Over 100 schools in Thailand's Bangkok city have suspended in-person classes and shifted to online learning due to severe air pollution affecting the capital and over 60 provinces nationwide.

The Thai cabinet approved a carbon tax of 200 THB (5.9 USD) per tonne of carbon emissions on January 21, as part of the country’s strategy to reduce greenhouse gas emissions, according to Deputy Finance Minister Paopoom Rojanasakul.

The incentives were granted for the conversion of 1,111 units of gasoline-powered motorcycles into electric ones in 2024 as compared to the previous year’s figure of 145.

Indonesia's Ministry of Micro, Small, and Medium Enterprises (MSMEs) is seeking to strengthen financing for MSMEs in the agriculture and fishery sectors to support food self-sufficiency.

The ASEAN Foreign Ministers' Meeting (AMM) will take place in Langkawi, Malaysia, on January 19 under the helm of Malaysian Minister of Foreign Affairs Utama Haji Mohamad Haji Hasan, marking the start of a series of ministerial-level meetings under Malaysia’s ASEAN Chairmanship 2025.

Thai Prime Minister Paetongtarn Shinawatra has called for stronger ASEAN collaboration to combat online scams, tackle misinformation, and promote ethical use of artificial intelligence (AI).

Heavy rains and floods remain the biggest threats for Indonesia in 2025 due to the impact of the La Niña phenomenon, according to the National Disaster Mitigation Agency (BNPB).

Indonesia is planning to lower trade tariffs with the US as President-elect Donald Trump prepares to implement a universal tariff policy.

The Argentinean Ministry of Foreign Affairs, International Trade and Worship has recently announced that the Philippines authorised Argentine exports of poultry meat and pork and the extension to export beef with bone, offal and fats.

Japanese Prime Minister Shigeru Ishiba on January 10 met with his Malaysian counterpart Anwar Ibrahim during his visit to the Southeast Asian country, pledging to enhance cooperation in addressing urgent regional and international challenges, including tensions in the East Sea, the Middle East, and the ongoing crisis in Myanmar.

The Malaysian economic forum (FEM) 2025 was held in Kuala Lumpur on January 9 to discuss cooperation orientations and key initiatives for the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) and Malaysia in the coming year.

Thai Prime Minister Paetongtarn Shinawatra has instructed ministries and departments to accelerate efforts to tackle PM2.5 air pollution, particularly through halting the purchase of burnt sugarcane, cracking down on vehicles that emit smoke, and strictly controlling construction sites.

Indonesian Minister of Health Budi Gunadi Sadikin on January 7 confirmed the detection of cases of Human Metapneumovirus (HMPV) in the country, but assured the public that the disease is not dangerous.

Malaysia on January 6 launched the Visit Malaysia 2026 (VM2026), which focuses on two core pillars – high yield and sustainable tourism.

The Indonesian Agency for Meteorology, Climatology, and Geophysics (BMKG) reported on January 3 that 2024 is recorded as the hottest year in the Southeast Asian country's history.

The Indonesian government is preparing to implement the mandatory 50% biodiesel (B50) programme in 2026 to stop diesel imports, according to Minister of Energy and Mineral Resources Bahlil Lahadalia.

The National Counter-Terrorism Agency (BNPT) of Indonesia is planning to set up the National Preparedness Centre in West Jakarta this year, according to head of the agency's general affairs bureau Fanfan Infansyah.

The Bank of Thailand (BoT) is planning to improve mobile banking security measures by limiting certain groups of people, such as teenagers and the elderly, from transferring more than 50,000 THB (1,500 USD) per day.

The Indonesian middle class has been shrinking over the past five years, the Jakarta Post reported on December 31.

From Sydney to Mumbai to Nairobi, communities around the world are welcoming 2025. In New York, packed crowds counted down as the ball dropped. This year’s celebration includes musical performances by TLC, Jonas Brothers, Rita Ora and Sophie Ellis-Bextor.