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.
Singapore enters technical recession as GDP plunges 12.6% in Q2: Flash data
Singapore's economy shrank by 12.6 per cent year on year in the second quarter, according to advance estimates from the Ministry of Trade and Industry (MTI) on Tuesday (July 14), as circuit breaker measures to stem the coronavirus pandemic took its toll. The decline in gross domestic product (GDP) is worse than the 11.3 per cent drop economists had anticipated in a Bloomberg survey. It is also much worse than the first quarter when GDP turned negative for the first time in a decade with the economy contracting by a revised 0.3 per cent. MTI said the GDP plunge was due to the circuit breaker measures that were implemented from April 7 to June 1 to slow the spread of Covid-19, as well as weak external demand amidst a global economic downturn. – The Straits Times
Bursa remains at 6-month high in early trade
Bursa Malaysia remained at a six-month high in early trade on Tuesday amid mixed market breadth. An extended rise in glove shares continued to anchor the FBM KLCI index, but the uptrend was limited following losses mainly in heavyweights MISC, CIMB and KLK, as well as rotational plays among the lower liners. At 9.15am, the benchmark FTSE Bursa Malaysia KLCI (FBM KLCI) rose 1.87 points to 1,608.30, after swinging between gains and losses with little change earlier. The index opened 1.85 points higher at 1,608.28, compared with Monday's close of 1,606.43. Market breadth was negative with losers outpacing gainers 268 to 203, while 329 counters were unchanged, 1,154 were untraded and 22 others were suspended. Total volume stood at 806.24 million shares worth RM580.48 million. Malacca Securities said investors will be keeping an eye on Malaysia's unemployment rate for May 2020, after it was recorded at 5.0 per cent in April 2020. – New Straits Times
Rayong tourism industry dismayed by Egyptian saga
The tourism sector in Rayong has expressed concerns that the case of an Egyptian soldier who tested positive for Covid-19 will further damage their businesses and are urging authorities to help restore public confidence. Chayut Chaitrakulthong, chairman of the tourism business operators in the eastern province, said he feared the fresh case would drive tourists away just as local businesses were starting to recover after the easing of lockdown measures on July 1. However, he said exactly how much people's confidence was affected depended on how the provincial authorities handled the issue which some observers say has exposed lax health screening. Mr Chayut was speaking after the Centre for Covid-19 Situation Administration (CCSA) reported the movements of an Egyptian soldier who stayed in Rayong and then tested positive for the coronavirus. The soldier visited a number of places, including shopping centres, during his stay in the province and also took a one-day trip to China. He returned to Egypt on Saturday and a test result confirming the infection came back from the lab on Sunday. – Bangkok Post
Indonesia starts school year with caution during pandemic
After months of studying from home, students in several parts of the archipelago returned to school on Monday in accordance with the so-called “new normal” protocols in their respective communities. In the meantime, a number of other regions continued to exercise caution and carried on with their online learning policies as the COVID-19 health crisis has shown no sign of abating anytime soon. In East Nusa Tenggara, students returned to their classrooms as junior and senior high schools in 13 regencies and cities across the province – including the provincial capital Kupang, East Manggarai regency, Rote Ndao regency, East Flores regency, and Central Sumba regency – were permitted to resume their normal educational activities this week, albeit with a renewed emphasis on physical distancing and personal hygiene. – The Jakarta Post
Defensor: Denial of ABS-CBN franchise not ‘death penalty,’ only ‘life imprisonment’
Broadcast giant ABS-CBN was not handed the death penalty, but rather only life imprisonment, when its bid for a 25-year franchise was denied in the House of Representatives, Anakalusugan Rep. Mike Defensor said Tuesday. “To be clear about it, if they would want to speak that language, this was not a death penalty, this is life imprisonment. ABS-CBN lives, the corporation lives. But as to the franchise, there were violations that have been established,” Defensor, who was among those who voted against the franchise, said in an interview with ABS-CBN News Channel’s Headstart. Several senators have hit the move to deny ABS-CBN in its bid for a franchise after an overwhelming 70 lawmakers voted to reject the network’s application in the House committee on legislative franchises, with only 11 legislators who voted in support of the network. – INQUIRER.net
Master plan for Phú Quốc Economic Zone submitted to Gov't
The Kiên Giang Province's People's Committee has submitted a master plan on sustainable development for Phú Quốc until 2040 to the PM for approval. The master plan focuses on marine, coastal and island development to build a comprehensive infrastructure system linked with the infrastructure of the country and Mekong Delta. It seeks to promote sustainable development, culture, environmental protection, security, and harmonisation of economic growth with the conservation of historical and cultural relics. Under the plan, the Phú Quốc Economic Zone will be developed into a hub for trade and tourism services to attract domestic and international visitors, a political and cultural centre and a science and technology centre. It will prioritise development of coastal and riverine areas and public green spaces to improve the quality of life for locals. It will be key to creating a legal basis for the management of investment projects. – Viet Nam News
Koh Kong villagers trade logging for agriculture
Over 200 families living in Koh Kong province’s Sovanna Green Village Community who used to log timber and hunt wild animals for a living have now turned to agriculture to sustain themselves. Ministry of Environment spokesman Neth Pheaktra said the families used to live in mountainous areas, wildlife sanctuaries and natural resource conservation areas along the Stung Prat canal and in the Chi Phat area. In 2004, they moved to live at Sovanna Green Village, which is located in Botum Sakor district’s Kandorl commune. The village was an agricultural development project coordinated by the Wildlife Alliance. He said each family in the community had been granted land concessions measuring 25m by 600m to convert them into village lands and plantations. He said the plan was to give the villagers new job opportunities. “This project encourages changes to the livelihoods of residents and aims to provide them with steady [jobs]. First, the lands belong to them. Second, they have jobs. Third, they have incomes and fourth, they are safe. – The Phnom Penh Post