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.
Virus cases rise in S. Korea, China as Iran, Italy battle outbreak
South Korea and China both reported a rise in new virus cases on Sunday, as the South Korean prime minister warned that the fast-spreading outbreak linked to a local church and a hospital in the country’s southeast had entered a “more grave stage.” Some virus clusters have shown no direct link to travel to China.
The death toll in Iran climbed to six, the highest outside China, and a dozen towns in northern Italy effectively went into lockdown as authorities tested hundreds of people who came into contact with an estimated 79 confirmed cases there. Two people have died in Italy.
The Korea Centers for Di¬sease Control and Prevention said that 113 of the 120 new cases were reported in the fourth-largest city of Daegu and surrounding areas. – The Straits Times
Cambodia faces supply chain crunch, no thanks to COVID-19
Southeast Asian suppliers from Cambodia, Myanmar and Vietnam have become increasingly important to global fashion brands. Nearly 20% of Uniqlo owner Fast Retailing’s disclosed core sewing factories are in Vietnam, though China is still home to about half.
However, these suppliers now face a supply chain issue as most materials for the end product comes from China which has been wrecked with restarting of its manufacturing and production machinery as a result of the COVID-19. – Khmer Times
PM instructs building socio-economic scenarios in COVID-19 epidemic context
Prime Minister Nguyễn Xuân Phúc has instructed ministries, sectors and localities to quickly build their own coronavirus disease (COVID-19) development scenarios to mitigate the impact of the epidemic while striving to meet set targets.
The instruction was part of a recent announcement released by the Government Office on the PM’s conclusions regarding the impact of COVID-19 and update growth scenarios and directions on measures to implement socio-economic targets for 2020. – Viet Nam News
Amanah Youth flays Azmin for 'act of sabotage'
Parti Amanah Negara (Amanah) Youth has lashed out at PKR deputy president Datuk Seri Mohamed Azmin Ali for what it calls an “act of sabotage” by him against the Pakatan Harapan (PH) coalition.
Its vice-chief Shazni Munir Mohd Ithnin claimed that Azmin's move to bring together opposition members from Umno and Pas to form a backdoor government is a clear betrayal of the people's mandate given to the PH government in the 14th General Election (GE14). – The New Straits Times
Govt defends internet shutdown in Rakhine
The internet shutdown in Rakhine and Chin states is necessary due to the intense fighting between the Tatmadaw (military) and Arakan Army (AA) in the area, a government spokesman said.
U Zaw Htay, spokesperson of the President’s Office, said the government understands the concerns of human rights activists, including the United Nations Commission on Human Rights, but security is a top priority in the area. – Myanmar Times