42nd ASEAN Summit

Cambodia celebrated Fit ASEAN Day 2025 under the theme "Healthy Community, Developing Community” in Phnom Penh yesterday. It is to promote physical fitness and mental health. About 500 coaches, athletes, students and members of the public participated. 

2. HIGH-TECH METHOD TO PROTECT DOLPHIN ZONE  -- AGENCE KAMPUCHEA PRESSE

The agriculture ministry plans to introduce cutting-edge conservation technology for the Mekong River dolphins in Kratie province in 2026. The remote monitoring system will track dolphins' daily movements and detect illegal fishing. 

INDONESIA

1. KAI CHIEF WARNS OF FINANCIAL ‘TIME BOMB’ IN INDONESIA’S FIRST HIGH-SPEED RAIL -- JAKARTA GLOBE

State railway operator Kereta Api Indonesia (KAI) has acknowledged that the Jakarta-Bandung high-speed rail project, known as Whoosh, faces mounting financial strain that its chief described as a potential “time bomb”. The project is managed by Kereta Cepat Indonesia-China (KCIC), a joint venture considered a flagship initiative of former president Joko Widodo as the first high-speed railway in Southeast Asia.

2. IN SURPRISE MOVE, BI CUTS RATE TO ‘PUSH’ GROWTH -- THE JAKARTA POST

Bank Indonesia (BI) has unexpectedly reduced its benchmark interest rate to support economic activity in the country, marking the second reduction in a row. Following the central bank’s two-day monthly policy meeting, BI Governor Perry Warjiyo announced in a press conference on Wednesday that the key interest rate, the BI Rate, was cut by 25 basis points (bps) to five per cent.

LAOS 

1. BOKEAO FRENCH ARMY CAMP A HERITAGE SITE -- VIENTIANE TIMES 

Bokeo authorities have designated a former French military camp as a heritage site to promote it as a tourist attraction. The historical camp was one of three French military camps built in northern Laos from 1920 to 1930.

2. DOMESTICALLY-FUNDED MODEL TO SAFEGUARD FOREST -- VIENTIANE TIMES

The government, along with its development partners, has launched a feasibility study on establishing a national Payment for Forest Environmental Services system. The initiative aims to develop a sustainable financing mechanism to protect the country’s forest ecosystems.

MYANMAR 

1. ELEPHANT MUSEUM TO PROMOTE CONSERVATION -- THE GLOBAL NEW LIGHT OF MYANMAR 

The public is invited to visit the Elephant Museum in Yangon Zoo, built in 2019 and dedicated to Asian elephants. Authorities want to promote elephant conservation by combating the illicit trafficking of elephant parts and reducing human-elephant conflicts.

2. BILATERAL PACT TO MANAGE WATER QUALITY -- THE GLOBAL NEW LIGHT OF MYANMAR 

Myanmar and Thailand plan to establish a joint technical working group to promote sustainable water quality management. Under the bilateral cooperation, the group will focus on monitoring water quality, preventing and controlling water pollution between the two countries.

PHILIPPINES 

1. FIRST BANGSAMORO DISASTER RESPONSE PLAN FOR CHILDREN AND FAMILIES LAUNCHED -- PHILIPPINE NEWS AGENCY

The Bangsamoro government, with support from the Korean government through the Korea International Cooperation Agency (KOICA) and the United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF), on Wednesday launched the region’s first Bangsamoro Disaster Response Plan (BDRP).

2. TWO WEATHER SYSTEMS TO BRING RAINS TO PARTS OF THE PHILIPPINES -- PHILIPPINE NEWS AGENCY

The southwest monsoon or “habagat” and the trough of a low-pressure area (LPA) will bring rains to many parts of the country on Thursday, the Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration (PAGASA) said.

SINGAPORE

1. THREE SENGKANG GREEN PRIMARY PUPILS SUSPENDED FOR BULLYING CLASSMATE, WITH ONE OF THEM CANED: MOE -- THE STRAITS TIMES

A pupil from Sengkang Green Primary School has been caned for his involvement in bullying a female classmate, with the school acting “in a timely manner”, said the Ministry of Education (MOE).

2. SENGKANG GREEN PRIMARY BULLYING CASE: MOE DETAILS TIMELINE, SAYS PARENTS NO LONGER WANT TRANSFER AFTER MEETING -- CNA

The Ministry of Education (MOE) on Wednesday (Aug 20) released a timeline of events after three Sengkang Green Primary School students were suspended over death threats made to a classmate and her mother.

THAILAND

1. TOURISM MINISTER PROPOSES THB 700 MILLION BUDGET FOR FREE DOMESTIC FLIGHTS -- THE NATION

Tourism and Sports Minister Sorawong Thienthong plans to request a THB 700 million budget from the Cabinet for a domestic flight giveaway initiative aimed at attracting at least 200,000 international tourists to various destinations across Thailand.  

2. THAILAND AND SWEDEN TO SIGN GRIPEN JET DEAL -- BANGKOK POST

Thailand and Sweden will sign an agreement for the first phase of a Gripen E/F fighter aircraft procurement next Tuesday, according to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs.

VIETNAM

1. HANOI-CANBERRA BOLSTER BILATERAL TIES -- VIETNAMPLUS 

The seventh Vietnam-Australia Foreign Ministers’ Meeting was held in Hanoi yesterday to review the Comprehensive Strategic Partnership and discuss global and regional issues. Both countries pledged to support multilateral forums, particularly the United Nations and ASEAN.

2. TOURISM TO PROPEL HO CHI MINH -- VIETNAMPLUS

Ho Chi Minh City is strategising to turn it into a tourism hub by 2030. Over the past seven months, about 4.6 million tourists visited the city, and in July alone, the city’s tourism revenue touched about RM4 billion (US$985 million).

-- BERNAMA