World

Abu Sayyaf threatens to behead Malaysian hostages

The Abu Sayyaf rebel group in southern Philippines has threatened to execute four Malaysian hostages if they don’t receive ransom money in early May.
Abu Sayyaf threatens to behead Malaysian hostages ảnh 1On-duty Philippine soldiers in Butig town, Lanao del Sur province on March 1 (Source: AFP/​VNA)

Kuala Lumpur (VNA) – The Abu Sayyaf rebel group in southern Philippines has threatened to execute four Malaysian hostages if they don’t receive ransom money in early May.

The hostages are sailors who were abducted by Abu Sayyaf gunmen in the waters off Ligitan Island in Malaysia’s eastern state of Sabah on April 1 while they were returning from the Philippines to Malaysia.

The gunmen, in telephone calls to the victims’ families, reportedly set an early May deadline for them to begin negotiations for the hostages’ release.

Reports indicated that the four Malaysian captives were safe and healthy.

Headquartered in Jolo and Basilan islands of the Philippines, Abu Sayyaf have been accused of involvement in various kidnappings and bombings in the country since the early 1990s.-VNA

VNA
#Abu Sayyaf rebel group#ransom money#hostages#kidnappings#bombings
Follow VietnamPlus

Related News

Philippines Gov’t, Muslim rebels vow to pursue peace

Philippines Gov’t, Muslim rebels vow to pursue peace

The Philippines government and the Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF) have vowed to continue pursuing peace despite the bloody clash in Mindanao on January 25 that left 44 policemen and 18 Muslim rebels dead.
Dozens of rebels killed in southern Philippines

Dozens of rebels killed in southern Philippines

At least 23 members of the Bangsamoro Islamic Freedom Fighters (BIFF) and 2 Philippine government soldiers perished in clashes on Mindanao Island that broke out on March 10, according to Philippine media.
Philippines: Gunmen kidnap three foreigners

Philippines: Gunmen kidnap three foreigners

Unidentified gunmen have abducted two Canadian tourists, a Norwegian resort manager and a Filipino woman from a popular resort island in the southern Philippines, the local army confirmed on Sept. 22.

See more

At Pulau Seraya power station (Photo: Straitimes)

Singapore begins construction on hydrogen-fueled power plant

Singapore on October 23 began the construction of an 800 million USD power plant that has the capability to use hydrogen to generate electricity, as part of a push to utilise the fuel to reach Singapore’s net-zero carbon emissions target by 2050.

Delegates at the event (Photo: VNA)

125th anniversary of Permanent Court of Arbitration celebrated

The Permanent Mission of Vietnam to the United Nations and missions of the Philippines, Australia, Egypt, Guatemala, Hungary, Thailand, France, Eritrea and Austria, organised a ceremony on October 22 to celebrate the 125th anniversary of the Permanent Court of Arbitration (PCA), as part of the International Law Week at the UN General Assembly's Legal Committee (Sixth Committee).

CEO of the Malaysia Digital Economy Corporation Anuar Fariz Fadzil (Photo: focusmalaysia.my)

Malaysia continues placing emphasis on digitalisation

The Budget 2025 provides significant support to further accelerate Malaysia’s digitalisation, encourage adoption of artificial intelligence (AI) and drive inclusive growth, further positioning Malaysia as a leading digital hub within the ASEAN region, according to CEO of the Malaysia Digital Economy Corporation (MDEC) Anuar Fariz Fadzil.

Malaysia's economic reforms boost investment inflow (Photo: thestar.com.my)

Malaysia's economic reforms boost investment inflow

Malaysia has attracted substantial foreign investments, reaching 22.2 billion MYR (5.16 billion USD) in the third quarter of 2024, the highest level for the same period since 2012, according to UOB's Global Markets and Economics report.

Ambassador Dang Hoang Giang, Permanent Representative of Vietnam to the UN speaks at the debate (Photo: VNA)

Maintaining peace, stability a must for progress on human rights: Ambassador

Progress in human rights can only be achieved by maintaining peace and stability, respecting the rule of law at both the international and national levels, and ensuring respect for the principles of national sovereignty and non-interference in internal affairs, said Ambassador Dang Hoang Giang, Permanent Representative of Vietnam to the UN.

A visitor browses travel promotions at a travel fair in Nonthaburi province. (Photo: Bangkok Post)

Thailand plans enhanced support for domestic tourism

Thailand’s Ministry of Tourism and Sports is aiming to increase subsidy to local tourists in the upcoming stimulus scheme to 50% and would like to change the criteria for online travel agents, mandating them to register in Thailand to avoid losing income to foreign companies.

Oil field offshore Indonesia. (Photo: thejakartapost.com)

Indonesia begins major oil, gas exploration in Sulawesi

Indonesia's state-owned oil company Pertamina, along with foreign partners Sinopec from China and Kuwait’s Kufpec, has signed a contract to explore the Melati oil and gas block, located off the coast of Sulawesi. The block is estimated to contain trillions of cubic feet of gas reserves.