South Korea's Moon warns of toughest COVID-19 curbs after two days of record cases

21 Sept 02:49 Key points summarised by AI

President Moon Jae-in warns of escalating COVID-19 restrictions to the highest "Level 3" after two consecutive days of record-breaking new infections, signaling a critical point in the country's battle against a harsh third wave.
South Korea reported over 1,000 new coronavirus cases on Sunday, following 950 the previous day, pushing total infections to 42,766 and prompting an emergency meeting led by Moon.
Implementing Level 3 curbs would effectively mean a lockdown, involving remote learning, essential-only office workers, and a ban on gatherings of more than 10 people, a first for Asia's fourth-largest economy.
Moon urges "all-out efforts" and has mobilized police, military, and public medical personnel to contain the spread, emphasizing the urgency as the country's "back is against the wall."

Bai Lu meet-and-greet cancelled days after China’s safety warning

Yesterday 15:28 Key points summarised by AI

Thailand's Tourism and Sports Minister announced the government will seek clarification from the Chinese Embassy regarding its recent travel advisory warning Chinese nationals about safety concerns in Thailand.
The travel advisory is anticipated to negatively impact the number of Chinese tourists visiting Thailand, despite recent increases in arrivals.
A meet-and-greet event featuring Chinese actress Bai Lu, a WeTV Global Ambassador, was abruptly cancelled just days after the Chinese Embassy issued its safety warning, though no official reason was provided.
The Chinese Embassy's advisory urged citizens to beware of job scams, fraudulent investments, suspicious travel arrangements, and the risk of illegal detention or being lured to the Thai-Myanmar border.
Chinese nationals were advised to verify job offers, use legitimate transport, avoid high-risk border areas, protect personal documents, and keep family informed of travel plans.