Hong Kong student who fell during protest clashes dies

HONG KONG (AFP) -- A Hong Kong student who fell from a car park while police and protesters were clashing last weekend has died, hospital officials said Friday, in a development likely to further escalate tensions after months of violent rallies in the city.Alex Chow, a 22-year-old computer science undergraduate, was certified dead at 8.09am on Friday, Queen Elizabeth Hospital said.  Chow was taken to hospital in an unconscious state in the early hours of Monday morning following late-night

WorldNov. 8, 2019

Twitter offering 'topics,' from sports teams to K-pop

SAN FRANCISCO (AFP) -- Twitter said Wednesday it is rolling out a feature that lets users follow topics the way they do people, starting with sports and K-pop, as part of its efforts to bring in and keep more users on the service.The new "Topics" option was expected to be available to Twitter users on mobile devices powered by Android or Apple software or through web browsers by November 13."We are starting with topics that have the most volume on Twitter for now -- sports, K-pop

World NewsNov. 7, 2019

Public hearings in Trump impeachment probe start next week

WASHINGTON (AFP) -- The first open impeachment hearings into US President Donald Trump will begin next week, the congressman leading the probe said Wednesday, as the investigation heads into a highly anticipated public phase.William Taylor, Washington's top diplomat to Ukraine, and deputy assistant secretary of state George Kent are scheduled to testify next Wednesday.People will be able to see "the degree to which the president enlisted whole departments of government in the illicit aim of

World NewsNov. 7, 2019

Beyond vegan burgers: next-generation protein could come from air, methane, volcanic springs

It may sound like science fiction, but in a few short years the family dinner table may be laden with steak from a printer and other proteins produced from air, methane or volcanic microbes.　With the explosive success of vegan beef and burger substitutes developed by Beyond Meat and Impossible Foods, the alternative protein sector just keeps growing.　According to investment bank Barclays, alternative meat sales could reach $140 billion - or 10 percent of the global meat industry - within a

World BusinessNov. 6, 2019

Euro zone economy at risk of contracting in Q4, PMI shows

Euro zone business activity grew more than initially thought last month but remained close to stagnation, according to a survey whose forward-lookingindicators suggest the existing growth might dissipate.Wednesday‘s survey of businesses comes soon after the European Central Bank resumed its 2.6 trillion-euro bond-buying program to try and stimulate inflation and growth.The former head of the ECB, Mario Draghi, repeatedly called on euro zone countries to add fiscal support to stoke growth,

World BusinessNov. 6, 2019

[Graphic News] Protests around the world in Oct.

　The past weeks have seen a wave of protest movements erupt in countries worldwide.　The high cost of living, limits on civil liberties and government corruption have sparked major demonstrations.　Here is an overview of the main demonstrations around the world that started last month and others that are ongoing. (AFP)

World NewsNov. 6, 2019

Top Trump ally admits tying Ukraine aid to Biden investigation

WASHINGTON (AFP) -- A top ally of President Donald Trump admitted he told a Ukraine official that US military aid was contingent on Kiev investigating Trump's Democratic rival Joe Biden, testimony released Tuesday showed.In some of the most damning evidence yet to the House impeachment inquiry of Trump, Gordon Sondland, the US ambassador to the European Union, said he told a senior Ukraine official that military aid would likely not be released until Kiev made clear it would investigate Biden an

World NewsNov. 6, 2019

[Graphic News] 130 million children under 5 have died since 2000

　More than 15,000 children under the age of 5 die every day in the developing world, with huge disparities in death rates between countries, according to a detailed assessment of childhood mortality.　From 2000 to the end of 2017, 123 million newborns, infants and toddlers perished in 99 low- and middle-income countries, which account for more than 90 percent of under-5 deaths, the study found.　Globally, under-5 mortality has declined by almost half since 2000, from nearly 10 million to 5.4 milli

World NewsNov. 5, 2019

Xi voices 'high degree of trust' in Hong Kong leader over unrest

SHANGHAI (AFP) -- Chinese President Xi Jinping has expressed a "high degree of trust" in Hong Kong's unpopular leader Carrie Lam as the two met after months of increasingly violent protests in the semi-autonomous city.Xi's show of support follows speculation that Beijing was preparing to remove Lam as city authorities struggle to contain pro-democracy demonstrations that have rocked the financial hub.Their meeting on the sidelines of an international trade fair Monday followed another

World NewsNov. 5, 2019

White House welcomes World Series champs to rendition of 'Baby Shark'

The White House on Monday honored the World Series champion Washington Nationals with a ceremony featuring a rendition of "Baby Shark," a children's song popularized by a South Korean company.The catchy tune, which became the unofficial theme song of the baseball team, was played by the U.S. Marine Corps band on the South Lawn before the players arrived, followed by U.S. President Donald Trump and first lady Melania Trump. The ceremony was held to honor Washington's first Major League

World NewsNov. 5, 2019

US formally starts withdrawal from Paris climate accord

WASHINGTON (AFP) -- The United States on Monday formally notified the United Nations that it was withdrawing from the Paris climate accord, making the world's largest economy the sole outlier from the agreement.President Donald Trump went ahead with the pullout despite mounting evidence of the reality and impact of climate change, with September the fourth month in the row with near- or record-breaking temperatures.The United States presented its withdrawal letter to the United Nations on the fi

World NewsNov. 5, 2019

Trump calls for whistleblower's unmasking

WASHINGTON (AFP) -- US President Donald Trump called Sunday for the unmasking of the anonymous whistleblower whose complaint launched the House impeachment investigation, attacking the process against him as a "scam."Trump's demand comes amid an intensifying effort by Republicans to expose the whistleblower and attack his or her credibility as public impeachment hearings loom and support for the president erodes.Described only as an intelligence official who once worked at the White Ho

World NewsNov. 4, 2019

Five wounded as knife attack caps day of Hong Kong political chaos

HONG KONG (AFP) -- A man went on a knife rampage in Hong Kong late Sunday leaving at least five people wounded, including a local pro-democracy politician who had his ear bitten off, capping another chaotic day of political unrest in the city.Flashmob rallies erupted inside multiple shopping centers across the international finance hub over the afternoon, sparking frequent clashes with riot police.The violence was less sustained than Saturday when police and protesters fought hours of cat and mo

World NewsNov. 4, 2019

McDonald's CEO pushed out after relationship with employee

NEW YORK (AP) -- McDonald's chief executive officer has been pushed out of the company after violating company policy by engaging in a consensual relationship with an employee, the corporation said Sunday.The fast food giant said former president and CEO Steve Easterbrook demonstrated poor judgment, and that McDonald's forbids managers from having romantic relationships with direct or indirect subordinates.In an email to employees, Easterbrook acknowledged he had a relationship with an employee

World NewsNov. 4, 2019

Saudi regulator says approves Aramco share offering

RIYADH (AFP) -- Saudi regulators on Sunday approved state energy giant Aramco's request to make its stock market debut, firing the starting gun on the highly anticipated offering which could be the world's largest.The Capital Markets Authority did not give any details of the Initial Public Offering but it is expected to begin trading in mid-December.The markets regulator "has issued its resolution approving the Saudi Arabian Oil Company (Saudi Aramco)... application for the registration and

World BusinessNov. 3, 2019

'Comfort women' film back to Japan festival

TOKYO (AFP) -- A film festival in suburban Tokyo will show a documentary on the highly controversial issue of Japan's wartime military brothels, organisers said Sunday after coming under fire for dropping the movie.The film's screening was cancelled last week after concerns over the safety of volunteers and objections from local officials.But the decision was reversed after "lots of voices offering cooperation to address our safety concerns," a member of the organising committee told A

World NewsNov. 3, 2019

Airbnb bans 'party houses' after deadly US shooting

NEW YORK (AFP) -- Airbnb's boss announced Saturday that the online platform, which offers private homes for rent for short periods, is banning "party houses" after a deadly shooting at a Halloween event in California.Five people were killed and others wounded in a Thursday night shooting in Orinda, California, in a house that had been rented on Airbnb.More than 100 people were present at the event, which was announced on social media. "Starting today, we are banning 'party houses'

World NewsNov. 3, 2019

ASEAN leaders hope for trade deal as economies sag on US-China spat

BANGKOK (AFP) -- Southeast Asian leaders meet for a second day in Thailand on Sunday, hoping for a breakthrough in talks over the world's largest trade deal to help throw off the torpor which has gripped the global economy since the US-China tariff war began.The 10-member Association of Southeast Asian Nations opened its annual summit in Bangkok on Saturday hoping to secure a China-backed free trade pact at the three-day event, which knits together half the world's population and around 40 perce

World NewsNov. 3, 2019

IS claims responsibility for deadly Mali attacks on 50 soldiers

BAMAKO (AFP) -- The Islamic State on Saturday claimed responsibility for a devastating raid that killed 49 Malian troops as well as a blast that led to the death of a French soldier who became the latest casualty in the conflict-torn region.The strikes underscored the fragility of an area straddling several West African countries battling increasing jihadist violence that has claimed hundreds of lives.Friday's assault on a Malian military outpost at Indelimane in the eastern Menaka region near N

World NewsNov. 3, 2019

Fire burns down structures at historic Japanese castle

TOKYO (AP) -- A fire has spread among structures at Shuri Castle on Japan's southern island of Okinawa, nearly destroying the UNESCO World Heritage site. Firefighters were still battling the blaze a few hours after the fire started early Thursday and nearby residents were evacuated to safer areas, Okinawa police spokesman Ryo Kochi said.The fire in Naha, the prefectural capital of Okinawa, started from the castle's main structure. The main Seiden temple and a Hokuden structure, or north temple,

World NewsOct. 31, 2019