Top News Headlines In Indonesia, Laos, Myanmar, Singapore, Thailand & Vietnam: July 14, 2025
Indonesia and the European Union have reached a political 'breakthrough' on a long-delayed trade pact, President Prabowo Subianto and European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen announced on Sunday in Brussels, paving the way for a new strategic partnership in an increasingly fractured global economy.
Indonesia is set to launch its ambitious Sekolah Rakyat (People's Schools) programme on Monday, offering free boarding school education to children from the nation's poorest households. Chief Community Empowerment Minister Muhaimin Iskandar said preparations are complete, including the enrollment of children from the lowest economic bracket to begin classes next week.
LAOS
1.PIPED WATER PRICE TO RISE THIS YEAR -- VIENTIANE TIMES
Authorities will raise tap water prices from 2025 to 2027 to manage production costs and assist the Vientiane Water Supply Enterprise recover from financial losses. Funds are needed to improve water infrastructure and cover the overhead costs.
2.RUSSIA-LAO PLEDGE TO ENHANCE TRADE TIES -- VIENTIANE TIMES
Lao and Russia will expand cooperation in various areas to strengthen their strategic partnership ahead of their 65th diplomatic anniversary this October. This includes energy, education, defence, trade, culture, mine clearance and modernising hospitals.
MYANMAR
1.FISHING TRAWLERS BACK TO THE SEA -- THE GLOBAL NEW LIGHT OF MYANMAR
Prices of marine products will drop as the fishing season resumes. About 30 per cent of the nearly 900 offshore fishing trawlers in Yangon are now able to go out to the sea. Since early this year, choppy waters have hindered fishing.
2.SPOT CHECKS ON GOLDSMITHS IN YANGON -- THE GLOBAL NEW LIGHT OF MYANMAR
The Federation of Myanmar Gold Entrepreneurs Association will inspect gold shops in Yangon to ensure traders comply with the new gold weight system and operate with licences. About 1,500 goldsmiths in Yangon have applied for goldsmith licences.
SINGAPORE
1.SINGAPORE'S ECONOMY CONTINUES TO EXPAND IN Q2 DESPITE US TARIFF UNCERTAINTY: ADVANCE ESTIMATE -- THE STRAITS TIMES
Singapore's economy continued to grow in the second quarter of 2025 despite persistent global trade headwinds and US tariff uncertainty weighing on the export-reliant economy
2.SINGAPORE'S ECONOMY GREW 4.3% IN THE SECOND QUARTER OF 2025: MTI ADVANCE ESTIMATES -- CNA
Singapore's economy grew 4.3 per cent in the second quarter of 2025, faster than the 4.1 per cent growth in the first quarter of the year, according to advance estimates from the Ministry of Trade and Industry (MTI) on Monday (Jul 14).
THAILAND
1. CHINESE MASTERMIND HIRES GANG TO ABDUCT COMPATRIOT IN PATTAYA -- THE NATION Thai police have arrested four men who abducted and robbed a Chinese national in Pattaya while impersonating local police officers.
2. GOVT TAKES ON KHAO KRADONG DISPUTE -- BANGKOK POST Interior Minister Phumtham Wechayachai will set up a committee to investigate the long-standing Khao Kradong land dispute in Buri Ram province, which involves state-owned land allegedly overlapping with property linked to the influential Chidchob family.
VIETNAM
1.DA NANG MUSEUM EXHIBITS ANCIENT ARTEFACTS -- VIETNAMPLUS
The Da Nang Museum is hosting an exhibition displaying artefacts dating 15th century to the Nguyen Dynasty. About 200 rare collections including gilded wooden furniture, ceramics, royal costumes, gold-thread embroidery and Chinese pottery are on display.
2.BAC NINH MAGNET FOR FOREIGN INVESTMENTS -- VIETNAMPLUS
After Hanoi, Bac Ninh attracted the most foreign direct investment in the first six months of this year in Vietnam. The northern province attracted RM51 billion (US$12 billion) mostly in the electronics component and manufacturing sectors.
-- BERNAMA
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