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.
Johor palace cannot interfere in youth age cap issue, says PM
Prime Minister Dr Mahathir Mohamad said the Johor palace has no right to interfere in the decision to determine the definition of the ‘youth’ classification for the state. He noted that should there be any royal interference in the issue, the government would nullify any bid by Johor to maintain its definition of youth at 40-years-old. – New Straits Times
666 dengue case recorded in Singapore last week, a 3-year high: NEA
The number of dengue cases in a week has hit a 3 ½-year high, with 666 cases recorded last week, the National Environment Agency (NEA) said. In an update on its website on Monday (15 July), the NEA said that this figure for the period between 7 July and 13 July was 73 more than the previous week. – The Straits Times
Wage-hike disaster looms for many companies, FTI warns
Raising the daily minimum wage to 400 baht would have detrimental impact on small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs), the Federation of Thai Industries (FTI) says. “The economy is not good now and this wage hike would certainly take its toll on SMEs,” FTI chairman Suphan Mongkolsuthee said. – Bangkok Post
6-magnitude earthquake hits Nusa Dua, damaging hotels, schools
A 6-magnitude earthquake rocked Bali on Tuesday morning, damaging the entrance to the Nusa Dua hotel area and a few buildings. No fatalities have been reported nor a tsunami warning issued. “There is no threat of a tsunami. People should remain calm and not panic,” said Bali Disaster Mitigation Agency (BPBD Bali) head Made Rentin. – The Jakarta Post
Chin people call for AA to leave state
The Chin National League for Democracy has called for the departure of the Arakan Army (AA) from Chin State, four years after the AA established a base in Paletwa, according to Salai Cieu Bik Thawng, general secretary of the party.
“AA shouldn’t be present in Chin. We have suffered as a result of their presence here and cases of human rights violations have worsened, so we are calling for the AA to leave Paletwa, where they have made a base,” he said.
According to the ceasefire agreement between the government and Chin National Front in 2012, only the Tatmadaw (military) and Chin nationals are entitled to hold weapons inside Chin, including Paletwa township, he said. – Myanmar Times
Minister vows to end ‘zero-dollar’ tour packages
The Minister of Tourism last week said companies offering ‘zero-dollar’ tour packages are damaging the tourism sector and vowed to take action to protect the industry.
Speaking at a tourism event in Siem Reap province on Sunday, Minister Thong Khon said that low-cost or ‘zero-dollar’ tours bring unsuspecting tourists to businesses in which they are coerced into purchasing expensive goods. – Khmer Times