Vietnam attends meeting of ASEAN defence senior officials

A Vietnamese delegation attended the ASEAN Defence Senior Officials' Meeting Working Group (ADSOM WG), which convened virtually on October 25.
Vietnam attends meeting of ASEAN defence senior officials ảnh 1At the event (Photo: VNA)
Hanoi (VNA) – A Vietnamese delegation attended theASEAN Defence Senior Officials' Meeting Working Group (ADSOM WG), which convenedvirtually on October 25.

Head of the delegation, Colonel Vu Thanh Van, Director ofthe External Relations Department under the Vietnamese Ministry of NationalDefence, proposed that it is necessary to agree on how to implement the observer regulationof the ASEAN Defence Ministers Meeting (ADMM) Plus Experts' Working Group forpartners on the basis of the ADMM's concept paper on external relations adoptedat the 15th ADMM in June.

Van also announced the multilateral activities that Vietnamis expected to host in the near future, including the ADSOM WG at the end ofNovember and the 15th meeting of the ADMM Plus Experts’ Working Group onpeacekeeping, scheduled to be held online in December. The ADSOM WG will discussand develop guiding documents for the implementation of a flag-raisinginitiative, which places the ASEAN flag next to the national flag at themilitary unit of an ASEAN member state participating in UN peacekeepingoperations.

At the conference, participants discussed the implementationof outcomes achieved at the 15th ADMM and the 8th ADMM Plus, includingthe consideration of the proposals of the UK, France, Canada, and the EU tobecome observers of the ADMM Plus Experts’ Working Group.

They also agreed on the preparations for the ADMM Retreatand the informal meeting of ASEAN Defense Ministers of ASEAN with Australia andthe Republic of Korea in November.

The countries also informed about upcoming activities in theADMM and ADMM Plus mechanisms, including the preparation for the ASEAN-Russianavy exercise co-chaired by Indonesia and Russia./.
VNA

See more

AI-related demand pushes Singapore exports in April

AI-related demand pushes Singapore exports in April

Singapore's exports to the US surged 59.6%, reversing a fall of 2.8% in March. Shipments to China climbed 37.8% from 20.3% the previous month and those to the European Union rose 33.4% after shrinking 12.2% in March.

Pressure on the rupiah has mounted as global oil prices surge amid Middle East tensions and developments involving Iran, increasing Indonesia’s energy import costs. (Photo: AFP/VNA)

Indonesia’s rupiah hits record low amid market turmoil

The Indonesian rupiad at one point on May 18 dropped more than 1% to around 17,668 IDR per USD, its weakest level on record. Indonesia’s benchmark stock index also plunged more than 4% after a long holiday, reflecting growing investor concerns.

Malaysian Deputy Minister of Communications Teo Nie Ching. (Photo: Bernama)

Malaysia records sharp rise in online scam losses

Teo revealed on May 16 that online scam losses in Malaysia reached 2.77 billion RM (about 700 million USD) last year, compared with 1.28 billion RM in 2023 and 1.57 billion RM in 2024. Investment scams accounted for the largest share of the losses.

Scientists discover largest dinosaur species ever found in Thailand

Scientists discover largest dinosaur species ever found in Thailand

According to the researchers, Nagatitan Chaiyaphumensis belonged to the Titanosauridae family, a group of herbivorous dinosaurs characterised by their long necks and tails. The species is estimated to have measured between 27 and 30 metres in length and weighed more than 26 tonnes.

Cambodia lowers 2026 economic growth forecast to 4.2%

Cambodia lowers 2026 economic growth forecast to 4.2%

According to the medium-term fiscal framework for 2027-2029 recently published by Cambodian Prime Minister Hun Manet, Cambodia is navigating a transition against a backdrop of protracted global crises, including rising protectionism, trade wars, geopolitical and geo-economic tensions, and increasingly severe impacts of climate change and natural disasters as well.

Thailand enters 2026 rainy season

Thailand enters 2026 rainy season

According to forecasts by the Thai Meteorological Department (TMD), Thailand entered the rainy season, after key meteorological conditions met the criteria for the start of the season.

Agriculture Minister Andi Amran Sulaiman (second from the right) checked the Bulog's rental warehouse in the Romokalisari Warehouse Complex, Surabaya, East Java on May 13, 2026. (Photo: Antara)

Indonesia records highest-ever rice reserves

The figure marks the highest level of rice stocks in Indonesia’s history as the country steps up policies aimed at boosting agricultural output and strengthening national food security.

Philippines warns of power cuts as heat strains grids

Philippines warns of power cuts as heat strains grids

The National Grid Corporation of the Philippines (NGCP) issued a red alert, warning of potential outages of up to seven hours in 32 areas across the Visayas grid, and hour-long outages in nine areas across Luzon, including the capital Manila.

Myanmar steps up efforts to prevent cybercrime

Myanmar steps up efforts to prevent cybercrime

A Myanmar bill proposes the death penalty as the highest punishment for individuals who illegally abduct, abuse, torture or detain others to coerce them into committing online fraud. It also proposes a maximum sentence of life imprisonment for individuals directly operating scam centres or engaging in fraud involving digital currencies.

Vietnam win 3–2 over the UAE in the final Group C match of the AFC U17 Asian Cup 2026 in Saudi Arabia on early May 14 (Vietnam time). (Photo: Vietnam Football Federation)

Thai media hail Vietnam U17s after dramatic comeback victory

The Thai Youth Football fanpage published an article praising the Vietnamese “golden star warriors” for displaying extraordinary fighting spirit in overturning the match to defeat the UAE 3–2, thereby topping Group C for the first time and earning a place at the U17 World Cup in Qatar later this year.

Electric vehicles line up at charging ports in a Manila mall. (Photo: philstar.com)

Philippines moves closer to launching EV incentive programme

Secretary of Finance Frederick Go said on May 13 the EV Incentive Strategy (EVIS) may be released soon. The EVIS has already been presented to President Marcos, but the Board of Investments (BOI) is still working with other agencies in the Fiscal Incentives Review Board (FIRB) on the details of the programme.