Trump dominates, DeSantis edges Haley for second

Donald Trump secured a resounding victory in the first 2024 Republican presidential contest in Iowa on Monday, asserting his command over the party despite facing scores of criminal charges as he seeks a rematch with Democratic President Joe Biden in the US presidential election slated for Nov. 5, 2024. Florida Governor Ron DeSantis, 45, finished well behind in second place, edging out former UN Ambassador Nikki Haley, 51, as they battle to emerge as the chief alternative to Trump. Trump, 77, wo

Jan. 16, 2024

[Graphic News] Israel-Hamas conflict in numbers

Now 100 days old, the latest Israel-Hamas war is by far the longest, bloodiest and most destructive conflict between the bitter enemies. Fighting erupted on Oct. 7 when Hamas carried out a deadly attack in southern Israel. Since then, Israel has relentlessly pounded the Gaza Strip with airstrikes and a ground offensive that have wrought unprecedented destruction, flattening entire neighborhoods. The offensive has displaced the vast majority of Palestinians in Gaza, shuttered operations in nearly

Jan. 16, 2024

US does not support Taiwan independence, Biden says

US President Joe Biden said on Saturday the United States does not support the independence of Taiwan, after Taiwanese voters rebuffed China and gave the ruling party a third presidential term. Earlier in the day, the Taiwanese ruling Democratic Progressive Party's presidential candidate Lai Ching-te came to power, strongly rejecting Chinese pressure to spurn him, and pledged both to stand up to Beijing and seek talks. "We do not support independence..." Biden said, when asked for

Jan. 14, 2024

Taiwan president-elect Lai to face China's ire after victory

TAIPEI -- Taiwan's new president-elect, Lai Ching-te, is likely to face his toughest task yet when he takes office in May and has to deal with the ire of China which has repeatedly denounced him as a dangerous separatist. Lai, who won Saturday's election, repeatedly said during the campaign that he wanted to keep the status quo with China, which claims Taiwan as its own, and offered to talk to Beijing. "We don't want to become enemies with China. We can become friends,&qu

Jan. 14, 2024

Taiwan voters choosing next president in poll weighing China's threat and island's stability

TAIPEI, Taiwan — Taiwanese are casting their votes Saturday for a new president and legislature in an election that could chart the trajectory of the self-ruled democracy’s relations with China over the next four years. At stake is the peace and stability of the island 160 kilometers (100 miles) off the coast of China that Beijing claims as its own, to be retaken by force if necessary. Domestic issues such as the sluggish economy and expensive housing also featured prominently in t

Jan. 13, 2024

US SEC OKs bitcoin ETFs in watershed for crypto market

WASHINGTON/NEW YORK -- The US securities regulator on Wednesday approved the first US-listed exchange traded funds to track bitcoin, its Chair Gary Gensler said, in a watershed for the world's largest cryptocurrency and the broader crypto industry. The US Securities and Exchange Commission approved 11 applications, including from BlackRock, Ark Investments/21Shares, Fidelity, Invesco and VanEck, among others, according to a notice on its website. Some products are expected to begin trading as ea

Jan. 11, 2024

[Graphic News] US, China closely watch Taiwan’s election

The presidential election in Taiwan on Saturday is being closely watched from Beijing to Washington, with the winner set to determine the future of the democratic island’s relations with an increasingly aggressive China. Beijing claims Taiwan as part of its territory, and President Xi Jinping has in recent years intensified rhetoric about “unification” while refusing to rule out the use of force to bring it under Chinese control. Front-runner and current Vice President Lai Chin

Jan. 11, 2024

[Graphic News] YouTube tops teens’ social media diet: survey

Teen usage of social media hasn’t dropped much, despite rising concerns about its effects on the mental health of adolescents, a survey from the Pew Research Institute found. But the data also found that roughly one in six teens describe their use of two platforms — YouTube and TikTok — as “almost constant.” Seventy-one percent of teens said they visit YouTube at least daily; 16 percent described their usage as “almost constant” according to the survey.

Jan. 9, 2024

[Graphic News] Canada maple syrup production plummeted in 2023

Canada - the world’s largest supplier of maple syrup - saw production of the sweet, sticky stuff plummet more than 40 percent due to unfavorable weather, according to national statistics agency data. Statistics Canada blamed severe storms and big temperature swings in eastern parts of the country for the lower yields. Top producing province Quebec experienced late spring ice storms that cut its production to 35.6 million liters - its lowest level since 2018. Total national production for 2

Jan. 8, 2024

[Graphic News] Dubai named as top city people want to move to

　Dubai, the largest city in the United Arab Emirates, was named as the most preferred destination for people around the world to move to, according to “The Most Popular Cities for Moving Abroad” survey released by Remitly, a US-based online remittance service. 　The study is based on Google search data over the past 12 months in 164 countries examining search volumes for the phrase, “move to (city),” Dubai topped the list with the support of 60 countries, including Cana

Jan. 5, 2024

Blasts kill nearly 100 at slain commander Soleimani's memorial; Iran vows revenge

Two explosions killed nearly 100 people and wounded scores at a ceremony in Iran on Wednesday to commemorate commander Qassem Soleimani who was killed by a US drone in 2020, Iranian officials said, blaming unspecified "terrorists." Iranian state television reported a first and then a second blast after 20 minutes during a crowded fourth-anniversary event at the cemetery where Soleimani is buried in the southeastern city of Kerman. No one claimed responsibility for the blasts. A senior

Jan. 4, 2024

Bombs kill 103 at Iran memorial for slain general: state media

At least 103 people were killed in Iran Wednesday as two bombs in quick succession struck a crowd commemorating slain general Qasem Soleimani on the anniversary of his killing, state media reported. The blasts, which state television called a "terrorist attack," came with tensions running high in the Middle East a day after Hamas number two Saleh al-Aruri -- an Iran ally -- was killed in drone attack on a Beirut southern suburb which Lebanese officials blamed on Israel. The blasts st

Jan. 4, 2024

[Graphic News] 5 tourist destinations opening in 2024

After delays from renovations, natural disasters and general construction, there are a number of big-name travel destinations set to open in 2024. From the Grand Egyptian Museum in Cairo to the Tiana’s Bayou Adventure attractions at Disneyland in Anaheim, California and Walt Disney World in Orlando, Florida, here are five travel spots to visit in the new year. Notre Dame Cathedral in France Notre Dame is slated for a December 2024 reopening, which means people have already started booking

Jan. 3, 2024

Major Japan quake triggers tsunami waves, residents told to run

Tsunami waves over a meter high hit central Japan on Monday after a series of powerful earthquakes that damaged homes, closed highways and prompted authorities to urge people to run to higher ground. A major 7.5 magnitude earthquake struck the Noto region in Ishikawa prefecture around 4:10 pm, the US Geological Survey said. Japan's weather agency reported a succession of 21 quakes of 4.0 magnitude or stronger hitting the nation's central region in just over 90 minutes. Tsunami waves as

Jan. 1, 2024

Fighting between Israeli forces and Hamas rages after nearly 200 killed in Gaza

Fierce Israeli tank fire and aerial bombing struck Khan Younis in the Gaza Strip on Friday night, local time, residents said, after nearly 200 people were reported killed in 24 hours in Israel's campaign against Hamas militants. Planes also carried out a series of air strikes on the Nuseirat camp in central Gaza, according to medics and Palestinian journalists. Israeli forces have been pounding Khan Younis in preparation for an anticipated further advance into the main southern city, swathe

Dec. 30, 2023

China sanctions a US research firm and 2 individuals over reports on human rights abuses in Xinjiang

BEIJING — China says it is banning a United States research company and two analysts who have reported extensively on claims of human rights abuses committed against Uyghurs and other Muslim minority groups native to the country’s far northwestern region of Xinjiang. Foreign Ministry spokesperson Mao Ning was quoted as announcing late Tuesday night that Los Angeles-based research and data analytics firm Kharon, its director of investigations, Edmund Xu, and Nicole Morgret, a human ri

Dec. 27, 2023

Russia says redirected most oil exports to China, India

MOSCOW -- Russia has redirected its oil exports from Europe to China and India, Deputy Prime Minister Alexander Novak said Wednesday, almost two years after Moscow was hit by Western sanctions over the Ukraine conflict. After President Vladimir Putin sent troops to Ukraine in February 2022, Western countries hit Russia with a slew of sanctions including a European Union embargo on its seaborne oil deliveries. "We previously supplied a total of 40 to 45 percent of oil and oil products to Eur

Dec. 27, 2023

WHO urges pandemic accord in 2024 after years of COVID-19 pain

The head of the WHO said Tuesday the world needs to properly prepare for future pandemics after finally ending three years of COVID-19 "crisis, pain and loss," In his end-of-year message, World Health Organization director-general Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus said 2023 had marked a turning point in fighting major health challenges but had also brought "immense and avoidable suffering." Tedros called for ramped-up relief efforts for the Gaza Strip and urged nations to seal a &qu

Dec. 27, 2023

Health ministry in Hamas-run Gaza says war death toll at 20,915

The health ministry in the Hamas-ruled Gaza Strip said Tuesday at least 20,915 people have been killed in the Palestinian territory since the war with Israel broke out on Oct. 7. The ministry said another 54,918 people have been wounded in more than 11 weeks of fighting. (AFP)

Dec. 26, 2023

[Graphic News] EU agrees to membership talks with Ukraine

European Union leaders agreed to open membership talks with Ukraine, in a historic political win for Kyiv as it grapples with uncertainty over future financial aid from the US and Europe. European Council President Charles Michel announced the move on Dec. 14. He said the bloc also agreed to open accession talks with Moldova and granted candidate status to Georgia. While Kyiv still faces hurdles in clinching funding from both the EU and US, the country’s progress on joining the bloc will

Dec. 26, 2023