Indonesia's new capital secures first foreign investment

SEOUL, September 26 (AJP) - Indonesia's new capital, Nusantara, has attracted its first foreign investor as Chinese real estate firm Dellonix Group broke ground on a mixed-use commercial complex Wednesday. President Joko Widodo attended the groundbreaking ceremony, praising Dellonix as a pioneering foreign investor and expressing hope that it would inspire confidence in other potential investors. The company is investing 500 billion rupiah ($31.7 million) to build hotels, shoppi

September 26, 2024

Thai Baht surge sparks economic concerns, policy debate

SEOUL, September 25 (AJP) – The Thai baht surged to its strongest level against the U.S. dollar since February 2023 this week, raising concerns about potential harm to Thailand's export and tourism sectors. According to reports, the baht reached 32.86 to the U.S. dollar on Monday, its strongest level in about 17 months. Industry groups, including the Thai Chamber of Commerce, have urged the Bank of Thailand (BOT) to cut interest rates to mitigate the baht's rise.

September 25, 2024

Vietnamese captain gets 7 years for deadly tourist boat accident

SEOUL, September 25 (AJP) - A Vietnamese boat captain has been sentenced to seven years in prison for a 2022 accident that killed 17 tourists near Hoi An, a popular tourist destination. The Quang Nam Province People's Court found Le Sen, 54, guilty of violating maritime traffic regulations during the incident about 3 kilometers off the coast. The tragedy occurred on Feb. 26, 2022, when a motorboat carrying Sen, two crew members and 36 tourists capsized while returning from Ch

September 25, 2024

Philippines boosts maritime presence in disputed South China Sea

SEOUL, September 24 (AJP) - In a new development following recent confrontations, the Philippines has deployed naval and coast guard vessels to Sabina Shoal in the South China Sea. This move, announced by National Maritime Council spokesperson Alexander Lopez, aims to counter Chinese claims in the area. The action comes after the withdrawal of the BRP Teresa Magbanua, which had been stationed at the shoal since May and was involved in multiple collisions with Chinese vessels in Au

September 24, 2024

Two Filipino domestic workers missing in Seoul

SEOUL, September 24 (AJP) - Two Filipino domestic workers participating in a pilot program introduced by the South Korean government and Seoul City have gone missing. The workers left their accommodation on Sept. 15 during the Chuseok holiday and have not returned or made contact since. Authorities are attempting to reach the workers' families in the Philippines and have notified the Philippine Embassy. The missing workers are part of a group of 100 Filipino domestic helpers w

September 24, 2024

Armed attackers strike Thailand wildlife sanctuary, abduct four staff members

SEOUL, September 23 (AJP) - A group of about 20 armed assailants launched an attack on the Hala-Bala Wildlife Sanctuary in Thailand's southern Narathiwat province on Saturday. The attackers set fire to four buildings, including the sanctuary's office and tourist bungalows, detonated explosives, and kidnapped four staff members. Attapon Charoenchansa, director of the National Parks, Wildlife and Plant Conservation Department, reported that the black-clad, masked individuals c

September 23, 2024

Viet Nam's VinFast reports widening losses despite revenue growth in second quarter

SEOUL, September 23 (AJP) - Viet Nam's major electric vehicle manufacturer VinFast reported a 27 percent increase in net losses to $773.5 million in the second quarter of 2024, despite a 33 percent rise in revenue to $357 million. The company attributed the expanding losses primarily to impairment charges on inventory residual values, which surged to $104 million from $5 million in the previous quarter. Vehicle deliveries grew 43 percent year-on-year to 13,172 units, falling

September 23, 2024

Indonesian president among 6 million taxpayers in alleged data leak

SEOUL, September 20 (AJP) - Claims of a massive data breach involving 6 million Indonesian taxpayers, including President Joko Widodo, have resurfaced two years after initial hacking allegations. Internet security expert Teguh Aprianto posted sample images on social media, asserting that taxpayer identification numbers and personal information of high-ranking officials are being sold online. The data allegedly includes addresses, phone numbers, emails, and tax status of prominent f

September 20, 2024

Korean, Vietnamese authorities bust mobile smishing ring

SEOUL, September 20 (AJP) - A sophisticated mobile smishing operation headquartered in Viet Nam has been dismantled through a joint effort between South Korean and Vietnamese authorities. The criminal network, which extracted about 10 billion won ($76 million) from 230 victims, is the largest mobile smishing case ever uncovered in South Korea. The operation's nerve center in Viet Nam coordinated the sending of deceptive mobile messages, including fake wedding invitations, obitua

September 20, 2024

UN reports Myanmar junta killed 5,350 civilians since 2021 coup

SEOUL, September 19 (AJP) - The United Nations Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights (OHCHR) has released a report stating that Myanmar's military junta has killed 5,350 civilians since the February 2021 coup. The report, based on interviews with victims and witnesses, also reveals that approximately 27,400 civilians have been arrested during this period. OHCHR spokesperson Liz Throssell disclosed that at least 1,853 people, including 88 children and 125 women, have d

September 19, 2024