Jakarta (VNA)🧸 – Indonesia's National Research and Innovation Agency (BRIN), in collaboration with the Indonesian Speleological Society and the Species Obscura Foundation, have discovered a new species of blind cave fish in Bogor district, West Java.
Speaking to the press on February 27, Kunto Wibowo, a researcher from BRIN's Centre for Biosystematics and Evolution Research, noted that the fish species was found inhabiting the Klapanunggal karst area, leading to its scientific naming as Barbodes klapanunggalensis.
This freshwater fish is completely blind, with its eyes degenerated into hollow structures covered by skin, he said.
He stressed the need for the Government to launch a more stringent protection system for the Klapanunggal karst area, highlighting the urgency of expanding the designated conservation area, which currently covers only 9.96% of the total area.
According to the ZooKeys journal, Indonesia is now home to six endemic blind cave fish species, with Barbodes klapanunggalensis and Barbodes microps found on Java Island. The other four species are endemic to Sulawesi and West Papua./.
Vietnamese scientists have discovered a new snail species in Son Doong Cave within the Phong Nha - Ke Bang National Park in the central province of Quang Binh, and named it “Oc non Son Doong” (Son Doong cone snail).
The discovery of these two new lizard species provides further evidence of Vietnam’s exceptional biodiversity, particularly in the Sop Cop Nature Reserve in Son La province, and the south-central coastal region. This also highlights Vietnam’s critical role as a global biodiversity hotspot for reptiles and amphibians in the Indochinese region.
Among the 234 new species recently discovered in the Greater Mekong Sub-region, there are 112 founded in Vietnam, according to the World Wide Fund for Nature (WWF).
Minister of Forestry Raja Juli Antoni credited the country's success in reducing forest and land fires to the effective use of meteorological technology and the synergy between air and land operations.
The festivities kicked off with a roundtable discussion co-organised by the Vietnamese Embassy and the Institute of Strategic Studies Islamabad (ISSI), themed “Pakistan and ASEAN: Partners in Peace, Progress, and Regional Prosperity”.
The Lao People’s Revolutionary Party (LPRP) Central Committee’s Commission for Propaganda and Training on August 12 hosted a ceremony and exhibition marking the 75th anniversary of Mass Media and Publishing Day (August 13, 1950 – 2025).
Analysis by an economist found the US tariffs may reduce Thailand's exports by 8.16 billion USD, and when factoring in the trade diversion effect, they could drop by 457 billion THB (14.14 billion USD) this year.
Laos has reaffirmed its strong commitment to protecting forests and enhancing climate change adaptation, calling for deeper regional cooperation to safeguard ecosystems and promote sustainable development.
The import restriction will remain in effect until further notice, depending on developments in disease prevention and control efforts in affected countries, according to the Philippine Department of Agriculture.
Addressing the event, Indonesian Ambassador Dr. Bebeb A.K.N. Djundjunan, who is now holding the ACAT rotating chairmanship, highlighted ASEAN’s message on a more united, resilient, inclusive, and sustainable association. He reviewed key achievements of the group, such as community building and expanded cooperation with global partners.
The Initiative for ASEAN Integration (IAI) has become a key mechanism in narrowing development gaps among member states, helping the CLMV fully implement the joint commitments and comprehensively participate in the bloc’s integration and community building processes.
Four other major Thai destinations - Phuket, Pattaya, Chiang Mai, and Hat Yai - also ranked among the region’s top cities for repeat visits, reflecting Thailand’s diversity and enduring appeal for travellers of all types.
In its Pre-Budget Statement 2026, the ministry stated that growth will be anchored by resilient domestic demand, particularly through private investment, stable employment, and income-enhancing measures such as targeted cash transfers and wage increases.
Singapore is at risk of chikungunya transmission as the number of reported cases this year has more than doubled compared to last year, the country’s Communicable Diseases Agency (CDA) has reported.
On August 11, major RoK outlets, including Yonhap News Agency, KBS, The Korea Herald, and The Korea Times, provided prominent coverage of the talks held the same day between General Secretary Lam and President Lee Jae Myung, during which both sides agreed to strengthen cooperation in economy, security, technology, and culture.
The Singaporean government needs to enable people, workers and businesses to make full use of these tools, and enhance their competitive advantage. It “will walk this journey” with Singaporeans as it has done for the past six decades, said Prime Minister Lawrence Wong.
The meeting provided an opportunity to reaffirm both ASEAN member states' and partners’ commitment to strengthening cooperation and narrowing development gaps.
Thailand emits roughly 350 million tonnes of carbon dioxide equivalent annually, with the energy and industrial sectors accounting for more than 75% of this amount. Though this volume represents just 1% of global emissions, the Thai Government is eager to achieve carbon neutrality, a balance between carbon dioxide emissions and absorption, by 2050.
The Malaysian government is undertaking a structured assessment to examine the role of nuclear power as a potential option for clean, stable, and competitive electricity within Malaysia’s future energy mix.
