World

Indonesia is the world's biggest producer of the edible oil used in making foods such as cakes, chocolate, and margarine as well as cosmetics, soap and shampoo, accounting for more than half of the global supply.

As many as 39 support and safety centres have been set up along Thailand's coastlines, aiming to ensure tourist safety and encourage the public to protect marine ecosystems by avoiding littering, refraining from feeding or touching rare marine animals, and respecting natural habitats.

Vietnamese exporters of fresh and chilled fruits and vegetables are encouraged to stay abreast of the new system, maintain close communication with their Singaporean counterparts, and ensure timely response to inspection results to avoid disruptions in distribution.

In 2024, the output of these agricultural products in these provinces accounted for 20–60% of the country’s total production, clearly demonstrating the region’s strong production capacity and favourable conditions in terms of soil, geography, and climate for cultivating these crops.

Deputy government spokesman Anukul Prueksanusak has cited findings from a recent consumer behaviour survey conducted by the University of the Thai Chamber of Commerce, which said spending during Songkran is projected to increase by 4.5% to 134 billion THB (3.8 billion USD), up from last year’s 129 billion THB

The Reunification Train will consist of two services: SE1 departing from Hanoi Station and SE4 departing from Saigon Station on the evening of April 29. The two trains will meet at Da Nang Station at exactly 12 noon on April 30.

Malaysian Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim urged members of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) not to underestimate the issue, particularly amid the current global economic and political uncertainties.

Thailand is on the list of 15 countries that could be affected by Trump’s tariff policy. The average US tariff on Thai imports is 2% while Thailand levies an average tariff of 8% on US products

Minister of Tourism and Sports Sorawong Thienthong said that a tourism risk and crisis management team will be established to support the industry, with representatives from organisations in the tourism supply chain, such as the Ministry of Home Affairs and the Roads Authority.

Malaysia is not situated along the collision zone of major tectonic plates, but several minor tremors have been recorded in certain areas over recent decades.

Financial institutions continue to provide normal services for both retail and corporate clients, Deputy Governor of the the Bank of Thailand Roong Mallikamas said on March 31, describing the impact as a “short-term shock".

As a major player in the region and one of the most dynamic economies in Asia, Vietnam is an indispensable partner for Belgium. The meetings with the various Vietnamese authorities will therefore offer an excellent opportunity to further deepen and enrich this diverse partnership, according the Belgian Federal Public Service of Foreign Affairs, Foreign Trade and Development Cooperation.

Singapore has launched a digital platform to enhance maritime workforce training, with full implementation expected in the second half of 2025, the Maritime and Port Authority of Singapore (MPA) announced on March 27.

Mujab emphasised that food security is a national security priority, especially given global conflicts and supply chain disruptions. Countries with surplus rice are prioritising domestic needs before exporting, adding challenges to Indonesia’s import strategy.

From March 2024 until March 19, 2025, the ministry blocked 9,515 URLs that sell or import e-cigarettes. Some 9,200 X accounts, 235 websites, 28 Facebook accounts, 12 Instagram accounts and 14 TikTok accounts were closed.

The US withdrawal from the Just Energy Transition Partnership (JETP) will not reduce the nine other countries' commitment to support Indonesia to achieve the net-zero target date by 2060.

Indonesia's Ministry of Social Affairs has identified over 200 potential sites for the establishment of people’s schools (Sekolah Rakyat), a programme designed to provide free, quality education to children from economically disadvantaged families.

Thai exports of decorative plants in 2023–2024 grew to 9.32 billion THB, of which more than half came from orchids.

Microsoft is monitoring developments related to US export restrictions on semiconductor technology, but its operations in Malaysia have not been affected, according to an executive of the US tech giant.

The disappearance of flight MH370 is one of the world's greatest aviation mysteries, which continues to haunt the families of the passengers.