With China scrapping its strict COVID restrictions, several countries have introduced mandatory testing on travelers from China. Italy is calling for EU-wide measures.

The visit comes after Japan recently announced a massive expansion of its defense capabilities in light of China's growing clout in the Indo-Pacific region and security threats posed by North Korea.

Amid China's skyrocketing COVID case numbers, India has been preparing for a possible similar scenario. Authorities are keeping an eye on the possible emergence of new variants.

Philippine President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. is visiting Beijing to seek better economic ties with China despite continued tension over territorial disputes in the South China Sea.

Germany's health minister said Berlin would be following an EU recommendation that member states demand travelers from China provide proof of a recent negative rapid COVID test.

China expects the total number of passenger trips made by travellers by road, rail, water and flight during the upcoming Lunar New Year to reach 2.1 billion this year, double from last year's 1.05 billion during the same period.

In China, there are fears not just of a Covid wave but maybe a tsunami. Funeral parlours are overwhelmed and hospitals are packed with elderly patients on respirators. This comes after the lifting of China's zero-Covid restrictions following protests. The World Health Organization, meanwhile, is pointing the finger, saying China's official virus data is being under-reported.

The accident occurred outside the city of Nanchang when a funeral tent, set up by mourners from the village of Taoling, was hit by a passing truck, according to local residents.

Germany's Vice Chancellor Robert Habeck has spoken forcefully about his government's efforts to rethink economic ties with China, saying "We have to diversify." Habeck spoke to DW after weeks of controversy over Germany’s approach to China.

China is bracing for an uptick in travel as people enter the mainland from Hong Kong for the first time in years. China's easing of travel restrictions come as communities celebrate the Lunar New Year festival.

Beijing has started retaliatory moves against countries which have imposed restrictions on Chinese travelers, with Japan also reportedly targeted.

As families and friends reunite around China, the milestone is bittersweet for the coronavirus threat remains high and authorities have used the pandemic to develop a more efficient set of tools to crack down on society.