Day: July 4, 2022

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26th ASEAN-Republic of Korea Dialogue

Deputy Permanent Secretary pushed forward cooperation towards sustainable recovery and regional connectivity at the 26th ASEAN-Republic of Korea (ROK) Dialogue.
 
On 1 July 2022, H.E. Mrs. Chulamanee Chartsuwan, Deputy Permanent Secretary attended the 26th ASEAN-Republic of Korea (ROK) Dialogue in Seoul. The Meeting was co-chaired by H.E. Mr. Yeo Seung-bae, Deputy Minister for Political Affairs of the ROK’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs, and H.E. Mr. Vu Ho, Director-General, Acting SOM Leader for ASEAN-Viet Nam.
 
The Meeting reviewed the progress of ASEAN-ROK cooperation in a number of areas, including ways towards post-COVID-19 recovery and preparation for response to emerging diseases, as well as political-security, economic and socio-cultural issues. The Meeting also discussed the preparations for the ASEAN Post Ministerial Conference with the ROK, scheduled in August 2022, and the 23rd ASEAN-ROK Summit in November 2022.
 
Thailand proposed ways forward to enhance cooperation between ASEAN and the ROK on promoting resilient and sustainable socio-economic recovery in the region. Priority areas include strengthening economic integration and supply chain connectivity and utilisation of digital technology and innovation.
 
Thailand also encouraged more investment from the ROK in connectivity projects, particularly on smart and environment-friendly infrastructure development, as well as future industries. Thailand also highlighted sustainable development, particularly cooperation on Bio-Circular-Green (BCG) Economy Model, which is in line with the ROK’s Green New Deal.
 
The Meeting also had an exchange of views on regional and international issues, including the situations on the Korean Peninsula, the South China Sea, Myanmar and Ukraine.

Source: Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Kingdom of Thailand

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Bangladesh’s Exports Hit All-Time High Of Over 52 Billion USD In FY 2021-22

DHAKA) – Bangladesh saw exports soar more than 34 percent to 52.08 billion U.S. dollars, in the 2021-22 fiscal year (July 2021-June 2022), official data showed, yesterday.

According to the data, released by the Export Promotion Bureau (EPB), under the Ministry of Commerce, Bangladesh achieved the highest export earnings in the 2021-22 fiscal year, with the final months recording robust income growths.

“In the 2021-22 fiscal year, exports reached 52,082.66 million U.S. dollars, setting a new record,” said the EPB.

With 4.91 billion U.S. dollars in export earnings in Jun, up 37.19 percent over the same period a year ago, the country’s overall export earnings in the last fiscal year exceeded the target of 43.50 billion U.S. dollars.

Bangladesh’s export income in the 2020-21 fiscal year (July 2020-June 2021) was recorded at 38.76 billion U.S. dollars.

As always the growth in the 2021-22 fiscal year was largely attributed to the demand for ready-made garments.

Bangladesh’s earnings from garment export, which make up more than three-quarters of the country’s annual incomes, since the beginning of this decade, surged to 42.61 billion U.S. dollars in the 2021-22 fiscal year, according to the EPB.

Knitwear garment export grew 36.88 percent year on year, to 23.21 billion U.S. dollars, while woven garment export rose 33.82 percent to 19.40 billion U.S. dollars.

During the cited period, many other traditional export items, like frozen foods, home textiles, leather and leather products and footwear, also performed well, showed the EPB data.

Source: NAM NEWS NETWORK

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Time, Venue Of New Round Of Nuclear Talks Being Finalised: Iranian Negotiator

TEHRAN,– Iran’s chief nuclear negotiator, Ali Bagheri Kani, said yesterday that, the time and venue of a new round of talks, to revive the 2015 nuclear deal are being finalised.

“The negotiations in Doha took place within a pre-determined framework,” Bagheri Kani said, adding that, “the time and venue of next negotiations are being finalised in the exchanges” between Iran and the European Union (EU).

He did not specify whether the next round of talks will take place in the format of Iran and the P4+1 (Britain, China, France, Russia plus Germany) or will be held indirectly between Iran and the United States.

Iran and the United States held indirect talks on Tuesday and Wednesday, in the Qatari capital of Doha, with the mediation of EU coordinator, Enrique Mora, to address their differences over the revival of the nuclear deal, formally known as the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action (JCPOA).

The Doha talks did not bear results, but Iranian Foreign Minister, Hossein Amir-Abdollahian, described the talks as “positive.”

Iran signed the JCPOA with the world powers in Jul, 2015, agreeing to curb its nuclear programme, in return for the removal of sanctions on the country. However, former U.S. President, Donald Trump, pulled Washington out of the agreement in May, 2018, and re-imposed unilateral sanctions on Iran, prompting the latter to drop some of its commitments under the pact.

Source: NAM NEWS NETWORK

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Narcotics smuggling attempt foiled at Pakistani airport, Three arrested

ISLAMABAD – The Anti-Narcotics Force (ANF) of Pakistan, foiled an attempt to smuggle narcotics and arrested three people, at the Islamabad International Airport, officials said yesterday.

Director General of the ANF, Ghulam Shabeer Narejo, told local media that, the officials seized five kg of heroin from a three-member gang at the airport, adding that, the drugs were hidden in the luggage trolley.

The gang members confessed to smuggling narcotics to foreign countries, said the official.

The arrested men have been shifted to an undisclosed place for further investigation, with a case filed against them, according to local media reports.

Source: NAM NEWS NETWORK

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Philippines Logged 1,323 New COVID-19 Cases

MANILA, Jul 4 (NNN-PNA) – The Philippines’ Department of Health (DOH), reported 1,323 new COVID-19 infections yesterday, the highest tally since Feb 25, bringing the total number of confirmed cases in the country to 3,708,271.

The DOH said, 14 people died from COVID-19 complications, bringing the death toll to 60,592.

The DOH said that, Metro Manila recorded 5,520 new cases in the last 14 days, the highest number among the five regions with new cases.

The Philippines reported the highest single-day tally on Jan 15 this year, with 39,004 new cases. The country, with a population of around 110 million, tested over 30.8 million people for COVID-19, since being hit by the pandemic.

Source: NAM NEWS NETWORK

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DIRECTOR OF SUSPECTED SHELL COMPANIES CHARGED WITH OFFENCES UNDER THE COMPANIES ACT AND CORRUPTION, DRUG TRAFFICKING AND OTHER SERIOUS CRIMES (CONFISCATION OF BENEFITS) ACT

On 4 July 2022, Susila Hyrawatty Binte Hashim (“Susila”), a 43-year-old woman, was charged with two counts of offences under Section 157(1) punishable under Section 157(3)(b) of the Companies Act (Cap 50, 2006 Rev Ed) (“Companies Act”) for allegedly failing to exercise reasonable diligence in the discharge of her duties as a director of two Singapore companies.

Susila was also charged for one count of possessing funds in her company’s bank account, which were reasonably suspected of being another person’s benefits from criminal conduct, which she had failed to account satisfactorily how she came by the same, under Section 47AA(1) of the Corruption, Drug Trafficking and Other Serious Crimes (Confiscation of Benefits) Act, Chapter 65A (“CDSA”).

Investigations revealed that Susila purportedly incorporated two Singapore companies Noxt Lightings Pte Ltd (“Noxt”) and Aubright Lightings Pte Ltd (“Aubright”) at the behest of an unidentified person, who is believed to have engaged in criminal conduct, and to have accessed the companies’ bank accounts to launder proceeds of crime.

In consequence of Susila’s failure to exercise reasonable diligence in the discharge of her duties as Aubright’s sole director, Aubright received a sum of USD 265,720 in its bank account on 30 September 2021, which may be reasonably suspected of being another person’s benefits from criminal conduct, and for which she failed to account satisfactorily how she came by the same.

The offence under Section 157(1) punishable under Section 157(3)(b) of the Companies Act carries a fine of up to $5,000 or imprisonment of up to 12 months. Under Section 154(2)(a) read with Section 154(4)(a) of the Companies Act, offenders may also be fined and disqualified from acting as a director for up to five years.

The offence under Section 47AA(1) punishable under Section 47AA(2)(a) of CDSA carries a fine of up to $150,000 or imprisonment of up to three years, or both.

The Police would like to advise all individuals to consider their ability to act as directors for companies and ensure that they are able to exercise reasonable diligence in the discharge of their duties. Should a director exercise inadequate supervision over the company’s affairs, there is a risk that the company may be used to facilitate illicit activities, such as the laundering of criminal proceeds.

Source: Singapore Police Force