The Latest: Filipino leader says US unrest hurts virus fight

MANILLA, Philippines — Philippines President Rodrigo Duterte says that he is glad “Filipinos are really law-abiding” and that the Philippines is not going through unrest like America, which would make the coronavirus quarantine enforcement formidable. Duterte made the remarks during a...

Asia Today: 39 new cases in S. Korea; China defends record

SEOUL, South Korea (AP) — South Korea on Friday reported 39 new cases of the coronavirus as infections continued to spike after rigid social distancing rules were relaxed. The additional figures released by the Korea Centers for Disease Control and Prevention took the country’s total to 11,668 with...

Worrying over future, Hong Kong defies ban to mark Tiananmen

HONG KONG (AP) — Thousands of people in Hong Kong defied a police ban Thursday evening, breaking through barricades to hold a candlelight vigil on the 31st anniversary of China's crushing of a democracy movement centered on Beijing’s Tiananmen Square. With democracy snuffed out in the mainland, the...

Former Chinese soccer player Hao allies with party critic

BEIJING (AP) — Retired Chinese soccer player Hao Haidong has angered the country’s leadership by allying himself with an eccentric billionaire who has called for the downfall of the Communist government. Hao appeared Thursday in a lengthy online video swearing allegiance to the “Federal State...

China easing airline access amid conflict with Washington

BEIJING (AP) — Chinese regulators said Thursday more foreign airlines will be allowed to fly to China as anti-coronavirus controls ease, but it was unclear whether the change will defuse a fresh conflict with the Trump administration over air travel. The announcement came after Washington said Wednesday...

On Tiananmen anniversary, Hong Kong bans insults to anthem

HONG KONG (AP) — Hong Kong’s legislature approved a contentious bill Thursday that makes it illegal to insult the Chinese national anthem. The legislation was approved after pro-democracy opposition lawmakers tried to disrupt the vote. It passed with 41 lawmakers voting for it and just one voting...

Chinese dissident Xu Zhiyong to be honored by PEN America

NEW YORK (AP) — Xu Zhiyong, a prominent Chinese activist and legal scholar detained by the government since earlier this year, is being honored by PEN America. The literary and human rights organization announced Thursday that Xu is this year's winner of the PEN/Barbey Freedom to Write Award, which...

Hong Kong outlaws insulting China’s national anthem, adding to fears of Beijing tightening controls over city's affairs

HONG KONG (AP) — Hong Kong outlaws insulting China’s national anthem, adding to fears of Beijing tightening controls over city's affairs.

Asia markets mixed after Wall Street rises on better US data

Most Asian stock markets were mixed Thursday after Wall Street gain on surveys showing better U.S. jobs and manufacturing conditions than expected. Benchmarks in Shanghai and Hong Kong declined while Tokyo, Sydney and Southeast Asia advanced. Stock markets have risen on optimism about a possible global recovery...

Trump administration moves to block Chinese airlines from US

The Trump administration moved Wednesday to block Chinese airlines from flying to the U.S. in an escalation of trade and diplomatic tensions between the two countries. The Transportation Department said it would suspend passenger flights of four Chinese airlines to and from the United States starting June 16. The...