Hanoi (VNA) - Authoritiesin Thailand’s capital city of Bangkok ordered nearly 450 schools to close onJanuary 22 as pollution reached dangerously unhealthy levels.
Bangkok, the world's most visited city, sawlevels of PM 2.5 particles at 78.3 pg/m3. A level above 35 is consideredunhealthy by the World Health Organisation (WHO).
PM 2.5 particles can include dust, soot and smokeand are so small they can lodge deep in the lungs and enter the bloodstream.
Bangkok's air quality index (AQI) on January 22 was163, according to data from AirVisual. Anything above 150 is consideredunhealthy.
Like many growing Asian cities, Bangkok isplagued by vehicle fumes, dust from construction sites and emissions fromindustry but the burning of stubble and undergrowth in fields in surroundingrural areas is believed to contribute to much higher pollution levels in thedry, winter months.
Last January, the city closed schools for a weekbecause of pollution./.
Thai Minister of Finance Uttama Saowanayon has revealed the ministry is ready to introduce measures to support the economy after many factories shut down because of the global economic situation.
Thailand’s economic ministers have agreed that fresh economic stimulus measures are vital to help boost full-year economic growth to more than 2.6 percent, according to local media.
The Bank of Thailand (BoT) lowered the country’s economic growth forecast to 2.5 percent in 2019 and 2.8 percent in the next year due to heightened external risks.
The facility will integrate multiple components, including mining operations, a smelter, high-pressure acid leach (HPAL) processing, and production of precursors and cathodes.
A participant in the Malaysia Economic Forum 2025 said despite challenges, there are significant opportunities in AI, digital transformation, and green technologies, requiring the country to balance both risk and potential thoughtfully.
Themed “emerging trends in terrorism and violent extremism”, the event drew over 200 participants from domestic and international agencies, discussing the rapid evolution of terrorism and the need for stronger regional and global cooperation.
Indonesia aims to start nuclear power generation by 2034, with a government roadmap already in place to develop small modular reactors (SMRs) with capacities ranging from 300 to 500 megawatts.
The package, endorsed on June 24, comprises 481 projects designed to boost GDP by an additional 0.4% and generate temporary employment for about 7.4 million people nationwide.
An Indonesian official emphasised that energy security is extremely essential amid global geopolitical and economic fragmentation, highlighting the need for the energy industry to strengthen resilience and responsiveness in the face of fluctuating oil prices and the shift to clean energy.
ASEAN must deepen collaboration through platforms such as the ASEAN Senior Officials Meeting on Transnational Crime (SOMTC) to ensure regional responses keep pace with the rapidly evolving cyber threat landscape.
Speaking at the launch of the Indonesia Economic Prospects June 2025 edition on June 23 in Jakarta, Turk noted that Indonesia’s gross domestic product (GDP) expanded 4.9% in the first quarter of 2025 compared to the same period last year.
Anti-dumping duties will continue to be imposed on producers from China and Japan while those on relevant exporters from the RoK and Vietnam will be terminated, starting from June 23.
A specialist police unit has acquired a fleet of off-road vehicles to help officers navigate rough, unpaved terrain – and flood waters – to respond more quickly to public security incidents.
The pact covers goods, services, investments, intellectual property rights, customs facilitation, competition policy, sanitary and phytosanitary, trade and sustainable development, government procurement and economic cooperation.
The talent programmes mark another milestone in the technical partnership between PETRONAS and the Energy Institute, which focuses on three pillars: promoting decarbonisation and operational excellence through innovative solutions, enabling informed decision-making with expert advice, and nurturing the next generation of energy professionals.
The firefighters found an active blaze at the lorry depot located in the city of Pasir Gudang near the state capital of Johor Bahru, with flames spreading quickly due to strong winds and igniting a neighboring disused oil storage area.
Investigators believe the operation is part of a broader scam network involving romance scams, where victims are lured into fake relationships and persuaded to transfer money.
Ambassadors, Consuls General, along with staff and their families, joined traditional sports and cultural activities of Southeast Asia and performances bearing regional identity, thus contributing to strengthening unity and the ASEAN community spirit in New York.
A corner of Bangkok (Photo: VNA) 
