Australia works with ASEAN countries against terrorism financing
Australian Justice Minister Michael Keenan on November 22 announced the establishment of the Southeast Asia Counter-Terrorism Financing Working Group, which will link finance intelligence units across the region to counter terrorism financing.
Sydney (VNA) – Aus🅺tralianJustice Minister Michael Keenan on November 22 announced the establishment ofthe Southeast Asia Counter-Terrorism Financing Working Group, which will linkfinance intelligence units across the regio♕n to counter terrorism financing.
The group, designed to prevent the flowof funds suspected of being used to fund terrorist activities, was joined byAustralia and six Southeast Asian nations of Malaysia, the Philippines,Indonesia, Brunei, Thailand and Singapore. Speaking from Kuala Lumpur, Malaysiawhile attending a 35-nation counter-terrorism financing summit, the Australianofficial said the group had been formed to cut off the funding supply lines ofthe Islamic State (IS) and other terrorist organisations. Accordingly, Australia’scounter-terrorism financing agency (AUSTRAC) will for the first time share criticalintelligence with anti-terrorism units in ASEAN countries, including thePhilippines, Malaysia and Indonesia to create a "firewall" in Southeast Asia againstfunding of IS and other terrorist groups. It is the first such cross-countryagreement of its kind, as authorities fear that even small amounts of money flowinginto emerging terror hot spots could fund significant attacks, with the 2002Bali bombings estimated to have been funded with less than 100,000 USD. A regional risk assessment conductedby AUSTRAC estimated that foreign sources transferred more than one million USDin terrorism financing into Indonesia between 2014 and 2015. Australia recordedthe highest number of “suspicious” transactions with 536 last year whileSingapore recorded 205 cases.-VNA
Russian Minister of Defence Sergei Shoigu on October 24 announced that Russia is ready to assist ASEAN in preventing the spread of international terrorism, especially impeding the infiltration of terrorism into the Asian-Pacific countries.
Indonesian police spokesman Rikwanto said on October 25 that authorities arrested nine men suspected of having links to a militant network loyal to the Islamic State.
Philippine President Rodrigo Duterte and Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe agreed to cooperate in infrastructure development, counter-terrorism and safety initiatives.
Foreign ministers of Indonesia, Malaysia, and the Philippines discussed in Manila on November 12 measures to prevent the return of extremists who attacked the southern Philippine of Marawi.
Philippine President Rodrigo Duterte has expressed his willingness to expand trade ties with Russia during his talks with Russian Prime Minister Dmitry Medvedev.
The Republic of Korea (RoK), China and Japan agreed on May 3 to reinforce the regional financial safety net, along with members of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN), by launching a new financing facility programme meant to extend greater support in case of a financial crisis.
A technical issue combined with an extreme heatwave was blamed for a series of explosions at a military base that killed 20 soldiers and injured several others in Cambodia on April 27, the country’s Ministry of Defence said in a May 2 statement as reported by the Xinhua news agency.
The Customs Department of Thailand is scheduled to commence the collection of value-added tax (VAT) on imported goods sent via postal services, regardless of the goods value, starting in May.
A lecturer from Chulalongkorn University’s Faculty of Medicine has warned Thais to be more vigilant against COVID-19, saying infection rates appeare to be worsening with higher hospital admissions, deaths and severe cases.
Malaysia should harness the collective expertise and resources to drive sustainable growth and development of the halal industry, according to Minister of Investment, Trade and Industry Zafrul Abdul Aziz.
Laos has officially restored the 10% value-added tax (VAT) rate starting May 1, in a bid to support the country’s budget revenue and socio-economic development.
The ASEAN Future Forum 2024 (AFF 2024) entered its second plenary session in Hanoi on the afternoon of April 23, discussing ways to ensure comprehensive security for the people-centred ASEAN Community.
The first session of the ASEAN Future Forum 2024 (AFF 2024) in Hanoi on April 23 focused on fast and sustainable growth for the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN).
The Canada-ASEAN Business Council (CABC) and the ASEAN Alliance on Carbon Markets (AACM) have signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) to strengthen collaboration and accelerate the implementation of carbon crediting programmes across Southeast Asia.
ASEAN Secretary-General Kao Kim Hourn reaffirmed ASEAN leaders' commitment to empowering the youth to unleash their full potential when he had a dialogue with ASEAN youth in Hanoi on April 22 on the sidelines of the ASEAN Future Forum (AF 2024).
The Thai Government is being urged to increase the proportion of renewable power generation to more than the target of 50% set in the power development plan (PDP).
The Centre for Volcanology and Geological Hazard Mitigation (PVMBG) of Indonesia on April 21 lifted its tsunami advisory issued previously following the eruption of Mount Ruang in Sitaro district of North Sulawesi province.
Thailand expects to export about 1 million tonnes of durian, valued at an estimated 130 billion THB (3.53 billion USD) this year, with most of the shipments to China, according to Minister of Agriculture Thammanat Prompao.
The 72nd meeting of the ASEAN Working Group on Intellectual Property Cooperation (AWGIPC) and related meetings are being held by the Ministry of Science and Technology’s Intellectual Property Office (IPO) of Vietnam in the central city of Da Nang on April 22-26.
Enhancing regional food security and tackling the pressing challenges of climate change will be key agendas defining Malaysia’s ASEAN Chairmanship in 2025, Speaker of the Dewan Rakyat (lower house) Johari Abdul told the press on April 19.
Soldiers of the Philippines (Photo: VNA) 
