Asian shares climb, Tokyo gains on hopes for reopening

TOKYO (AP) — Asian shares are mostly higher, with Tokyo stocks gaining on expectations that a pandemic state of emergency will be lifted for all of Japan. But shares fell in Hong Kong on Monday after police used tear gas to quell weekend protests over a proposed national security bill for the former...

The Latest: Japan set to end Tokyo's state of emergency

The Latest on the coronavirus pandemic. The new coronavirus causes mild or moderate symptoms for most people. For some, especially older adults and people with existing health problems, it can cause more severe illness or death. TOP OF THE HOUR: — Japan set to remove state of emergency from Tokyo, 4 other...

Asia Today: More Australians in class, Tokyo measure to ease

BANGKOK (AP) — Students in two more Australian states returned to school full-time Monday as numbers of COVID-19 patients in hospitals across the country fall. New South Wales and Queensland states joined the less populous Western Australia and South Australia states and the Northern Territory in resuming...

China denies using virus to grow presence in South China Sea

BEIJING (AP) — A look at recent developments in the South China Sea, where China is pitted against smaller neighbors in multiple territorial disputes over islands, coral reefs and lagoons. The waters are a major shipping route for global commerce and are rich in fish and possible oil and gas reserves. ___...

Memorial Day weekend draws crowds and triggers warnings

ST. PETERSBURG, Fla. (AP) — The Memorial Day weekend marking the unofficial start of summer in the U.S. meant big crowds at beaches and warnings from authorities Sunday about people disregarding the coronavirus social-distancing rules and risking a resurgence of the scourge that has killed nearly 100,000...

White House imposes coronavirus travel ban on Brazil

WASHINGTON (AP) — President Donald Trump on Sunday further limited travel from the world's coronavirus hotspots by denying entry to foreigners coming from Brazil, which is second to the U.S. in the number of confirmed cases. Trump had already banned certain travelers from China, Europe, the United Kingdom...

Hong Kong police fire tear gas, water cannon at protesters

HONG KONG (AP) — Hong Kong police fired tear gas and a water cannon at protesters in a popular shopping district Sunday, as thousands took to the streets to march against China's move to impose national security legislation on the city. Pro-democracy supporters have sharply criticized a proposal, set to be...

Asia Today: 6 million Australians download virus tracing app

CANBERRA, Australia (AP) — Six million Australians have downloaded a smartphone app that helps health authorities trace coronavirus infections, officials said Sunday. Federal Health Minister Greg Hunt said the COVIDSafe app is playing a strong role in Australia’s response to the pandemic and that...

North Korea's Kim holds meeting on bolstering nuclear forces

SEOUL, South Korea (AP) — North Korean leader Kim Jong Un convened a key military meeting to discuss bolstering the country's nuclear arsenal and putting its armed forces on high alert, state media reported Sunday, in Kim's first known public appearance in about 20 days. Kim earlier this month quelled...

Hong Kong police fire tear gas in popular shopping district as hundreds protest China's proposed national security law