Japan evacuated more of its citizens from Wuhan, the epicentre of the coronavirus outbreak, with a third chartered flight scheduled for the coming days.
According to the country's health ministry, three citizens on the chartered flight have been confirmed to be infected with the coronavirus - including two who had not shown any symptoms
Meanwhile, New Zealand announced it will charter an aircraft - with a capacity for around 300 passengers - to fly its citizens out of Wuhan.
It comes as officials work towards developing pre-departure health screening, infection control inflight, and isolation wards in New Zealand.
Earlier, Australia said it will help some citizens leave Hubei province and quarantine them on Christmas Island.
The US has placed nearly 200 of its citizens, who were airlifted from Wuhan, under isolation at a US military base in California for at least 72 hours.
The total number of confirmed deaths from the coronavirus in China hit 170, as the number of infected patients globally rose to 7,815.
US President Donald Trump has removed Attorney General Pam Bondi from her post, a White House official said on Thursday, following mounting frustration with her performance, including her handling of investigative files related to the late Jeffrey Epstein.
The United Nations Security Council has reaffirmed its strong commitment to the sovereignty and territorial integrity of Gulf Cooperation Council member states, while praising their role in supporting regional and international peace.
Around 40 countries are discussing joint action to reopen the Strait of Hormuz, Britain said on Thursday, after US President Donald Trump said securing the waterway was a problem for other nations to resolve.
Lebanese Prime Minister Nawaf Salam said on Thursday there was no end in sight to a war that had already displaced a million people over the last month, as families fleeing Israeli strikes said they were exhausted by repeated rounds of conflict.
US President Donald Trump has discussed firing Attorney General Pam Bondi amid his frustration with her leadership, including what he sees as a lack of aggression in targeting his enemies and over her handling of the Epstein files, the New York Times reported on Wednesday.