World

The new law will give more power to police to take pre-emptive actions against terror suspects (Photo: Reuters/VNA) Jakarta (VNA) – Indonesia approved a new anti-terrorism law which will grant more power to police to take pre-emptive actions against terror suspects. The move comes after the country has suffered from a series of deadly attacks from Islamic extremists in recent years. According to the new law, police will be allowed to detain terror suspects for as long as 21 days, up from the current one week. Police will also be able to charge people for joining or recruiting for a terrorist organisation at home or abroad. The bill had been stalled for almost two years as Indonesian parliament argued over key details, including how to define terrorism. However, the suicide bombings on churches and police station in Surabaya city on May 13-14 that killed 13 people heaped pressure on lawmakers to pass the bill. President Joko Widodo threatened to issue an emergency … [Read more...] about Indonesia passes new anti-terrorism law

Police seize assets in the case (Source: VNA)   Kuala Lumpur (VNA) - Malaysian police said on May 25 that they had seized cash worth 114 million ringgit (28.6 million USD) kept in 35 bags when searching several apartments as part of an anti-corruption probe into a state fund 1MDB. Police also seized 37 luxury handbags and 284 boxes keeping jewellery and watches, Amar Singh, the head of commercial crime division, told a news conference. However, the value of the items has yet to be estimated. Last week, police conducted searches of three apartments in Kuala Lumpur. 1MDB is an investment fund formed by former Malaysian PM Najib Razak in 2009 with the aim of serving the country’s socio-economic development. Former PM Najib was accused of being related to the loss of billions of US dollars in transactions with other countries through the 1MDB. However, the fund representative and Najib for many times rejected the accusation. Malaysia has set up a special task force to … [Read more...] about Malaysia police announce seizure of millions of USD in 1MDB case

A corner of Indonesia (Source: bp.com) Jakarta (VNA) – The Indonesian Government is giving priority to the development of human resources in order to prepare them for the fourth Industrial Revolution or Industry 4.0, after focusing on massive infrastructure development. The fourth industrial revolution, starting this year, will revolutionise the manufacturing and production industries by integrating Internet of Things, data integration, cloud computing, and other technological advancements into the heart of production and manufacturing systems. Indonesian Industry Minister Airlangga Hartarto said that improving the competence of human resources is the key to success in facing the Industry 4.0. This is in line with the roadmap of Making Indonesia 4.0 which seeks to place Indonesia in the ranks of the 10 largest economies in the world in 2030, he noted. The road map was prepared on the basis of the directives of President Joko Widodo, who stressed the importance of the fourth … [Read more...] about Indonesia prepares human resources for Industry 4.0

Human Resources Minister M. Kulasegaran. (Photo: Bernama) Kuala Lumpur (VNA) - The Malaysian government will review foreign worker agreements with all countries involved in order to reduce dependency on guest workers. Malaysia’s national news agency Bernama quoted Human Resources Minister M. Kulasegaran as saying at a press conference at Wisma Perkeso on May 24 that job priority should be given to Malaysians first before foreign workers. "All these are subject to review. As far as foreign workers are concerned, we want to reduce dependency on them,” he said. Regarding the Malaysia-Bangladesh agreement in 2016 aimed at receiving 1.5 million workers, Kulasegaran said his ministry would not deprive thousands of Bangladeshis – who were already working in Malaysia - of their jobs and send them back to their country. It must have a period of time before a decision is made, he noted. Legal foreign workers in Malaysia totalled 1.8 million as of late 2017. At present, … [Read more...] about Malaysia to review foreign worker agreements

Malaysian Finance Minister Lim Guan Eng(Photo: Ministry of Finance Malaysia) Kuala Lumpur (VNA) - Malaysia's state investment fund 1Malaysia Development Berhad (1MDB) is insolvent, said Malaysian Finance Minister Lim Guan Eng on May 23. In a statement after meeting with those who worked for 1MDB, Lim said the fund’s Board of Directors had confirmed that 1MDB was "insolvent" and unable to pay debts owed.  One of the fund’s directors announced with Lim that the overseas investments worth 9.8 billion RM (2.46 billion USD), which could help meet 1MDB's financial obligations over the next few years, actually exits. Lim said president and CEO Arul Kanda was uncertain of the value of these investments, and if they existed. He asked legal advisors of the Malaysian Finance Ministry to reconsider the position of Kanda as the president of 1MDB. At the same time, PricewaterhouseCoopers auditing firm was selected to examine financial accounts of the fund. 1MDB is an … [Read more...] about 1MDB fund insolvent: Malaysian Finance Minister

At a session of the Cambodian National Assembly on February 20, 2017. (Source: EPA/VNA) Phnom Penh (VNA) – The Cambodian National Election Committee (NEC) on May 23 announced it officially recognised two political parties, Raksmey Khemara Party and Cambodian Indigenous People Democracy Party. On May 14, the NEC released a list of 20 political parties registering to run for the election. But only four were officials recognised by the NEC, namely the ruling Cambodian People's Party (CPP), the Cambodian Youth Party, the Cambodian Nationality Party, and the Khmer National United Party. According to the NEC, it continues examining registration documents of the 16 remaining parties. The registration for the general election lasted for 15 days, beginning on April 14. The NEC takes seven days to review documents of the political parties.  Cambodia is scheduled to hold the general election for the 125-seat parliament on July 29. More than 8.3 million Cambodian people are eligible … [Read more...] about Cambodia: Two more political parties recognised for upcoming election

An aerial photo of an illegal airfield that China built on Fiery Cross Reef of Vietnam's Truong Sa archipelago (Photo: AFP) Hanoi (VNA) – Chinese bombers’ landing and take-off drills on an airfield in Hoang Sa (Paracel) archipelago, which belongs to Vietnam but is occupied by China, are causing deep concerns and facing strong opposition from many countries regionally and globally. After an array of activities to illegally reclaim and construct military facilities and bases in the East Sea and the deployment of weapons on artificial islands that were illegally built in Truong Sa (Spratly) archipelago, China’s latest move in Hoang Sa has evidenced the country’s continued acceleration of militarising the East Sea regardless of international opposition. Japanese Defence Minister Itsunori Onodera said this is the next step of China to unilaterally change the status quo in the East Sea. Meanwhile, spokesman of the US Pentagon Christopher Logan said … [Read more...] about Chinese military actions in East Sea face international criticism

Bangkok (NNT/VNA) - Thailand is preparing to create a database on biodiversity for effective natural resources management and income generation.  The Thai Office of Natural Resources and Environmental Policy and Planning held a recent meeting on the preservation of the country's biodiversity and development of local and national income, in accordance with the country's environmental reform agenda.  Deputy Permanent Secretary for Natural Resources and the Environment Somchai Masathian revealed that Thailand ranks eighth in the world for biodiversity, with up to 4,700 species of mammals, birds, reptiles, amphibians, and fish that account for around 3 percent of the planet’s animal population.  Thailand's mountains, forests, and coastal areas have long been an integral part of the Thai way of life and economy. The current environmental reform agenda focuses on proper management, research, and development for more effective utilisation of natural resources to … [Read more...] about Thailand to create a biodiversity database