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.
NASA images show fall in China pollution over virus shutdown
NASA satellite images show a dramatic fall in pollution over China that is "partly related" to the economic slowdown due to the coronavirus outbreak, the space agency said.
The reduction in nitrogen dioxide (NO2) pollution was first noticed near Wuhan, the epicentre of the outbreak, but eventually spread across China, according to NASA scientists who examined data collected by their and European Space Agency satellites.
Maps comparing NO2 concentrations showed a marked decline between 1-20 January, before a sweeping quarantine was imposed on Wuhan and other cities, and 10-25 February. – New Straits Times
Coronavirus spreading fast outside China but stigma is more dangerous: WHO
The new coronavirus now appears to be spreading much more rapidly outside China than within but can still be contained, and stigma is more dangerous than the disease itself, the World Health Organisation (WHO) said on Monday (2 March).
WHO chief Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus said almost eight times as many cases had been reported outside China as inside in the previous 24 hours, adding that the risk of coronavirus spreading was now very high at a global level. – The Straits Times
Greenhills standoff ends, guard releases hostages
After almost nine hours, the standoff in a mall in Greenhills ended when an angry security guard released all of his hostages and surrendered to authorities.
The sacked security guard named Archie Paray released his victims at 8:16 p.m. after hours of negotiation. – The Manila Times
Outrage over mask shortages
People are crying foul over the shortage of masks amid the novel coronavirus outbreak, triggered by the death of a Thai man who was diagnosed with the COVID-19 virus.
Public complaints grew louder on Monday over the continuing lack of masks on the back of heightened concerns over the spread of COVID-19, which claimed the life of the 35-year-old man on Saturday night - the first reported death from the virus in the country. – Bangkok Post
Businesses seek Government support amid Covid-19 losses
The coronavirus outbreak has affected the country’s economy, with production for exports and services suffering the most.
The tourism and service industry in Đà Nẵng, one of the cities attracting the most foreign tourists, is expected to suffer losses of up to VNĐ700 billion (US$30.4 million) due to the slump in tourism in the two months since the novel coronavirus (COVID-19) epidemic began. – Viet Nam News