South Korea coronavirus spike stirs second wave concern, social distancing crackdown
South Korea reported 79 new coronavirus cases on Thursday, the most in nearly eight weeks, triggering the return of tougher social distancing curbs amid the spectre of a second wave of disease in a country praised for containing the first outbreak.
China premier says security law will support HK stability, security
Chinese Premier Li Keqiang said on Thursday that national security legislation, which China’s parliament voted overwhelmingly to impose on Hong Kong, would benefit the territory’s long-term stability and prosperity.
Malaysia reports 10 new coronavirus cases with no new deaths
Malaysian health authorities reported on Thursday 10 new coronavirus cases, raising the cumulative total to 7,629 cases.
Premier Li: China always opposes external interference on Taiwan
China always opposes external interference when it comes to the issue of Chinese-claimed Taiwan, Chinese Premier Li Keqiang said on Thursday as his annual news conference.
Japan ‘seriously concerned’ over Chinese security laws for Hong Kong
Japan is “seriously concerned” about the move by China’s parliament to go forward with national security legislation for Hong Kong that observers fear could endanger its special autonomy and freedoms, the foreign ministry said on Thursday.
China banks’ HK arms try to rally staff support for security law
As Beijing moved ahead with a national security law for Hong Kong, some of the hundreds of thousands of professionals working at the local units of Chinese financial firms could find themselves stuck in the crosshairs.
Looking in, looking out: world emerges from lockdown with mixed feelings
As much of the world begins to emerge from lockdown, people are looking back at time spent cut off from friends, family and colleagues by the coronavirus and forward to what happens next.
Indonesia reports 687 new coronavirus cases, 23 deaths
Indonesia reported 687 new coronavirus cases, bringing the total number of infections in the Southeast Asian country to 24,538, a health ministry official said on Thursday.
Russian senator criticises U.S. for ending sanctions waivers on Iran nuclear sites
The United States’ decision to end sanctions waivers that had allowed some work to proceed at Iranian nuclear sites will only provoke Tehran into developing nuclear weapons, Interfax cited Russian Senator Vladimir Dzhabarov as saying on Thursday.
England’s COVID-19 test and trace system begins as adviser row rumbles on
Britain’s government faced questions over how closely people would abide by its new COVID-19 test and trace service on Thursday, as a row persisted over the prime minister’s closest adviser taking a long-distance journey during lockdown.
