Illustrative image. (Photo: The Hashtag Collective)
Hanoi (VNA)🐻 – The government of Indonesia has shut down thousands of websites containing content related to extremism and terrorism.
The move came after the country was hit by a series of suicide bombings and terrorist attacks over the last two weeks that claimed more than 32 lives in East Java and Riau provinces.
Almost 3,000 websites have been blocked and about 9,500 others are being inspected, said Indonesian Communication and Information Minister Rudi Antara in Yogyakarta province on May 21.
Blocking the sites aims to encourage people to protest acts of radicalism, extremism and terrorism as there is a lot of radical and terrorist content circulated on social media such as Facebook, Instagram and YouTube.
Facebook said it has taken down nearly 2 million posts containing Islamic State, al-Qaeda and related terrorism propaganda in the first quarter of this year. Meanwhile, Twitter has blocked more than 1 million accounts for promotion of terrorism since 2015.
On March 13, a series of bombings hit three Christian churches in Surabaya, East Java province, killing 14 and injuring dozens of others. Indonesian police said that the bombings were conducted by a family of six, including four children aged 9 to 18.
Just a day later, another blast took place at the police headquarters in Surabaya city in the morning, which killed four people and injured at least 16 others. A family of five, including an 8-year-old girl, was the perpetrators of the attack, the police declared.
The self-styled Islamic State claimed responsibility for the attacks.
Indonesia raised its security alert status to the highest level at major cities and regions in Indonesia, including Jakarta capital, Riau islands, East Java and Bali island, after the attacks on May 13.-VNA
Indonesian police shot dead three men who attacked the headquarters of the Riau province police on Sumatra island on May 16. A policeman was also killed in the attack.
Indonesia’s national police chief Tito Karnavian on May 17 affirmed that national security has been strengthened to deal with terrorism threats after a series of suicide bombings rocked the country days ago.
Indonesian prosecutors have demanded a death penalty for radical Islamic cleric Aman Abdurrahman who was accused of ordering attacks including a January 2016 suicide bombing and gun attack in the capital city of Jakarta that killed four civilians and four attackers.
Ideological education is the key to counter-terrorism, said Beni Sukadis, Programme Coordinator of the Indonesia Institute for Defense and Strategic Studies (Lesperssi), following a series of recent deadly terrorist attacks in Surabaya city, Indonesia.
Indonesian Minister of Foreign Affairs Retno Marsudi called on G20 member states to strengthen cooperation in fighting terrorism while addressing the G20 Foreign Ministers Meeting in Buenos Aires, Argentina, on May 22.
Malaysia, as ASEAN 2025 Chair, marked the bloc’s 58th founding anniversary on August 8 with a vibrant celebration in Cyberjaya, blending an official ceremony with a colorful cultural festival.
Vietnam plays an important role in Southeast Asia’s economic growth and is a key partner of her country in realising the shared vision of a peaceful, stable, and prosperous region, said Robyn Mudie, First Assistant Secretary of Office of Southeast Asia (OSA) – Southeast Asia Regional and Mainland Division at Australia’s Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade (DFAT).
The 2025 ASEAN Business Community Development (ABCD) Forum, themed “Empowering ASEAN's Next Leap: Digital, Sustainable & Entrepreneurial Transformation” brought together ministers, CEOs, and top industry experts to discuss key regional economic priorities.
The DES Ministry will seek cooperation from social media platforms to prevent the spread of fake news and monitor accounts related to such activities, he told reporters after chairing a meeting of the newly established Anti-Fake News Centre (AFNC).
The Joint Standing Committee on Commerce, Industry and Banking identified the US tariff reduction as a significant driver behind the improved economic outlook for Thailand.
Financial institutions and financial technology (fintech) players are intensifying their focus on expanding across the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN), adopting tailored strategies to strengthen their presence in the region’s digital financial services landscape.
Featuring a permanent exhibition area, the ASEAN Hall will function both as a cultural showcase and as a dynamic venue for ASEAN-related events and programmes. Its inauguration on ASEAN Day added symbolic weight, marking a fresh milestone in ASEAN–RoK relations.
Thailand’s Ministry of Commerce and rice exporters are devising strategic plans to boost rice exports amid global market fluctuations, focusing on key markets and adjusting output.
The focus of the upcoming ASEAN Summit in October will be on strengthening economic relations through intra-regional trade and investment, as well as regional initiatives on energy networks and connectivity.
Indonesian Ambassador Rina P. Soemarno, who currently serves as Chair of the ASEAN Committee in Prague, emphasised the spirit of regional solidarity and cooperation, and the importance of enhancing ASEAN–Czech Republic relations.
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Finance Minister Pichai Chunhavajira has outlined a six-point strategy to promote innovation, support small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs), and push for Thailand's removal from the US Trade Representative (USTR)’s special 301 Watch List regarding intellectual property rights protection among trading partners.
Vietnamese Ambassador to Israel Ly Duc Trung emphasised ASEAN’s central role in regional mechanisms such as the ASEAN Regional Forum (ARF) and the East Asia Summit (EAS), highlighting its significant contribution to promoting peace, stability, and prosperity in Southeast Asia.
The consumer index of the University of the Thai Chamber of Commerce (UTCC), fell to 51.7 in July from 52.7 in the previous month. The sluggish economy and the trade war, as well as high living costs, continue to undermine confidence, the university said.
Deputy Speaker of the Hungarian National Assembly Istvan Jakab expressed his hope for further deepening Hungary’s ties with ASEAN countries and called for their support for Hungary’s accession to the Treaty of Amity and Cooperation in Southeast Asia.
The 30-storey tower crumbled seconds after a 7.7-magnitude earthquake hit neighbouring Myanmar on March 28. The partially built high-rise, meant to house the State Audit Office (SAO), was the only building in Thailand to collapse, killing 89 people on the site, mostly construction workers.
Indonesia’s waste generation is projected to exceed 50 million tonnes in 2025. Of the total, more than 20 million tonnes could potentially enter the ocean through rivers, coastal areas, small islands, ports, and marine activities, and thereby, pose a risk to coastal ecosystems and marine biota.
Indonesia is accelerating plans to increase lithium imports, particularly from Australia, in a bid to fill gaps in the electric vehicle (EV) battery supply chain and realise its ambition of becoming a global EV manufacturing hub.
Malaysia’s gross expenditure on R&D (GERD) reached 1.01% of gross domestic product in 2022, a notable increase, with more than 51% contributed by the industry sector. The country is targeting GERD to reach 2.5% by 2030, in line with the national goal of transforming into a high-technology nation.
Illustrative image. (Photo: The Hashtag Collective)
