World

The male fishermen departed on board a motorboat on February 20 to fish in waters off the town of Manay but had not returned as of February 23.

Retailers in Thailand are increasingly worried about delays in forming a stable government, which could hinder the implementation of policies needed to stimulate domestic spending and economic recovery, according to the survey results.

Calls are mounting for the Indonesian government to cancel plans to import 105,000 pickup trucks for rural cooperatives, amid concerns the move could undermine the domestic automotive industry, which executives say is capable of supplying the vehicles locally, as reported by the Jakarta Globe.

The breakdown of cases shows that Sabah recorded the highest number with 755 cases, followed by Selangor with 596 cases and Sarawak with 332 cases. Johor ranked next with 280 cases, while the federal territories of Kuala Lumpur and Putrajaya recorded 244 cases.

The move is seen as a strategic effort to protect biodiversity while maintaining the international competitiveness of the country’s fisheries sector.

Lao voters will elect 175 deputies to the 10th NA among 243 candidates, and 745 deputies to the 5th provincial People's Councils among 1,041 candidates.

The deadline, previously set for February 24, 2026 for Lao, Myanmar and Vietnamese workers, has been extended to March 31, 2026, to prevent these workers from falling out of the system and becoming undocumented.

Thai tourism operators are calling on the government to reform law enforcement and regulatory management in a bid to revitalise and strengthen the country’s tourism sector.

The ban was issued by the Myanmar Ministry of Health under authorisation from the Cabinet on February 18. It prohibits the importation, exportation, sale, possession, storage, carrying, distribution, use, and consumption of e-cigarettes and related accessories, as well as electronic shisha.

Local registrars are ordered to enforce strict background checks on all applicants, closely examining their personal behaviour, associates, and any potential ties to illegal activities. This screening will strictly adhere to Section 13 of the 1947 Firearms Act.

According to the Malaysia External Trade Development Corporation (Matrade), the momentum was reinforced by the services sector, which recorded its first trade surplus since 2011, marking a successful shift toward a high-value service-driven economy.

Trairat Viriyasirikul, Deputy Secretary-General and Acting Secretary-General of NBTC, said that the commission is collaborating with all licensed telecommunications operators and mobile service providers to screen and verify phone numbers exhibiting suspicious activity. Service is immediately suspended when any risks are identified.

The Indonesian government said that the agricultural portion of these pledges was worth 2.5 billion USD. The industrial sector MoUs reached 35.9 billion USD in value, including the cooperation on semiconductors and strategic industrial materials.

Under the terms of the agreement, first announced in July last year, the US will impose a 19% tariff on goods imported from Indonesia. Previously, the Southeast Asian nation had faced the prospect of tariffs of up to 32%.

The article noted that in a world increasingly shaped by conflict, fragmentation and geopolitical rivalry, the participation of the Vietnamese leader in the session carries significance beyond diplomatic routine.

Tourism operators from seven provinces along the Thailand–Cambodia border have met with the Thai House of Representatives’ Committee on Tourism to seek solutions to restore market confidence, as tourism activity in the area remains sluggish despite relatively stable conditions along the border.

Thailand’s policy is to gradually engage with Myanmar as a frontline country directly affected by developments along their shared border. Its key objective is to help Myanmar return to the ASEAN fold, while Myanmar must also respond to the bloc’s concerns.

The Singaporean Ministry of Trade and Industry (MTI) has raised Singapore’s GDP growth forecast for 2026 to 2–4%, up from the previous projection of 1–3%.

Thailand's GDP grew by 2.5% in the fourth quarter of 2025, with a full-year growth of 2.4%, beating expectations, according to the National Economic and Social Development Council (NESDC).

Shifting to EVs is a key strategy to cut air pollution and greenhouse gas emissions while also reducing fuel costs—helping riders increase income opportunities and strengthen economic security.