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.
US cases surpass China; global deaths at 24,000: Virus Update
The US overtook China with the most coronavirus cases worldwide, fuelled by a large jump in infections in New York, while global deaths from the pandemic reached 24,000.
President Donald Trump offered a plan to restore normal business by ranking counties by their virus risk. Equities jumped on optimism the US$2 trillion stimulus package will blunt the pandemic’s impact.
China, where the outbreak began, will temporarily suspend the entry of foreigners holding valid visas and residence permits starting Saturday. Virtually all China’s latest infections came from overseas. – Bangkok Post
Mainland China reports 55 new coronavirus cases, with first local transmission in 3 days
Mainland China reported its first locally transmitted coronavirus infection in three days and 54 new imported cases, as Beijing ordered airlines to sharply cut international flights fearing travellers could reignite the coronavirus outbreak.
The 55 new cases reported on Thursday was down from 67 a day earlier, the National Health Commission said in a statement on Friday. – The Straits Times
Nine Philippines doctors die from COVID-19
Nine doctors have died in the Philippines from the COVID-19 coronavirus, the country’s top medical association said on Thursday, as hospitals were overwhelmed and medics complained about a lack of protection on the frontlines.
The announcement of the doctors’ deaths heightened fears that the scale of the health crisis in the Philippines is much worse than is being officially reported, with the confirmed virus death toll at just 38. – The New Straits Times
Foreign tourists trapped in Cambodia by red tape
Foreign holidaymakers have effectively become stranded in Cambodia because of extreme conditions being set by airports around the world. Governments are enforcing strict policies that all transiting passengers must have their health certified by an acceptable hospital before leaving any Cambodian international airport to return to their home country.
Chhay Sivlin, president of the Cambodia Association of Travel Agents told Khmer Times yesterday that all airline companies now require foreign tourists to have their health certified by the French non-profit Pasteur Institute in Phnom Penh, ensuring that they are not affected with COVID-19. “I have also been told to suggest to those stranded foreign tourists to check their health at Phnom Penh’s Chak Angre hospital where the certification is also issued from the Pasteur Institute,” she said. – Khmer Times
China must respect Vietnam's sovereignty: Foreign Ministry
The Ministry of Foreign Affairs on Thursday condemned Chinese’s establishment of two research stations on Đá Chữ Thập (Fiery Cross Reef) and Đá Xu Bi (Subi Reef) which are parts of Vietnam’s Trường Sa (Spratly) archipelago.
“Vietnam requested China to respect its sovereignty, don’t take any action to increase tension, complicate the situation and affect peace and stability in East Sea and the region as well as efforts in the negotiation of the Code of Conduct in the East Sea,” Lê Thị Thu Hằng, spokesperson for the foreign ministry, said at a press briefing in Hà Nội. – Viet Nam News