Top News Headlines In Cambodia, Laos, Myanmar, Indonesia, Singapore & Thailand : Feb 25, 2025

Southeast Asia News Update

Cambodia

1. Cambodia to Host Disaster Management Exercise
   Cambodia will host the ASEAN Regional Disaster Emergency Response Exercise 2025 (ARDEX-25) in July this year. The disaster management mechanism is critical to the region that is prone to weather-related natural disasters. ARDEX is conducted to test regional capabilities.

2. Cambodia Explores Cashew Exports to India
   Cambodian cashew nut traders discussed with Indian buyers to export more of the product into the Indian market. Cambodia produced 850,000 tonnes of cashew nuts last year and exported 815,000 tonnes. Indian buyers keen on raw cashew nuts and processed kernels.

Laos

1. Plans to Improve Bangkok-Vientiane Rail Route
   Laos and Thailand signed a memorandum of understanding to enhance rail connectivity to meet the rising number of passengers travelling on the Bangkok Apiwat–Vientiane (Khamsavath) route. So far 288,700 passengers have used the service since the route was launched last July.

2. Stern Measures to Stop Abuse of State Funds
   The government is taking stern steps to tackle financial misconduct in public agencies and punish offenders who miss use state funds. Authorities plan to introduce mechanisms for efficient state auditing, reducing unplanned expenses and recovering advance payments into the national treasury.

Myanmar

1. Improving Public Social Protection Schemes
   The government is fine-tuning its social protection scheme and working with ASEAN and other global partners to modernise the scheme. The scheme covers – healthcare, unemployment, superannuation, occupational disability, family, childbirth, survivors and seriously injured persons.

2. Regional Govt-Media Relations Workshop
   The Ministry of Information will host the Workshop on “Mastering Government Communication: Empowering Spokespersons for Effective Public Engagement” in Nay Pyi Taw from February 26 to 28. Participants will learn how governments can engage the media during crises and disseminate information effectively.

Indonesia

1. Danantara’s Governance Raises Doubts
   President Prabowo Subianto launched Danantara, the nation’s newest sovereign wealth fund, with US$20 billion in initial capital on Monday, but analysts have warned that the fund will face challenges in winning investor trust given its governance structure.

2. Pramono Anung Leads PDI-P’s Local Leaders to Join Retreat on 3rd Day
   Newly-installed Jakarta Governor Pramono Anung has led a group of other elected local leaders affiliated with the Indonesian Democratic Party of Struggle (PDI-P) to finally join the retreat program in Magelang, Central Java, on Sunday, two days late than the original schedule.

Singapore

1. Singaporean of the Year Finalists Spur Others to Find Their Strengths and Purpose: President Tharman
   From volunteers who give hope to those in need to athletes who put Singapore on the world map, the lives and deeds of the Singaporean of the Year finalists motivate others to discover their own strengths and purpose, said President Tharman Shanmugaratnam.

2. Don’t ‘Wait for the Problem to Get Bigger’: Growing Alarm in Singapore Over Vapes Being Used to Take Drugs
   Lawmakers, social service providers, parents and even youths in Singapore have increasingly raised concerns over the use of vaping devices to consume illegal drugs.

Thailand

1. Unstable Weather! Heavy Rain IM 48 Provinces, Monsoon Hits the South
   The Meteorological Department forecasts unstable weather today, February 24, 2025. Heavy rain will hit 48 provinces, including Bangkok, with thunderstorms, strong winds, lightning, and hail in some areas. A monsoon is covering the southern region.

2. Outcry Over Growth of Illegal Hotels
   Phuket and Bangkok are the tourist destinations most heavily linked to the practice of investors illegally renting out their residential units as short-term accommodation, according to the Thai Hotels Association (THA), while tourism operators want the government to consider reducing the 60-day visa-free period to eligible countries.

Conclusion

The countries in Southeast Asia are taking various measures to improve their disaster management, social protection schemes, and governance structures. The region is also grappling with issues such as the use of vaping devices to consume illegal drugs and the growth of illegal hotels.

Frequently Asked Questions

Q: What is the ASEAN Regional Disaster Emergency Response Exercise (ARDEX)?
A: ARDEX is a disaster management exercise conducted by the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) to test regional capabilities in responding to natural disasters.

Q: What is the purpose of the social protection scheme in Myanmar?
A: The social protection scheme in Myanmar aims to cover healthcare, unemployment, superannuation, occupational disability, family, childbirth, survivors, and seriously injured persons.

Q: What is the focus of the Regional Govt-Media Relations Workshop in Myanmar?
A: The workshop focuses on mastering government communication and empowering spokespeople for effective public engagement.