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.
World ‘not ready,’ WHO exec warns as virus surges in more countries
The new coronavirus epidemic swelled on Wednesday with cases in South Korea surging past 1,000 after deaths soared in Iran and infections appeared in previously untouched countries, prompting dire warnings that the world was not ready to contain it.
The virus has rapidly spread in parts of Asia, Europe and the Middle East, even as the number of deaths and fresh cases decline at the disease epicenter in China.
Towns and cities have been sealed off in an attempt to stop the contagion, while hotels in the Canary Islands and Austria were locked down on Tuesday because of suspected cases. – Philippine Daily Inquiry
Malaysia awaits result of royal search for PM
Malaysia's political impasse enters its fifth day Thursday (27 Feb), with the King having completed on Wednesday evening his interviews of Malaysia's parliamentarians in search of a new government.
At least 219 were - some like UMNO's Padang Rengas MP Nazri Aziz were unable to attend - polled by the King for who they supported to lead the country, or if they preferred a snap poll. – The Straits Times
School students stage pro-democracy rallies
High-school students have joined university students in staging pro-democracy protests, led by all-girls Satriwithaya School in Bangkok on Wednesday.
A group of students from the school, wearing casual clothes, assembled in the afternoon at the Democracy Monument across the street from their school, showing pro-democracy posters. – Bangkok Post
Absence of Chinese nationals felt in Sihanoukville after ban on online gambling
The departure of Chinese nationals from Sihanoukville following the ban on online gambling and amid fear of a novel coronavirus outbreak in the Kingdom is becoming more apparent as Chinese-owned businesses closed their doors.
Prime Minister Hun Sen in August issued a directive banning all online and arcade gambling operations in the Kingdom to safeguard security and public order. The ban came into effect in January. – Khmer Times
Tennis star Maria Sharapova retires
Russian tennis star Maria Sharapova, a five-time Grand Slam winner, is retiring from professional tennis at the age of 32, she said in Vanity Fair.
“In giving my life to tennis, tennis gave me a life. I’ll miss it every day,” she wrote. – New Straits Times