CAMBODIA
1. KOREAN MONITORING DEVICES TO CHECK AIR QUALITY -- FRESH NEWS
South Korea has presented three international-standard air quality monitoring devices to Cambodia to monitor and manage air quality more accurately. These devices can also track airflow direction across national borders and provide updates on air quality changes.
2. MINISTRY URGES FACTORIES TO STOP WATER POLLUTION -- FRESH NEWS
The Minister of Environment has instructed factory owners to stop discharging polluted water and toxic waste into natural water sources. Factories and enterprises have been releasing untreated wastewater and toxic waste into lakes, streams, rivers, and fields causing environmental degradation.
INDONESIA
1. PDI-P EXECUTIVE HASTO KRISTIYANTO DETAINED AS GRAFT SUSPECT -- JAKARTA GLOBE
1Hasto Kristiyanto, secretary-general of the Indonesian Democratic Party of Struggle (PDI-P) and a trusted aide to party chairwoman Megawati Soekarnoputri, was detained by the Corruption Eradication Commission (KPK) on Thursday, nearly two months after being named a suspect for allegedly bribing an election official.
2. CONSTRUCTION SOES FACE STEEPER CLIMB TO RECOVERY -- THE JAKARTA POST
Indonesia’s state-owned construction firms are expected to face even greater struggles to recover following a worsening performance last year.
LAOS
1. LAOS-THAILAND REBOOTING BILATERAL TIES -- VIENTIANE TIMES
Laos and Thailand have pledged to bolster the Strategic Partnership for Growth and Sustainable Development collaboration. Both governments agreed to improve their bilateral trade and investment, enhance rail links and logistics infrastructure, and tackle cyber crimes and narcotics trafficking.
2. NEW LAWS TO PROTECT CONSERVATION AREAS -- VIENTIANE TIMES
The Ministry of Agriculture and Forestry is tightening laws to manage and prevent encroachment into designated conservation areas. Activities like misuse of protected land, illegal logging, planting crops, burning of wood and wild animals hunting will be banned in these areas.
MYANMAR
1. PLANS TO ADD CHINLONE TO UNESCO HERITAGE LIST -- THE GLOBAL NEW LIGHT OF MYANMAR
The Myanmar Chinlone Federation will submit traditional Chinlone or cane balls to be included in the UNESCO World Heritage List in 2026. The federation is collecting information about the sport, its equipment, culture and historical evidence to support its submission to the organisation.
2. MANDALAY PRISON CHECK TO ENSURE PRISONERS’ RIGHTS -- THE GLOBAL NEW LIGHT OF MYANMAR
A two-day high-level inspection was conducted at the Mandalay Central Prison to ensure prisoners enjoyed their fundamental rights while in jail. The inspection team checked if prisoners were given proper food supply, access to healthcare and purified water.
SINGAPORE
1. GE NEWBIES WATCH: PAP, WP NEW FACES SPOTTED IN POTENTIAL BATTLEGROUND GRCS -- CNA
As the next General Election approaches, political parties are ramping up their outreach efforts.
2.GENEROUS 2025 BUDGET SEEN TO SHIELD S’PORE ECONOMY FROM TRUMP’S WAR ON GLOBAL TRADE -- THE STRAITS TIMES
A budget with no new taxes and plenty of giveaways shows the Government is bracing itself for a potential hit to the economy from US President Donald Trump’s escalating trade war.
THAILAND
1. 145 SUSPECTS, HALF OF THEM CHINESE, ARRESTED IN CRIME CRACKDOWN IN BANGKOK -- The Nation
Bangkok police arrested 145 suspects, including 77 Chinese nationals, in a major crime crackdown. Offences ranged from drug and gambling crimes to immigration and business law violations. Notable cases include a 509kg meth seizure and a call-centre scam bust.
2. INDUSTRY FORECAST TO INCREASE 2-3% IN 2025 -- Bangkok Post
Thailand's insurance industry is projected to grow by 2-3% this year, driven by increasing public awareness of rising medical inflation, an ageing society and the extension of the health insurance coverage age to 80, says the Thai Life Assurance Association (TLAA).
-- BERNAMA
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