China virus death toll jumps past 500, more cases found on cruise ship off Japan

13 Sept 08:36 Key points summarised by AI

Mainland China's coronavirus death toll surged to 563, marking a third consecutive daily record rise, with Hubei province accounting for the vast majority of new fatalities and confirmed cases.
The virus's global reach expanded significantly, with 20 confirmed cases on a cruise ship quarantined off Japan and another ship under lockdown in Hong Kong, impacting thousands of passengers and crew.
International responses escalated with numerous airlines suspending flights to China and several countries implementing travel bans and mandatory quarantines for recent visitors from affected regions.
The World Health Organization is convening experts to accelerate research for a vaccine and treatments, while confirming that no known effective therapeutics currently exist for the 2019-nCoV virus.
The epidemic severely impacted China's economy, leading to revised growth forecasts, disruptions in global supply chains, and significant concerns among major trading partners.

Six injured after car smashes into On Nut shopping mall

Yesterday 22:44 Key points summarised by AI

A 67-year-old woman drove her car through the glass frontage of a Bangkok shopping mall, injuring six people, including a six-year-old girl.
The driver claimed she accidentally pressed the accelerator instead of the brake after being startled, causing the vehicle to surge forward.
She apologized to the victims, promising insurance coverage and additional financial aid, while police continue to gather statements before filing charges.