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.
Wall Street plummets, suffers worst day since 1987
President Donald Trump’s Europe travel ban, announced late on Wednesday, sent all three major US stock indexes into a tailspin, with the S&P 500 and the Nasdaq confirming their first bear market since the financial crisis.
The Dow Jones Industrial Average fell 2,352.6 points, or 9.99 per cent, to 21,200.62, the S&P 500 lost 260.74 points, or 9.51 per cent, to 2,480.64 and the Nasdaq Composite dropped 750.25 points, or 9.43 per cent, to 7,201.80. The S&P 500 Energy index lost 12.3 per cent.
All 11 major sectors of the S&P 500 closed sharply lower. – The New Straits Times
Prime Minister Hun Sen reiterates fake news more vicious than COVID-19
COVID-19 is a vicious disease, but fake news is much more vicious, Prime Minister Hun Sen underlined in a Facebook post this morning.
“We need to join hands to combat the fake news,” continued the Premier in response to a foreign report saying that he might be infected with COVID-19. – Khmer Times
Clear-cut guidelines on community quarantine needed, says Poe
While recognizing government measures against the coronavirus disease (COVID-19), Senator Grace Poe on Friday underscored the need for clear guidelines on the community quarantine imposed in Metro Manila.
With the community quarantine in place, Poe called on authorities to ensure that public utility services would not be disrupted. – Philippine Daily Inquirer
SIA and SilkAir cut flights to and from India
National carrier Singapore Airlines and SilkAir have cancelled a number flights to and from several cities in India until April 26 following the South Asian country's suspension of visitor visas.
This adds to a slew of flight cancellations by both airlines which have already axed thousands of flights as a result of the coronavirus outbreak. – The Straits Times
No 'Stage 3' despite spike in virus cases
The Public Health Ministry on Thursday insisted that the country has yet to enter Stage 3 of the coronavirus outbreak, despite the discovery of a new cluster of infections which brought the total number of cases in Thailand to 70.
The permanent secretary for public health, Sukhum Kanchanaphimai, made the remark after 11 people tested positive following a night out with visitors from Hong Kong late last month. – Bangkok Post