[Graphic News] Nearly 43,000 people died on US roads last year

　Nearly 43,000 people were killed on US roads last year, the highest number in 16 years as Americans returned to the roads after the coronavirus pandemic forced many to stay at home. 　The 10.5 percent jump over 2020 numbers was the largest percentage increase since the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration began its fatality data collection system in 1975. Exacerbating the problem was a persistence of risky driving behaviors during the pandemic, such as speeding and less frequent use

WorldMay 25, 2022

[Interactive] Nearly half of LGBTQ youth in US considered suicide last year

　Nearly half of LGBTQ youth aged 13 to 24 in America seriously considered committing suicide last year, according to a survey released. 　The poll of nearly 34,000 people was conducted by The Trevor Project, a non-profit that works to prevent suicide among young people in the LGTBQ community. 　This annual survey “demonstrates that rates of suicidal thoughts have trended upward among LGBTQ young people over the last three years,” said Amit Paley, the organization’s executive d

WorldMay 21, 2022

[Interactive] US leadership’s approval jumps to 59% in S. Korea

  　The United States’ approval rating in South Korea jumped at one of the steepest rates among Asian countries in 2021, a poll showed. 　The approval rating of US leadership in South Korea climbed to 59 percent last year from 30 percent a year earlier, according to Gallup. 　The increase marks the second highest among 33 Asian countries where the poll was conducted between April 2021 and January 2022. 　The median approval of US leadership in Asia was 41 percent. 　The approval rate for

WorldMay 20, 2022

[Graphic News] US gun deaths soared in 2020 amid pandemic

　The number of gun deaths in the United States underwent a “historic” increase in 2020, possibly due to the effects of the COVID-19 pandemic and poverty, according to a report by health authorities published.  　The US racked up 19,350 firearm homicides in 2020, up nearly 35 percent as compared to 2019, and 24,245 gun suicides (up 1.5 percent), the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention said in its report.  　The CDC deemed both the murders and suicides by firearm &ldq

WorldMay 18, 2022

[Graphic News] Hong Kong plummets toward bottom of press freedom ranking

　Hong Kong has plummeted down an international press freedom chart as authorities have wielded a draconian new security law to silence critical news outlets and jail journalists, a new report said. 　For two decades, media rights watchdog Reporters Without Borders has ranked countries and territories around the world by how free their press is. 　Hong Kong, a regional media hub for both international and local media, has been steadily slipping down the table under Chinese rule. 　In the last ye

WorldMay 16, 2022

[Graphic News] Nearly half of LGBTQ youth in US considered suicide last year

　Nearly half of LGBTQ youth aged 13 to 24 in America seriously considered committing suicide last year, according to a survey released. 　The poll of nearly 34,000 people was conducted by The Trevor Project, a non-profit that works to prevent suicide among young people in the LGTBQ community. 　This annual survey “demonstrates that rates of suicidal thoughts have trended upward among LGBTQ young people over the last three years,” said Amit Paley, the organization’s executive d

WorldMay 12, 2022

[Graphic News] Global military expenditure reaches record levels

　Global military spending reached an all-time high of $2.1 trillion in 2021 for first time, according to the Stockholm International Peace Research Institute. 　The world military expenditure increase has not died down despite the economic fallout of the COVID-19 pandemic. The spending rose by 0.7 percent last year, and it was the seventh consecutive yearly increase. 　The five largest spenders were the US, China, India, the UK and Russia, which together accounted for 62 percent of the total ex

WorldMay 9, 2022

[Interactive] Norway now best place to be in pandemic

  　Even as a new omicron wave gathers speed in some parts of the world, most countries are pushing ahead with reopening travel and easing restrictions in a bid to move past the COVID-19 era. 　In March, Norway claimed the No. 1 spot in Bloomberg’s COVID Resilience Ranking. After scrapping all of its travel restrictions, the country scored the highest among the 53 economies ranked with the most Vaccinated Travel Routes open and loose social curbs. The United Arab Emirates and Ireland r

WorldMay 7, 2022

[Graphic News] Paris top city destination in COVID era

　Global preferences for city destinations have changed, affected by the COVID-19 pandemic. 　UK-based Euromonitor picked Paris as No. 1 destination for city tours in 2021, based on its new index, comprising six performance pillars, including “tourism policy” and “health and safety.” 　Previously before the pandemic, Asian cities, such as Hong Kong and Bangkok, placed higher, with rankings based on the number of international arrivals. In 2021, travelers chose to visit Eu

WorldMay 6, 2022

UN: Record number of people without enough to eat in 2021

ROME (AP) -- The United Nations said Wednesday that the number of people without enough to eat on a daily basis reached all-time high last year and is poised to hit "appalling" new levels as the Ukraine war affects global food production. Almost 193 million people in 53 countries suffered acute food insecurity in 2021 due to what the UN said was a "toxic triple combination" of conflict, weather extremes and the economic effects of the coronavirus pandemic. The UN said the tot

World NewsMay 5, 2022

[Graphic News] US’ leadership’s approval jumps to 59% in S. Korea

　The United States’ approval rating in South Korea jumped at one of the steepest rates among Asian countries in 2021, a poll showed. 　The approval rating of US leadership in South Korea climbed to 59 percent last year from 30 percent a year earlier, according to Gallup. 　The increase marks the second highest among 33 Asian countries where the poll was conducted between April 2021 and January 2022. 　The median approval of US leadership in Asia was 41 percent.  　The approval rate f

WorldMay 4, 2022

[Photo News] Palestinians pray on the holiest month of Muslim religion

Palestinians attend prayers on the 27th day of Ramadan at Al Aqsa compound in Jerusalem. Ramadan is a sacred month of the year for Muslims, in which they fast every day of the month, from sunrise to sunset. It is a month of self-reflection, as well as practicing generosity and positivity.  The 27th day of Ramadan is called “Laylat al -Qader.” According to Muslim tradition, the Koran, Islam’s holy book, was revealed to the Prophet Mohammed during the night of Laylat al-Qad

World NewsApril 30, 2022

[Graphic News] Most people in US want masks for travelers: poll

　A majority of people in the United States continue to support a mask requirement for travel on airplanes and other shared transportation, a poll finds. A ruling by a federal judge has put the government’s transportation mask mandate on hold. 　The poll by the Associated Press-NORC Center for Public Affairs Research finds that despite opposition to masks that included verbal abuse and physical violence against flight attendants, 56 percent of those surveyed favor requiring people on plane

WorldApril 27, 2022

Possible mass graves near Mariupol shown in satellite images

ZAPORIZHZHIA, Ukraine -- New satellite images show apparent mass graves near Mariupol, where local officials accused Russia of burying up to 9,000 Ukrainian civilians to conceal the slaughter taking place in the ruined port city that's almost entirely under Russian control. The images emerged just hours after Russian President Vladimir Putin on Thursday claimed victory in the battle for Mariupol, despite the presence of an estimated 2,000 Ukrainian fighters who were still holed up at a giant ste

World NewsApril 22, 2022

[Graphic News] Norway now best place to be in pandemic

　Even as a new omicron wave gathers speed in some parts of the world, most countries are pushing ahead with reopening travel and easing restrictions in a bid to move past the COVID-19 era. 　In March, Norway claimed the No. 1 spot in Bloomberg’s COVID Resilience Ranking. After scrapping all of its travel restrictions, the country scored the highest among the 53 economies ranked with the most Vaccinated Travel Routes open and loose social curbs. The United Arab Emirates and Ireland rounded

WorldApril 22, 2022

[Graphic News] Nike retains top clothing brand among US teens

　Nike has been named the top clothing brand among US teens for 11 consecutive years, according to a survey from Piper Sandler. 　Nike earned 30 percent of the votes followed by American Eagle, Lululemon, H&M and Adidas. 　The survey was conducted among 7,100 US teens with an average age of 16.2 years between Feb. 16 to March 22.   　Nike was also the teens’ most favorite footwear brand followed by Converse, Vans, Adidas and New Balance.

WorldApril 19, 2022

[Newsmaker] 'I feel so lost': The elderly in Ukraine, left behind, mourn

MYKULYCHI, Ukraine (AP) -- This was not where Nadiya Trubchaninova thought she would find herself at 70 years old, hitchhiking daily from her village to the shattered Ukrainian town of Bucha, trying to bring her son's body home for burial. The questions wore her down, heavy like the winter coat and boots she still wears against the chill. Why had the 48-year-old Vadym gone to Bucha, where the Russians were so much harsher than the ones occupying their village? Who shot him as he drove on Yabluns

World NewsApril 17, 2022

Russia renews strikes in Kyiv, hits other cities

KYIV, Ukraine (AP) -- Russian forces accelerated scattered attacks on Kyiv, western Ukraine and beyond Saturday in an explosive reminder to Ukrainians and their Western supporters that the whole country remains under threat despite Moscow's pivot toward mounting a new offensive in the east. Stung by the loss of its Black Sea flagship and indignant over alleged Ukrainian aggression on Russian territory, Russia's military command had warned of renewed missile strikes on Ukraine's capital. Official

World NewsApril 17, 2022

Ukraine girds for renewed Russian offensive on eastern front

KYIV, Ukraine -- Ukraine was bracing to battle for control of its industrial east and appealing for more help from the West after Russian forces withdrew from the shattered outskirts of Kyiv to regroup. Authorities were urging people to immediately evacuate from the Donbas region before Russia intensifies its offensive. In Brussels, Ukrainian Foreign Minister Dmytro Kuleba urged NATO to provide more weapons for his war-torn country to help prevent further atrocities like those reported in the ci

World NewsApril 7, 2022

Killings of Ukrainian civilians could bring more sanctions

BUCHA -- Police and other investigators walked the silent streets of ruined towns around Ukraine's capital, documenting widespread killings of unarmed civilians and other alleged war crimes by Russian forces that could draw tougher Western sanctions as soon as Wednesday. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy has kept up demands for war-crimes trials for Russian troops and their leaders, while warning they were regrouping for fresh assaults on Ukraine's east and south. Overnight, Russian forces

World NewsApril 6, 2022