Top News Headlines In Indonesia, Myanmar, Singapore, Thailand & Vietnam: May 25, 2025
The government is set to reintroduce electricity bill discounts for low-power households starting June 5, as part of a broader stimulus package aimed at boosting purchasing power.
The Indonesian government announced a package of economic stimuli to boost people's purchasing power in the second quarter (Q2) of 2025, including a 50-per cent electricity discount for 79.3 million households in June and July.
1.DISEASE PREVENTIVE ACTION AS MONSOON LOOMS -- THE GLOBAL NEW LIGHT OF MYANMAR
The Health Ministry is stepping up efforts on the prevention and control of respiratory infectious diseases that are prevalent during the monsoon season and COVID-19 preventive measures. Surveillance at airports, seaports and border camps has been enhanced.
2.SPURRING AGRI AND LIVESTOCK EXPORTS TO BOOST ECONOMY -- THE GLOBAL NEW LIGHT OF MYANMAR
The government is encouraging citizens to prioritise agricultural and livestock production for exports. These sectors can generate income and improve the socioeconomic conditions. Bamboo pulp, consumer products made from bamboo and food products have export potentials.
SINGAPORE
1. SPOTLIGHT ON BILLIONAIRES AND TYCOONS WHO CHOSE SINGAPORE TO SET UP THEIR FOUNDATIONS FOR CHARITY WORK -- THE STRAITS TIMES
Some of the richest people in the world, such as American hedge fund billionaire Ray Dalio, Indonesian coal king Low Tuck Kwong and Brazil-born Facebook co-founder Eduardo Saverin, have set up foundations in Singapore to give to charitable causes in the past three years.
2.AMID TRUMP TARIFFS, ASEAN SUMMIT TO PRIORITISE NEW TRADE LINKS WITH OTHER POWERS: ANALYSTS -- CNA
Diversification is likely to be the underlying theme at the upcoming 46th Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) summit, as the bloc seeks new partnerships and closer ties with other major powers to cushion the impact from United States President Donald Trump's tariffs and isolationist policies, analysts say.
THAILAND
1. MAE SAI FLOODING: MILITARY REINFORCES FLOOD BARRIERS, CLEARS DEBRIS UNDER THAI-MYANMAR FRIENDSHIP BRIDGE -- THE NATION
Residents of Mae Sai and nearby areas are urged to stay vigilant and monitor updates from the authorities as the situation remains fluid and further rain is expected.
2. AI CAMERAS NET SUSPECTS IN TOURISTS HOT SPOTS MOMENTS AFTER THEIR DETECTION -- BANGKOK POST
Tourism police have deployed AI-powered surveillance cameras at hot spots nationwide, resulting in nearly 200 arrests since July 2024.
VIETNAM
1.CROSS-BORDER ONLINE GAMBLING GANG CRIPPLED -- VIETNAMPLUS
Vietnamese and Lao police have smashed a major cross-border illegal online gambling syndicate involved in about RM210 million (US$50 million) worth of bets. Nearly 30 Vietnamese suspects involved in operating gambling websites and online betting platforms were detained.
2.VIETNAMESE MANGOES DOMINATE CHINESE MARKET -- VIETNAMPLUS
Vietnamese mangoes managed to capture 97 per cent of China's mango import market share in the first quarter of this year. This achievement was largely due to competitive pricing, maintaining consistent quality and timely supply.
-- BERNAMA
BERNAMA provides up-to-date authentic and comprehensive news and information which are disseminated via BERNAMA Wires; www.bernama.com; BERNAMA TV on Astro 502, unifi TV 631 and MYTV 121 channels and BERNAMA Radio on FM93.9 (Klang Valley), FM107.5 (Johor Bahru), FM107.9 (Kota Kinabalu) and FM100.9 (Kuching) frequencies.
Follow us on social media :
Facebook : @bernamaofficial, @bernamatv, @bernamaradio
Twitter : @bernama.com, @BernamaTV, @bernamaradio
Instagram : @bernamaofficial, @bernamatvofficial, @bernamaradioofficial
TikTok : @bernamaofficial
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
The Star
20 minutes ago
- The Star
Ringgit closes lower against US dollar amid market uncertainty
KUALA LUMPUR: The ringgit closed lower against the US dollar on Friday amid renewed market uncertainty after a US federal appeals court granted the White House's request to temporarily pause a lower-court ruling which struck down President Donald Trump's tariffs on imports. At 6 pm, the local note decreased to 4.2530/2605 versus the greenback from Thursday's close of 4.2390/2475. Earlier, the US Court of International Trade had ruled that the tariffs announced by Trump were illegal. However, the Trump administration challenged the trade court ruling, leading to the tariffs being restored while the appeal process runs its course. UOB Kay Hian Wealth Advisors Sdn Bhd head of investment research Mohd Sedek Jantan said while the legal process unfolds, businesses and markets are left navigating a more complex and uncertain global trade landscape. "Investors increasingly recognise that markets are now entering a more prolonged period of uncertainty. "Sentiment has turned more defensive as capital allocators reassess both external developments and domestic dynamics," he told Bernama. Bank Muamalat Malaysia Bhd chief economist Dr Mohd Afzanizam Abdul Rashid said moving forward, market participants will closely monitor the legal trajectory of US tariff policies, which may influence broader market sentiment. At the close, the ringgit traded lower against a basket of major currencies. It weakened versus the Japanese yen to 2.9531/9585 from Thursday's close of 2.9188/9249, slipped vis-à-vis the euro to 4.8169/8254 from 4.7803/7899 yesterday and depreciated against the British pound to 5.7284/7385 from 5.7091/7205 previously. The local note also fell against its ASEAN peers. It slipped versus the Singapore dollar to 3.2938/3002 from 3.2853/2921 on Thursday and dropped against the Indonesian rupiah to 260.4/261.1 from 259.9/260.5 previously. The ringgit also inched down against the Thai baht to 12.9507/9790 from 12.9321/9647 yesterday and slid vis-à-vis the Philippine peso to 7.62/7.64 from 7.60/7.62. - Bernama
The Star
an hour ago
- The Star
US to start ‘aggressively' revoking visas for Chinese students, Rubio says
US Secretary of State Marco Rubio said on Wednesday that the United States will start 'aggressively' revoking visas issued to Chinese students, and will 'enhance scrutiny' of applications from mainland China and Hong Kong. 'Under President [Donald] Trump's leadership, the US State Department will work with the Department of Homeland Security to aggressively revoke visas for Chinese students, including those with connections to the Chinese Communist Party or studying in critical fields,' he said in a statement. 'We will also revise visa criteria to enhance scrutiny of all future visa applications from the People's Republic of China and Hong Kong,' the statement added. China has continued to send a substantial number of students into the US, second only to India as the top source of international students, even as students and academics from the country have faced increasing scrutiny by the US government. More than 277,000 Chinese citizens accounted for nearly 25 per cent of all international students in the country, according to last year's Open Doors report, sponsored by the US Department of State. Senator Ashley Moody, the Florida Republican who replaced Rubio in Congress after he was nominated by Trump to helm the State Department, lauded Wednesday's announcement. Moody, who introduced a bill proposing to ban all Chinese students in the US accused American universities of 'importing espionage'. 'The US is no longer in the business of importing espionage,' she said in a post on X. 'Now, it's time for Congress to act and pass my STOP CCP Visas Act. We no longer have a choice: As long as the CCP has laws forcing Chinese students to gather intelligence on their behalf, we cannot grant them student visas.' The Congressional Asian Pacific American Caucus (CAPAC), which bills itself as non-partisan but whose members are Democrats, issued a statement condemning Rubio's announcement. 'The wholesale revocation of student visas based on national origin – and without an investigation – is xenophobic and wrong,' it said. 'Turning these students away – many of whom simply wish to learn in a free and democratic society – is not just shortsighted but a betrayal of our values.' The State Department's move on Wednesday followed a series of actions aimed more broadly at restricting international students to address alleged threats to national security. On Tuesday, Rubio reportedly sent a diplomatic cable to America's embassies and consulates worldwide to stop scheduling student visa interviews as Trump's administration considers more expansive vetting of the social media profiles of applicants. That development came just days after the Department of Homeland Security sought to block Harvard University from enrolling foreign students due to what it described as noncompliance with its request to provide records of their activities on campus. The move was halted by a federal judge on Friday after Harvard sued the administration. In an ironic twist, Rubio's announcement came out just as China's top envoy to the US was striking an optimistic tone about people-to-people exchanges between the two countries, despite intensifying competition and suspicion that has defined the bilateral relationship in recent years. In an event at his embassy on Wednesday evening, Ambassador Xie Feng highlighted his country's push to advance its technological capabilities and lure top talent during an event highlighting the scientific and cultural experiences of American citizens on the mainland. 'It is people-to-people ties that invigorate China-US relations', he said emphatically, adding that the 'future of this relationship ultimately depends on the two peoples.' 'We warmly welcome all American friends to travel in China, shop in China, succeed in China and take part in Chinese modernisation. Come and see the country with your own eyes,' Xie urged his audience. Citing collaborative work to promote folic acid supplements that 'helped millions of newborns' and joint efforts that helped African countries curb the spread of Ebola, Xie insisted that China's 'pursuit of innovation is not to oppose or outcompete anyone, but for better lives for its own people and greater development of humanity'. 'China and the United States each have strengths in science and technology,' he added. 'The right path forward is mutual learning and cooperation for sheer success.' Additional reporting by Bochen Han
Malay Mail
2 hours ago
- Malay Mail
Shamsul Anuar: Malaysia committed to tackling transnational crime with new Asean action plan
KUALA LUMPUR, May 30 — Malaysia is actively participating in efforts to combat transnational crime, with Deputy Home Minister Datuk Seri Shamsul Anuar Nasarah highlighting the nation's role in developing a new Plan of Action to Combat Transnational Crime (2026–2035) and a Senior Officials Meeting on Transnational Crimes (SOMTC) Work Programme (2026–2028). Shamsul Anuar said the new plan and work programme would guide Asean's response to crime over the next decade. 'Our goal is to make these plans practical and ready for future threats, including cybercrime, human trafficking, migrant smuggling, and terrorism. We want to work closely with partners like Russia and welcome their support and contributions. 'On regional security, Malaysia believes peace depends on strong arms control and following international rules. We support dialogue and trust-building to keep the region safe,' he said at the Asean-Russia Consultations of High Representatives for Security Issues - 13th International Meeting of High Representatives for Security Matters (13th HROSM) held in Moscow, Russia. The meeting was chaired by the Russian Federation's Minister of Foreign Affairs, S.V. Lavrov. According to Shamsul Anuar, Malaysia is proud of the progress on the Comprehensive Plan of Action for the Asean-Russia Strategic Partnership (2026–2030), which he believes would help both sides work more closely in important areas. 'We support the SOMTC + Russia Work Plan (2025–2028) to fight transnational crimes such as human trafficking, migrant smuggling, and cybercrime. We hope this plan can be finalised soon and officially agreed upon,' he said. He added that Malaysia also stressed the need for better coordination and information sharing between Asean and its partners to handle new security threats, including terrorism, cyber threats, and other transnational crimes. 'The 25th Asean SOMTC will be held in Malaysia from June 23 to 27, 2025. We look forward to welcoming all members and partners, including Russia, to Putrajaya. We are also hosting the 17th SOMTC + Russia Consultation on June 25, 2025, to strengthen our joint efforts against transnational crime. 'Malaysia remains fully committed to working closely with Asean and the Russian Federation to ensure our cooperation stays strong, relevant, and beneficial for all,' he said. — Bernama
