Top News Headlines In Indonesia, Laos, Myanmar, Vietnam & Thailand: Dec 19, 2024

INDONESIA

1. FORMER JUSTICE MINISTER YASONNA LAOLY QUESTIONED BY KPK OVER GRAFT FUGITIVE HARUN MASIKU -- JAKARTA GLOBE

Former Justice Minister Yasonna Laoly was questioned by the Corruption Eradication Commission (KPK) on Wednesday regarding the corruption case involving Harun Masiku, a fugitive and fellow Indonesian Democratic Party of Struggle (PDI-P) executive.

2. BUSINESSES DEMAND HELP AS PAY, VAT RISE -- THE JAKARTA POST

Business associations say government incentives for next year, including subsidized loans for labor-intensive industries, are insufficient to support companies facing challenges from multiple directions.

LAOS 

1. NATIONAL SEED POLICY TO IMPROVE CROP CULTIVATION -- VIENTIANE TIMES

Lao National Agriculture Forestry Research Institute is partnering with the Food and Agriculture Organisation to develop the draft national seed policy. The policy is vital for conservation and enhances seed production so farmers have access to high-quality crop seeds.

2. LAOS-KOREA PEOPLE-TO-PEOPLE TIES FLOURISHING -- VIENTIANE TIMES

Korea-Laos friendship associations have pledged to continue their social development activities in 2025 after completing successful programmes this year. Their key initiatives this year were in education, public health, agriculture and human resources development, which aim to improve people’s welfare. 

MYANMAR

1. GOVT FAVOURS ASEAN’S HAZE-FREE AGENDA -- THE GLOBAL NEW LIGHT OF MYANMAR 

Myanmar wants a haze-free Southeast Asia and supports ASEAN in tackling transboundary haze pollution. The government voiced this at the 19th Meeting of the Conference of the Parties to the ASEAN Agreement on Transboundary Haze Pollution in Bangkok yesterday.

2. MUSHROOMING OF SMALL-SCALE INDUSTRIES -- THE GLOBAL NEW LIGHT OF MYANMAR

A total of 1,607 small-scale businesses have registered with the Ministry of Cooperatives and Rural Development this year. The majority of these businesses are engaged in consumer goods, food, household products, garments, printing, minerals, agriculture and machinery.

VIETNAM

1. ASEAN KEY IN VIETNAM’S REGIONAL DIPLOMATIC STRATEGY -- VIETNAM NEWS 

Vietnam will continue to support ASEAN in 2025 to complete the ASEAN 2025 Master Plan as scheduled, build the ASEAN Community Vision 2045, and strengthen relations with ASEAN's partners. Next year, Vietnam will celebrate the 30th anniversary of its ASEAN membership.

2. ARSONIST BURNS DOWN KARAOKE KILLING 11 IN HANOI - VNEXPRESS

A fire at a three-storey karaoke bar in Hanoi claimed the lives of 11 people late last night. The blaze is believed to have been set by a 51-year-old man using gasoline following an altercation with the staff.

THAILAND

1. THAKSIN’S FOES PUSH NACC TO SPEED UP PROBE IN ‘PRIVILEDGE’ CASE -- THE NATION

A network of foes of former prime minister Thaksin Shinawatra rallied at the National Anti-Corruption Commission (NACC) on Wednesday, calling on the anti-graft agency to speed up an investigation in the case of alleged abuse of authority to help him escape detention in prison.

2. ILLEGAL TOUR GUIDE PROBLEM WORSENS -- BANGKOK POST

The problem of illegal tour guides has worsened, attributed to longer visa-free stays and weak law enforcement, enabling foreigners to illegally operate both tour company and guide services in most major tourism cities, says the Professional Tourist Guides Association of Thailand. 

-- BERNAMA