Foreign
Florida Gov DeSantis drops out of presidential race, endorses Trump
January 22, 2024, 6:01 pm
NEW YORK – Florida Governor Ron DeSantis, who was once considered Donald Trump’s closest rival in the Republican presidential primary, said he was dropping out of the presidential race in favor of the former president. "If there was anything I could do to produce a favorable outcome, more… Read More
Dozens buried in landslide in southwestern China
January 22, 2024, 5:26 pm
ANKARA – Rescuers dug through debris after dozens of villagers were buried in a landslide that struck China's southwestern Yunnan province early Monday, state media reported. At least 47 people were buried when a landslide struck Liangshui village in the city of Zhaotong at 5:51 a.m. local time,… Read More
Ash clouds cover Indonesia's Java island towns as Mount Merapi erupts
January 22, 2024, 3:10 pm
ISTANBUL – Mount Merapi, Indonesia's most active volcano, began spewing lava on Sunday, with ash clouds covering some towns on the Java island, a senior official said. The rocks and lava flows formed by Merapi's eruption spread over a two-kilometer (1.24-mile) area on the slopes of the volcano,… Read More
Ships safely cross Red Sea after disavowing ties with Israel: Houthis
January 22, 2024, 2:36 pm
SANAA – Yemen’s Houthi group on Sunday said it allowed 64 ships to navigate the Red Sea safely after raising a banner disavowing any links with Israel. “The simplest solution that allows ships to pass safely while crossing the Red Sea is to raise a sign reading: ‘We have no relation to… Read More
More than 13,000 people killed in Sudan conflict: UN
January 22, 2024, 2:28 pm
KHARTOUM, Sudan – More than 13,000 people have been killed and 26,000 others injured in the conflict in Sudan since last year, the United Nations humanitarian office said Sunday. Sudan has been mired by fighting between the army, led by Gen. Abdel Fattah al-Burhan, head of the country’s… Read More
US destroys Houthi anti-ship missile in self defense
January 21, 2024, 2:26 pm
WASHINGTON – The US on Saturday carried out airstrikes against a Houthi anti-ship missile that was aimed at the Gulf of Aden, according to the American military. "U.S. CENTCOM Destroys Houthi Terrorists' Anti-Ship Missile as part of ongoing efforts to protect freedom of navigation and prevent… Read More
School fire claims 13 lives in central China
January 20, 2024, 7:31 pm
ZHENGZHOU – Thirteen people have been confirmed dead in a fire that took place in a school dormitory in the county of Fangcheng, Nanyang City, central China's Henan Province, on Friday night, local authorities said Saturday morning. At 11 p.m. on Friday, the local fire department received an… Read More
Seoul police chief indicted over deadly 2022 Itaewon crowd crush
January 20, 2024, 5:51 pm
SEOUL – Prosecutors indicted the head of the Seoul Metropolitan Police Agency (SMPA) on Friday over the bungled response to the deadly 2022 crowd crush in the district of Itaewon. The indictment of SMPA chief Kim Kwang-ho came a year and three months after the crowd crush on Oct. 29, 2022, which… Read More
American sports magazine Sports Illustrated to lay off staff
January 20, 2024, 3:30 pm
WASHINGTON – The American sports magazine, Sports Illustrated, has told staff that it would lay off a "significant number, possibly all" of its employees, the union representing the workers said Friday in what marks the latest blow for the storied athletics publisher. It is not clear if the… Read More
Int'l tourism to reach pre-pandemic levels in 2024
January 20, 2024, 1:13 pm
MADRID – International tourism numbers this year are set to hit the pre-pandemic levels, according to data published by the United Nations World Tourism Organization (UNWTO) on Friday. The first UNWTO World Tourism Barometer of the year showed an estimated 1.3 billion international travelers in… Read More
International tourism to fully recover in 2024: UN agency
January 19, 2024, 9:03 pm
ANKARA – International tourism is expected to return to its pre-pandemic levels this year, following a strong 2023 figure, the World Tourism Organization said on Friday. "The unleashing of remaining pent-up demand, increased air connectivity, and a stronger recovery of Asian markets and… Read More
Ax-3 space mission begins journey to International Space Station
January 19, 2024, 3:22 pm
ISTANBUL – The Ax-3 space mission began its journey to the International Space Station (ISS) on Thursday, blasting off from NASA's Kennedy Space Center with its four-person crew, including Türkiye's first spacefarer, Alper Gezeravci. It launched from SpaceX's facility in Cape Canaveral, Florida… Read More
Global FDI flows in 2023 settle at around $1.37 trillion: UNCTAD
January 18, 2024, 4:15 pm
GENEVA – Global foreign direct investments (FDI) posted a modest increase of over 3 percent to reach an estimated USD1.37 trillion in 2023, defying expectations as recession fears early in the year receded and financial markets performed well. Global FDI flows increased but economic uncertainty… Read More
New UN coordinator visits Egypt to ‘expedite all areas’ of aid
January 18, 2024, 3:53 pm
NEW YORK – The UN Senior Humanitarian and Reconstruction Coordinator for Gaza visited Al-Arish, Egypt, on Wednesday to scale up assistance to the Gaza Strip. Sigrid Kaag went to Rafah, one of the two crossing points for aid into Gaza, located roughly 40 kilometers from Al-Arish, according to UN… Read More
Nearly 50K veterans in US use suicide prevention program in 2023
January 18, 2024, 1:36 pm
WASHINGTON – Approximately 50,000 US veterans utilized an emergency suicide prevention program in 2023 that was initiated by the Department of Veterans Affairs. A total of 49,714 veterans and former service members have used the program, which allows eligible veterans and certain former service… Read More
Rozhen's new robotic telescope allows astronomers to observe remotely
January 18, 2024, 10:38 am
SOFIA, Bulgaria – At the beginning of February, the Rozhen National Astronomical Observatory (NAO) will start a scientific observation programme using its new robotic telescope, NAO Director Nikola Petrov told BTA here on Tuesday. Astronomers from Hungary, Germany, France, Poland, Serbia, Italy,… Read More
UK bids to reduce number of migrants arriving by legal routes
January 16, 2024, 5:50 pm
LONDON – Britain’s home secretary on Monday reiterated the government's policy to reduce the number of migrants arriving by legal routes as well as to stop asylum seekers arriving across the English Channel in small boats. Responding to lawmakers’ questions in parliament, James Cleverly said… Read More
Trump triumphs in 1st Republican caucus in Iowa
January 16, 2024, 4:14 pm
WASHINGTON – Former US President Donald Trump scored a resounding victory in the first Republican presidential nomination contest in Iowa on Monday, cementing his momentum in the race to clinch the ticket for the Nov. 5 general election. With 93 percent of the vote reported from the lead-off… Read More
WHO appeals for $1.5B for key emergencies in 2024
January 16, 2024, 1:44 pm
ATHENS – The World Health Organization (WHO) on Monday launched an appeal for USD1.5 billion for 41 key emergencies around the globe in 2024. "The appeal covers the emergencies that demand the highest level of response from WHO, with the aim to reach over 87 million people," it said in a… Read More
Gaza death toll breaches 24K
January 16, 2024, 11:43 am
GAZA CITY, Palestine – At least 24,100 Palestinians have been killed and 60,834 others injured in Israeli attacks on the Gaza Strip since Oct. 7, the Health Ministry in the besieged Palestinian enclave said Monday. “The Israeli occupation (forces) committed 12 massacres against families in the… Read More