ASEAN has significant financial resources from pension funds to the tune of 4.4 trillion USD and insurance institutions of 5.1 trillion USD that could be utilised to support regional development.
Cambodia’s Ministry of Commerce has called on the public and fuel station operators across the country to avoid hoarding fuel and to strictly follow technical safety standards in the sale and storage of petroleum products to prevent safety risks and ensure a stable supply.
Laos will step up agricultural production to ensure food security, meet domestic demand and expand exports; encourage the development of agro-processing industries, including those related to rubber, aquatic products, cassava and sugarcane, as well as fertiliser and animal feed production, in order to increase added value and create jobs in rural areas.
Under the new regulations, adults who involve young people or vulnerable individuals in smuggling or supplying Kpods could face up to 20 years in prison and up to 15 strokes of the cane.
ASEAN's startups raised 1.16 billion USD in October-December 2025, slightly down from the same quarter a year earlier. For the full year, funding increased 18% to 5.4 billion USD, but that was still about a fourth of the level seen in the peak year of 2021.
Waste sorting at source, combined with modern treatment technologies and stronger community participation, will play a decisive role in reducing pollution and building a sustainable waste management system in Indonesia in the coming years.
The Lao People’s Revolutionary Party and the Lao Government have established policies and legal frameworks to promote women’s development, safeguard women’s rights and interests, and advance gender equality.
Minister of Communication and Digital Affairs Meutya Hafid said Government Regulation No. 17 of 2025 on Electronic System Governance for Child Protection, known as PP Tunas, will delay access to high‑risk platforms until age 16, while lower‑risk services will be available from age 13.
President of the Institution of Engineers, Indonesia (PII) Ilham Akbar Habibie said the number of engineers per one million people in Indonesia remains low. The country currently has about 2,500 engineers per one million people, compared with around 9,500 in Vietnam – nearly four times higher. He described Vietnam as a typical example of how a nation can rely on engineering to strengthen its economy and drive robust economic growth.
Once deployed to primary care providers, those flagged as high risk will receive annual cardiovascular disease risk screenings, increased from the previous schedule of every three years. The screenings will be subsidised.
Singapore plans to pump 70 million SGD (55 million USD) over the next five years to help local farms expand production capacity and build capabilities, as the country steps up efforts to strengthen food resilience amid growing global uncertainties.
Official results released by the EC and signed by EC Chairman Narong Klanwarin show that a majority of Thai voters (58.64%) supported the amendment of the current Constitution. Meanwhile, 30.46% voted against, 8.34% cast blank ballots, and 2.56% of the votes were invalid.
China has remained ASEAN’s largest trading partner for 17 consecutive years, while ASEAN has held the position as China’s top trading partner for the past six years. Guangxi, the only Chinese region linked to ASEAN by both land and sea, plays a strategic role in connecting the two markets.
While improving people’s quality of life remains central to ASEAN’s economic policies, the region faces a “complex crossroads” with multifaceted challenges that threaten citizens’ rights, said a Philippine official.
Kakadu Exercise is a prestigious biennial event run by the Royal Australian Navy, and this year marks the 17th iteration since it was first held in 1993.
Phiphat noted that with parts of Middle Eastern airspace shut due to the conflict, Thailand could position itself as a safe and secure transit alternative for international passengers.
Through the CPTPP, exporters can access non-traditional markets such as Canada, Mexico and Peru and, for the first time, gain preferential access to the UK market, which had previously been subject to regular tariffs, said a Malaysian official.
The Lao government will seek inscription of several traditions on the UNESCO Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity list, including Larb, the Sou Khuan ceremony, Pu Yer – Ya Yer, Lao New Year (Bun Pi Mai Lao), and Khao Tom–Khao Lam. It will also pursue World Heritage status for Nakai-Nam Theun National Park, the Plain of Jars in Houaphanh Province, and That Ing Hang.
Themed “Transforming ASEAN Transformation: Innovation, Integration and Industrial Evolution,” the event aimed to promote economic growth, deepen regional integration, and advance sustainable development in Cambodia and across ASEAN, underscoring the bloc’s strong commitment to innovation-driven growth and fostering regional competitiveness.
Since its establishment, the National Scam Response Centre of Malaysia has prevented more than 34.05 million MYR (8.5 million USD) from falling into the hands of scam syndicates. The amount returned to victims rose significantly from 508,479 MYR in 2024 to 6.65 million MYR in 2025.
