17/06/2025

TUESDAY | JUNE 17, 2025

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Cambodia threatens to ban Thai fruit, vegetable imports

Assembly approved amendments to the constitution yesterday to abolish an entire level of government as part of major reforms to the way the communist country is run. Lawmakers voted unanimously to do away with district level administration, reducing the governmental structure to two layers, namely provinces and communes. The move is the latest in a series of drastic changes to Vietnamese government aimed at saving billions of dollars in expenditure by cutting one in five public sector jobs. Last week, lawmakers in the assembly, a rubber-stamp body in a one-party system, voted to merge most of the country’s provinces and cities, cutting nearly 80,000 jobs. In February, they slashed the number of government ministries, resulting in 23,000 job losses. The changes echo the steps taken by US President Donald Trump and Argentina’s Javier Milei to take an axe to government spending. But in a communist system in Minister Keir Starmer has named the first ever female head of MI6, Britain’s secret service, as the country faces an “unprecedented scale” of threats, German press agency (dpa) reported. Blaise Metreweli (pic) , a career intelligence officer who currently serves as director of technology at the organisation, will become the 18th chief in the organisation’s 116-year history. She will take over from Richard Moore, a senior civil servant who will step down in the autumn after five years in the role. Commonly referred to as C, the chief has operational responsibility for MI6 and is the only publicly named member of the organisation. LONDON: UK Prime MAN CHARGED WITH TORTURING BABY SYDNEY: An Australian man has been charged with torture following an investigation into the alleged abuse of a newborn baby, Xinhua reported. The police service in the state of Queensland yesterday said detectives from the Child Protection and Investigation Unit (CPIU) commenced inquiries on March 5 after a seven-week old boy was brought to a hospital in an unresponsive condition. Following an investigation, police said a man from southern Brisbane has been charged with one count of torture and three counts of assault occasioning bodily harm. – Bernama-Xinhua HANOI BECOMES BRICS PARTNER COUNTRY HANOI: Vietnam, which has become a BRICS partner country, aims to contribute to enhancing the voice and role of developing countries while promoting international solidarity and inclusive multilateralism based on respect for international law, said Foreign Ministry spokesperson Ph ˼ m Thu Hang. She said Vietnam has been contributing to peace, stability and development in the region and around the world. – Bernama-VNA

BR I E F S

discrimination as the border spat drags on. “We must come back home and it is the suitable time. The border dispute will not end easily, insults happen at times and this time it is more serious,” he added. The row dates back to the drawing of the countries’ 800km frontier in the early 20th century during the French occupation of Indochina. Cambodia has previously sought help from the ICJ in a territorial dispute over a border temple. In 1962, the court ruled that the disputed Preah Vihear temple belonged to Cambodia and in 2013, the ICJ awarded an area next to the temple to Cambodia too. Thailand said it did not accept the court’s jurisdiction. Violence sparked by the dispute has led to 28 deaths in the region since 2008. – AFP

told his Thai counterpart about the measures. Cambodia on Sunday formally asked the International Court of Justice (ICJ) to help resolve the border dispute in four areas, namely the site of last month’s clash and three ancient temples. Hun Sen said his country had to go to the ICJ because Cambodia wanted “peace” and the two countries would never reach an agreement in the four areas. Cambodia has repeatedly asked Thailand to jointly bring the case to the ICJ. “Only a thief is afraid of a court,” said Hun Sen. He said Cambodia would not back off and would respect the ICJ’s ruling. He also called on tens of thousands of Cambodian migrants working in Thailand to return home, saying they would face increasing

o Ex-leader issues ultimatum to pressure Bangkok to lift border crossing restrictions

PHNOM PENH: Cambodia’s former leader Hun Sen yesterday issued an ultimatum to Thailand to lift border crossing restrictions or else his country would ban Thai fruit and vegetable imports in the latest round of the border spat between the two countries. One Cambodian soldier was killed on May 28 as troops exchanged fire in a disputed area known as the Emerald Triangle, where the borders of Cambodia, Thailand and Laos meet. The Thai and Cambodian armies both said they acted in self-defence. Thailand has tightened border controls with Cambodia in recent days while Cambodia ordered

troops on Friday to stay on “full alert”, banned Thai dramas from TV and cinemas, closed a popular border checkpoint and cut internet bandwidth from Thailand. In an address to the nation, Hun Sen, who is father of Prime Minister Hun Manet, threatened to ban fruit and vegetables from Thailand unless Bangkok lifted all border crossing restrictions within 24 hours. “If the Thai side does not open border crossings to normalcy today, tomorrow we will implement throughout the border a ban on the imports of fruit and vegetables to Cambodia.” He said Hun Manet has already

Vietnam abolishes district govt HANOI: Vietnam’s National

which working for the state has long meant a job for life, the reforms piloted by party chief To Lam have caused some unease. Lam, the Communist Party general secretary and top national leader, has said the drastic restructuring is needed if Vietnam is to achieve “fast, stable and sustainable development” in its quest to be a middle-income country by 2030. The National Assembly also voted yesterday to reorganise the lowest level of government, reducing the number of communes from over 10,000 to around 3,300. With this “important reform”, the size of communes would be expanded, said Interior Minister Pham Thi Thanh Tra. He said last week the move would mean eliminating around 120,000 part-time jobs at the commune level.

The reforms follow a huge, wide-ranging anti-corruption drive that has seen dozens of senior government figures and top business leaders caught. – AFP First female chief to take reins of MI6

WOEFUL WAILS ... A mourner waiting for the body of her younger brother, who died after an Air India plane crashed during takeoff, to arrive for the last rites in Ahmedabad, India. – REUTERSPIC

“I would also like to pay tribute to Moore for his service and leadership. “I have worked closely with him over the past year and thank him for his valuable contribution enhancing our national security and protecting the British public.” Metreweli said: “I am honoured to be asked to lead my service. MI6 plays a vital role in keeping the British people safe and promoting UK interests overseas. “I look forward to continuing that work alongside the brave officers and agents of MI6 and our many international partners.” Moore said: “I am delighted by this historic appointment of my colleague Metreweli to succeed me as C. – Bernama-dpa

“At a time of global instability and emerging security threats, when technology is power and our adversaries are working ever closer together, Blaise would ensure the United Kingdom can tackle these challenges head on to keep Britain safe and secure at

it aggressors who send their spy ships to our waters or hackers whose sophisticated cyber plots seek to disrupt our public services. “I would like to thank Moore for his dedicated service. I know Blaise would continue to provide the excellent leadership needed

Earlier this year, Moore, who was the first member of MI6 to openly use X, suggested that a female candidate could replace him. “We have yet to have a woman as chief so there is still a glass ceiling to shatter. #AccelerateAction.” Metreweli first joined the service as a case officer in 1999 and has carried out operational roles in the Middle East and Europe. In her new post, she will be accountable to the foreign secretary. Starmer said: “The historic appointment of Metreweli comes at a time when the work of our intelligence services has never been more vital. “The United Kingdom is facing threats on an unprecedented scale, be

home and abroad. “Every day, our intelligence services work behind the scenes to protect our national security and compete with our adversaries. “That is why I am proud that we are investing an extra £600 million (RM3.45 billion) in our intelligence community so that they can continue to defend our way of life.

to defend our county and keep our people safe, the foundation of my plan for change.” Foreign Secretary David Lammy said: “I am delighted to appoint Blaise Metreweli as the next chief of MI6. “With a wealth of experience from across our national security community, Blaise is the ideal candidate to lead MI6 into the future.