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China's National People's Congress standing committee is the elite legislative body that drafted, reviewed and fast-tracked the Hong Kong national security law behind closed doors. There's only one delegate from Hong Kong on the committee. CNN's Will Ripley speaks to Tam Yiu-chung.

For a second summer in a row, political unrest has returned to the streets of Hong Kong.

MANILA, Philippines --- The total number of health workers who were infected with the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) has reached 3,422 as of Thursday, the Department of Health (DOH) reported. This was 32 cases higher from DOH's last report as indicated in its daily COVID-19 situationer released Wednesday evening. Currently, there is only one medical frontliner in severe condition. The DOH did not release more data on COVID-19 infection among healthcare professionals such as the total number of recoveries and deaths. But the latest available data showed there were34 health workers who succumbed to the respiratory disease. Health Undersecretary Maria Rosario Vergeire sa...

Keep on reading: COVID-19 infections among health workers reach 3,422

The US set another record for new coronavirus cases days before the July Fourth weekend -- with at least 23 states pausing reopening plans to combat the spreading infections.

MANILA, Philippines --- While Cebu City is now "improving," the chief implementer of the government's COVID-19 efforts said several challenges were observed as to why the city became a COVID-19 hotspot. "Nakikita po natin nag-i-improve ang Cebu because of the cooperation of the public and LGUs (We are seeing Cebu's improvement because of the public and LGU's cooperation)," said Secretary Carlito Galvezin an online Palace briefing. Galvez, however, pointed to the "mistake" of allowing COVID-19 patients to undergo home quarantine and the city's "weak" contact tracing as the reasons why it became a COVID-19 hotspot. "Pagka meron tayong home quarantine, hindi po natin ma-control o t...

Keep on reading: Weak contact tracing, psychological stigma among challenges faced by Cebu City — Galvez

HONG KONG --- Hong Kong police arrested a man on board a London-bound flight early Thursday morning on suspicion of stabbing a police officer during protests of the semi-autonomous Chinese territory's new security law, officials said. About 370 people were arrested during and after Wednesday's protests against the law being imposed by China to curb activities surrounding the anti-government protests that have been ongoing since June last year. Ten of them were arrested on suspicion of violating the new security law, some of whom were in possession of paraphernalia that advocated for Hong Kong's independence. The law took effect Tuesday and outlaws secessionist, subversive, and ...

Keep on reading: Hong Kong protester arrested on suspicion of stabbing police

MANILA, Philippines --- Extrajudicial killing is not a policy of the Duterte administration, Interior Secretary Eduardo Ao said Thursday. Ao issued the statement after former senator Antonio Trillanes IV claimed that the death of four soldiers allegedly at the hands of police personnel was a result of "tolerating the EJKs the past four years." "Make no mistake, Duterte's 'nanlaban' doctrine is the poison that destroyed the PNP as an institution," Trillanes said. https://twitter.com/TrillanesSonny/status/1277753374289457152 "EJK is not a policy of this government and on the Sulu incident, like I said, we will exact justice. And we will make sure that those responsible shal...

Keep on reading: Extrajudicial killing not a government policy— Año

PUERTO PRINCESA CITY ---- Five new confirmed cases of coronavirus disease (COVID-19) were reported in Taytay, Cuyo, and Bataraza towns in Palawan, authorities said Thursday. Taytay and Cuyo recorded their first COVID-19 positive cases, while Bataraza added two more confirmed cases on the list Thursday. Zanie Seracarpio, Taytay municipal information officer, said in a phone interview that their first confirmed COVID-19 case is a 25-year-old male locally stranded returnee, who arrived on June 15 from Cebu. "He was negative for the rapid diagnostic test (RDT) upon his arrival. He is still under quarantine in our facility since June 15," Seracarpio said. Taytay Mayor Romy Salvame...

Keep on reading: 5 new COVID-19 cases recorded in Palawan towns

TOKYO --- Osaka-based biopharmaceutical start-up AnGes, Inc. announced Tuesday that it has begun a clinical trial of a novel coronavirus vaccine, which the firm developed jointly with Osaka University. It is the first novel coronavirus vaccine to reach the clinical-trial stage in Japan. The firm plans to vaccinate 30 people at Osaka City University Hospital and aims to put the vaccine into practical use after the spring of 2021. According to AnGes, based in Ibaraki, Osaka Prefecture, one person received the vaccine on Tuesday. The vaccine is believed to stimulate the production of antibodies to suppress the virus and prevent the disease from developing and becoming serious. ...

Keep on reading: Japan’s first coronavirus vaccine trial begins

HANOI --- Vietnam's Ministry of Transport will consider the reopening of international flight routes to countries and territories which have no new cases of COVID-19 in the community for 30 consecutive days, according to a ministry official. The official, who wanted to remain anonymous, told Vietnam News Agency that priority will be given to Japan, South Korea, China, Taiwan and some Southeast Asian countries which have controlled the disease. "The COVID-19 pandemic is taking place in many countries around the world. Under the Government's direction, the reopening of international flights needs to be considered carefully." The resumption of international flights is scheduled...

Keep on reading: Vietnam considers reopening of international flight routes

MANILA, Philippines -- Foreign borrowings, loans, and grant assistance secured by the Philippines to fight the COVID-19 pandemic amounted to a total of $7.76 billion (over P386 billion) as of July 1, with two-thirds of the proceeds already injected into the budget, the Department of Finance (DOF) said. In a report, the DOF said $7.63 billion in financing from multilateral lenders and bilateral partners were to be spent as budgetary support, of which $5.11 billion had been disbursed to the government. The budgetary support financing for COVID-19 response from the Manila-based Asian Development Bank (ADB) included the $1.5-billion COVID-19 active response and expenditure support (Car...

Keep on reading: COVID-19 foreign loans, grants hit $7.76 billion

LOS ANGELES --- Los Angeles Clippers coach Doc Rivers says Lou Williams is expected to join the team for the NBA's restart in Florida. Williams has described himself as "50-50" on whether he would finish out the pandemic-interrupted season because he didn't want to distract from the ongoing push for social justice in the wake of George Floyd's death while in police custody. "Obviously, up until we get on the plane, anything can happen," Rivers said during a video conference with media Wednesday. "But I do expect Lou to be with us. I would be very surprised if he's not." Williams, last year's Sixth Man of the Year, was averaging 18.7 points, 3.1 rebounds and 5.7 assists in 60...

Keep on reading: Lou Williams expected to join Clippers for restart

JAKARTA --- Indonesia's capital city, Jakarta, is extending restrictions for two weeks beginning Friday (July 3) with increased surveillance on traditional markets and commuter trains. The two areas have been hit by a surge in infections of the coronavirus which causes Covid-19. The city of around 10 million began to ease restrictions in early June and moved into what was called a "transition phase". Workplaces, places of worship, shopping centers and recreational venues reopened under strict health guidelines, which included operating at 50 per cent capacity and ensuring that people kept to safe distancing, or 1m from one another. Jakarta Governor Anies Baswedan said on Wednesd...

Keep on reading: Jakarta extends COVID-19 restrictions for 2 weeks

MANILA, Philippines --- The government may utilize funds from the Office of the President (OP) to continue the compensation of health workers who died or became severely ill due to COVID-19, Malacaang said Thursday. "Iko-confirm ko lang po within the day para magkaroon talaga ng confirmation na huwag pong mag-aalala ang mga health workers, sagotmuna po ng Office of the President iyan," presidential spokesperson Harry Roque said in an interview over dzMM TeleRadyo. (I'll confirm within the day but the health workers need not worry as the Office of the President will pitch hints for the meantime.) Roque said this after the Department of Health (DOH) disclosed it is now coordinatin...

Keep on reading: OP funds may be used for benefits of virus-stricken health workers – Palace

MANILA, Philippines --- House Minority Leader Bienvenido Abante Jr. has called on the Department of Education (DepEd) to pilot test first its planned learning modes as he also proposed the adoption of a "pass or fail" grading system for the first term of classes as teachers and students adjust to the "new system." In a press briefing on Thursday, Abante sought prudence in the grading system for the first term of classes as the country continues to grapple with the coronavirus disease (COVID-19) pandemic, prompting the education department to implement alternative modes of learning. "For this school year, given all the adjustments students and teachers must make, it may be prudent t...

Keep on reading: Solon proposes ‘pass or fail grading’ for first term of classes this school year

HONG KONG --- China has asked four US media outlets to submit in writing information about their staff, finances, operations and real estate in China, Foreign Ministry spokesman Zhao Lijian announced on Wednesday. Zhao said the Associated Press, Columbia Broadcasting System (CBS), United Press International and National Public Radio were asked to submit the requested information within seven days. The measures are all necessary countermeasures against the United States' unreasonable oppression ofChinese media, Zhao said, adding that China was only responding in legitimate self-defense. China urged the US to immediately correct its mistake and stop wanton restrictions, as wel...

Keep on reading: China asks 4 US media outlets to submit operations info

TOKYO --- Following China's passage of a national security law for Hong Kong, the Japanese government on Tuesday expressed its second-harshest diplomatic stance of "regret" on the issue because Tokyo believes there is a growing risk Hong Kong's "one country, two systems" framework is being undermined. "It is with regret that the legislation was passed regardless of the strong concern shown by the international community and the people of Hong Kong," Chief Cabinet Secretary Yoshihide Suga said at a press conference on Tuesday. "It undermines the international community's trust in the principle of 'one country, two systems.'" Foreign Minister Toshimitsu Motegi released a statement th...

Keep on reading: Japan expresses ‘regret’ over Hong Kong security law; Xi’s state visit unlikely

MANILA, Philippines --- "It's been a great four years." This was how presidential spokesperson Harry Roque described the first four years of President Rodrigo Duterte's six-year term. "Meron po tayong pagsubok pero dahil meron tayong very sound fundamentals makakaahon din po tayo sa pagsubok ng COVID-19," he added. (We face challenges but since we have very strong fundamentals, we will be able to bounce back from the hardships of COVID-19.) According to Roque, the Philippines has one of the most promising economies "in the whole world" before the pandemic hits. "We averaged 6.5 percent growth annually in the past four years, inflation is under control, interest rates were ...

Keep on reading: Palace defines 4 years of Duterte administration: ‘It’s been great’

NEW YORK --- Kevin Durant and Kyrie Irving aren't coming back. DeAndre Jordan and Wilson Chandler aren't going, either. Spencer Dinwiddie is a maybe, with his status unclear after both he and Jordan tested positive for the coronavirus. The Brooklyn Nets don't look ready for a restart, but general manager Sean Marks said Wednesday there was no discussion of the team not traveling to Florida for the resumption of the NBA season. "Look, we have a job to do," Marks said. "Again, we have to bring a team to Orlando. We will bring a team to Orlando. We will go down there and we will compete. That's our jobs here." It's not an easy one for interim coach Jacque Vaughn, who took ov...

Keep on reading: Despite virus cases, Brooklyn Nets say no thought to skipping restart

HONG KONG --- Hong Kong police arrested at least 10 people under a new national security law on Wednesday (July 1), shortly after the legislation took effect, as thousands gathered in mass protests on the anniversary of the city's handover to China. Police fired tear gas, pepper balls and used water cannons to disperse activists in Causeway Bay, the traditional venue for large demonstrations, and Wan Chai. Authorities have locked down the area, closing off key roads to control traffic. More than 370 people have been arrested so far for offences including unlawful assembly, disorderly conduct in public, obstructing police and possession of weapons, police said in the evening. Ten...

Keep on reading: Hong Kong police arrest 370 people, 10 under new security law, as anger boils over in July 1 protests