Growth will continue to be led by Malaysia, Indonesia and Brunei due to their large Muslim populations, enabling regulations, access to sukuk, and potentially improving ties with Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) countries

President of the Republic of Korea (RoK) Lee Jae Myung and his Philippine counterpart Ferdinand Marcos Jr. discussed expanding trade and investment based on the bilateral free trade agreement, broadening the mutually beneficial cooperation, including Korean companies' involvement in the Philippines' infrastructure projects, such as maritime bridges, railways, and shipbuilding.

The Thai National Rice Policy and Management Committee (NRPC) reviewed and approved a framework for assistance to off-season rice farmers in 2025 to mitigate the impact of low global rice prices.

As the implementation of the regional ASCC Blueprint 2025 and national Project 161 draws to a close, ministries, sectors, and localities have been actively sharing information, exchanging lessons learned, and discussing challenges faced during the implementation process.

Vietnam's modern political image, both domestically and internationally, is becoming clearer and more prominent than ever. Vietnam is pursuing a well-defined reform strategy that is being actively promoted and implemented, reflecting the nation’s commitment to real and meaningful change.

Tokyo will also support Japanese firms in conducting trials in Indonesia to test the speed and security of their equipment. Securing telecom infrastructure contracts there will mark the first entry of Japanese players into this market.

The meeting welcomed ADB’s readiness to invest up to 10 billion USD of its own resources over the next decade in support of the APG, including crossborder interconnections, and other APG-related investments (domestic grid strengthening and renewable energy for power export). It also also welcomed investment from the WB through its 2.5 billion USD "Accelerating Sustainable Energy Transition Multi-Phase Programmatic Approach (ASET-MPA)" programme, approved in 2024 to ramp up renewable energy and promote power trade across the region.

Archaeologists from Australia and Indonesia found the small, chipped tools, used to cut little animals and carve rocks, under the soil in the region of Soppeng in South Sulawesi. Radioactive tracing of these tools and the teeth of animals found around the site were dated at up to 1.48 million years ago.

ASEAN needs about 422 million USD, of which 290 million USD is for reducing greenhouse gas emissions and more than 100 million USD for adaptation efforts

In an article published on its website on August 12, the institute underlined that tobacco use remains a leading cause of preventable death in Southeast Asia.

The news agency quoted Digital Minister Gobind Singh Deo as saying that the NCCP directly supports the objectives of MyDIGITAL and the Malaysia Digital Economy Blueprint by unlocking real economic potential, apart from providing a clear direction for the country’s digital transformation journey.

Army battalions comprising thousands of soldiers have been deployed, focusing on agriculture and health tasks throughout Indonesia, particularly in remote areas.

The exemption applies to those who had previously been granted work permits under Section 64 of the Alien Working Management Act 2017, but are unable to return to Cambodia due to the ongoing border control measures between the two countries.

The central bank has said the Thai economy might have grown about 3% annually in the second quarter of 2025 but would feel the impact of US tariffs and weakening consumption later this year.

Speaking at the ASEAN Technical and Vocational Education and Training (TVET) Conference hosted by Malaysia on August 13, the Malaysian Deputy PM, who is also Chairman of the National TVET Council, called on ASEAN member states to promptly address the growing demand for a workforce skilled in digital technology and green transition.

The projects will be managed by the Merah Putih Village Cooperative (KDMP). Indonesia’s Minister of Energy and Mineral Resources, Bahlil Lahadalia, said the government is targeting the construction of 100 GW of solar power plants, creating a large market for the domestic battery industry.

Deputy for Meteorology at the BMKG Guswanto informed that the system utilises data from several sources, including the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), to produce fire risk maps marked with green, orange, and red indicators, meaning relatively safe, high potential and active fires, respectively.

The state visit to the Republic of Korea (RoK) by Party General Secretary To Lam from August 10–13 not only marked a significant leap in Vietnam – RoK relations, but also contributed to advancing peace and prosperity in the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) as the bloc is stepping up both intra- and extra-regional cooperation toward this goal.

The one-stop centre is part of the government’s efforts to alleviate the impact of US tariffs, and more proactive measures will be rolled out to safeguard Thai exporters’ competitiveness and strengthen their position in the global market.

The project will help finance the delivery of monthly electronic food vouchers to 750,000 food-insecure households nationwide, the bank said.