Top News Headlines In Indonesia, Laos, Myanmar, & Singapore: Jan 30, 2025

INDONESIA

1. PRABOWO MOVES AWAY FROM JOKOWI’S LEGACIES -- THE JAKARTA POST

President Prabowo Subianto’s leadership style, with his knack for powerful speeches and fondness for the military, has set him apart from his predecessor Joko "Jokowi" Widodo in his first 100 days in office.

2. PRESIDENT PRABOWO TO PARDON 44,000 INMATES MOSTLY DRUG OFFENDERS -- JAKARTA GLOBE

President Prabowo Subianto is expected to pardon 44,000 inmates convicted of non-violent crimes with drug offenders making up a vast majority of them, a senior official said on Wednesday.

LAOS 

1. MORE GIRLS FALL VICTIM TO HUMAN TRAFFICKING -- VIENTIANE TIMES

The National Anti-trafficking Committee Police registered 46 human trafficking cases last year, involving 85 victims and 95 suspects arrested. Brokers and syndicates duped Lao girls into cyber-scam operations and underage girls were forced to marry foreigners illegally.

2. KAPOK BLOSSOM FESTIVAL IN BOKEO PROVINCE -- VIENTIANE TIMES

The Kapok Blossom Festival is held in Bokeo province. During January and February, Kapok trees produce red blossoms. The festival takes place on about 40 hectares in the Bokeo forest area and attracted nearly 250,000 tourists last year.

MYANMAR

1. MAIZE EXPORTS REACH NEARLY RM2 BILLION -- THE GLOBAL NEW LIGHT OF MYANMAR

Myanmar earned about RM2 billion (US$447 million) from exporting over 1.88 million tonnes of maize from April to November last year. Maize is in high demand among feed processing factories. Thailand is the top importer, followed by China, India, the Philippines and Bangladesh.

2. WORKSHOP TO PROVIDE CHILD-FRIENDLY SPACE -- THE GLOBAL NEW LIGHT OF MYANMAR

Myanmar Red Cross Society and Denmark Red Cross jointly organised a Child-Friendly Spaces workshop for social workers. Volunteers were taught how to establish safe spaces for children during emergencies, and childcare and respond to their psychological needs during crisis. 

SINGAPORE

1. BUSINESSES MUST STAY RESILIENT AMID CHALLENGES IN 2025: GAN KIM YONG -- THE STRAITS TIMES

Businesses here must remain agile, nimble and resilient in the face of challenges that are likely to impact growth outlook in 2025.

2. FROM FOSTER CARE TO FOREVER HOME: MEET 3 YOUTHS WHOSE FAMILIES CHANGED THEIR LIVES FOR GOOD -- CNA

When he was in his teens, Eugene Francesco Ong-Nonis used to dodge his friends’ questions about why he looked nothing like his dad and mum.

-- BERNAMA