Hot Off the Press

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: China's death toll passes 1,000 as Hubei province reports 103 new deaths 

The number of fatalities from China’s coronavirus epidemic jumped to 1,016 nationwide on Tuesday after hard-hit Hubei province reported 103 new deaths as the number of confirmed cases exceeded 42,600. 

In its daily update, Hubei’s health commission also confirmed another 2,097 new cases in the central province, where the outbreak emerged in December.

The province had confirmed a total of 31,728 cases with 974 deaths by the end of Monday, a fatality rate of 3.07 percent. It said there were still a total of 16,687 suspected cases. The province pledged on Monday to test all those suspected to have the virus within a day. – The Straits Times

Prime Minister vows to hit back if EU revokes EBA trade status

Prime Minister Hun Sen yesterday vowed to hit back if the EU decides to revoke the Kingdom’s Everything But Arms trade preference scheme during a European Commission meeting tomorrow.

He issued the warning when addressing a meeting between CPP members and representatives of the Lao People’s Revolutionary Party in Phnom Penh. – Khmer Times

2019-nCoV: 18 cases, 22 close contacts of latest victim detected

The Health Ministry detected 22 people who came in close contact with the latest 2019 Novel Coronavirus (2019-nCoV) patient from Banting.

The 32-year-old Malaysian who worked in Macau had just returned to Malaysia in February before he developed symptoms of the virus and sought medical treatment from a private clinic, a health clinic in Teluk Datok before he was referred to the Banting Hospital. – The New Straits Times

4 more Filipinos on cruise ship in Japan infected with nCoV

Four more Filipinos aboard a cruise ship quarantined off Yokohama, Japan, tested positive on Sunday for the new coronavirus, the Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) reported on Monday.

The four Filipinos, all crew members of the cruise ship Diamond Princess, were among the six new cases diagnosed on Sunday aboard the vessel moored off the port city of Yokohama, the DFA said. – Philippine Daily Inquirer

Fears mount over 'copycat' crimes

Concerns are growing that the Nakhon Ratchasima mass shooting could lead to copycat behaviour, with experts insisting that "social bonding" is needed help reduce the chance of the violence being repeated.

Pol Lt Col Krisanaphong Poothakool, an associate professor in criminology at Rangsit University, said there may be a number of copycat criminals in the making. – Bangkok Post