HONG KONG -- Hong Kong's Center for Health Protection (CHP) reported 62 new confirmed cases of COVID-19 on Wednesday, bringing the total confirmed cases to 4,243.

The newly-reported cases were one imported case and 61 local infections, Chuang Shuk-kwan, head of the CHP's Communicable Disease Branch, told a media briefing. Among the local cases, 33 were related to previously confirmed cases and sources of the other 28 cases were unknown. (Hong Kong-COVID-19)

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GENEVA -- The number of COVID-19 cases worldwide has surpassed 20 million, reaching 20,120,919 as of Wednesday, according to the World Health Organization. (WHO-COVID19-Cases)

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CAPE TOWN -- Cape Town Executive Mayor Dan Plato has applauded Hisense South Africa for making big contributions to the city as well as the nation's economic development.

During a tour of the factory in the city's Atlantis district on Tuesday, Plato applauded Hisense as "a landmark factory in Atlantis," saying the company "is a tax-paying entity, and I want to see Hisense expand and become big in Cape Town." (Hisense-SA)

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CANBERRA -- Australia's security agencies will be given the power to "hack back" against cyber attackers for the first time.

A Department of Home Affairs discussion paper published by News Corp Australia on Wednesday proposed national security laws that will allow a national emergency to be declared during cyber attacks on critical infrastructure. (Australia-Cyber crime)

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BEIJING -- Authorities in Beijing are canceling flights, closing parks and alerting residents as the Chinese capital girds for what was predicted as the heaviest downpour since the start of this year's flood season.

At least 291 flights have been canceled at the city's two airports, Beijing Capital International Airport and Daxing International Airport, on Wednesday, airport authorities told Xinhua. (China-Rain-Beijing)