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.
Coronavirus outbreak is not an opportunity to score points against China
On 1 Feb, Cui Tiankai, China’s ambassador to the United States, gave a talk at a UC San Diego forum on China-US relations. In his remarks at the forum, the ambassador said that the prevention and control of the coronavirus outbreak in China is the top priority for the country and that the well-being of people always comes first. He stressed that China is doing whatever it can and using whatever means it must to curb the spread of the coronavirus and treat those affected.
The ambassador also emphasized that China is doing all this not just for the health and safety of the Chinese people, but for the health and safety of the entire global community. He pointed out that the fight against the coronavirus once again shows that we live in a shared community where all of us are in this together. – Khmer Times
China virus death toll rises to 425
The number of confirmed deaths from China's coronavirus outbreak spiked to 425, after authorities in Hubei province reported 64 new fatalities on Tuesday.
In its daily update, figures from the health commission in Hubei, which has been hit hardest by the virus, also showed a sharp increase in confirmed infections with 2,345 new cases. – Bangkok Post
Malaysia rises to best-ever level in global Democracy Index
While mature democracies worldwide are witnessing progressive deterioration in the practice of democracy, Malaysia improved its ranking in The Democracy Index to 43rd in 2019, up from 52nd in 2018 out of 167 countries surveyed.
According to The Democracy Index 2019 report released by the Economist Intelligence Unit (EIU), Malaysia scored 7.16 points out of a maximum of 10 – its best score ever. – New Straits Times
PH on alert vs bird flu as another outbreak reported in China
Government efforts are being maintained to keep the Philippines free from avian flu, after another reported outbreak in China, this time of a “highly pathogenic” strain of the H5N1 type of bird flu, or avian influenza.
China’s Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Affairs reported on Saturday an outbreak of the H5N1 strain at a farm in Shaoyang City in the province of Hunan, some 400 kilometers south of Hubei province and 630 km northwest of Hong Kong. – Philippine Daily Inquirer
Locals, tourists receive free masks in HCM City
Around 100,000 surgical masks are being provided to tourists visiting HCM City between Sunday (2 February) and 10 February, according to the city Department of Tourism.
It is being done by the department in coordination with travel firms to help prevent the spread of the coronavirus and increase public awareness of the disease. – Viet Nam News