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.
Cruise ship shunned over coronavirus fears arrives in Cambodia
A cruise ship which had spent two weeks at sea after being turned away by five countries over fears that someone aboard may have the coronavirus arrived in Cambodia on Thursday (13 Feb), to the relief of passengers and the praise of global health officials.
The MS Westerdam, which has 1,455 passengers and 802 crew on board, arrived at an anchoring point in the Cambodian port town of Sihanoukville, according to data published by the Marine Traffic website.
"We’ve had so many near moments we thought we were going home only to be turned away," Ms Angela Jones, an American tourist on board the ship, told Reuters. – The Straits Times
WHO says 'way too early' to predict end of novel coronavirus
The United Nations (UN) health agency on Wednesday cautioned it was “way too early” to say whether COVID-19 might have peaked or when it might end, following a drop in new cases.
“I think it’s way too early to try to predict the beginning, the middle or the end of this epidemic right now,” Michael Ryan, head of WHO’s health emergencies programme, said at the agency’s daily news conference. – New Straits Times
Call it a day already!: Commotion as Rosmah refuses to leave dock for lunch
Datin Seri Rosmah Mansor created a commotion in court Wednesday (12 Feb) when she refused to leave the dock when the court adjourned for lunch because she wanted the proceedings to end for the day.
The former prime minister's wife refused to leave while her lawyers were seen trying to persuade her to do so. – The Star
Dirty air kills 27K in PH yearly, says study
Air pollution from burning fossil fuels - primarily coal, gas and oil - is responsible for an estimated 27,000 premature deaths in the Philippines annually, and result in up to US$6 billion (P304 billion) in economic losses per year, according to a new study released on Wednesday.
The study, published by Greenpeace Southeast Asia and the Center for Research on Energy and Clean Air, found that burning fossil fuels led to approximately 4.5 million premature deaths around the world every year, with toxic pollutants causing the rise in acute and chronic diseases. – Philippine Daily Inquirer
Sokha denies colluding with Rainsy to overthrow the government
Phnom Penh Municipal Court yesterday questioned former opposition leader Kem Sokha on whether he colluded with Sam Rainsy in an alleged plot to overthrow the government.
He was asked if he supported Rainsy’s call to supporters to rise up against the government during a speech in the United States in 2011. – Khmer Times