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.
$2 trillion rescue package passes US Senate, heads to House
The US Senate unanimously passed the nation's largest-ever rescue package late Wednesday, a $2 trillion lifeline to suffering Americans, critically depleted hospitals and an economy all ravaged by a rapidly spreading coronavirus crisis.
The measure cleared the Senate 96-0 after days of tumultuous, sometimes bitter negotiations and debate, as the US death toll for the pandemic soared past 1,000, with 68,000 confirmed infections.
Outbreaks have grown nationwide, but with particular fear that New York could be the next epicenter of the coronavirus pandemic. – The Jakarta Post
Coronavirus: Resilience Budget will save jobs, support firms as S’pore faces biggest challenge in over a decade: Heng Swee Keat
The supplementary budget to be presented in Parliament on Thursday afternoon (March 26) is to be called the Resilience Budget, and it will help to save jobs and support companies, said Deputy Prime Minister Heng Swee Keat.
More will be given to those who have been hardest hit. Households will also receive additional help to tide through this difficult period, he said. – The Straits Times
COVID-19: Bankers welcome central bank's timely solutions
Bank Negara Malaysia’s latest measures in response to the COVID-19 pandemic are mainly to support individual and business borrowers and ensure that banks can continue to play their role to sustain the economy, bankers said.
They said measures such as a six-month payment moratorium were timely as the impact of the pandemic was far-reaching, from corporates, commercial and small- and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) to individuals. – The New Straits Times
All doors closed to foreigners
Thailand has banned the entry of foreigners and the government may impose a 24-hour curfew as its next step to tackle the spread of COVID-19 under the Emergency Decree which goes into effect on Thursday.
Prime Minister Prayut Chan-o-cha announced on Wednesday the country would be under a state of emergency as of Thursday until April 30, as Thailand reaches a turning point in its battle with COVID-19 transmissions. – Bangkok Post
Frontline doctor among seven new COVID-19 patients, total hits 141
The Ministry of Health on Wednesday evening announced seven new confirmed COVID-19 patients, including a frontline doctor and three returning students from the UK, bringing the country’s total to 141.
The latest case is a 29-year-old doctor working at the emergency unit of the National Hospital of Tropical Diseases, where most of the coronavirus patients in Hà Nội are being treated. – Viet Nam News