ASEAN steps up fight against drug trafficking

ASEAN Secretary General Le Luong Minh has underlined the need to boost the cooperation between ASEAN member nations and between the bloc with other countries in the fight against drug-related crime.
ASEAN Secretary General Le Luong Minh has underlined the need toboost the cooperation between ASEAN member nations and between the blocwith other countries in the fight against drug-related crime.

Addressing the Third ASEAN Ministerial Meeting on Drug Matters heldrecently in Jakarta, he said as organised criminal groups and drugtraffickers are taking on a more global perspective in their operations,ASEAN must ensure that their responses to drug trafficking are equallyinnovative, equally prompt to adapt to changing and challengingcircumstances, and equally global in their outlook.

Chair of the conference Anang Iskander, head of the National NarcoticsBoard of Indonesia, said despite the progress and achievements in theimplementation of the ASEAN Work Plan 2009-2015, ASEAN still needs to domore and further strengthen its collaboration in addressing the threatand abuse of illicit drugs.

He emphasised the need toprevent drug syndicates and transnational crime organizations fromtaking advantage of ASEAN regional integration and connectivity.

Ministers shared the efforts and achievements of their respectivecountries and made strategic recommendations in working towardsrealizing ASEAN’s regional vision of being free from the menace ofillicit drugs and its zero-tolerance approach.

The conference alsoapproved the Concept Paper on the Institutionalisation of the ASEANMinisterial Meeting on Drug Matters in order to strengthen regionalcollaboration against drugs at the highest levels.-VNA

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.