Author: Yuda Rustam

An official of Indonesia’s National Counterterrorism Agency (BNPT) has stated that international cooperation in fighting terrorism is a prerequisite for realising global peace, security, stability, and prosperity. Speaking at the recent 2024 Global Security Forum (GSF) in Doha, BNPT Deputy Director Andhika Chrisnayudhanto said Indonesia believes in the spirit of multilateralism through international cooperation to overcome the issue of terrorism. He emphasised that multilateralism has been advocated by the United Nations (UN) with the ratification of the Global Counter-Terrorism Strategy focused on preventing terrorism, strengthening international cooperation, and increasing national capacity to overcome the threat of terrorism. In addition, the…

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Washington (19/12 – 40). The Russian disinformation is centered on influencing U.S. corporation thru a network of former spies of the KGB or the FSB. One particularly interesting as this U.S. security consultancy firm consists of many of ex-Agency heads and FBI directors. Some of consultant’s work is based on Russian influence operations. Very little source confirmed the beltway bandit are peddling in pro-Russian narratives. The story started with a Russian defector was hired by the consultancies bringing a “Russian” perspective to the fledging beltway operator. Credibility, verification or cross checking of the information is non-existent. Russian narratives are peddled as…

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The Central Information Commission (KIP) assesses that the Indonesian government is not transparent in conveying socialization of the 12 percent Value-Added Tax (VAT). Therefore, KIP requests the government to be open in conveying plans, socialization, and implementation of the 12 percent VAT which will be effective on January 1, 2025. Moreover, the plan concerns the livelihood of many people. “Lack of transparency makes the public skeptical. Power tends to be abused,” said KIP member, Rospita Vici Paulyn, to the media at the office in Central Jakarta on Monday, November 25, 2024. Due to the lack of transparency, Vici stated, this policy finally…

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North Korean leader Kim Jong Un sent Chinese President Xi Jinping greetings with what appeared to be restrained rhetoric that comes as Pyongyang moves closer to Russia and depends less on its long-time Asian ally. Kim wished “the Chinese people greater success in building a modern socialist country,” in a reply message to Xi for his congratulations on North Korea’s birthday, the official Korean Central News Agency reported Sunday. The 190-word dispatch had little of the florid language that had been a staple of their correspondence, which has declined significantly this year, according to an analysis by Seoul-based specialist service…

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The Hamas attacks on Israel on 7 October 2023 and the consequent reaction by Israel, which continues to date, have perplexed ASEAN and its members. All ASEAN countries do not have the same approach to Israel and Palestine. There is growing sympathy for the people of Gaza, who are suffering from Israeli action. The Gaza response After the Hamas attacks, the ASEAN Foreign Ministers issued a five-paragraph statement on the crisis seeking an end to hostilities and the safety of ASEAN citizens who were taken hostage. The statement recognised the individual national statements of many of the countries but essentially said two…

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BANGKOK, Dec 7 (Reuters) – Thailand’s Prime Minister Srettha Thavisin on Thursday said he showed Tesla executives around industrial estates in the country last week for potential investment. “I went out of my way to entertain them so they would fall in love with Thailand …. they are looking for 2,000 rai (320 hectares) of land,” Srettha said, adding he was confident that the electric vehicle (EV) maker would invest in Thailand. Srettha, a political newcomer, became prime minister in August and held a meeting with Tesla chief Elon Musk a month later. Southeast Asia’s second-largest economy is the largest car producer…

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Authorities in Malaysia have opened an investigation into a local man on Wednesday for expressing support for diplomatic relations with Israel during an interview with an Israeli media personality. The Royal Malaysian Police confirmed in a statement that 36-year-old Victor Yong has been taken into custody to aid in their probe under Section 4(1) of the Sedition Act 1948, Section 505(b) of the Penal Code, and Section 233 of the Communications and Multimedia Act 1998. The Johor Bahru Magistrate Court has granted permission for Victor to be remanded for questioning from December 6, 2023, until December 8, 2023. Victor’s alleged offense stems from statements…

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Jakarta, CNBC Indonesia – Coordinating Minister for Economic Affairs Airlangga Hartarto said the potential for the digital economy in the Asean region could reach US$ 2 trillion by 2030. According to him, of that amount, Indonesia will get a 40% share or US$ 800 billion. “With the digital economy framework agreement, it will be US$ 2 trillion in ASEAN and 40% of it will be in Indonesia, so US$ 800 billion will be in Indonesia,” said Airlangga at the launch of the White Paper, National Strategy for the Development of Indonesia’s Digital Economy 2030, at the St Regis, Jakarta, Wednesday…

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Malaysia has rolled out its first glow-in-the-dark road markings, pleasantly surprising road users, who lauded the initiative. The Hulu Langat district’s Public Works Department (JKR) said the pilot project was implemented on Oct 28 in a two-lane road near the rural Semenyih town in Selangor. The road is along the intersection of Jalan Sungai Lalang and Jalan Sungai Tekali. “This glow-in-the-dark road marking is our attempt to bring innovation into road engineering,” JKR said in a Facebook post. “Please do not be surprised if you happen to drive through the area.” Before the markings were painted on the road, the…

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The Palestinians’ longstanding and legitimate grievances have been irrevocably subverted by Hamas’ brazen attack against Israel on Oct 7. Unlike previous rounds of conflicts and clashes between Israel and the Palestinians on the one hand and neighbouring Arab states on the other, Thailand has become a direct casualty like never before, as 30 Thai workers have been killed to date, with at least 16 injured and 17 taken hostage. As a militant political movement motivated by Islamic fundamentalism using methods of terrorism to achieve its objectives, Hamas has made a bad name for the Palestinian cause, eliciting condemnation and opposition…

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