Top News Headlines In Cambodia, Indonesia, Myanmar, Singapore, Thailand & Vietnam: May 18, 2025
Prime Minister Hun Manet said that the government has implemented national development policies to transform battlefields into zones of progress and safeguard territorial integrity. The policies have improved infrastructure and people's living conditions.
INDONESIA
1.POLICE THWART TIN SAND SMUGGLING ATTEMPT TO MALAYSIA -- JAKARTA GLOBE
Indonesian authorities have foiled an attempt to smuggle approximately 20 tonnes of tin sand to Malaysia, seizing a vessel off the coast of Bangka Belitung Province and arresting its captain, police said Friday. The suspect, identified by his initials LM, 39, is a resident of the Riau Islands Province and was detained during the Thursday operation.
2.DUBAI REAL ESTATE GROUP KEEN TO INVEST IN NUSANTARA, SAYS IKN AUTHORITY -- THE JAKARTA POST
The Nusantara Capital City (IKN) Authority says the Ayedh Dejem Group from the United Arab Emirates (UAE) has submitted an expression of interest for investing in the commercial area of the nation's future capital in East Kalimantan.
MYANMAR
1.GENERAL SAYS MYANMAR WILL COOPERATE WITH ASEAN -- THE GLOBAL NEW LIGHT OF MYANMAR
State Administration Council Chairman Senior General Min Aung Hlaing told Russia's RT News that Myanmar will fully cooperate in line with ASEAN's Charter. He said the regional bloc has noble objectives and Myanmar wish to act accordingly.
2.MANGROVE FORESTS RESERVES FACE THREATS -- THE GLOBAL NEW LIGHT OF MYANMAR
Myanmar currently has over 1.1 million acres of mangrove forests, making it the seventh largest in the world and the third largest in Southeast Asia for mangrove coverage. But they are facing threats from deforestation, mainly due to agricultural and aquaculture development.
SINGAPORE
1.SPOTTING SIGNS OF FINANCIAL ABUSE AMONG THE ELDERLY IN SINGAPORE; WHY ARE THEY SO HARD TO DETECT? -- THE STRAITS TIMES
Singapore's rapidly ageing population is bringing more instances of elder abuse, with financial rip-offs of older vulnerable folk becoming an issue of concern.
2.TRUMP TO SPEAK TO RUSSIAN, UKRAINIAN LEADERS ON MONDAY AFTER TALKS IN TURKEY -- CNA/AGENCIES
US President Donald Trump said on Saturday (May 17) he would speak to the presidents of Russia and Ukraine on Monday following talks between the two sides at which a Ukrainian official said Moscow's negotiators voiced new demands before a ceasefire could be agreed.
THAILAND
1. BMA CALLS TIME ON DISASTER DECLARATION AT COLLAPSED AUDIT OFFICE SITE -- THE NATION
Bangkok authorities have officially declared an end to the state of disaster at the construction site of the new State Audit Office (SAO) building.
2. FRUIT FARMERS URGE GOVT TO RECRUIT K-POP SENSATION LISA -- BANGKOK POST
Local fruit farmers have urged Prime Minister Paetongtarn Shinawatra to enlist Thai K-pop sensation Lalisa "Lisa" Manobal in a campaign to promote Thai fruits to boost international sales.
VIETNAM
1.FDI FLOW REACH RM60 BILLION IN FIRST QUARTER -- VIETNAMPLUS
The Ministry of Finance announced that Vietnam attracted about RM60 (US$13.82 billion) in foreign direct investment (FDI) in the first quarter of 2025. Singapore topped the investors' list, followed by China and Japan.
2.VIETNAM MULLING SIMPLER CITIZENSHIP LAWS FOR FOREIGNERS -- VIETNAM NEWS
The National Assembly is reviewing draft amendments to national law to ease the process for overseas Vietnamese and foreign professionals to acquire citizenship. This will favour individuals of Vietnamese descent and foreign investors, scientists and experts.
-- BERNAMA
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Borneo Post
20 minutes ago
- Borneo Post
13MP to dominate upcoming Dewan Rakyat session, expected to run late into the night, says Speaker
Johari says his office has received a wide range of motions from the MPs, indicating a packed and intense session ahead. – Bernama photo SUNGAI PETANI (July 18): The upcoming Dewan Rakyat session, scheduled to begin next Monday until August 28, is expected to run into the night with the main focus being the tabling and debate of the 13th Malaysia Plan (13MP). Speaker Tan Sri Johari Abdul said his office has received a wide range of motions from the honourable Members of Parliament (MPs), indicating a packed and intense session ahead. 'So I call on the people on the ground, when the 13MP is tabled, they have to inform their MPs about what they want to be raised in Parliament. 'Tag their MPs (on social media) so that their voices can be heard. Don't wait until the MPs return to their constituencies to complain. Raise the issue while Parliament is in session,' he said after officiating the National Information Dissemination Centre (NADI) at Taman Pekan Baru today. Johari said the sitting will probably be extended into the night to accommodate the packed schedule, beginning daily at 10am and possibly continuing until 10pm or 11pm. Johari noted that the tabling of the 13MP is particularly significant as Malaysia holds the Asean Chairmanship this year, and it offers an opportunity to showcase the country's resilience and progress amid global uncertainties. In another development, he urged the public to fully utilise services made available at NADI centres to improve their livelihoods and economic opportunities. 'NADI isn't just about digital access or community programmes. It can be a one-stop centre for people to obtain vital information and explore business opportunities. 'It's a platform to gain knowledge not only academically but also across various fields. I encourage youth, especially, to take advantage of these centres to learn and engage with their communities,' he said. NADI Taman Pekan Baru, which began operations on Feb 9, is one of four new centres established in Kedah under the '1 DUN 1 NADI' initiative, bringing the total number of NADI centres in the state to 81. – Bernama Dewan Rakyat Johari Abdul Nadi parliament session tabling of 13MP
The Star
2 hours ago
- The Star
Indonesia court jails former trade minister for four-and-a-half years in sugar graft case
Former trade minister Thomas Lembong was found guilty of improperly granting sugar import permits. -- PHOTO: REUTERS JAKARTA (Reuters): An Indonesian court on Friday sentenced a former trade minister to 4.5 years in jail for improperly granting sugar import permits that authorities said had caused nearly 600 billion rupiah (US$36.84 million) in state losses. Thomas Trikasih Lembong served as trade minister in 2015 and 2016 under President Joko "Jokowi" Widodo. Once seen as Jokowi's close aide, Lembong turned into one of the government's staunchest critics after leaving office. Judges at the corruption court in the capital Jakarta, said Lembong, as minister, was guilty of improperly granting import permits for sugar to private companies when the Southeast Asian country had a surplus of sugar. Indonesia's sugar output in 2015 was 2.49 million metric tons, while consumption was 2.12 million. In last year's presidential election, Lembong was the campaign manager for candidate Anies Baswedan. The election was won in a landslide by Prabowo Subianto, whom Jokowi backed. Lembong, who was arrested days after Prabowo's inauguration last year, had claimed in court that his prosecution was due to his involvement in the opposition camp, local media reported. Prosecutors had denied that his arrest was politically motivated. "The defendant was proven legally and convincingly to be guilty of having committed a corruption act," Judge Purwanto S. Abdullah said, to jeers from the crowd. Before handing down the sentence, the judges had argued that the import permits did not go through the proper procedures of consulting with other state bodies and that he had prioritised "capitalistic" interests over social justice. However, the judges said he did not enrich himself, leading to a shorter sentence than the seven years prosecutors had demanded. Prosecutors said Lembong had enriched the private companies. Holding up his handcuffed hands, Lembong told reporters after the sentencing that he would consider whether or not to appeal, saying judges had ignored his defence team. His lawyer Ari Yusuf Amir did not immediately respond to a Reuters request for comment on Friday. ($1 = 16,285.0000 rupiah) (Reporting by Ananda Teresia and Stanley Widianto; Editing by Sharon Singleton) - Reuters
The Sun
2 hours ago
- The Sun
UK sanctions Russian GRU officers over cyberattacks and espionage
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