Trump signs law supporting Hong Kong protesters

WASHINGTON (AFP) -- President Donald Trump signed a law Wednesday supporting pro-democracy protesters in Hong Kong, likely angering Beijing just as Washington was hoping to ease the long-running US-China trade war.Trump had seemed reluctant to sign the bill but with almost unanimous US congressional support for the measure, he had little political room to maneuver.In a statement, Trump spoke of "respect" for Chinese President Xi Jinping and said he hoped the "leaders and represent

World NewsNov. 28, 2019

Next phase of Trump impeachment hearings set for Dec. 4

WASHINGTON (AFP) -- The House Judiciary Committee said Tuesday it would begin hearings on December 4 in the next phase of the impeachment inquiry into Donald Trump, inviting the US president and his lawyer to attend.Lawmakers in the Democratic-led House of Representatives spent the last two weeks publicly questioning witnesses including White House officials and diplomats over allegations Trump abused the power of his office when he pressured Ukraine to launch investigations that would help him

World NewsNov. 27, 2019

Trump presents Conan the dog, 'incredible' hero of Baghdadi raid

WASHINGTON (AFP) -- "So this is Conan -- right now, probably the world's most famous dog."In a stream of superlatives, Donald Trump on Monday introduced to the world the military dog involved in the raid that led to the death of Islamic State group leader Abu Bakr al-Baghdadi."Conan did a fantastic job," the US president told the White House press corps, assembled for a brief, unannounced ceremony with the Belgian Malinois and its handler."So brilliant, so smart," s

World NewsNov. 26, 2019

Bloomberg formally announces US presidential candidacy

NEW YORK (AFP) -- Billionaire Michael Bloomberg formally entered the race to be US president Sunday, pledging to "rebuild America" as he joined the crowded field of Democrats seeking to take on Donald Trump.Bloomberg's personal fortune of $50 billion is likely to shake up the open Democratic contest, with the declaration of his candidacy coming just three months before the first primary votes."The stakes could not be higher. We must win this election. And we must begin rebuilding

World NewsNov. 25, 2019

Hong Kong democracy camp heads for stunning polls win: local media

HONG KONG (AFP) -- Hong Kong's pro-democracy camp was headed for a thumping victory in district council elections, local media reported on Monday, a vote widely seen as a referendum on the Beijing-backed government's handling of months of violent political unrest.Counting was still under way following record turnout in Sunday's elections, but results so far indicated that candidates favouring calls for greater democracy were on course to seize a shock majority of the 452 seats contested, media r

World NewsNov. 25, 2019

[Graphic News] ASEAN members

ASEAN stands for the Association of Southeast Asian Nations. The political and economic community comprises 10 member countries.

WorldNov. 24, 2019

Hong Kong pro-democrats seek to hit government at district polls

HONG KONG (AFP) -- Hong Kong voted in district council elections Sunday in a ballot the city's pro-democracy movement hoped would send a message to the Beijing-backed government.The run-up to Sunday's polls has seen a muting of major rallies and violent clashes between police and protesters, respite for a city battered by nearly six months of unprecedented political unrest.Protest forums have urged citizens to vote and to pause acts of disruption in case the government pushes back the polls, whi

World NewsNov. 24, 2019

Britain's Prince Andrew to 'step back from public duties' after Epstein furore

LONDON (AFP) -- Prince Andrew on Wednesday said he was cancelling his public engagements, as the outcry over his friendship with convicted sex offender Jeffrey Epstein showed no sign of abating.Queen Elizabeth II's second son has been under pressure since a television interview broadcast Saturday in which he defended his links to the disgraced financier, who was found dead in a New York prison in August.An increasing number of organisations and initiatives backed by Prince Andrew have said they

World NewsNov. 21, 2019

Hong Kong rights bill clears US Congress, heads to Trump

WASHINGTON (AFP) -- US lawmakers Wednesday overwhelmingly approved legislation that supports human rights and democracy in Hong Kong and also backs the territory's anti-China protesters, sending the measure opposed by Beijing to President Donald Trump.The Hong Kong Human Rights and Democracy Act passed the House of Representatives by 417 to 1, one day after the Senate unanimously passed the measure, provoking an outcry from Beijing.The bill requires the US president to annually review the favora

World NewsNov. 21, 2019

Son of former German president stabbed to death in Berlin

The son of former German president Richard von Weizsaecker was stabbed to death while he was giving a lecture at a hospital in Berlin where he worked as a head physician, police said Wednesday.A 57-year-old German man is in custody after he jumped up from the audience at the Schlosspark-Klinik and attacked Fritz von Weizsaecker with a knife on Tuesday evening.An off-duty police officer in the audience who tried to stop the attack was seriously wounded and had to undergo surgery. Von Weizsaecker

World NewsNov. 20, 2019

A Hong Kong protester on why he won't surrender to police

Pale and thin, a teenager wandered the nearly deserted campus of Hong Kong Polytechnic University at about 1 a.m. Wednesday. He hugged his body with his arms, whether because of the chill in the air or gnawing worry he felt was unclear.Only a handful of protesters remain at "Poly U," which hundreds occupied for several days, fighting pitched battles with police in the surrounding streets. Now, authorities have cut off the campus and are arresting anyone who comes out.The teen, who woul

World NewsNov. 20, 2019

E-commerce giant Alibaba raises $11 billion in share listing

The Chinese e-commerce giant Alibaba has raised at least $11 billion in a share offering in Hong Kong, netting the city's biggest offering since 2010 despite recent political turmoil.Alibaba said Wednesday that it has set the price for the offering at 176 Hong Kong dollars ($22.50) per share. The price is a 2.9% discount for the closing price for its shares traded in New York. It's also below the original maximum offer price of $188 Hong Kong dollars.The company's shares are due to begin trading

World BusinessNov. 20, 2019

[Graphic News] Over half of Americans favor Trump impeachment: poll

　A slim majority of Americans believe President Donald Trump should be impeached and removed from office for his controversial Ukraine actions, according to the first poll after the launch of public hearings in the US Congress.　Fifty-one percent of those asked said they think Trump should be tried and convicted in the US Senate, while another 6 percent favor impeachment but not removal, according to the ABC News-Ipsos poll released.　That appeared to represent an increase from before the hearings

World NewsNov. 20, 2019

US Senate passes Hong Kong rights bill, angering China

WASHINGTON (AFP) -- The US Senate unanimously adopted legislation Tuesday supporting "human rights and democracy" in Hong Kong and threatening to revoke its special economic status, angering China which promptly summoned a US diplomat and threatened countermeasures.The lawmakers also approved a measure that would ban the sale of tear gas, rubber bullets and other equipment that have been used by security forces to suppress pro-democracy protests for nearly six months.Chinese vice forei

World NewsNov. 20, 2019

Baby Shark run continues with new tour dates

NEW YORK (AP) -- Most viral videos have a finite shelf life, but the "doo doo doo" of "Baby Shark" shows no sign of abating.The little ditty and dance about a family of sharks that captivated the toddler set and beyond will still be with us as we go into the next decade, with a "Baby Shark Live!" tour launching a new set of concert dates after recently wrapping up dozens of performances in its first run in North America. The second leg of the tour kicks off in Indep

World NewsNov. 20, 2019

[Graphic News] Global market size for luxury goods and jewelry

　According to Euromonitor International, global luxury goods sales reached $954 billion in 2017 and the global market grew 5 percent in 2018 across most segments.　Luxury cars sales accounted for almost 53 percent of all global luxury goods sales. This proportion grew over the reviewed period, and is expected to continue increasing to 2022.

World BusinessNov. 19, 2019

In new pro-Israel shift, US no longer calls settlements illegal

WASHINGTON (AFP) - The United States no longer believes that Israeli settlements in the Palestinian territories are illegal, Secretary of State Mike Pompeo announced Monday in the latest pro-Israel shift by Washington.The statement puts the United States at odds with virtually all countries as well as UN Security Council resolutions and was hailed by Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, a close ally of President Donald Trump who is days away from potentially losing office."After caref

World NewsNov. 19, 2019

[Newsmaker] China says only it can rule on Hong Kong constitution

BEIJING (AFP) -- China insisted Tuesday it held the sole authority to rule on constitutional matters in Hong Kong, as it condemned a decision by the city's high court to overturn a ban on face masks worn by pro-democracy protesters.The statement could further fan the flames in Hong Kong after months of violent protests over concerns that Beijing is chipping away at the autonomy of the financial hub.The ban on face-covering came into force in October, when the city's unelected pro-Beijing leader

World NewsNov. 19, 2019

Trump says will 'strongly consider' testifying in impeachment probe

WASHINGTON (AFP) -- President Donald Trump said Monday he is "strongly" considering accepting a challenge from opposition Democrats to testify in his own impeachment investigation.After the speaker of the lower house, Nancy Pelosi, upped the ante by suggesting that Trump come forward to tell the "truth," the Republican president said he was keen.Pelosi suggested "that I testify about the phony Impeachment Witch Hunt. She also said I could do it in writing," Trump tw

World NewsNov. 19, 2019

China will not sit back if Hong Kong situation gets 'uncontrollable': UK envoy

China will not simply sit back and watch if months of protests in Hong Kong develop into an "uncontrollable" situation, the country's ambassador to Britain said Monday."I think the Hong Kong government is trying very hard to put the situation under control," Liu Xiaoming told a London press conference, as fresh violence erupts after months of protests."But if the situation becomes uncontrollable, the central government would certainly not sit on our hands and watch. We h

World NewsNov. 18, 2019