Thailand works to enhance safety during major festival

The Thai Government has instructed its police to comply with regulations to ensure safety and order during the traditional Songkran holiday which falls on April 12-16.
Thailand works to enhance safety during major festival ảnh 1People celebrated Songkran holiday in Ayutthaya, Thailand on April 11 (Photo: AFP/VNA)
Bangkok (VNA) – The Thai Governmenthas instructed its police to comply with regulations to ensure safety and orderduring the traditional Songkran holiday which falls on April 12-16.

Thai Deputy Prime Minister Prawit Wongsuwon saidhe has ordered police to charge speeding and drunk motorists who cause fatalaccidents during the holiday with murder.

The Thai Government will launch the “seven-dayroad safety” campaign from April 11 to 17, as police have been ordered to stayvigilant against traffic safety violations.

Despite the intense road safety campaign for theSongkran festival in April last year, there were still 3,724 traffic accidentswhich killed 418 people and injured 3,897 others. Speeding and drink drivingwere cited as the most common causes.

Bangkok Police chief Lt. Gen. Sutthipong Wongpin said that,as per the annual practice, city police would not take days off overSongkran. 

In addition to those to be dispatched totransport hubs, nearly 1,900 police officers and law enforcement officialswould be stationed at 14 key locations in Bangkok as well as about 60 Songkrancelebration venues, he said.

No photos, video clips of live broadcasts ofnudity, lewd acts or inviting consumption of alcohol should be published onThai social media during Songkran. 

Moreover, those captured by photographs or video clips couldbe charged with performing a shameful act in public by indecently exposingthemselves or committing other indecent acts.

Meanwhile, there will be no art performances held in Bangkok’sKhao San and Silom streets during Songkran because of preparations for the ThaiKing’s coronation event on May 4-6. 

Songkran is Thailand’s most famous festival. Animportant event on the Buddhist calendar, this water festival marks thebeginning of the traditional Thai New Year. The name Songkran comes from aSanskrit word meaning ‘passing’ or ‘approaching’.-VNA   
VNA

See more

Illustrative Image (Photo: theedgemalaysia.com)

Malaysia rolls out financial support measures for businesses

Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim said on April 20 that a key measure is a 5 billion MYR guarantee package (1.27 billion USD) under the Syarikat Jaminan Pembiayaan Perniagaan (SJPP) scheme. The financial guarantee ratio for businesses will be raised to 80% from the previous 70%, while the guarantee period will be extended to up to 10 years instead of seven years.

Indonesia to halt diesel imports from July

Indonesia to halt diesel imports from July

The move is part of the Indonesian Government’s efforts to strengthen national energy independence by utilising palm oil as an alternative fuel, said Agriculture Minister Andi Amran Sulaiman.

Malaysia’s growing microplastics crisis is largely self-inflicted, driven by domestic waste, weak recycling practices and everyday plastic use, said experts. (Photo: New Straits Times)

Malaysia seeks solutions to microplastic crisis

Microplastics originating from domestic waste and wastewater are increasingly entering the food chain, posing serious threats to seafood safety and the livelihoods of coastal communities.

The new mass emergency alert system SG Alert, which will be used during emergencies such as major fires, chemical or terror incidents, seen on an Apple and Android device on Apr 17, 2026. (Photo: CNA)

Singapore launches new national emergency alert system

SG Alert in Singapore uses cell broadcast technology, enabling alerts to be delivered within seconds without requiring mobile data or collecting personal information. Unlike conventional SMS, which may be delayed during network congestion or depend on internet connectivity, the system ensures fast and reliable message delivery. Alerts can be sent islandwide or targeted to specific affected areas.

Malaysia establishes ‘war room’ to ensure water security

Malaysia establishes ‘war room’ to ensure water security

The establishment of the war room reflects the Malaysian government’s commitment to shift from a reactive approach to a more proactive, data-driven one in managing national water challenges, particularly amid increasingly unpredictable weather conditions caused by global climate change

Indonesia diversifies supply sources to ensure energy security

Indonesia diversifies supply sources to ensure energy security

Indonesia is facing significant supply pressure as crude oil consumption reaches approximately 1.6 million barrels per day, much lower than the domestic production at only around 600,000 barrels per day, forcing the country to rely heavily on imports.

Indonesian-branded cosmetic and personal care products are available at supermarkets and shopping malls (Photo: VNA)

Indonesia aims to master cosmetics industry value chain

Key drivers include its large population, expanding middle class, and rapidly rising demand for beauty products, especially among young consumers. The market has reached billions of US dollars and is projected to maintain strong growth in the medium term.

The Anthropic logo is seen in this illustration taken on Mar 1, 2026. (File photo: Reuters)

Singapore warns of cyber risks from Frontier AI models

According to CSA, advanced AI models – among the most cutting-edge systems today – can significantly shorten the time needed to identify system vulnerabilities and develop exploitation tools, reducing the process from months to just hours.