By Zairina Zainudin KUALA LUMPUR, March 23 (PNA/Bernama) — Small and medium enterprises (SMEs) in ASEAN member states have been urged to look at all possible opportunities in the region in order…
Category: International
ASEAN states finalize banking integration framework agreement
BALI, March 22 (PNA/Sputnik) -– Members of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) have finalized the ASEAN Banking Integration Framework (ABIF), which will allow the countries’ banks to enter into reciprocal…
U.S. hikes spending on overseas military operations by 66%
WASHINGTON, March 21 (PNA/Sputnik) — The United States increased its overseas defense contingency budget by nearly two-thirds to finance modernization programs and missions in Iraq and Afghanistan, U.S. Senator Kelly Ayotte said…
Nuclear talks suspended, no framework agreement as deadline approaches
LAUSANNE, March 21 (PNA/Xinhua) — World powers and Iran will resume discussions next week to further negotiate Teheran’s nuclear issues as the current round of nuclear talks was suspended on Friday without…
UN chief calls for efforts to fill world with happiness
UNITED NATIONS, March 21 (PNA/Xinhua) — UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon on Friday called for efforts towards a world filled with happiness. “The pursuit of happiness is serious business. Happiness for the entire…
Ebola virus death toll in West Africa reaches 10,216 — WHO
GENEVA, March 20 (PNA/TASS) — The death toll from the current Ebola outbreak has reached 10,216 while the number of those infected totaled 24,743, the World Health Organization (WHO) said in a…
Bill Gates warns world must be prepared for epidemic worse than Ebola
WASHINGTON, March 20 (PNA/Xinhua) — Billionaire philanthropist Bill Gates said Thursday the world must learn from the Ebola outbreak and be prepared for an epidemic of a far more infectious disease that…
ASEAN can drive global economic growth
KUALA LUMOUR, March 19 (PNA/Bernama) — Sustainable ASEAN economies could attract substantial foreign direct investments (FDIs) to the region, thus driving global economic growth, says Treasury Secretary General Tan Sri Dr Mohd…
Top U.S., Iranian displomats meet for further nuclear talks
LAUSANNE, March 16 (PNA/Xinhua) — U.S. Secretary of State John Kerry and Iranian Foreign Minister Mohammad Javad Zarif began here on Monday morning their first meeting in a fresh round of talks…
ASEAN defense ministers reiterate joint efforts to tackle IS threat
LANGKAWI, MALAYSIA, March 16 (PNA/Xinhua) — Defense ministers from the 10 nations of the Association of Southeast Nations (ASEAN) agreed here Monday to cooperate in tackling the grave security threat from the…
Australian FM joins pro-Asian Infrastructure Investment Bank choir
CANBRERA, March 16 (PNA/Xinhua) — Australian Foreign Minister Julie Bishop on Monday became the latest senior cabinet minister in voicing support of Australia joining the Asian Infrastructure Investment Bank (AIIB) proposed by…
Wildlife crime poses security risk: senior UN officials
UNITED NATIONS, March 5 (PNA/Xinhua) — Senior UN officials on Wednesday warned that trafficking in wildlife poses a serious security risk and called for a coordinated international response to combat wildlife crime….
U.S. ambassador to S. Korea injured, Washington condemns act of violence
SEOUL, March 5 (PNA/Xinhua) — U.S. envoy to South Korea Mark Lippert was attacked by an armed man and injured in downtown Seoul on Thursday morning, local media reported. The suspected assailant,…
WHO calls on countries to help people reduce sugar intake
UNITED NATIONS, March 5 (PNA/Xinhua) — The World Health Organization (WHO) on Wednesday called on countries to reduce sugar intake among adults and children to less than 10 percent of their total…
S.Korea, China, Japan to hold meeting of senior diplomats next week
SEOUL, March 5 (PNA/Xinhua) — Senior diplomats of South Korea, China and Japan will meet next week to discuss preparations for the foreign ministers’ meeting of the three countries scheduled for late…