OVERSEAS

TIMELINE: How the new coronavirus developed

Agence France-Presse
Jan 23 08:38 AM

A new coronavirus, a mysterious SARS-like disease, has spread around China and three other Asian countries since first emerging in the central Chinese city of Wuhan. Read more »

Australia's bushfire danger returns as Sydney faces scorching heat

Reuters
Jan 23 08:37 AM

Soaring temperatures are set to stoke simmering bushfires in Australia's southeast on Thursday, with Sydney forecast to hit 41 degrees Celsius (105.8 Fahrenheit) following a few days of reprieve. Read more »

Utah bans LGBTQ conversion therapy for children

Rich McKay, Reuters
Jan 23 08:04 AM

Utah is now the 19th U.S. state to ban conversion therapy aimed at changing sexual orientation or gender identity in lesbian, gay, transsexual, bisexual and queer children. Read more »

China shuts down Wuhan transportation as WHO extends virus outbreak talks

Laurent Thomet and Dario Thuburn, Agence France-Presse
Jan 23 05:21 AM

China said it was halting flights and trains from Thursday out of Wuhan, the city of 11 million people at the center of a deadly SARS-like virus outbreak, as the UN extended emergency talks on the disease. Read more »

Naitalang patay dahil sa nCOV outbreak sa China, umakyat na sa 17

ABS-CBN News
Jan 23 02:20 AM

Umakyat na sa 17 ang bilang ng mga namatay sa China dahil sa 2019 novel coronavirus o nCoV. Read more »

South Korean embassy announces shorter visa processing period

ABS-CBN News
Jan 23 12:47 AM

MANILA - The embassy of South Korea in Manila has announced a shorter visa processing period as it employs additional staff. Read more »

More countries confirm cases of new coronavirus

ABS-CBN News
Jan 23 12:25 AM

China warns of the new coronavirus mutating and adapting as the number of deaths and cases continues to rise. Read more »

China virus deaths rise to 17, heightening global alarm

Cate Cadell and David Stanway, Reuters
Jan 22 11:50 PM

Deaths from China's new flu-like virus rose to 17 on Wednesday, heightening global fears of contagion from an infection suspected to have come from animals. Read more »

On the menu at new coronavirus-linked market in Wuhan: rats and live wolf pups

Dan Martin, Agence France-Presse
Jan 22 11:45 PM

The Huanan Seafood Market in the central city of Wuhan came under greater scrutiny on Wednesday as Chinese officials said that the virus which has so far killed nine people and infected hundreds may have originated in a wild animal sold at the food emporium. Read more »

Taiwan bans travelers from Wuhan amid deadly virus outbreak in China

Kyodo News
Jan 22 10:41 PM

Taiwan authorities on Wednesday banned all travelers to the island from the central Chinese city of Wuhan, where a new and deadly coronavirus has been discovered. Read more »

Senate bill seeks more leaves, discounts for OFW spouses

Katrina Domingo, ABS-CBN News
Jan 22 10:11 PM

Spouses of overseas Filipino workers should be entitled to additional leaves and discounts on tuition, medical and other basic needs, a senator said in a bill that sought to expand benefits for those who single-handedly raise their children. Read more »

Trump: US in ‘great shape’ with plan for coronavirus

Alexandra Alper, Reuters
Jan 22 07:58 PM

President Donald Trump said on Wednesday that the United States has a plan in place to contain the coronavirus outbreak. Read more »

Hong Kong confirms first case of new Wuhan virus- local media

Reuters
Jan 22 07:23 PM

Hong Kong confirmed its first case of a new flu-like coronavirus on Wednesday following an outbreak in the central mainland China city of Wuhan, local broadcasters RTHK, Cable TV and TVB said, citing unnamed sources. Read more »

Nearly 450 schools shut, as pollution chokes Bangkok

Reuters
Jan 22 06:07 PM

Bangkok, the world's most visited city, saw levels of PM 2.5 particles at 78.3 pg/m3. A level above 35 is considered unhealthy, according to independent air quality monitor AirVisual. Read more »

South Korean army to discharge transgender soldier

Agence France-Presse
Jan 22 05:29 PM

SEOUL, South Korea - A transgender soldier who enlisted as a man and underwent a sex change last year will be discharged from South Korea's army, with the military saying Wednesday she had violated regulations. Read more »

Trump trial opens with fiery clashes over witnesses

Michael Mathes and Paul Handley, Agence France-Presse
Jan 22 04:46 PM

The two sides squared off in fiery exchanges that circled around the procedures for the trial and gave the Democrats an opportunity to spell out their arguments for Trump's guilt on national television. Read more »

N.Korea suspends foreign tourism over coronavirus fears - tour companies

Josh Smith and Lusha Zhang, Reuters
Jan 22 03:39 PM

SEOUL/BEIJING - Several foreign tour operators said North Korea will ban foreign tourists starting Wednesday due to the spread of a new coronavirus in China, which has killed nine people and spread to several countries. Read more »

Virus scare ahead of new Lunar Year celebration

Nicolas Asfouri, AFP
Jan 22 03:24 PM

People wearing protective masks arrive at Beijing railway station to head home for the Lunar New Year on Tuesday. Read more »

Taiwan calls on China to share 'correct' virus information

Felice Wu and Yimou Lee, Reuters
Jan 22 03:17 PM

Taiwan President Tsai Ing-wen called on China on Wednesday to share "correct" information about a new coronavirus and for the World Health Organization (WHO) not to exclude Taiwan from collaboration on the outbreak for political reasons. Read more »

Chinese city urges people to stay away in bid to contain virus

Agence France-Presse
Jan 22 03:17 PM

The Chinese city at the center of a SARS-like virus outbreak has urged people to stay away, canceling a major Lunar New Year event, as it strives to contain a disease that has spread across the country. Read more »

Thailand finds fourth China coronavirus infection

Reuters
Jan 22 02:07 PM

Thailand has quarantined a fourth patient with the new coronavirus including one Thai national, authorities said on Wednesday, days before the Lunar New Year holiday when thousands of Chinese tourists are expected to arrive. Read more »

Taiwan tells people not to go to Wuhan amid China virus outbreak

Reuters
Jan 22 12:39 PM

TAIPEI - Taiwan is calling on people not to visit the Chinese city of Wuhan unless they absolutely have to, after an outbreak there of the new coronavirus, one case of which has been detected on the island. Read more »

Father fends off mountain lion that attacked his 3-year-old son in California

Keith Coffman, Reuters
Jan 22 12:22 PM

A local sheriff's deputy has killed the mountain lion that attacked and wounded a 3-year-old child in a Southern California wilderness park before the boy's father chased the cougar off, state wildlife officials said on Tuesday. Read more »