As anger over police brutality and racism spread worldwide, some are comparing the US protests sparked by George Floyd’s death to anti-government demonstrations in Hong Kong.

Three Chinese students studying in the US sat down to discuss what it’s like to watch the coronavirus outbreak in China from afar. Zeyi Yang, 23, from Wuhan, Elaine Chen, 24, from Hangzhou and 25-year-old Xiao Yang, from Chengdu, are master’s students at the School of International and Public Affairs, Columbia University. They told the South China Morning Post how the epidemic has affected them and how they think it might change their country. 

Hundreds of people in New York commemorated Dr Li Wenliang, the coronavirus whistle-blower who died from the disease last week, in a tribute at Central Park on February 9. Li was detained and silenced by Chinese authorities after he warned fellow medics about the outbreak in late December. His death has sparked public anger and united many in China to call for freedom of speech.

The neighbourhood of Flushing in New York City is one of the world’s largest and fastest-growing Chinatowns. The first wave of Asian immigrants to the area in the 1970s brought a plethora of regional cuisines to the area. Over the past decade, an influx of people from mainland China has turned the dynamic district into a mega food destination distinct from New York’s downtown Chinatown. Food blogger Shali Wan from EATNYC on China’s social media platform WeChat, introduces South China Morning Post’s Laura Ma to Flushing’s “three essentials”.

In an interview with the South China Morning Post, Brian Leung Kai-ping, one of the demonstrators who stormed Hong Kong’s legislature in July 2019, talked about why he stepped up to be the face of the protest and how he felt justified and at peace about the use of force.