Hanoi (VNA) - Philippine authorities on January 20 ordered a crackdown on visits to the danger zone around Taal volcano as scientists warned it could be "recharging" for a more powerful explosion. Illustrative image (Photo: Internet) Speaking to the media, Undersecretary for the Department of Interior of the Philippines Epimaco Densing said not any evacuees are allowed to...

Bangkok (VNA) – The Thai Industrial Standards Institute (TISI) is readying measures to counter air pollution caused by increased PM2.5 particulate matter. Smog covers Bangkok capital city of Thailand on January 8 (Photo: AFP/VNA) TISI Secretary-General Wanchai Panomchai said the institute is drawing up regulatory standards for air purifiers to make these efficient in tackling PM2.5, noting that the...

Jakarta (VNA) – Indonesia sold 1.03 million cars in 2019, a drop of 10.8 percent year on year from 1.15 million units the previous year, due to the weak demand and other factors, according to the car manufacturer association (Gaikindo). In December only, 86,582 cars were sold, lower than the 90,798 units sold in November and 87,846 vehicles in...

Jakarta (VNA) – Indonesia plans to buy bigger vessels to allow its coast guards to travel across the ocean, notably the Natuna Sea off Riau Islands, and expand their patrol reach, local media reported. A ship of Indonesia Coast Guard. (Photo: thejakartapost.com) The plan was announced after Indonesian Defence Minister Prabowo Subianto had reportedly bought frigates for the Indonesian...

Phnom Penh (VNA) – The Phnom Penh Municipal Court on January 15 began a trial of former leader of the dissolved Cambodia National Rescue Party (CNRP) Kem Sokha over treason charges. Kem Sokha (Source: AFP/VNA) At about 7:30 am, Sokha and his team of lawyers arrived at the court where dozens of police and military officers were deployed to...

Khanh Hoa (VNA) – Senior officials of ASEAN countries met in the first ASEAN Senior Officials’ Meeting (SOM) of 2020 in Nha Trang city of the south central province of Khanh Hoa on January 16. At the meeting (Photo: VNA) The meeting is presided over by Deputy Foreign Minister and head of the ASEAN SOM Vietnam delegation Nguyen...

Bangkok (VNA) – The House of Representatives of Thailand has passed a budget bill worth 3.2 trillion baht (105.9 billion USD) for fiscal 2020, more than three months after the fiscal year began. The House of Representatives of Thailand has passed a budget bill worth 3.2 trillion baht (105.9 billion USD) for fiscal 2020, more than three months...

Hanoi (VNA) - Cambodia attracted foreign direct investment (FDI) worth nearly 3.6 billion USD in 2019, up 12 percent year-on-year, an English-language daily has reported. Construction projects in Phnom Penh, Cambodia (Source: www.phnompenhpost.com) Forty-three percent of the last year's FDI came from China, 11 percent from the Republic of Korea, 7 percent from Vietnam, 6 percent from Singapore,...

Phnom Penh (VNA) – Cambodia lured more than 3.58 billion USD in foreign direct investment (FDI) in 2019, a year-on-year surge of 11.7 percent, with Chinese investment accounting for 43 percent of the total figure, according to the National Bank of Cambodia (NBC). Cambodia lured more than 3.58 billion USD in foreign direct investment (FDI) in 2019. (Photo: phnompenhpost.com)...

Bangkok (VNA) – Thai Public Health Minister Anutin Charnvirakul has urged people not to panic over the outbreak of a mysterious viral pneumonia in China, and gave assurance that measures are in place to keep Thailand free of the disease. Suvarnabhumi Airport is adopting stricter health measures to monitor travellers arriving from China where a mysterious viral pneumonia has...