These are the top stories making the front pages of major newspapers from across Southeast Asia today.
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Singapore students back in UK now face possible lockdown after rise in Covid-19 cases
Singaporean students returning to the United Kingdom may have escaped being quarantined upon their arrival, but are likely to face new restrictions as the country experiences a spike in Covid-19 cases. The UK is into its second wave of coronavirus infection, recording 6,873 new coronavirus cases last Friday (Sept 24). This was the highest daily figure since mass testing began. This comes as many Singaporean students have returned to the UK following the lifting of the 14-day quarantine requirement for travellers from the Republic on Sept 19. With the rise in number of cases in the UK, the returning students may be facing another round of circuit breaker-like restrictions. However, some remain unfazed, and even welcome the move towards greater regulation in the UK. "A lockdown will be quite reassuring because the number of cases in the UK has been rising and there is some anxiety about going back," said Ms Yang Xin, 22, a third-year medical student at the University of Oxford. She changed her flight from one scheduled for Sept 19 to another on Sept 26 on learning about the relaxation of the quarantine. Second-year biology student Bryan Tan, 21, at the University of Cambridge agreed, saying it would be difficult to stop the spread of the virus without adequate government response. "There are some minor regulations already in place but they don't seem to be helping to curb the exponential spread. "So, some form of lockdown, even a minor one, seems like the next logical step. "Travel for students is currently not discouraged by the Singapore Government. – The Straits Times
RM11.3 million worth of syabu seized after Langkawi sea chase
The Malaysian Maritime Enforcement Agency (MMEA) thwarted an attempt to smuggle in 56.5kg of syabu worth RM11.3 million on Friday, after intercepting a foreign fishing boat 2.3 nautical miles north east of Tanjung Kemarong, near here. Its commander, First Maritime Admiral Mohd Zawawi Abdullah, said the seizure, which was the biggest this year, was conducted during Op Eagle Eye, based on intelligence information and monitoring by the Langkawi Malaysian Maritime SEA Monitoring System (SWASLA) at 1am. "Based on the information, an MMEA lightning boat detected a suspicious looking Thai fishing boat with two suspects on board leaving the territorial waters of a neighbouring country near Tanjung Kemarong. "The boat tried to ram the lightning boat, which had been chasing it for 40 minutes, several times, before the two suspects jumped overboard. "The personnel who boarded the boat found two black bags hidden under nets containing 51 Chinese tea packages wrapped in transparent plastic containing white crystals suspected to be syabu," he said at a media conference at the Kedah and Perlis MMEA Headquarters in Bukit Malut, here, yesterday. Mohd Zawawi said the MMEA suspects the drugs were meant for markets abroad and that Langkawi waters were only a transit point. He said the syabu and the wooden fishing boat were taken to the Kedah and Penang MMEA Headquarters in Bukit Malut for investigation under Section 39(B) of the Dangerous Drugs Act 1952; and Section 307 and 186 of the Penal Code. "The MMEA has also mobilised a search and rescue for the two suspects. However, they have yet to be found due to the rough seas," he added. – New Straits Times
No end in sight: Bangkok's flood problem to persist
Nine years after the epic flood of 2011, the upper-eastern part of Bangkok -- the low-lying and flood-prone area -- is still as vulnerable as ever to inundation as City Hall might not be able to develop six flood catchment projects there as planned. In the 2011 monsoon season, the upper-eastern part of the capital city suffered from severe floods. Among the hardest-hit areas were the districts of Kannayao, Min Buri, Sai Mai and Klong Sam Wa because most are on low-lying land. In the old days, the area was filled with rice paddies that helped retain floodwater. But in the last few decades, the farming land has been converted into real estate and commercial projects, reducing the area's water-retention capacity. After the 2011 flood, the Bangkok Metropolitan Administration (BMA) launched its "Flood Prevention Masterplan". The BMA had envisioned man-made structures such as tunnels or underground water reservoirs for inner-city areas in the capital which would carry floodwater to outer sectors where natural reservoirs and ponds could hold the excess. For the upper-eastern part of the city, the BMA in 2012 issued a plan to develop six flood catchment schemes covering 1,000 rai of land. The idea was to create capacity to retain 5 million cubic metres (cu m) of floodwater. – Bangkok Post
Five dead in fire caused by gas canister explosion in North Sumatra
A family of five was killed in a fire that engulfed their four-story house on Jl. Panyabungan in Pematang Siantar, North Sumatra, on Saturday night. According to Pematang Siantar Fire Department head Josua Sihaloho, police officers were looking into the incident but an initial investigation found that the fire started on the first floor where the family stored liquefied petroleum gas (LPG) canisters. Josua said the victims, 67-year-old Ameng, 39-year-old Yenti, 15-year-old Clarissa Kie, 12-year-old Kenrick Kie and 6-year-old Kenjiro Kie, were found in two different locations in the house. "Four victims were found in a bedroom on the second floor and another victim was found in a bathroom on the first floor," Josua said. He further stated that the firefighters struggled to put out the fire as explosions kept occurring from inside the building. Angga, a local resident, said that he heard an explosion coming from the house prior to the fire. "I heard an explosion sound and saw fire burst out from the building,"
Angga told The Jakarta Post on Saturday. Nur Hama, another local, explained that the fire started on the first floor of the building, which was used for storing LPG gas canisters. "The fire started at around 7:40 p.m. We saw the family screaming for help from the second floor. They were trapped and could not get out of the building," Nur told the Post. "However, we could not do much [to help them] as the fire got big so quickly and engulfed the entire house.” – The Jakarta Post
Abu Sayyaf sub-leader’s aide nabbed in Zamboanga City
Police have arrested the alleged trusted aide of Abu Sayyaf Group unit sub-leader and bombmaker Mudzrimar “Mundi” Sawadjaan in Zamboanga City. Philippine National Police chief Gen. Camilo Cascolan said Hashim Saripada alias Ibnu Kashir was captured by operatives of the Regional Intelligence Unit of the Police Regional Office 9 (Zamboanga Peninsula) and the 84th Special Action Company of the Special Action Force at 6:30 a.m. Sunday in Barangay Recodo. Cascolan said in a press briefing Monday that Saripada is the subject of a warrant of arrest for multiple murder and multiple frustrated murder. Police records show that Saripada allegedly has a “key role” in the bombing of a Citizen Armed Forces Geographical Unit detachment in Lamitan City in Basilan on July 31, 2018, that killed 11 persons. According to Cascolan, Saripada facilitated the travel of Moroccan bomber Abu Kathir Al-Maghribi from Sulu to Basilan to carry out the bombing. “Likewise, Saripada and Mundi Sawadjaan reportedly prepared the IED detonated by an Indonesian couple at the Mt. Carmel Cathedral in Jolo, Sulu on January 17, 2019,” he added. – INQUIRER.net
Real estate developers interested in emerging markets
There is a trend of real estate developers moving their investments from big cities of Hà Nội and HCM City to other localities, experts have said. Speaking at a conference on property in 2021 and the rise of new markets held in the central province of Bình Định on Saturday, Nguyễn Văn Đính, deputy general secretary of the Việt Nam Real Estate Association (VNREA) said a wave of investment in real estate projects in provinces has become more intense in the past few years. In the past, big cities were considered “golden land” and the first choice for big real estate developers. Now, more and more businesses are turning to invest and explore new lands. The reason is that property products in the cities, such as villas and resorts, are increasingly scarce. Property markets in the two cities are lacking land funds, with few products for investment. “As for apartment products, Hà Nội is not beneficial because the apartment price has reached its peak. Currently, buyers mainly have demand for accommodation, not for business,” Đính said. In HCM City, in the past two years, there have been no new projects completed. Apartment prices have been increasing sharply at an average of 5-7 per cent, even 10 per cent in some areas. In essence, investors will pour money into a market with good profitability and low prices. “This was why new markets see strong economic development, including advantages in industrial development and the tourism sector. Excluding areas that have developed tourism real estate, such as Đà Nẵng, Nha Trang and Quảng Ninh, the new markets for the tourism industry are the localities that in recent years have taken advantage of beautiful landscapes and good natural conditions, such as Thanh Hóa, Nghệ An, Quảng Bình and Bình Định. – Viet Nam News
Red carpet rolled out for first-class rat
Cambodian officials have congratulated Magawa, the land-mine detecting African giant pouched rat, for being awarded a gold medal from UK-based PDSA for his work detecting landmines in Cambodia. Heng Ratana, director of the Cambodia Mine Action Centre told Khmer Times yesterday that the UK veterinary charity presented the rodent with a gold medal for “lifesaving devotion to duty, in locating deadly landmines in Cambodia for clearance.” He said Cambodia really appreciates the work of Magawa since it was brought to the country in 2013. “For seven years, Magawa has worked clearing mines in Cambodia effectively,” he said. He added that the Kingdom has 40 rats working to detect landmines in Siem Reap and Preah Vihear provinces. “There are many ways to clear landmines, however, rats play a main role here as they have highly effective special abilities,” he said. According to BBC News on September 24, Magawa has sniffed out 39 landmines and 28 unexploded munitions in his career. There are thought to be up to six million landmines in Cambodia. PDSA’s gold medal is inscribed with the words: “For animal gallantry or devotion to duty.” Of the 30 animal recipients of the award so far, Magawa is the first rat. – Khmer Times