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.
Singaporean boy drowns on cruise ship docked in Langkawi
A Singaporean boy was found drowned in the pool of a cruise ship docked at the Star Cruise Jetty here, on Monday. Langkawi district police chief Superintendent Mohd Iqbal Ibrahim said the victim – Alan Heng Kai Lun, 10 – together with his mother and a friend, were on vacation on the ship which had just arrived from Singapore and was scheduled to depart for Phuket, Thailand. “Padang Matsirat police station received an emergency call at about 7.30pm regarding a drowning incident involving a child in the swimming pool of the cruise ship. – New Straits Times
Important to build confidence between ASEAN and partner militaries amid ongoing tensions: Ng Eng Hen
Amid ongoing tensions and the potential for conflict in the South China Sea, it is important to build confidence between the militaries of Asean and its eight key partners, Defence Minister Ng Eng Hen said on Monday (Nov 18). Citing the Asean-US and Asean-China maritime exercises, he said the Asean Defence Ministers' Meeting (ADMM)-Plus grouping has to know one another despite the differences, and find ways to build confidence, if not trust. "We have been pushing for multilateral exercises and indeed, we have been doing 18-nation exercises in counterterrorism," he said. "You are not going to solve these differences without communication." – The Straits Times
Princess Sirindhorn admitted to hospital
Her Royal Highness Princess Maha Chakri Sirindhorn was admitted to King Chulalongkorn Memorial Hospital on Monday night for treatment on coronary artery disease. The Princess developed chest pains and an irregular pulse before a medical team providing care recommended, she be admitted to the hospital, the Royal Household Bureau said on Monday night. A coronary angiography revealed narrowed sections in the heart's blood vessel but angioplasty was not required, it added. Doctors recommended the Princess refrain from conducting functions and remain in hospital for a course of treatment, it said. – Bangkok Post
Fear over stained fish grips Jayapura residents
Concerns over contaminated fish have arisen among residents of Jayapura, Papua following a broadcast message about fish that have been contaminated by mining waste at a bay in Papua New Guinea. Reuters reported in August that waste from the Ramu nickel plant, owned by the Metallurgical Corporation of China, in Madang, Papua New Guinea had spilled into the adjacent Basamuk Bay, as locals noticed red discharge clouding parts of the bay. In a separate report in October, Reuters mentioned that results of an investigation into the spill by an Australian laboratory found no ongoing environmental impact. – The Jakarta Post
Typhoon Ramon slows down as it heads Babuyan Islands
Typhoon Ramon has slowed down as it heads over to the Babuyan Islands, where it is expected to make landfall, the state weather bureau said Tuesday. In its 8 a.m. weather update, the Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration (Pagasa) said Ramon was last spotted 110 kilometres east of Calayan, Cagayan. Ramon is packing maximum sustained winds of up to 120 kilometres per hour (kph) near the centre, and gustiness of up to 150 kph. The typhoon was also spotted moving west-northwest slowly, Pagasa said. The state weather bureau added that Ramon is expected to make landfall over the Babuyan Islands between Tuesday afternoon or Tuesday evening. – Philippine Daily Inquirer
Princess Buppha Devi passes away aged 77
Princess Norodom Buppha Devi, who was famous for her skills and key roles behind the Kingdom’s Royal Ballet, passed away on Monday from unspecified illness at a hospital in the Thai capital Bangkok, according to the official Facebook page of King Norodom Sihamoni. “May the soul of elder sister Norodom Buppha Devi rest in peace. Norodom Buppha Devi passed away aged 77 at 12:30 on November 18 in a Thai hospital,” said the page, under the name Royal du Cambodge. Born on January 8, 1943 in Phnom Penh, Princess Buppha Devi is the eldest daughter of the late King Father Norodom Sihanouk and Neak Moneang Phat Kanhol, herself a Royal Ballet dancer. She is the elder sister of King Sihamoni and Prince Norodom Ranariddh. A symbol of the Kingdom’s Royal Ballet, Princess Buppha Devi was bestowed the title “Number One Dancer” and “Living Human Heritage of Cambodia” in 2013, said Royal du Cambodge. – Phnom Penh Post