China says 'difficult' to attend Ukraine peace talks without Russia

BEIJING -- China said Friday it would be "difficult" for it to take part in a planned conference on the war in Ukraine next month if Russia did not attend. While China says it is a neutral party in the Ukraine conflict, it has been criticised for refusing to condemn Moscow for its offensive. Ukraine is trying to whip up attendance at the June peace conference in Switzerland, where it hopes to win broad international backing for its vision of the terms needed to end Russia's war. P

May 31, 2024

10 countries, EU voice 'resolute' opposition to NK-Russia arms transfers

Ten countries, including South Korea, and the European Union (EU) expressed firm opposition Friday to the expanding arms transfers between North Korea and Russia, urging the two countries to stop the illegal activities meant to aid Moscow's war in Ukraine. The countries made the call in a joint statement released under the names of their foreign ministers, affirming that the recent sanctions designated by each country in relation to the suspected arms deals represent "a coordinated eff

May 31, 2024

[Graphic News] Over 4,000 species affected by global wildlife crime

Illegal trafficking of plant and animal wildlife remains stubbornly prevalent, according to a UN report, and it is critical governments focus on more than just “iconic” species like elephants, where progress has been made. While seizures reported in 2020 and 2021 were around half that of previous reports, that could be attributed to pandemic-linked disruptions rather than a decline in actual trafficking, the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime World Wildlife Crime Report said.

May 30, 2024

[Graphic News] Cristiano Ronaldo named world’s highest-paid athlete

Cristiano Ronaldo has been named the highest-paid athlete over the past year, according to the Forbes article, “The World’s 10 Highest-Paid Athletes 2024.” The Portuguese soccer superstar earned $260 million between May 1, 2023 and May 1, 2024. Spanish golfer Jon Rahm, who made headlines with his move from the PGA Tour to the Saudi-backed LIV Golf in December 2023, ranked second with $218 million in earnings. In third place was Argentina’s Lionel Messi, an eight-time Ba

May 29, 2024

Spain, Ireland and Norway recognize Palestinian state

Spain, Ireland, and Norway formally recognized a Palestinian state on Tuesday in a coordinated decision slammed by Israel as a "reward" for Hamas, more than seven months into the devastating Gaza war. The three European countries believe their initiative has a strong symbolic impact, likely encouraging others to follow suit. After Ireland's government formally approved the measure, Prime Minister Simon Harris said the aim was to keep hopes of peace in the Middle East alive. "

May 28, 2024

Climate change caused 26 extra days of extreme heat in last year: report

The world has experienced an average of 26 more days of extreme heat over the last 12 months that would probably not have occurred without climate change, a report said on Tuesday. Heat is the leading cause of climate-related death, and the report further points to the role of global warming in increasing the frequency and intensity of extreme weather around the world. For this study, scientists used the years 1991 to 2020 to determine what temperatures counted as within the top 10 percent for e

May 28, 2024

Health ministry in Hamas-run Gaza says war death reaches 36,050

GAZA STRIP -- The health ministry in Hamas-run Gaza said on Sunday that the death toll in the more than seven months of war between Israel and Palestinian militants surpassed 36,000. At least 36,050 people have been killed in the conflict, including 66 over the past 24 hours, the ministry said, adding that 81,026 people have been wounded in the Gaza Strip since the war began when Hamas militants attacked Israel on October 7. (AFP)

May 27, 2024

Israeli airstrikes kill at least 35 in Rafah

Israeli air strikes killed at least 35 Palestinians and wounded dozens in an area in the southern Gaza Strip city of Rafah designated for the displaced, Palestinian health and civil emergency service officials said. The Israeli military said its air force struck a Hamas compound in Rafah and that the strike was carried out with "precise ammunition and on the basis of precise intelligence." It took out Hamas' chief of staff for the West Bank and another senior official behind deadl

May 27, 2024

Rescue teams arrive at site of deadly landslide in Papua New Guinea

PORT MORESBY -- Rescue teams arrived at the site of a massive landslide in Papua New Guinea's remote highlands Saturday, helping villagers search for hundreds of people feared dead under towering mounds of rubble and mud. The disaster hit an isolated part of Enga province at around 3:00 am Friday, according to government officials, when many villagers were at home asleep. "At this time, we are still searching for bodies who are buried by the massive landslide," said community lead

May 25, 2024

Top UN court orders Israel to halt Rafah offensive

RAFAH -- The top UN court ordered Israel Friday to halt military operations in Rafah, a landmark ruling likely to increase international pressure for a ceasefire more than seven months into the war sparked by Hamas's October 7 attack. The International Court of Justice also demanded the immediate release of all hostages still held by Palestinian militants, hours after the Israeli military announced troops had recovered the bodies of three more of the captives from northern Gaza. The Hague-b

May 25, 2024

Passengers had seconds to react as turbulence hit Singapore flight

BANGKOK -- A Malaysian woman whose six relatives and a friend were injured on a Singapore Airlines flight hit by deadly turbulence this week said on Friday they had only seconds to react before the plane started to plunge. One passenger died and more than 100 were injured when the Boeing 777-300ER fell 1,800 meters in just a few minutes during the final hours of its journey from London to Singapore on Tuesday. Passengers and crew on the flight sustained skull, brain, and spine injuries as they w

May 24, 2024

[Graphic News] Before Raisi, other leaders killed in aviation disasters

Iranian President Ebrahim Raisi, whose death in a helicopter crash was announced Monday, is the latest major political leader to die in an aviation accident. Here are some of the most well-known incidents.

May 24, 2024

Chinese coal group cuts 2024 output forecast

BEIJING (Reuters) -- The deputy chairman of the China Coal Transportation and Distribution Association told a seminar on Wednesday that annual output growth would be in a range of -1 percent to 1 percent this year, having previously forecast expansion of 1 percent. China, the world's biggest coal producer, mined 4.66 billion metric tons of the fuel in 2023, up 2.9 percent year-on-year, according to the National Bureau of Statistics. CCTD deputy chairman Li Xuegang said it will be "extr

May 22, 2024

Unlike N. Korea and Iran, China is not sending arms to Russia: Blinken

The United States has not seen China sending actual weapons to Russia for use in Ukraine though North Korea and Iran have engaged in arms transactions with Moscow, Secretary of State Antony Blinken said during a Senate committee hearing Tuesday. Blinken made the distinction, while reiterating concerns over China's "overwhelming" support for Russia's defense industrial base. He vowed to continue to sanction entities engaged in the transfers to Russia of "dual-use" it

May 22, 2024

One dead, 30 reported injured as Singapore Airlines flight hit by turbulence

BANGKOK -- A Singapore Airlines flight from London made an emergency landing in Bangkok on Tuesday due to severe turbulence, officials said, with one passenger on board dead and local media reporting multiple injuries. Singapore Airlines did not say at what point the injuries and death took place, but a passenger who spoke to Reuters said turbulence led to those not wearing seatbelts hitting overhead cabins. Thai media reports said there were 30 injuries, while Singapore Airlines did not specify

May 21, 2024

US voices condolences over death of Iranian president in helicopter crash

The United States expressed condolences Monday over the death of Iranian President Ebrahim Raisi in a recent helicopter crash, which Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin portrayed as "very unfortunate." Matthew Miller, the spokesperson for the State Department, issued a condolence message after the helicopter carrying the president and Iran's top diplomat crashed into the country's mountainous northwestern region on Sunday. The crash came amid tensions between the US and Iran in the midst of

May 21, 2024

ICC prosecutor seeks arrest warrant for Israeli and Hamas leaders, including Netanyahu

JERUSALEM — The chief prosecutor of the International Criminal Court said Monday he is seeking arrest warrants for Israeli and Hamas leaders, including Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, in connection with their actions during the seven-month war between Israel and Hamas. Karim Khan said that he believes Netanyahu, his defense minister Yoav Gallant and three Hamas leaders — Yehia Sinwar, Mohammed Deif and Ismail Haniyeh — are responsible for war crimes and crimes agains

May 20, 2024

Iran mourns president Raisi's death in helicopter crash

TEHRAN -- Iranian president Ebrahim Raisi was confirmed dead on Monday after search and rescue teams found his crashed helicopter in a fog-shrouded mountain region, sparking mourning in the Islamic republic. Supreme leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, who has ultimate authority in Iran, declared five days of mourning and assigned vice president Mohammad Mokhber, 68, to assume interim duties ahead of elections within 50 days. Earlier Monday, state TV announced that "the servant of the Iranian nat

May 20, 2024

Taiwan's new President Lai in his inauguration speech urges China to stop its military intimidation

TAIPEI, Taiwan — Taiwan’s new president, Lai Ching-te, said in his inauguration speech Monday that he wants peace with China and urged it to stop its military threats and intimidation of the self-governed island that Beijing claims as its own territory. “I hope that China will face the reality of (Taiwan)’s existence, respect the choices of the people of Taiwan, and in good faith, choose dialogue over confrontation,” Lai said after being sworn into office. Lai ple

May 20, 2024

Iranian President Raisi: Hard-liner on morality, protests, nuclear talks

Iranian President Ebrahim Raisi, whose helicopter crashed in mountainous terrain in northern Iran on Sunday, became a contender to be Iran's next supreme leader with a clampdown on morality questions and a bloody crackdown on the nationwide protests it triggered. Raisi's victory in an election in 2021, after heavyweight conservative and moderate rivals were disqualified by a hard-line oversight body, brought all branches of power under the control of hard-liners loyal to Supreme Leader

May 20, 2024