Top News Headlines In Indonesia, Laos, Myanmar, Singapore & Vietnam: June 19, 2025
The Indonesian government has confirmed that 580 of its citizens remain in Iran and Israel amid intensifying conflict in the region, with no evacuation conducted as of yet. According to Judha Nugraha, Director for the Protection of Indonesian Citizens at the Foreign Ministry, 386 Indonesians -- mostly students -- are still in Iran, primarily in the city of Qom.
The government's proposal to develop compact, subsidised housing for urban youth is facing growing criticism from both experts and potential occupants, who say the poor design and cramped living conditions of these 'mini houses' could jeopardise their inhabitants' physical and psychological well-being.
The Bank of the Lao discovered 21 corruption cases involving bank staff last year. Two cases were exposed at the central bank, 10 at commercial banks, five at savings banks and one at the Agricultural Promotion Bank.
2. LAO WORKERS REMITTANCE FUELLING ECONOMY -- VIENTIANE TIMES
Lao nationals working abroad continue to send home a sizeable amount of remittances, estimated at RM19 million (US$4.5 million) a month. Remittance is vital to drive the Lao economy as the money is spent on goods and services.
MYANMAR
1. NEW HIGHWAYS, BRIDGES IN THE PIPELINE -- THE GLOBAL NEW LIGHT OF MYANMAR
The government announced it will build 187 kilometres of highways and 305 bridges in the 2025-2026 financial year that will cut across 115 villages. Repairs of highways, village roads and six bridges damaged by the Mandalay earthquake will also be completed soon.
2. MYANMAR-VIETNAM BUILDERS EXPLORE MARKETS -- THE GLOBAL NEW LIGHT OF MYANMAR
Myanmar-Vietnam Construction Business meeting will be held at the on 23 June to promote networking among builders from the two countries. Twenty-two companies from Vietnam Business Club and Myanmar's construction companies, engineers, producers and importers will participate in the event.
SINGAPORE
1. NUS RETAINS 8TH SPOT, NTU CLIMBS TO 12TH IN LATEST GLOBAL UNIVERSITY RANKINGS -- THE STRAITS TIMES
The National University of Singapore (NUS) has retained its spot in the top 10 in a global ranking of institutions, with Nanyang Technological University (NTU) hot on its heels.
2. TRUMP WEIGHS IRAN STRIKE PLANS AS CONFLICT ESCALATES: WSJ -- CNA/AGENCIES
US President Donald Trump on Wednesday (Jun 18) declined to answer reporters' questions on whether the US was planning to join Israel to strike Iran or its nuclear facilities, shortly before a Wall Street Journal report emerged saying he had told senior aides that he had approved plans for such an attack.
VIETNAM
1. TRANSFORMING HO CHI MINH INTO MEGACITY -- VIETNAMPLUS
The merger of Ho Chi Minh City with Ba Ria, Vung Tau and Binh Duong provinces will create a megacity of finance, industry and seaports. These areas will focus on developing an eco-city, improving living standards and promoting social equity.
1. CONSUMER REWARD MODEL TO PROMOTE RECYCLING -- VIETNAMPLUS
The proposed Deposit Return System, if implemented effectively, could prevent 77,000 metric tonnes of packaging waste from reaching landfills and reduce CO2 emissions by 265,000 tonnes. Additionally, this model could create approximately 16,000 jobs in the informal waste sector.
-- BERNAMA
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New Straits Times
an hour ago
- New Straits Times
Trump: Iran has 2 weeks or face US strikes
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The Star
an hour ago
- The Star
Vance, in Los Angeles, says troops need to stay, blasts Newsom over immigration
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The Star
an hour ago
- The Star
Wong Chun Wai named National Journalism Laureate
Decades of dedication: Wong (centre) and Roz Ariffin (left), representing his late father Rozaid Abdul Rahman, with Zambry during the MPI-PETRONAS Malaysian Journalism Awards 2024 in Kuala Lumpur. — IZZRAFIQ ALIAS/The Star KUALA LUMPUR: Datuk Seri Wong Chun Wai has been accorded the country's highest media award as a National Journalism Laureate. The Bernama chairman has thus joined a handful of veteran journalists who have been given the honour. Wong, 64, was announced as a recipient at the Malaysian Press Institute 2024 awards here last night. The Star columnist with over 40 years experience joined the newspaper as a junior reporter at its Penang office in 1984 after graduating from Universiti Kebangsaan Malaysia. 'The Star remained my only employer until 2023 but I have continued writing for the newspaper every Sunday,' he said. Wong had also served Star Media Group as its group chief editor and chief executive officer. The award was presented by Higher Education Minister Datuk Seri Zambry Abdul Kadir. Wong is the 14th journalist to be chosen for the award. The first was the late Tan Sri Abdul Samad Ismail of Utusan Melayu and New Straits Times in 1988. This was followed by the late Tan Sri Lee Siew Yee (1992) of New Straits Times and writer cum activist, the late Datuk Ishak Muhammad or Pak Sako (1995). Other notables included Tan Sri Johan Jaaffar, Datuk Kadir Jasin, Khalidah Adibah Amin, the late Datuk Ahmad Rejal Arbee, the late Tan Sri Zainuddin Mydin and Datuk CC Liew. Wong has delivered numerous exclusives for The Star including interviews with the late physicist Stephen Hawking, ex-US president Bill Clinton and former Indonesian president Joko Widodo, among others. More recently, he interviewed former Thai prime minister Thaksin Shinawatra in Bangkok. In 2003, Wong won the MPI best feature award for his investigative piece on Malaysians undergoing terrorism training in Afghanistan. His other accolades included being the first Malaysian to be elected into the Paris-based World Editors Award as well as being a chairman of the Asia News Network with over 21 media affiliates. 'My advice to fellow journalists is to never stop writing. 'I wish to commend my fellow veterans Tan Sri Johan Jaaffar, Datuk Seri Azman Ujang, Datuk Yong Soo Heong, June Wong, Veera Pandiyan, N. Dorairaj, Datuk Kadir Jasin and Datuk Kuik Cheng Kang, who still write, whether regularly or occasionally.' He has also used digital platforms including Instagram, X and YouTube to express his views. Wong said he was a firm advocate of trained journalists, saying 'we have gone through years of learning, understanding the legal limits and even sensitivities in multiracial Malaysia'. 'More importantly, the established media is accurate and we take responsibility for what we publish,' he said. He said social media has 'allowed everyone to be a so-called journalist but it has also led to unverified and fake news as well as hate content passed off as news'. On his most memorable experience as a reporter, he said: 'To be in Aceh, Indonesia, in 2004 after the tsunami tragically hit the place claiming 200,000 lives.' Wong said it was heart-wrenching to see the tragedy and to understand 'what the massive nauseating smell of death was like'. He also recalled going into Kampung Simunul in Semporna, Sabah, in 2013 shortly after armed Filipino intruders had killed several Malaysian policemen. He recalled walking into the deserted village to find 'fresh human tissues and blood still on the ground'. Wong said journalists had tough jobs but also had ringside seats to watch history unfold. 'It's the best job around – that's my advice to young people.' He is also the author of Penang's History, My Story, which was published by The Star in 2014. Wong dedicated his award to all Malaysian journalists for their contributions as witnesses to the nation's history.
