WHO Acknowledged “Diction Error” in Risk Assessment of Coronavirus on Regions and the World

On Jan 27, the World Health Organisation revised the risk assessment of Wuhan pneumonia in China to "very high risk” while its risk to regions and the world to “high”. The report states in a footnote that there was a “diction error” in previous reports published on the 23rd, 24th, and 25th stating global risk as “moderate”.

Antoine Flahault of the Swiss School of Public Health criticised that during an interview by AFP ,” This is a mistake, it is definitely a blunder ... I really think it is a grave mistake, and it has been corrected now.”

Harvard University Public Health Specialist Eric Feigl-Ding expressed on Twitter that the new coronavirus is severe and he called on WHO to include it as soon as possible in an international public health emergency.

Source: Stand News #Jan28
#ChinesePneumonia #Wuhan #GlobalOutbreak #WHO

First human-to-human transmission of Wuhan Pneumonia in Europe

The first case of human-to-human transmission of the Novel Coronavirus was found in Europe. The patient contracted the virus from a female colleague, who was from Shanghai, while attending a training in Bavaria, Germany.

Source: Deutsche Welle

https://m.dw.com/en/germany-confirms-human-transmission-of-coronavirus/a-52169007

#Jan28 #ChinesePneumonia #GlobalOutbreak #Germany

France Confirmed its 4th Case of Wuhan Pneumonia from a Chinese Tourist
https://t.me/guardiansofhongkong/16170

Medical Staff in Hong Kong Demands Full Border Lockdown

At around 10pm on January 28, Hospital Authorities Employees Alliance (HKEA) responded to Chief Executive Carrie Lam's press conference. HKEA reiterates the demand for a complete border lockdown to prevent the Wuhan pneumonia epidemic from spreading into Hong Kong.

The Alliance cited the source of SARS outbreak from China as a reference, pointing out that in order to attend a wedding of his relatives, SARS source patient, Liu Jian-lun, took a cross-border bus to Hong Kong.

In 2020, another 'Liu Jian-lun' could still come to Hong Kong on the same grounds of "visiting relatives", as it is not covered in the government's preventive measures.

Source: Inmedia
https://bit.ly/2U0TaOi

#Jan28 #ChinesePneumonia #GlobalOutbreak #BorderControl

Responses to Government's Preventive Measures
https://t.me/guardiansofhongkong/16156

15 nurses take sick leave to pressurize the government for a full border closure

Dissatisfied with the government’s response to the Wuhan pneumonia outbreak with respect to border control, 15 nurses in intensive treatment ward at the Eastern Hospital collectively asked for sick leave, in an attempt to assert pressure on the HKSAR government and calling for full implementation of entry restrictions on the Chinese mainland visitors.

Source: Ming Pao; Now News

#Jan28 #ChinesePneumonia #GlobalOutbreak #Nurse #Strike #BorderControl

Responses to Government's Preventive Measures
https://t.me/guardiansofhongkong/16156

Caricature on Denmark Newspaper Stirs up Resentment among Chinese Netizens; Chinese Embassy Demands Apology

Wuhan pneumonia has spread throughout the world. A Denmark newspapers published a caricature which changed the five stars on China National flag into five viruses, causing bombardment of criticism among Chinese netizens.

Chinese Embassy in Denmark also issued a statement accusing the comic of insulting China, "seriously hurting the feelings of Chinese" and "challenge the conscience of humanity", demanding an apology to Chinese.

Source: Apple Daily #Jan28
#ChinesePneumonia #Wuhan #GlobalOutbreak

HKU Dormitory Forces Students to Move Away Overnight to Make Way for Quarantine Floors

Apple Daily received a complaint about lower-level floors of student dormitory at Lady Ho Tung Hall and Starr Hall being forcibly expropriated and used as quarantine floors for students returning from areas affected by the Wuhan pneumonia after the Lunar New Year holiday.

Students currently living on those floors were asked to move out on Jan 28. More than 70 students living in Lady Ho Tung Hall alone were affected.

Source also revealed that representatives of the university dormitories approached school authorities two weeks ago on this matter, and have been waiting for a reply. 15 Chairpersons of the student dormitories of HKU petitioned to Vice Chancellor Zhang Xiang, questioning the idea of having a quarantine floor, as it brings fearful reminders of how Amoy Gardens became a SARS cluster, and how this could happen in Lady Ho Tung Hall and Starr Hall.

Source: Apple Daily #Jan28
#HKU #WuhanPneumonia

U.S. Government Might Suspend Flights Between China and the U.S.

As the CDC is cautioning all U.S. travelers to avoid traveling to China entirely, the U.S. government gave a heads-up to airlines that cater flights to and from China that their flights may be suspended in order to control the spread of WARS in the country.

Airlines are receiving lots of cancellations of flight bookings to China. The demand for travel to China, including Hong Kong, has plummeted.

Other countries are expected to follow suit by taking the similar measures in the next two weeks.

Source: CNBC #Jan28
https://www.cnbc.com/2020/01/28/white-house-discussing-china-travel-restrictions-amid-coronavirus-outbreak.html

Odd Quarantine Arrangements; Local Students Asked to 'Voluntarily' Vacate their Rooms for Others to be Quarantined

Earlier today (January 29), “Stand Up HKUer” received a letter which notified them that students from China are gradually returning to their dormitories.

However, the university only asked local students to "voluntarily" vacate their dormitories, to provide space for those who have just returned from China, as they had to be quarantined.

In afternoon, the university announced that all non-local students returning from China after 3pm today would be placed in a temporary residence, outside of the campus. This included all university-managed dormitories (except St. John's College and Matteo Ricci) and Jockey Club Student Village III. However, those who have returned to their dormitories before 3pm did not have to be quarantined.

#Jan28 #ChinesePneumonia #GlobalOutbreak

#PoliceState #AmbushLockdown
HK Police Seal Off Area Before Government's Announcement of Compulsory Lockdown

At around 7pm on Jan 28, 2021, a large number of police ran from King's Road to Kam Ping Street where Tung On Building is located.

In the video, a male officer eagerly dashed to cordon off the area, followed by his colleagues.

The Hong Kong Government only released a revelant press release announcing their ambush-style lockdown 16 minutes after the police force took action.

Source: Stand News #Jan28
https://www.facebook.com/standnewshk/videos/849901235860597

#AsiasFinest #Cordon

#PoliticalOppression
RTHK Staff Rally to Support Journalist: We Are All #NabelaQoser

Source: Stand News #Jan28

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https://t.me/guardiansofhongkong/28441

#Resistance #Solidarity
#RTHK Staff Union Rally to Support Journalist: We Are All #NabelaQoser

On January 28, 2021, more than 60 RTHK employees protested at the headquarters against the station's mistreatment of the journalist Nabela Qoser.

The video shows RTHK staff wearing a mask of Qoser's face and chanting slogans like, “Groundless charges”, and “Politics overriding professionalism”.

Watch video: https://t.me/guardiansofhongkong/28440

The management of the public broadcaster had previously launched a probe into complaints made against Qoser, after she enraged Beijing loyalists with her critical questions towards government officials and the Chief Executive Carrie Lam, during the Anti-ELAB movement in 2019.

Qoser was cleared of wrongdoing, but RTHK reopened its investigation in October 2020 and extend Qoser's probation period as a civil servant.

On January 22, 2021, Qoser's contract as a civil servant was terminated by RTHK, which reportedly cited the probe as a reason. Instead, Qoser was offered a new 120-day contract.

The RTHK Programme Staff Union decried the broadcaster’s move as something no difference than firing Qoser.

Source: Stand News #Jan28
https://www.facebook.com/standnewshk/videos/871769913675684

#RTHK #CivilServant #PoliticalOpression #Journalism #Professionalism #PressFreedom #Reprisal

#CCP #Totalitarianism
#XiJinping Insists Hong Kong to be "Ruled by Patriots"

Hong Kong Chief Executive #CarrieLam reported her duties to Chinese Communist Party leader Xi Jinping online on Jan 27, 2021.

According to China-state media Xinhua Agency, Carrie Lam was praised by Xi for “stopping violence and chaos in accordance with the law and working to bring Hong Kong back on track.”

Meanwhile, Xi emphasized the need of having "patriots governing Hong Kong". Lam, whose term will expire in 2022, told Xi that Hong Kong officials “would continue to discharge their duty to safeguard national security without fear.”

In an interview with CNBC released on Jan 28, Carrie Lam accused the US of using Hong Kong as a "pawn" and said that "ruling by patriots" is the "most important message" by Xi.

Source: Stand News; Japan Times; CNBC #Jan28

https://www.japantimes.co.jp/news/2021/01/28/asia-pacific/xi-hong-kong-patriots/

https://www.cnbc.com/video/2021/01/28/carrie-lam-says-hong-kong-is-used-as-a-pawn-by-the-us.html

New U.S. Secretary of State Blinken: Rejects Beijing's Claim to Sovereignty in the South China Sea, Joins Southeast Asia to Counter China

Source: Standnews #Jan28

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New U.S. Secretary of State Blinken: Rejects Beijing's Claim to Sovereignty in the South China Sea, Joins Southeast Asia to Counter China

On his first day in office, U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken says he rejects China's claim to sovereignty over the South China Sea and stresses that the United States will stand up for Southeast Asian countries if conflict breaks out in the South China Sea. He also said his judgment that China is genocidal against the Uighurs remains unchanged, but that the United States and China can still work together on mutual concern issues, such as climate change.

The U.S. Senate approved Blinken's nomination to be secretary of state on Tuesday. On his appointment, Blinken told staff in his State Department office that he would mend U.S. relations with allies and prove to the world that the United States is capable of leading.

The U.S. will stand with Southeast Asia to counteract CCP pressure

The State Department issued a statement stating that Blinken called Philippine Foreign Minister Teodoro Locsin after taking office, affirming U.S.' rejection of China's claims of sovereignty and maritime rights in the South China Sea. He also said China's claims went beyond the scope of their rights under the 1982 United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea.

#China #SouthChinaSea #US #Blinken #SoutheastAsia

Source: Standnews #Jan28

https://bit.ly/2Lonu3G

White House spokesman: Huawei is a "distrusted supplier" and will ensure that the U.S. and its allies do not use its equipment

Source: Stand News #Jan28

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White House spokesman: Huawei is a "distrusted supplier" and will ensure that the U.S. and its allies do not use its equipment

U.S. Commerce Secretary nominee Gina Raimondo refused to commit to continuing sanctions against Huawei during her Senate confirmation hearing, prompting speculation about whether newly-elected President Joe Biden is softening his policy towards Huawei. White House spokeswoman Jen Psaki said at a regular press conference that Huawei is a "distrusted vendor" and that the U.S. will ensure that neither local nor allied networks use the vendor's equipment.

As Raimondo did not commit to leaving Huawei on the sanctions blacklist, Republican Congressman Michael McCau, who did not participate in the confirmation hearings, then asked the Senate to suspend Raimondo's confirmation as Commerce Secretary. He also demanded the Biden administration to clarify whether Huawei would continue to be placed on the sanctions blacklist.

#Huawei #US #Biden #USSenate

Source: Stand News #Jan28

https://bit.ly/36Rk4hb

#University
Editorial Committee of Hong Kong Baptist University's Students' Union resigns en masse due to #Censorship

Source: Luminant Hong Kong; #Jan28

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https://t.me/guardiansofhongkong/32064

#University
Editorial Committee of Hong Kong Baptist University's Students' Union resigns en masse due to #Censorship

On January 28, 2022, students’ Union Editorial Board of the Hong Kong Baptist University (#HKBU) revealed on Facebook that the university managenent had repeatedly interfered in students' editorial work.

The student board said the university had asked them to stop using the term “Wuhan virus” in their reports, interfered their coverage of the university’s national security curriculum, and asked them to withdraw copies of a recent issue of their student magazine, “Jumbo”.

The board accused the university of suppressing the students' publication, and announced that all its members would resign with immediate effect.

The university, meanwhile, decided to discontinue its relationship with the students' board and terminate students' rights to use all the facilities on campus. The university management claimed that they would take disciplinary action against the students concerned.

Source: Luminant Hong Kong; #Jan28
https://t.me/luminanthk/5224

#StudentUnion #PressFreedom #Resignation #HongKongStudents