Bangkok (VNA) – Thailand's rice exports fell sharply in January, raising concerns that the country’s total exports for the year could hit a five-year low due to the appreciating baht and intensifying global competition.

Thailand’s Minister of Commerce Suphajee Suthumpun has revealed progress in tariff negotiations with the US, saying Bangkok is working to conclude the talks by July 2026.

Representatives of the Vietnamese Government and AgriVMA, a Vietnamese enterprise engaged in rice production, have handed over 250 tonnes of rice as non-refundable aid to Cuba under an agreement between Vietnam’s Ministry of Agriculture and Environment and Cuba’s Ministry of Agriculture.

Singapore has announced an agreement to trial “air taxis” for emergency medical services on the sidelines of the Singapore Airshow 2026.

Vietnam has added three new US dollar billionaires, bringing the country total to eight, according to the latest real-time billionaire ranking released by Forbes.

Vietnam currently ranks third in the world in cassava exports, but its cassava supply chain continues to face significant challenges, heard a meeting held in Hanoi on January 28.

A Vietnamese delegation led by Deputy Prime Minister Bui Thanh Son attended a signing ceremony for the founding charter of the Board of Peace aimed at ending the conflict in the Gaza Strip on January 22, on the sidelines of the World Economic Forum (WEF) Annual Meeting in Davos, Switzerland, at the invitation of US President Donald Trump.

In recent days, international media have continued to show strong interest in the 14th National Congress of the Communist Party of Vietnam (CPV), widely assessing it as a politically significant event that will shape the country’s development orientation for the 2026–2030 period and beyond.

Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov has underscored the comprehensive and consistent leadership of the Communist Party of Vietnam (CPV), especially in protecting the people’s interests.

Major mainstream media outlets in Laos on January 19 carried extensive coverage of the 14th National Congress of the Communist Party of Vietnam (CPV), describing it as a landmark political event reflecting confidence and aspirations for national development.

Vietnam’s increasingly active, responsible and reputable role in multilateral mechanisms has been widely acknowledged by international organisations.

Kuala Lumpur (VNA) – Malaysia is progressing steadily towards its goal of training 60,000 highly skilled professionals for the semiconductor industry by 2030, spanning key areas such as research and development, integrated circuit design, advanced packaging and wafer fabrication.

Jakarta (VNA) - Indonesia is targeting rice exports after reaching self-sufficiency and securing domestic supplies in 2025, according to the country’s Agriculture Minister Andi Amran Sulaiman.

Vietnam, under the leadership of the Communist Party of Vietnam (CPV), has overcome many challenges and emerged as a bright spot in the global panorama, laying a solid foundation for a new period of development, according to Professor Vu Minh Khuong of the Lee Kuan Yew School of Public Policy in Singapore.

The Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism said on January 4 that its Cinema Department has requested Netflix to remove the film “Shine on me” from its website and app.

The Democrat Party, Thailand’s oldest political party, announced on December 26 that it will nominate three candidates to contest the post of prime minister in the upcoming general election, including former Prime Minister Abhisit Vejjajiva.

The World and Vietnam Report under the Ministry of Foreign Affairs on December 25 launched a special publication featuring 65 years of brotherhood between Vietnam and Cuba to mark the 65th anniversary of bilateral diplomatic ties (1960–2025) and the Vietnam–Cuba Friendship Year 2025.

Hanoi (VNA) – The following are the 10 prominent international events in 2025 as selected by the Vietnam News Agency.

Vietnamese Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs Dang Hoang Giang has affirmed Vietnam's readiness to work closely with other ASEAN members to help Cambodia and Thailand soon restore peace and stabilise their relations.

Bangkok has been named the most visited city by international tourists in the world for 2025, according to the Top 100 City Destinations Index 2025 report released by Euromonitor International.