Ibu volcano erupts on March 25. (Photo: AFP) 
Thailand is witnessing not deglobalisation but "reglobalisation" - a strategic realignment of trade, production, and finance - requiring the country to integrate its economic and foreign policies more closely than ever before.
The Bhumjaithai Party will be responsible for national security administration through diplomatic and military measures, with priority given to safeguarding Thailand’s territory, sovereignty and public safety.
The initiative, conceived under the leadership of Digital Minister Gobind Singh Deo, is designed to move government innovation beyond policy and pilots into measurable delivery, with a strong focus on using Made by Malaysia technologies, strengthening the domestic AI ecosystem and helping local digital and AI producers scale both nationally and internationally.
The Thai Cabinet has approved the “Forests for Life” project aimed at strengthening the conservation of the country’s intact tropical forest landscapes through systematic, integrated management and community participation.
The 2026 Hajj (Hijri year 1447) will take place from May 25 to 31, 2026, with 7,037 Thai Muslim pilgrims having registered to attend.
Myanmar has requested the Charge d'Affaires of the Embassy of Timor-Leste in Myanmar, Elisio do Rosario de Sousa, leave the country, said the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Myanmar on February 15.
A total of 33 people were arrested while over 1.72 million MYR (400,000 USD) worth of electronic cigarette devices and merchandise were seized in a joint operation carried out simultaneously across seven districts in Malaysia’s Sabah state.
Economic issues were identified by 38% of respondents as the top priority for the new administration, ahead of social problems at 32.3% and political issues at 29.7%.
Preliminary investigations indicate the syndicate had been operating for several years, using sea routes across the East Sea as its main transport channel. The drugs were allegedly stored in containers at logistics facilities before being distributed to international markets.
Philippine Navy spokesperson Capt. Marissa Martinez said that (guided-missile) frigates, the Rizal and Malvar classes, landing docks and fast interdiction craft-missile will be participating in this annual exercise, scheduled April to May.
Indonesian President Prabowo Subianto noted that the MBG programme is designed not only to improve children’s nutrition and health but also to drive economic growth by creating opportunities for farmers, small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) and low-income groups.
Bank Negara Malaysia (BNM) said in a statement that for the fourth quarter of 2025, Malaysia's economy advanced by 6.3%, driven mainly by domestic demand.
The ringgit climbed to a fresh high of 3.8995 against the US dollar on February 12, hovering near its strongest level in almost eight years.
Post-disaster recovery in flood- and landslide-hit regions across Sumatra, Indonesia is nearly 70% complete, with 37 of the 52 affected districts and cities having returned to normalcy, Home Affairs Minister Muhammad Tito Karnavian said in a statement.
The move is seen as a strategic solution to ease congestion at the Johor–Singapore Causeway while strengthening bilateral economic connectivity between Malaysia and Singapore.
The effort was led by the TAT Mumbai Office and the ASEAN, South Asia, and South Pacific Market Division, under the direction of TAT Governor Thapanee Kiatphaibool, with support from Consul-General Donnawit Poolsawat and senior TAT executives. The festival was held last week at Jio World Drive and attracted a large audience from a high-spending travel segment.
Implemented short-term measures include designating 93 countries and territories eligible for a special visa exemption, allowing stays of up to 60 days for tourism, short-term work, or business.
Caretaker Prime Minister Anutin Charnvirakul emphasised that both parties share confidence in the capacity and experience of their personnel to steer Thailand towards long-term stability and sustainable development, adding that they had agreed to put aside past misunderstandings and differences in the national interest.
The rice assistance policy is part of the Indonesian government’s stimulus package aimed at bolstering economic growth in the first quarter.
Malaysia plans to introduce a new Cybercrime Bill to address increasingly complex digital threats, including the misuse of artificial intelligence (AI) and deepfake technology.
