Philippine authorities on May 24 said Islamic extremists had taken a Catholic priest and others hostages at a cathedral in the southern city of Marawi on the island of Mindanao in southern Philippines.
Hanoi (VNA) – Philippine authorities onMay 24 said Islamic extremists had taken a Catholic priest and others hostagesat a cathedral in the southern city of Marawi on the island of Mindanao insouthern Philippines.
Gunmen entered the church and seized theReverend Chito Suganob alongside more than ten churchgoers, said ArchbishopSocrates Villegas.
He added that they threatened to kill thehostages if the government forces besieging them are not recalled.
The incident came after President RodrigoDuterte declared martial law in the southern region of Mindanao, an operationalarea of several Islamic militant groups, on May 23 because of the militants’insurgency in Marawi, a mostly Muslim-populated city of 200,000 people.
The violence in the city erupted on May 23after the army raided the hideout of Isnilon Hapilon, a commander of the AbuSayyaf group and leader of a branch of the Islamic State (IS) group in thecountry.
Over 100 gunmen responded to army forces bysetting fire to buildings, attacking soldiers and flying IS flag, according toDefence Secretary Delfil Lorenzana.- VNA
The Philippine military announced that a notorious sub-leader of the Abu Sayyaf insurgent group was killed in the northern province of Tawi-Tawi on March 14.
Philippine navy troops on March 23 successfully rescued two Malaysians held hostage by Islamic State-linked Abu Sayyaf militant group for eight months in the waters off the southern Philippines.
Philippine President Rodrigo Duterte said on May 24 he might declare martial law in the entire nation, after imposing military rules in the southern region of Mindanao to combat Islamic terrorists.
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.
President Rodrigo Duterte (Photo: EPA/VNA) 
