Topic: Carrie Lam

Vice President Kamala Harris will join Chinese President Xi Jinping and other Asian leaders in Bangkok starting Thursday for the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation ministerial meeting.

John Lee, a Beijing loyalist and former security secretary, was elected to serve as Hong Kong's next chief executive after running unopposed.

Carrie Lam, the Hong Kong leader whose tenure saw a tightening of Beijing's control over the semi-autonomous city and a deadly recent surge of COVID-19 cases announced Monday that she won't seek re-election.

Hong Kong, which has maintained some of the most stringent COVID-19 prevention policies in the world, announced Monday it would lift a ban on flights from nine countries and ease other restrictions.

COVID-19 cases increased only 4% worldwide in the past week but some nations in Europe, including Italy with a 43% rise and France at 36%, have experienced surges.

South Korea, Germany and Vietnam accounted for 41.1% of new COVID-19 cases as infections rose by 6% worldwide in the past week.

Two days before the start of the Beijing Winter Olympics, organizers are experiencing an increase in coronavirus cases linked to the sporting event, according to officials.

Hong Kong will shorten its 21-day quarantine to 14 days starting next month, officials announced on Thursday.

Hong Kong leader Carrie Lam announced plans to introduce new security laws for the city during her address opening the first legislative session since a "patriots only" election purged opposition from the government.

An Asian Internet industry association warned Hong Kong that they may pull their services if it implements changes to its privacy laws that could silence freedom of expression.