Asean News Headlines at 9pm on Monday (July 18, 2022)

Fishermen pull their net to fish along the coast at a beach in Pekan Bada, Indonesia's Aceh province. - AFP

Malaysia:

* Malaysian Customs seizes six tonnes of raw ivory, biggest bust so far in its history

* Covid-19 Watch: 3,936 new cases, nationwide ICU bed usage at 63.9pc

* Foreign outflow from Bursa moderates to RM27.94mil

* Rising cost of living, price of goods among highlights in Parliament on July 18

* Kit Siang: I'll work with Najib if he condemns 1MDB scandal

* MH17 anniversary: Dewan Rakyat expresses condolences to family of passengers, crew

* PM: Government has taken steps to curb cooking oil smuggling

* No need to fly: EC studying allowing Sabahans, Sarawakians to vote in Peninsula Malaysia

* First group of Malaysian haj pilgrims arrive home safely

* Chaos in Parliament after Opposition MP presses House on Sulu-Petronas issue

* High Court denies Syed Saddiq's bid to impeach key witness' credibility

* Don't test govt's patience over leakages of subsidised goods, says Nanta

A migrant construction worker walks through a half-constructed pedestrian tunnel in Singapore on Monday, July 18, 2022. - Reuters

Singapore:

* Girl in Singapore traumatised by sexual abuse had to take modified science exam, assailant jailed 11 years

* Singapore well-known Hwa Chong school reprimands staff member, suspends him from sexuality education over anti-LGBTQ content

* Singapore power price spikes again in further sign of volatility; price swings could lead to gas shortage

* Singapore could see 5,000 tonnes of solar panel waste in next two years

* New lease of life for old MRT train parts

* Emotional Ginting ends worst slump and two-year drought to win Singapore Badminton Open

* Asian shares gain, lifted by strong consumer sentiment data

* Oil prices extend gains as weaker dollar and tight supplies support

Fishermen pull their wooden boat after fishing along the coast at a beach in Pekan Bada, Indonesia's Aceh province. - AFP

Indonesia:

* Indonesia on high alert as Covid-19 cases spike and fourth wave takes hold

* Rebels in Indonesia's Papua claim responsibility for deadly ambush that took 10 lives

* G-20 finance meet ends without a communique but progress on food and energy security

* Indonesian 10-year benchmark yields climbed 1.6 basis points to 7.381% ahead of a Bank Indonesia (BI) meeting but rupiah stays flat

* ‘Lawar’ – the controversial delicacy taking Bali by storm

* Long Covid very prevalent

* Indonesia plans biweekly setting of CPO reference price

* Maid freeze due to 'misunderstanding', talks being held with Indonesia to resolve issue, says Hamzah

A woman takes a picture beside a newly discovered century-old stone sculpture outside the Emerald Buddha Temple within the Grand Palace grounds in Bangkok on Monday (July 18). - AFP

Thailand:

* Thai couple escape death as construction pillar falls 20m onto major expressway in Bangkok

* It's going lower as Thailand records 1,814 confirmed Covid-19 cases and 17 deaths on Monday (July 18)

* Thai democracy activists targeted by Pegasus spyware, says report

* Thailand's Sadom Kaewkanjana finishes an impressive 11th as Cameron Smith storms past Rory McIlroy to win The Open

* ‘Non-stinky’ durian a big hit with connoisseurs

Philippines:

* China to work with new Philippine government to upgrade infrastructure, says official

* Philippines logs 2,560 new Covid-19 cases on Sunday night (July 17), above 2,000 cases for four straight days

* Philippines' Taal volcano still volatile - 86 quakes recorded in last 24 hours, alert level still on Stage 3, says Phivolcs

* Philippines and Singapore follow the way as surprise tightening in Asia ups pressure on dovish central banks

* Marcos was all about the Monet

Tourists gather and take pictures in the grounds of the Grand Palace in Bangkok on Monday, July 18, 2022. - AFP

Vietnam:

* Vietnam and Laos mark 60th anniversary of diplomatic ties

* Vietnam reports 840 new Covid-19 cases and no death on Monday (July 18)

* Vietnam's ancient town of Hoi An voted 20th best city in the world by famous US magazine

* Vietnam's stock market outlook still bright in second half

* Vietnam agrees on fishing hotline with China but pace of trade ‘slow’

Myanmar:

* Myanmar central bank orders firms with up to 35% foreign ownership to convert forex

* Yangon receives more liquid oxygen to be used for public hospitals and Covid-19 centres

* Prices of foreign medicines increase

Team Philippines pose with the trophy as they celebrate after winning the Asian Football Federation Championship and beating Thailand in the final at the Rizal Memorial Coliseum in Manila. - AFP

Cambodia:

* Cambodia and Thailand up cross-border KHQR code transactions

* Cambodia's rice export to China up over 17 per cent in H1 as it remains biggest buyer from kingdom

* Heavy rains cause severe flooding and three deaths in Preah Sihanouk province, Cambodia

Laos:

* Laos' civil registration process undergoes e-system testing

* Passport applications overwhelm consular department in Laos

Brunei:

* 78% children in Brunei have received second dose of Covid-19 vaccine; serious cases rises to 10

* Joint police and army operation foils massive smuggling attempt in Brunei

China’s Zhou Qi (centre) plays a rebound against Indonesia’s Derrick Michael Xzavierro (left) and Arki Dikania Wahyu and Marques Terrel Bolden (right) during their playoff match at the 2022 FIBA Asia Cup in Jakarta on Monday, July 18, 2022. - AFP

AseanPlus

* India's parliament begins voting for new president; female politician from marginalised tribal community favourite for post

* Shanghai enforces new Covid-19 testing as some parts of China extend lockdown and new measures in Beijing

* Asia stepping up fight against more infectious Covid-19 variants

* An An, world’s oldest male giant panda in captivity at Hong Kong’s Ocean Park, ‘has lost appetite and is in low spirits’

* China hosts its own Pacific island talks on last day of regional forum

* Hong Kong protests: Top court acquits first person jailed for carrying zip ties, rules items ‘not instruments fit for unlawful purposes’

* Hong Kong customs makes record haul of HK$222 million worth of illegal cigarettes

* Shanghai Covid cases still rising

* Australia's Lynas, which operates in Malaysia, saw fourth-quarter revenue jump

* Asian markets track Wall St higher on easing recession fears

* U.S.'s Yellen says any N. Korean nuclear test would be very provocative

* South Korea and Japan foreign ministers meet to tackle historical disputes

* Top Indian administrator Batra quits hockey and Olympic posts; big setback for Asian giants

* How Netflix plans to find its inner ‘Star Wars’

* Four nations vie to host 2023 Asian Cup, region's premier football tournament, after China withdrawal

* S. Korean government calls on strikers to end 'illegal' siege of Daewoo shipyard