US and Ukraine sign minerals deal

WASHINGTON (AP) — The United States and Ukraine on Wednesday signed off on a deal that will give Washington access to Ukraine's vast critical minerals and natural resources, finalizing an agreement weeks in the making to compensate the US for its help in repelling Russia’s invasion. The two sides offered only barebone details about the structure of the deal, which they called the US-Ukraine Reinvestment Fund. But it is expected to give the US access to Ukraine’s valuable rare earth minerals whil

May 1, 2025

[Graphic News] Trump ranks lowest in Q1 approval among modern presidents

US president Donald Trump is closing out the first quarter of his second term with an average 45 percent job approval rating, according to a new Gallup report. The report notes that while this marks an improvement from the 41 percent average he received during the first quarter of his initial term, it remains significantly lower than that of all other US presidents elected since World War II. Gallup reports that the average first-quarter job approval rating for presidents from 1952 through 2020

May 1, 2025

Filipino street kid now in college recalls encounter with Pope Francis

MANILA, Philippines (Philippine Daily Inquirer/ANN) — Jun Chura, a second-year college student at the University of Santo Tomas, was enjoying the last day of the Holy Week break before classes resumed. He was doomscrolling that day when he read the news of Pope Francis' death. The 23-year-old did not believe the news at first, although he had been following developments regarding the Holy Father's health — from the time he was hospitalized on Feb. 14 to his discharge more than a month later unti

May 1, 2025

Shakrain: Kites and tastes of Old Dhaka

DHAKA, Bangladesh (Daily Star/ANN) — Every year, on the evening of Jan. 14, a walk around the streets of Old Dhaka would reveal an unfamiliar vibe in the familiar streets as Dhakaites prepare to celebrate Shakrain. Along with the lively chatter on the streets, rooftops become active, and the sky turns into a battleground for aerial kite fights. Marking the end of Poush on the Bengali calendar, "Poush Sankranti," as it is known, is not just about outward celebrations. As kites soar high in the ai

May 1, 2025

Bhutanese community’s traditional paper craft faces market decline

DOROKHA, Bhutan (Kuensel/ANN) — A desho paper production center in Jigme village, Dophuchen gewog, run by the Lhop community, is facing challenges in maintaining operations due to a sustained decline in demand. Started in 2003 with the Tarayana Foundation's help, the paper-making was successful at first. Then, the villagers took over. The center used to produce over 2,000 sheets of paper every month. They sold these in Thimphu, Paro, and Samtse. However, now they make and sell much less. "Desho

May 1, 2025

Disgraced Cardinal Becciu formally withdraws from participation in conclave to elect pope

VATICAN CITY (AP) — The Italian cardinal at the heart of the Vatican's "trial of the century" announced Tuesday he was withdrawing from participating in the upcoming conclave to elect a new pope for "the good of the church," ending days of drama that had overshadowed the proceedings. Cardinal Angelo Becciu' s status has dominated discussions in the days after Pope Francis' death amid questions about whether he would participate in the conclave to elect Francis' successor or not. After his 2020 d

April 30, 2025

Vietnam marks 50 years since war's end and focuses on reconciliation during a period of new tensions

HO CHI MINH CITY, Vietnam (AP) — Vietnam on Wednesday marked the 50th anniversary of the end of the war with the United States and the formation of the modern nation through the merger of North and South Vietnam. Thousands had flocked to Ho Chi Minh City — once known as Saigon — to witness the military parade near the Independence Palace, where the war ended when a North Vietnamese tank smashed through its gates. The celebrations — performances by artists, speeches by leaders and former soldiers

April 30, 2025

At least 10 dead in Syria after sectarian clashes in Druze suburb of Damascus

DAMASCUS, Syria (AP) — At least 10 people were killed on Tuesday after clashes broke out in a suburb of the Syrian capital between local gunmen belonging to the minority Druze sect and pro-government fighters, a war monitor and an activist group said. Syrian Druze gunmen have clashed in recent weeks with government security forces and pro-government gunmen in the southern Damascus suburb of Jaramana. Late Tuesday, government representatives and Jaramana dignitaries reached an agreement to end th

April 30, 2025

US states sue to block Trump from dismantling AmeriCorps

Democratic-led US states filed a lawsuit on Tuesday alleging the Trump administration had effectively dismantled AmeriCorps by abruptly canceling grants and cutting 85 percent of the workforce of the federal agency for national service and volunteering. In a lawsuit filed in federal court in Baltimore, 24 Democratic-led states and the District of Columbia argue that Republican President Donald Trump does not have the authority under the US Constitution to gut AmeriCorps, which was created by Con

April 30, 2025

Florida poised to become 2nd US state to ban fluoride from public water systems

Florida is poised to become the second state to ban fluoride in public drinking water, over the concerns of dentists and public health advocates who say the mineral is a safe, effective way to protect people of all ages from developing cavities. Florida lawmakers gave final approval to the bill Tuesday after Utah became the first state to pass a ban last month. The Republican-led states are following a push led by US Health Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr., who is setting the gears of government

April 30, 2025

China lashes out at US as tensions escalate over observatory in Chile

SANTIAGO, Chile (AP) — China struck a defiant stance on Tuesday in response to American concerns about Beijing's efforts to expand its influence in the resource-rich South American nation of Chile, escalating tensions over a Chinese astronomical venture in Chile’s arid north. At a press conference Tuesday in Chile's capital of Santiago, China's ambassador to Chile, Niu Qingbao, lambasted the United States for “interfering in Chile’s sovereign right to independently choose its partners” and sprea

April 30, 2025

Trump marks his first 100 days in office in campaign mode, focused on grudges and grievances

United States President Donald Trump on Tuesday celebrated the 100th day of his second term — yet spent much of his rally marking it in campaign mode, fixated on past grudges and grievances. He repeatedly mocked his Democratic predecessor, Joe Biden, attacking his mental acuity and even how he appears in a bathing suit. He again uttered the lie that he won the 2020 presidential election. And he attacked polling and news coverage not favorable to him. And Trump again and again returned to immigra

April 30, 2025

[Graphic News] Global EV sales surge 36.9% as Chinese automakers take lead

Global electric vehicle sales saw a sharp rise in early 2025, with registrations jumping 36.9 percent year-over-year in January and February to a total of 2.51 million units, according to energy market research firm SNE Research. The surge underscores the growing dominance of Chinese automakers, which continue to benefit from strong government support and a thriving domestic market. Leading the global market was China’s BYD, which sold 540,000 units, an 80.3 percent increase from the same period

April 30, 2025

Trump celebrates the Super Bowl champ Eagles at White House, but star QB Jalen Hurts skips ceremony

WASHINGTON (AP) — President Donald Trump feted the 2025 Super Bowl champion Philadelphia Eagles at the White House on Monday, but several players, including quarterback Jalen Hurts, decided to skip the celebration. Hurts and other players cited scheduling conflicts as the reasons for their absences, according to a White House official who was not authorized to comment publicly and spoke on condition of anonymity. Still, Trump called Hurts a "terrific guy and terrific player" who turned in "one s

April 29, 2025

Pakistan defense minister says military incursion by India is imminent

ISLAMABAD (Reuters) -- Pakistan's defense minister said on Monday a military incursion by neighboring India was imminent in the aftermath of a deadly militant attack on tourists in Kashmir last week, as tensions rise between the two nuclear-armed nations. The attack killed 26 people and triggered outrage in Hindu-majority India, along with calls for action against Muslim-majority Pakistan. India accuses Pakistan of backing militancy in Kashmir, a region both claim and have fought two wars over.

April 29, 2025