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BEIJING (AP) — China says the number of cases of a new virus has risen to 440 and the death toll to 9. Deputy Director of the National Health Commission Li Bin told reporters all the deaths had been in Hubei province, where the first illnesses from the new coronavirus were reported in December. Li says Japan and South Korea have confirmed one case each and Thailand three. The U.S. and Taiwan also have reported one case each. Many places overseas have adopted screening measures out of concern about a global outbreak similar to SARS, another coronavirus that spread from China to more than a dozen countries in 2002-2003.
UNDATED (AP) — Shares have advanced in early Asian trading after a slide in U.S. stocks overnight as a virus outbreak in China rattled global markets. Benchmarks rose in Tokyo, Hong Kong, Seoul and Sydney, while the Shanghai Composite fell slightly. The overnight selloff snapped a three-day winning streak by the S&P 500. Investors worry that the new coronavirus spreading in the world’s second-largest economy could hurt tourism and ultimately economic growth and corporate profits. That led many to shift into less risky assets. On Wednesday, Chinese authorities reported the number of people confirmed infected had risen to 440, with nine deaths.
UNITED NATIONS (AP) — A U.N. report says more than 70% of the world’s people live in countries where inequality has grown since 1990, including China and India. But the World Social Report 2020 released Tuesday says increasing inequality is not a universal trend. It points to a decline of income inequality over the last two decades in most countries of Latin America and the Caribbean and in many African countries. The report that says despite such progress, the share of income going to the richest 1% of the global population has increased significantly.
WASHINGTON (AP) — Some senators are struggling to pay attention to President Donald Trump's impeachment trial. That's in part because they've heard the story before about Trump's pressure on Ukraine to help him politically. And they're banned from doing almost anything besides taking notes and listening. No phones. No coffee. No note-passing. So on Tuesday, as the proceedings wore on, some senators rubbed their eyes. Sen. Bernie Sanders yawned. A few either nodded off or listened with their eyes closed. Keeping them focused will be a key challenge for the White House defense team and the House prosecutors.
TIJUANA, Mexico (AP) — A fifth body has been found on a property in the Mexican border city of Tijuana, and officials say they are beginning to suspect they may have a serial killer in custody. Baja California state prosecutor Hiram Sánchez said Tuesday that the suspect may have lured victims with offers of cars for sale. The suspect is the son-in-law of the first couple found buried on the property last week. Sánchez says the suspect faces murder charges in that case, but adds that investigators are looking into other reported disappearances in which the missing people were last seen near the property. The fifth body was found Monday.
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