World

The growing international interest indicates a shift in how traditional textiles are viewed, moving beyond visual appeal toward storytelling rooted in identity and heritage.

Fadillah warned that heavy reliance on external supply chains has increased countries’ vulnerability to global economic shocks, stressing that Malaysia therefore requires a long-term and comprehensive policy to ensure food availability, affordability and sustainability.

If Vietnam succeeds, the 14th Congress may well be remembered as the moment the country decisively repositioned itself for a new era of accelerated, high-quality growth—and for a confident ascent toward 2045.

A fireworks factory explosion hit Suphan Buri province in Thailand on January 30, with local rescuers confirming one fatality at the scene following an initial inspection.

The Bangkok Metropolitan Administration invites the public to attend Bangkok Design Week 2026, held under the theme DESIGN S/O/S.

The JS‑SEZ was established on January 11, 2024, and a JS‑SEZ agreement was signed between the two countries on January 7, 2025. According to The Business Times, in the first nine months of 2025, the JS‑SEZ pact locked in 68 billion MYR (17 billion USD) in approved investments, marking a staggering leap from the 48.5 billion MYR recorded for the whole of 2024.

At the January 28 meeting, the two sides briefed each other on recent activities and exchanged views on a range of key issues, including ensuring that measures against illegal entry and exit are conducted in accordance with the laws of both countries, preventing illicit drug trafficking, and strengthening close coordination at all levels in border inspections to jointly safeguard security, safety and order in their respective border areas.

The airport's communication representative, Gede Eka Sandi Asmadi, said on January 29 that all personnel are committed to increasing their monitoring strictly and thoroughly to prevent the spread of the virus from arrival areas.

Police have been instructed to maintain heightened readiness ahead of both the advance voting on February 1 and election day on February 8, which will coincide with a national referendum, said deputy national police chief Pol Gen Samran Nualma, who also serves as director of the election security and order centre at the Royal Thai Police.

Latest figures from the UEC showed that the USDP has secured 231 seats in the Pyithu Hluttaw (Lower House) and 108 seats in the Amyotha Hluttaw (Upper House), totaling 339 seats.

The Communicable Diseases Agency of Singapore (CDA) announced on January 29 that the country will conduct temperature screening for travellers arriving on flights from areas where Nipah virus outbreaks have been reported.

Malaysia’s population stood at 34.2 million in 2025 and is projected to rise to 36.4 million by 2030 and 38.3 million by 2035. However, marriage rates have shown a declining trend, falling from 6.6 marriages per 1,000 people in 2022 to 5.7 per 1,000 in 2023. This shift is expected to shorten reproductive periods and further contribute to lower fertility rates.

Russia’s TASS news agency on January 28 published an article by Yuri Denisovich, TASS bureau chief in Vietnam, offering positive assessments of the outcomes of the 14th National Congress of the Communist Party of Vietnam (CPV) and their significance for bilateral relations.

Thai AirAsia apologised for the inconvenience, said it had launched an internal investigation into staff involved and taken action in line with company regulations, and added that it would tighten supervisory measures to prevent a repeat.

The ASEAN Sectoral Plan 2026-2030 is anchored on five priorities, including building a tourism sector that is resilient to crises and potential shocks.

As reported by Malaysia’s national news agency Bernamas, the jets marked the first batch under a deal to acquire 42 aircraft signed in 2022.

The three-day Cambodia-Thailand Regional Border Committee (RBC) secretariat meeting over border issues wrapped up on January 29 without reaching any consensus, said a Cambodian defence spokesperson.

The Royal Thai Air Force announced that a military aircraft crashed on January 29 morning in a forest area of Chiang Mai province in northern Thailand, killing two pilots.

ADB Country Director for Laos Shanny Campbell stated that the bank is committed to partnering with the Lao government to achieve inclusive growth and sustainable development. The projects will focus on strengthening the food system, primary healthcare, skills training for a green economy, and responsible forest management.

The initiative is based on the US Tropical Forest and Coral Reef Conservation Act (TFCCA), which is designed to help preserve biodiversity in partner countries through innovative debt-swap mechanisms.