News headlines around the world

A child works in the fishery sector in Thailand. (Photo: bloomberg.com) Bangkok (NNT/VNA) - The problem of child labour in Thailand has improved, as the Ministry of Labour continues to hold campaigns against child labour and exploitation of children. On June 11, the Department of Labour Protection and Welfare organised an event to mark World Day against Child Labour, which falls on June 12 of every year. The event featured exhibitions and activities arranged by public agencies, private development organisations, and employers and employees. Director-General of the Department of Labour Protection and Welfare Wiwat Tanghong said after presiding over the opening of this event that the child labour problem in Thailand has improved, as the country has stepped up to the fight against child labour. As a result, fewer children are being exploited and there are fewer children entering the labour market. According to a child labour study conducted by the United States, Thailand’s … [Read more...] about Thailand marks World Day against Child Labour

Visitors to the festival will have chance to enjoy traditional dances of ethnic people. (Photo: vietnamnet.vn) Lao Cai (VNA) – The northwest cuisine and cultural space festival opened at the Sun World Fansipan Legend tourism site, Sa Pa town in the mountainous province of Lao Cai on August 8. Visitors to the festival have chance to enjoy the kaleidoscopic cultures of ethnic groups in the northwestern region with mountainous markets and traditional dances and singing. They are treated to hundreds of excellent staples such as large pans of “thang co” (a dish made from horse meat and its organs), smoked buffalo meat hung up in kitchen, plump smoked sausage, and various kinds of wines. Particularly, the life of local people is illustrated through the re-enactment of the traditional wedding of Dao ethnic people, as well as a string of folk games like stick pushing, bamboo dancing and walking on stilts, among others. A grand bamboo dancing drawing 7,600 people stirred … [Read more...] about Sun World Fansipan Legend goes vibrant with northwest cuisine festival

Thai police have seized more than 14 million methamphetamine pills that were bound for neighbouring Malaysia and beyond (Photo: Reuters/VNA) Hanoi (VNA) – Thai police have seized more than 14 million methamphetamine pills worth 1.48 billion THB (45 million USD) that were bound for neighbouring Malaysia and beyond, authorities said on August 21. According to police, the orange pills of methamphetamine were confiscated in the northern province of Ayutthaya on August 18. Three Thais were arrested in connection with the seizure. The drugs came from Shan State in northeast Myanmar in an area under the control of an ethnic Wa militia force. Commander of the Narcotics Suppression Bureau Lieutenant General Sommai Kongvisaisuk said the drugs were destined for Malaysia and then on to other markets around the world. The seizure is the latest big methamphetamine bust in the Southeast Asian region. Similar cases had been made in Malaysia and Indonesia. The production and … [Read more...] about Thailand seizes huge haul of methamphetamine

Indonesian Coordinating Minister for Maritime Affairs Luhut Binsar Pandjaitan (Photo: Ministry for Maritime Affairs ) Jakarta (VNA) – Indonesia, having the sixth-largest bauxite reserves in the world, sees the potential of bauxite downstream could reach 13 billion USD next year from the current 9 billion USD. According to Coordinating Minister for Maritime Affairs Luhut Binsar Pandjaitan, although Indonesia is in top six bauxite reserves in the world, the country only exports it. President Joko Widodo has recently directed to enhance processing so as to increase value for the processing industry, he said. If bauxite is processed into various derivatives, the value can go up to 11 digits, and this potential has not been maximized yet. The Indonesian government will consider accelerating an export ban on bauxite and other mineral items such as tin and alumina, among others, subject to the scale of investment, he revealed. Under the current rules, exports of bauxite are … [Read more...] about Indonesia targets to attract 13 billion USD to bauxite processing

Defence Minister Ngo Xuan Lich (L) attends the ASEAN Defence Ministers’ Meeting Retreat. (Photo: VNA) Bangkok (VNA) – The ASEAN Defence Ministers’ Meeting Retreat (ADMM Retreat) opened in Bangkok on November 17. In his remarks, Thai Deputy Prime Minister Prawit Wongsuwan thanked the defence ministers and the ASEAN Secretariat office for supporting the country to complete its role as the ASEAN Chair in 2019, and particularly successfully organise the ASEAN defence ministers’ meetings. He spoke highly of the ASEAN member states’ positive roles in promoting security-defence cooperation within the bloc, contributing to the maintenance of ASEAN’s central role to effectively cope with regional challenges. The official expressed his hope that the meeting will serve as a venue for competent sides to exchange experience and opinions on defence and security issues, helping further boost collaboration in the field in the time ahead. As scheduled, … [Read more...] about ASEAN Defence Ministers’ Meeting Retreat opens in Thailand