Coronavirus death toll leaps in China’s Hubei province, party bosses sacked
The Chinese province at the epicenter of the coronavirus outbreak reported a record rise in the death toll on Thursday under a new diagnostic method, and Beijing sacked two local leaders after criticism of their handling of the crisis.
Factbox: Latest on coronavirus spreading in China and beyond
Here are the latest developments around the coronavirus outbreak:
China threatens stability in the Pacific: U.S. commander
China is threatening the sovereignty of small Pacific Islands and undermining the region’s stability, a top U.S. military commander said on Thursday, in comments likely to inflame tension with China.
Pakistan jails Islamist accused of Mumbai attacks for terrorism financing
Pakistani Islamist Hafiz Saeed, accused by India and the United States of masterminding 2008 attacks in Mumbai, was jailed for 11 years on Wednesday on terrorism financing charges, a Pakistani government prosecutor and his lawyer said.
Qatar ready to re-route oil, gas cargoes to China due to spread of virus: minister
Qatari energy companies are “actively engaged” in accommodating rescheduling or re-routing some requests for deliveries of Qatari oil and gas cargoes to China after the spread of the coronavirus, the Qatari energy minister said in a statement late on Wednesday.
China replaces head of its Hong Kong and Macau affairs office
China has replaced the head of its office overseeing matters in Hong Kong, making him the most senior Beijing-appointed official to lose his job in the wake of sometimes-violent anti-government protests in the Chinese-controlled territory.
China’s Hubei, Wuhan Communist Party chiefs removed amid epidemic
China’s Communist Party has replaced the party heads in the coronavirus stricken province of Hubei and its capital Wuhan, state media said on Thursday, reporting the most high profile officials to be dismissed in the wake of the epidemic.
China’s defense ministry asks U.S. to rescind Equifax hacking indictments
China’s defense ministry asked the United States on Thursday to correct its mistakes and rescind the indictments against four Chinese military personnel in the 2017 Equifax hacking case.
Taliban peace deal story attributed to Fox Business withdrawn
The Feb 12 story headlined “Trump issues conditional OK for peace deal with Taliban-Fox Business” is withdrawn. Fox Business Network said a screen caption that provided the basis for the story was incorrect. There will be no replacement story.
Hong Kong suspends schools for longer to counter spread of coronavirus
Scrambling to contain the spread of coronavirus, Hong Kong extended the suspension of schools on Thursday until at least March 16 and told overseas students studying in the city there was no rush to return.
