Singapore (VNA) – Singapore has again topped Asia in terms of intellectual property rights protection since 2015, according to the annual report by the US-based Property Rights Alliance. A view of Singapore (Photo: Internet) The island state moved up to the fourth overall in the world in the International Property Rights Index (IPRI), behind Finland, Switzerland and New...

New Delhi (VNA) – Thailand and India on October 19 began a joint naval exercise in the Bay of Bengal that involved helicopters from ships of both nations, according to Indian defence officials. Illustrative image (Photo: Internet) The five-day exercise commenced off the port of Vishakhapatnam in Andhra Pradesh state of India. Two naval ships of Thailand -...

Seoul (VNA) – An exhibition, themed “The Light of ASEAN, One Community” opened at the Asia Culture Center (ACC) in Gwangju, the Republic of Korea, on October 17. It is a display of light from hundreds of big lanterns, which move following musical patterns. Visitors are allowed to interact with artworks at the show. Korean artists said lanterns are...

Jakarta (VNA) – The Corruption Eradication Commission of Indonesia (KPK) have arrested dozens of officials on corruption charges in many localities. Dzulmi Eldin (front, centre), mayor of Medan city in North Sumatra province, is arrested for corruption charges (Photo: Jakarta Globe) KPK detained Dzulmi Eldin, mayor of Medan city in North Sumatra province, on charges of taking bribes from...

Hanoi (VNA) - A 6.4-magnitude quake hit Mindanao in the south of the Philippines on October 16. A workshop is damaged after a quake in the Philippines (Illustrative image. Source: The Pioneer) There were no immediate reports of casualties from the earthquake. The United States Geological Survey (USGS) said the quake struck 69km north-northwest of General Santos, Mindanao. No...

Hanoi (VNA) - Cambodia’s construction attracted a total investment of 6.49 billion USD in the first nine months of 2019, up 34.7 percent from 4.82 billion USD over the same period last year, said the Ministry of Land Management, Urban Planning and Construction (MLMUPC). Illustrative image (Photo: Internet) In the January-September period, the ministry granted licenses to 3,433...

Bangkok (VNA) – The European Union (EU) on October 15 announced a plan to resume free trade agreement with Thailand, which has been suspended since 2014. Illustrative image (Photo: Internet) The statement linked the decision to the general election in March that officially ended five years of military rule, saying that the EU Council now considers it appropriate...

Hanoi (VNA) – Indonesian police on October 14 arrested 22 suspected terrorists with links to self-proclaimed Islamic State (IS) following the stabbing of the country’s Chief Security Minister Wiranto in Banten province last week. Indonesian Chief Security Minister Wiranto is taken to hospital after the stabbing (Photo: AFP) A spokesperson of Indonesian national police said that those suspects...

Bangkok (VNA) - The Thai cabinet has approved a two-day holiday for all government offices in Bangkok and Nonthaburi province during the ASEAN summit and related meetings to be held from November 2-4. The ASEAN summit will be held from Nov 2-4 and the cabinet has approved Nov 4-5 as holidays for government offices in Bangkok and Nonthaburi. (Source:...

Hanoi (VNA) - Indonesian counterterrorism police have foiled a series of planned suicide bombings in some cities ahead of the October 20 swearing-in of President Joko Widodo, who was re-elected for a second term in the April 17 presidential election. Illustrative image (Photo: AFP) Speaking at a press conference, national police spokesman Gen. Dedi Prasetyo said at least...