and serves as a tool to conduct the selection of candidates. The existing server in this system will be used to collect data in one place, to ease the vote counting process and to produce results fast, accurate and efficiently, she said.
Only citizens and permanent residents of Brunei Darussalam aged 18 and above are eligible to vote. Villagers can register as voters in their respective mukim or village. The app can be downloaded via the Google Play Store or App Store.
Meanwhile, registered voters who have moved to a new area need to update their new home address in the Immigration and National Registration Department before continuing to register as a voter to the new village.
Voting dates for candidates will be announced later, obtainable through a notification in the mobile application and a Notification Letter issued by the district office.
The upcoming selection and voting will be used to elect the penghulu of Mukim Lamunin, penghulu of Mukim Kiudang and village head of Kampong Kiudang and Pad Nunok.
PHILIPPINE DAILY INQUIRER – Grab Philippines has been barred from entering the motorcycle taxi business after the government’s motorcycle taxi technical working group (TWG) told it to permanently dissolve its partnership with Move It, months after it was suspended.
This leaves the three original players – Angkas, Joyride and Move It – to operate in the fast-growing segment.
The TWG, in a December 10 letter to Chief Executive Officer of Move It Francis Juan, said its members decided to “permanently terminate” their partnership with Grab Philippines.
Allowing the tie-up to continue will make Grab Philippines “the fourth de facto player, which is not allowed under existing conditions of the pilot study”, the TWG said in the letter.
The TWG ordered the suspension of the partnership on September 30 after a week of operations.
The taxi motorcycle TWG made references to satisfying other stakeholders in its letter.
A Grab motorbike-taxi rider waiting for customers. PHOTO: AFP
“Allowing the collaboration to proceed will only rekindle the issues that were raised by the complainants and will further put the MC Taxi TWG in a very tight and compromising position from both the House of Congress and Senate, the two other players and the stakeholders.”
Despite their short collaboration, the TWG acknowledged that Grab and Move it were successful in recruiting more drivers.
“The MC Taxi TWG was very pleased to know that you were able to onboard substantial numbers of riders that (were) enough to carry out Move It’s role in the pilot study,” it said in the letter.
“Nevertheless, the pilot study is now on its concluding stage, thus, onboarding new recruits may no longer be necessary at this point in time,” the TWG said.
It added that Grab Philippines may choose to enter the motorcycle taxi sector after a law legalising the segment is passed.
The letter was signed by retired Brigadier General Manuel Gonzales and retired Police Colonel Joel Pernito, who sit as Co-chairs of the TWG INQ.
THE JAPAN NEWS/ANN – Toto Ltd will build a new factory for faucets in northern Vietnam to meet growing global demand, the company has announced.
Toto will invest about JPY10 billion in the new plant, as awareness of hygiene has been increasing worldwide with the spread of the novel coronavirus. Construction was to start in January, with operations scheduled to begin in March 2024.
The plant will be built by a local affiliate on an about 100,000-square-metre site that Toto has acquired in Vinh Phuc Province. It is expected to produce up to about 1.2 million sophisticated faucets annually for use in washrooms and bathrooms. Toto plans to use this factory, which will be its largest overseas production base, to expand its exports to China and North America.
Overseas, more and more wealthy people are particular about the design of their faucets, and demand for automatic faucets is also booming amid the pandemic.
In its consolidated financial results for the first half of the business year ending September 2021, Toto increased its sales of faucets in China by 78 per cent compared to the same period in the previous year.
An artists impression of the new TOTO plant to be built in Vietnam. PHOTO: THE JAPAN NEWS/ANN
