INDONESIA
1. INDONESIA CONFIRMS 580 CITIZENS STILL IN IRAN AND ISRAEL AMID ESCALATING TENSIONS -- JAKARTA GLOBE
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.
2. TINY HOMES FOR YOUNG URBANITES DRAW CRITICISM OVER LIVABILITY -- THE JAKARTA POST
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.
LAOS
1. CENTRAL BANK UNCOVERED 21 GRAFT CASES -- VIENTIANE TIMES
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
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
