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Mask-clad commuters get off a train at a Mass Rapid Transit (MRT) stop in Taipei following the Chinese New Year holidays. (Photo: AFP) A 61-year-old man from central Taiwan with underlying health problems but no recent overseas travel history died in hospital on Saturday after testing positive for the virus, officials confirmed. … [Read more...] about Taiwan records its first COVID-19 death as global toll passes 1,600

With the government facing criticism over its handling of the crisis, Chinese President Xi Jinping said the government must "increase use of police force and strengthen the visible use of police" during the crisis. He made the comments in a February 3 speech published by state media on Saturday. … [Read more...] about Global experts begin meetings in China over COVID-19

Kuala Lumpur (VNA) - Malaysia’s modest gross domestic product (GDP) growth of 4.3 percent in 2019 is considered better than some of its neighbours, said Economic Affairs Minister Datuk Seri Azmin Ali. Other ASEAN countries, while most of it registered higher growth, had missed their 2019’s projection. Last year, Singapore’s economy grew 0.7 percent, the slowest in a decade, while the Philippines missed its 6.0 to 6.5 percent target to register 5.9 percent GDP expansion, the lowest in eight years, he said, adding Indonesia’s GDP rose 5.02 percent, short of the government’s 5.3 percent target. Azmin said the trend was also seen in parallel with the growth of other Asian countries. The overall performance of the Malaysian economy was moderated by the slowdown in the global economy in line with the slowdown in global trade activity, he explained. Azmin said domestic economic growth prospects for 2020 might be affected by the recent coronavirus disease … [Read more...] about Malaysia’s GDP growth in 2019 in line with neightbouring countries

Nguyen Quang Thang, general director of Tictours International Travel Company, which was scheduled to receive the tourists aboard the vessel in Nha Trang, said: "While the tourism industry actively promotes Vietnam as a safe destination and seeks ways to attract international tourists, refusing the Aida Vita permission to dock in Ha Long will affect the industry’s reputation." … [Read more...] about Vietnam province reprimanded for turning away cruise ship over coronavirus fears

In its latest report, the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species also noted that despite the overall fall in poaching, Africa's elephant population has continued to drop "due to continued illegal killing, land transformation and rapid human expansion." … [Read more...] about Elephant poaching in Africa falls but ivory seizures up: study