Indonesia earthquake death toll rises, 2,000 evacuated

PSNews - Nearly six decades after its founding, ASEAN is entering a new phase of transformation. Geopolitical turbulence, intensifying competition among major powers, non-traditional security challenges, and rapid technological change are raising fundamental questions about the region’s future trajectory. In this context, the ASEAN Future Forum (AFF) 2026 is more than a platform for regional countries to discuss current issues; it is designed to identify strategic pathways for ASEAN in the years ahead.

Under the new rules, social media platforms are required to implement age-verification systems and prevent users under 16 from creating accounts. The regulations apply to platforms with at least eight million users in Malaysia, including Facebook, Instagram, TikTok and YouTube.

Associate Professor Dr. Neak Chandarith said General Secretary and President To Lam demonstrated a clear understanding of global challenges and presented a balanced voice that advocates sovereignty, equality and fairness for small and middle-sized nations amid an increasingly uncertain international environment.

President Ho Chi Minh arrived in Thailand in 1928 while Vietnam was still under French colonial rule. During his time in Udon Thani, he reportedly lived among the local Vietnamese community while organising political activities and seeking support for Vietnam’s independence movement.

Ministers and industry leaders identified opportunities to strengthen cooperation in AI development and governance, including how the US AI Exports Programme can support ASEAN member states’ AI policy development.

Jennifer Wicks McNamara was nominated by President Donald Trump to replace Marc E. Knapper, whose term ended earlier this year.

Cambodia currently manages 73 protected natural areas covering more than seven million hectares, equivalent to about 41% of the country’s total land area. These protected areas play a vital role in forest conservation, wildlife habitat protection and biodiversity preservation through stricter law enforcement and conservation measures.

"We hope that the Prime Minister will be able to share his thoughts and his opinions on how the region will be able to sustain its economic growth and development, notwithstanding the challenges we are facing arising from various regional conflicts happening", said Philippine Ambassador to Vietnam Francisco Noel R. Fernandez III.

Vietnam is expected to maintain active contributions across ASEAN’s three pillars - the political-security community, the economic community, and the socio-cultural community; while further enhancing regional connectivity through infrastructure projects and stronger economic linkages.

Van affirmed Vietnam’s support for the UNESCO80 reform roadmap, focusing on the organisation’s core mandate, priority areas, interdisciplinary approach, and the special status of the Vietnam National Commission for UNESCO, and UNESCO representative offices, alongside efforts to diversify resources and strengthen global partnerships to enhance the organisation’s effectiveness.

Major outlets including China Central Television, Xinhua News Agency, People's Daily and China Daily on April 15 prominently reported on the high-level engagements, highlighting their significance for bilateral relations.

Under General Secretary and President Lam’s leadership, Vietnam is expected to maintain a balanced foreign policy, strengthen its regional standing and accelerate economic development, thereby improving living standards and creating new opportunities for international investors, according to the India-based platform Devdiscourse.

In its ASEAN+3 Regional Economic Outlook (AREO) 2026, AMRO projected regional growth of 4.0% in both 2026 and 2027.

Drawing on his firsthand experience in Hanoi, the diplomat offered a comprehensive analysis of Vietnam’s development journey from the post-war period to the present.

The Thai Department of Royal Rainmaking and Agricultural Aviation has set up a specialised weather modification unit in Chiang Mai and deployed five aircraft to implement relief measures.

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.

The Thai official reaffirmed his country’s readiness to serve as a bridge between ASEAN and Myanmar to help advance dialogue and confidence-building measures.

The MoFA advised Vietnamese citizens not to travel to Iran or Israel at this time, or to neighbouring areas affected by the conflict unless absolutely necessary.

To ensure accountability, Malaysia plans to finalise the Cybercrime Bill this year which addresses both cyber-dependent and cyber-enabled offences, introducing stricter penalties and prison terms to enhance deterrence.

Stratfor, a US-based global geopolitical analysis platform, commented that the Congress is expected to approve core political and economic priorities for the next five years, with a particular focus on maintaining a high economic growth rate.