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.
Wuhan virus claims second victim in China
Chinese authorities have reported a second death from a mystery virus that has left dozens of people ill in the city of Wuhan, Hong Kong media reports said.
The Wuhan health authorities reported late on Thursday (16 Jan) that a 69-year-old man, who was first taken ill on 31 Dec, died on Wednesday at the Wuhan Jinyintan Hospital in Hubei province after his symptoms became more severe on 4 Jan, with pulmonary tuberculosis and multiple organ functions damaged.
The first death from the mystery virus occurred in China on 9 Jan. The victim was a 61-year-old man who had serious underlying medical conditions. - The Straits Times
Phivolcs: Taal ‘resting’ but still dangerous
Taal Volcano belched smaller plumes of ash on Thursday, but seismologists said that did not mean the volcano was calming down, as it shuddered continuously with earthquakes and cracked the ground in nearby towns- signs that it was building up power for a catastrophic eruption.
Intense volcanic earthquakes and high levels of sulfur dioxide emissions are indications that magma, or molten rock, is moving up and could burst out of the volcano at any moment, the Philippine Institute of Volcanology and Seismology (PHIVOLCS) said. - Philippine Daily Inquirer
India denies curbs on imports from Malaysia
India's Commerce Minister Piyush Goyal denied that the country has imposed any curbs on imports from Malaysia.
"I don't think we have put any curbs on imports from Malaysia or Turkey, neither are we contemplating it," the Indian minister said while speaking at the Raisina Dialogue annual conference in New Delhi today. - The New Straits Times
Government to start Rotavirus and Diphtheria-Tetanus vaccination campaigns
The Health Ministry will conduct nationwide anti- diarrhoea and anti-diphtheria/Tetanus vaccination campaigns to stop the rise of the potentially fatal diseases among children, a senior official said.
The vaccination campaigns will be held in February with the support of Gavi, The Vaccine Alliance, United Nations Children's Fund (UNICEF) and the World Health Organization (WHO). - Myanmar Times
PM seeks Japan’s help in developing blockchain tech
Prime Minister Hun Sen yesterday met a Japanese delegation at the Peace Palace to discuss strengthening bilateral cooperation, especially in the development of blockchain technology.
In the morning, Mr Hun Sen met with the delegation headed by Kozo Yamamoto, a member of the House of Representatives and State Minister for Regional Revitalisation, and both sides discussed cooperation in several sectors, especially blockchain technology and clean water supply for Phnom Penh. - Khmer Times