China virus death toll hits 636, more than 30,000 infections

BEIJING (AFP) -- The official Chinese death toll from the coronavirus outbreak rose on Friday to 636, with the government saying total infections had climbed past 30,000. The toll was raised by 73 new deaths from the epidemic, the National Health Commission said in its daily update. Another 3,143 new cases of infection were confirmed, bringing total infections in the country thus far to 31,161, it said. The central province of Hubei where the virus originated continued to be hardest-hit, acc

World NewsFeb. 7, 2020

Global panic deepens over China virus as whistleblower doctor dies

BEIJING (AFP) -- A Chinese doctor, among the first to raise the alert about China's new coronavirus, himself died from the pathogen on Friday,  emphasizing the depth of a worsening crisis that has killed at least 630 people. Global panic also spread, with thousands trapped on quarantined cruise ships. Ophthalmologist Li Wenliang died at 2:58 am, Wuhan Central Hospital said in a post on its verified account on Chinese social media platform Weibo. The 34-year-old sent out a message about

World NewsFeb. 7, 2020

In political triumph, Trump acquitted of all impeachment charges

WASHINGTON (AFP) -- US President Donald Trump drew on staunch Republican support to defeat the gravest threat yet to his three-year-old presidency on Wednesday, winning acquittal in the Senate on impeachment charges of abuse of power and obstruction of Congress. Only the third US leader ever placed on trial, Trump readily defeated the Democratic-led effort to expel him from office for having illicitly sought help from Ukraine to bolster his 2020 re-election effort. Trump immediately claimed &

World NewsFeb. 6, 2020

China virus cases nationwide exceed 24,300: govt.

BEIJING (AFP) -- The number of confirmed infections in China's coronavirus outbreak has reached 24,324 nationwide with 3,887 new cases reported, the National Health Commission said Wednesday. In its daily update, the commission said there had been 65 new deaths from the virus -- all in hardest-hit Hubei province, bringing the national toll to 490. (AFP)

World NewsFeb. 5, 2020

Buttigieg takes lead in Iowa caucuses, Sanders second

MANCHESTER (AFP) -- Democratic White House candidate Pete Buttigieg seized a shock lead in the chaotic Iowa caucuses, closely trailed by leftist senator Bernie Sanders, according to partial returns released on Tuesday after an embarrassing delay in reporting the results. Progressive standard-bearer Elizabeth Warren was in third place followed by Joe Biden, a disappointing showing for the former vice president who has claimed he is best positioned to defeat Donald Trump in November. Buttigieg,

World NewsFeb. 5, 2020

China virus death toll rises to 425: govt.

BEIJING (AFP) -- The number of confirmed deaths from China's coronavirus outbreak spiked to 425, after authorities in Hubei province reported 64 new fatalities Tuesday. In its daily update, figures from the health commission in Hubei, which has been hit hardest by the virus, also showed a sharp increase in confirmed infections with 2,345 new cases. That puts the national total at 19,550, based on numbers previously issued by the central government. The epidemic, which has spiralled into a gl

World NewsFeb. 4, 2020

Virus deaths in China pass 360, exceeding SARS mainland toll

BEIJING (AFP) -- China's death toll from the coronavirus epidemic soared past 360 on Monday, with deepening global concern about the outbreak and governments closing their borders to people from China. The fresh toll came a day after China imposed a lockdown on a major city far from the epicentre and the first fatality outside the country was reported in the Philippines. Authorities in Hubei, the province at the epicentre of the outbreak, reported 56 new fatalities, with one reported in the

World NewsFeb. 3, 2020

[Graphic News] More than 40% of US adults have eaten plant-based meat

　As restaurants nationwide add them to menus, plant-based “meats” are becoming increasingly popular in the United States - where more than 40 percent of adults have eaten them at least once, a new survey showed. 　Gallup research said 41 percent have tried a plant-based meat - whether it be a substitute for beef or pork - and they are mostly among upper-income young adults and those living in American suburbs. 　Plant-based meats are rising in popularity, with fast food chains li

World NewsFeb. 2, 2020

Philippines reports first virus death outside China

BEIJING (AFP) -- The Philippines reported the first death on Sunday outside of China from a new coronavirus, deepening global fears about an epidemic that has claimed more than 300 lives. The first foreign fatality came as an increasing number of governments around the world closed their borders to people from China in a bid to stop it spreading. Since emerging from the central Chinese city of Wuhan late last year, the coronavirus has infected 14,000 people across China and spread to 24 count

World NewsFeb. 2, 2020

UN marks 75th anniversary year in world of distrust, shifting power

UNITED NATIONS (AFP) -- As the United Nations enters its 75th year, the world is still rife with mistrust: the United States remains the dominant superpower but is on the wane, while Asian power is growing in the face of an increasingly fractured Europe, with an explosive Middle East sandwiched in between. In the New York headquarters of the United Nations, the Cold War never really ended, as demonstrated by a scene recently observed in its hallowed hallways: a US diplomat spotted hiding behin

World NewsFeb. 2, 2020

Britain embarks on future outside EU with trade talks looming large

LONDON (AFP) -- Britain began an uncertain future outside the European Union on Saturday, as it gears up for likely gruelling negotiations on future relations with the EU after the historic end to almost half a century of membership. There was joy and sadness on Friday night as the EU's often reluctant member became the first to leave an organisation set up to forge unity among nations after the horrors of World War II. Little has changed yet as the UK is now in an 11-month transition pe

World NewsFeb. 2, 2020

China virus death toll rises to 304 with 45 new fatalities: govt.

BEIJING (AFP) -- The number of confirmed deaths from China's coronavirus outbreak rose to 304, as authorities in hardest-hit Hubei province on Sunday reported 45 new fatalities. In its daily update, figures from the provincial health commission also showed a sharp increase in confirmed infections in Hubei, with 1,921 new cases. That puts the national total over 13,700, based on numbers previously issued by the central government. The virus is believed to have emerged in December in the provi

World NewsFeb. 2, 2020

China virus death toll hits 213: govt.

BEIJING (AFP) - The nationwide death toll in China's coronavirus outbreak has risen to 213, with nearly 2,000 new cases confirmed, the National Health Commission said on Friday. In its daily update, the commission said 43 new deaths had occurred as a result of the virus, all but one of them in hardest-hit Hubei province where the virus first emerged. The latest numbers indicate that the daily death count and the overall spread of the virus within China were continuing to grow steadily, despit

World NewsJan. 31, 2020

WHO declares international emergency over novel coronavirus

GENEVA (AFP) -- The UN health agency on Thursday declared an international emergency over the deadly novel coronavirus from China -- a rarely used designation that could lead to improved international co-ordination in tackling the disease. "Our greatest concern is the potential for the virus to spread to countries with weaker health systems," World Health Organization (WHO) chief Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus said as he declared a "public health emergency of international concern&q

World NewsJan. 31, 2020

Japan seeks arrest of Ghosn, Americans suspected of helping

TOKYO (AP) -- An arrest warrant was issued Thursday for Nissan's former chairman Carlos Ghosn, who skipped bail while awaiting trial in Japan and is now in Lebanon. Japan does not have an extradition treaty with Lebanon, so there is little chance for his arrest. Lebanon indicated earlier this month that it will not hand over Ghosn. Tokyo prosecutors also issued arrest warrants for three Americans they said helped and planned his escape, Michael Taylor, George Zayek and Peter Taylor. Deputy

World NewsJan. 30, 2020

China orders increased food production over virus price rises

BEIJING (AFP) -- China ordered its farmers to ramp up food production Thursday following days of rising prices, with agricultural supplies disrupted by a deadly viral outbreak. The government in Beijing has taken extraordinary steps to combat the spread of the new coronavirus, restricting transport across the country and effectively locking down more than 50 million people in Hubei province, the epicentre of the disease. But officials said some local initiatives, such as roadblocks to stop tr

World NewsJan. 30, 2020

[Graphic News] Hong Kong named world’s most expensive cities for luxuries

　Wealthy bargain hunters should be wary of getting married in New York, hiring lawyers in Hong Kong or buying fine wines in Rio de Janeiro. 　That’s according to research from Julius Baer Group, which broke out the world’s most expensive cities for a variety of luxury goods and services - from houses to whisky to handbags. High local tax rates make Rio de Janeiro - Brazil’s second-largest city - the world’s most expensive metropolis in five of 18 categories in the Swi

World NewsJan. 30, 2020

China virus death toll rises to 170, more than 1,700 new cases

WUHAN (AFP) -- The nationwide death toll from China's viral epidemic has leapt to 170, the government said on Thursday, with more than 1,700 new infections confirmed. Thirty-seven of the 38 new deaths came in hard-hit Hubei province, the epicentre of a contagion that is causing mounting global fear. Another death occurred in southwestern Sichuan province, the National Health Commission reported. Tibet also reported its first case, the commission said. The 38 new deaths marked the biggest s

World NewsJan. 30, 2020

Deaths rise to 132 in China outbreak as foreigners leave

BEIJING (AP) -- Countries on Wednesday began evacuating their citizens from the Chinese city hardest-hit by an outbreak of a new virus that has killed 132 people and infected more than 6,000 on the mainland and abroad. China's latest figures cover the previous 24 hours and add 26 to the number of deaths, 25 of which were in the Hubei province and its capital, Wuhan. The 5,974 cases on the mainland were a rise of 1,459 from the previous day. Dozens of infections of the new type of coronavirus h

World NewsJan. 29, 2020

US military jet crashes in Taliban territory in Afghanistan

GHAZNI (AFP) -- A US military jet crashed in mountainous territory in eastern Afghanistan, where there is a heavy Taliban presence, the Pentagon confirmed Monday, rejecting the insurgents' suggestions that it was shot down. Afghanistan US Forces spokesman Colonel Sonny Leggett confirmed in a statement that the aircraft was a US Bombardier E-11A, a type of jet used as a military airborne communications node in the region. "While the cause of crash is under investigation, there are no indi

World NewsJan. 28, 2020