These are the top stories making the front pages of major newspapers from across Southeast Asia today.
Get up to speed with what’s happening in the fastest growing region in the world.
Pledge to end single-use plastics
Energy, Science, Technology, Environment and Climate Change Minister Yeo Bee Yin said Malaysia fully supported the amended Basel Convention (on the Control of Transboundary Movements of Hazardous Wastes and Their Disposal) that would take effect in 2021.
As a first step, she said, Malaysia had put a stop to “dumping” of plastic waste from developed countries to be recycled at a cheaper cost here. – New Straits Times
Thai journos agree pact to fight 'fake news'
A coalition of journalism organisations and institutes have agreed on a pact to fight fake news, according to the Thai Media Fund.
The coalition is made up of eight organisations and institutes including the Thai Media Fund, the National Press Council of Thailand, the Thai Health Promotion Foundation, the Communication Arts Faculty of Chulalongkorn University, the Journalism and Mass Communication Faculty of Thammasat University and the Friedrich Naumann Foundation for Freedom. – Bangkok Post
Magnitude 4.1 quake rocks Masbate town
A magnitude 4.1 earthquake rocked Batuan, Masbate Wednesday morning, the Philippine Institute of Volcanology and Seismology (Phivolcs) said.
The earthquake of tectonic origin struck the municipality at 7:02 a.m. - Philippine Daily Inquirer
Banned Opposition Party Sets September For Sam Rainsy Return to Cambodia
Cambodia’s exiled acting opposition chief Sam Rainsy has agreed to return to the country in September, following a decision by fellow party executives to go home to restore democracy in the authoritarian Southeast Asian country, while the government said it has arrest warrants ready for him.
Sam Rainsy left Cambodia in late 2015 to avoid what are seen as politically motivated convictions on defamation and other charges, and ceded control of the Cambodia National Rescue Party (CNRP) to then-vice president Kem Sokha as part of a bid to prevent the government from shutting down the opposition party. – Radio Free Asia
Shan parliament debates Inle Lake conservation bill
The bill was drafted by the hluttaw Bill Committee, government agencies, civil society organisations and local MPs.
“This law is necessary for Inle Lake because no separate budget has been set aside for its conservation. It would allow the organisation to directly administer the lake and seek a budget from either the Myanmar government or the state government for conservation projects,” said U Aung Kyi Win of Save Inle Lake. – Myanmar Times