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In their first election since NATO membership, Finns are heading to the polls to elect a new president. While nine candidates are on the ballot, two have come out as front-runners: former conservative prime minister Alexander Stubb and ex-foreign minister Pekka Haavisto.

If no candidate wins more than half the votes, the two first-round leaders will face each other in a runoff Feb 11.

Sauli Niinisto, the current incumbent, has served two six-year terms and is ineligible to run. Along with its NATO membership, Finland’s concerns over Russian aggression have also shaped the presidential race.

Ties between the two countries have worsened since Russia’s special military operation in Ukraine began in February 2022.

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Dare to explore the unknown? Step foot on "Mars" in China's Gobi Desert!

The remote and expansive Gobi Desert in northwest China is increasingly accessible to the public thanks to the emergence of space-themed tourism, which has opened up new frontiers for adventurous travelers.

Once a testing ground for space exploration robots, Mars Base 1, a simulated Martian habitat located in the city of Jinchang, Gansu Province has now become popular among tourists. By transforming tourists into taikonauts, it tasks participants with hiking through desert areas, finding water and overcoming other life-threatening challenges. Kids can get a taste of life on Mars with special science courses. CGTN

A Pakistani court convicted former Prime Minister and cricket superstar Imran Khan as well as one of his party deputies Shah Mahmoud Qureshi of revealing official secrets, handing both a 10-year sentence on Tuesday.

The cipher case, as it is known, accused Khan of exposing state secrets by waving a confidential document at a rally. The document is believed to be correspondence from the Pakistani ambassador of Washington to the Foreign Ministry in Islamabad. Khan claims that the document proves that his ouster from power in 2022 was a U.S. conspiracy executed by the Pakistani government and military.

This is only the latest in a series of legal cases targeting Imran Khan who is already serving a three year prison sentence.Despite his current legal troubles and being pushed away from politics he still has a wide support base. His supporters see the latest conviction as a ploy to sideline Khan and his PTI party from the upcoming February 8 parliamentary elections. After Khan’s arrest last year, Pakistan saw a wave of violent demonstrations which authorities cracked down on.

As such, the upcoming elections are coming at a sensitive time considering the man who replaced Khan, incumbent Shehbaz Sharif, has struggled to manage an ongoing economic crisis. Sharif opted for a bailout from the International Monetary Fund which meant agreeing to an increase in tariffs, gas and electricity which has led to an alarming price hike on essential goods, making him and his party unpopular.
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in a cozy and quiet reading corner hidden in the downtown area of Haidian district in CGTN

in a rusty industrial park where deserted steel furnace has been turned into a fancy futuristic center for creative industries CGTN

in the last 24h:

- The U.S. and its allies have launched strikes against targets in linked to rebels, the group that has targeted international shipping in the Red Sea since late last year. The military action was taken in coordination with the and with support from Australia, Bahrain, Canada and the Netherlands.

- Thursday was the first day of hearings at the International Court of Justice ( ) regarding the South African case against . Israel is set to present its defence on Friday.

- After almost 100 days of war in , more than 10,000 children – or 1 percent of the total child population on the Strip – have been killed. At least 23,469 people have been killed and more than 59,604 wounded in Israeli attacks on Gaza since October 7. The revised death toll in Israel from the October 7 attack stands at 1,139.

- The exchange of fire between forces and escalated Tuesday on the Israel- border, with Israel claiming the killing of the Lebanese militant group's two senior commanders. The confrontations between Hezbollah and Israel have killed 212 people on the Lebanese side, including 157 Hezbollah members and 35 civilian.


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International law requires countries, even when acting in self-defense, to abide by the rules of war, and on Friday, after two days of hearings, the International Court of Justice (ICJ) faces making its decision on whether Israel has been during its operation in Gaza.

South Africa has accused Israel at the ICJ of committing genocide against Palestinians in its military operation in Gaza that followed the October 7 attack by Hamas that killed 1,200 Israelis. South Africa’s legal representatives on Thursday asked the ICJ to order an immediate halt to Israeli military operations Gaza.

They argued that Israel’s offensive aimed for “the destruction of the population” of Gaza, and accused Israel’s political and military leaders as being among “the genocidal inciters”.

Israel’s high level representatives insisted on Friday that its actions in Gaza are a legitimate defense of its people, and accused Hamas militants of being guilty of genocide.

“Under the guise of the allegation against Israel of genocide,” Israeli legal advisor Tal Becker said “this court is asked to call for an end to operations against the ongoing attacks of an organization that pursues an actual genocidal agenda”.

Israel is fighting a “war it did not start and did not want,” Becker told the audience at the Palace of Peace in the Hague, Netherlands, arguing that the horrible suffering of civilians in war was not enough to level the charge of genocide.

It is one of the biggest cases ever to be heard before an international court.
The genocide claims, notoriously hard to prove, are expected to take years for the ICJ to resolve, if ever, but South Africa has also asked the ICJ to order nine ‘provisional measures,’ including the immediate suspension of Israel’s offensive in Gaza.

ICJ President Joan Donaghue said the court would rule on the provisional measures “as soon as possible.” It is unclear if Israel would heed any such order from the UN’s top court.

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The U.S. and the UK took aim at 60 targets in Houthi-controlled parts of Yemen in overnight strikes, putting the Iran-backed rebels at the center of global concerns that the crisis in the Middle East will escalate.

Five Houthi fighters were killed and six injured, a spokesperson for the group said.

The Houthis seized the capital of Yemen in 2014, launching the country deeper into a catastrophic civil conflict that continues to this day. The group controls the country’s western coastline. Houthi fighters have been attacking commercial vessels in the Red Sea since November.

The group originally said the attacks were aimed at Israel-affiliated vessels to avenge Israel’s offensive against Hamas in Gaza, which so far has killed more than 23,000 Palestinians since early October.

Supporters of the Houthi movement gathered Friday in Sanaa to denounce the strikes. The airstrikes, ordered by U.S. President Biden without the consultation or authorization of Congress, focused on the Houthi’s command and control nodes, munitions storage and production centers, launching systems and air defense radar systems, the U.S. Air Force said.

A spokesperson for the Houthis, backed by Iran, warned of retaliation, further raising the prospect of escalation.

Russia requested an urgent meeting of the UN Security Council on Friday to discuss the strikes on Yemen, which it called ‘irresponsible.’ Russia, an ally of Iran, is mired in its own conflict in Ukraine, which the U.S. has called an ‘illegal war.’

The UN Security Council adopted a resolution Wednesday condemning the Houthi attacks on Red Sea commercial vessels in an 11-0 vote with four abstentions - Russia, China, Algeria and Mozambique.

Israel faced accusations brought by South Africa at the UN’s International Court of Justice on Friday. South Africa says that Israel’s military operation in Gaza is a state-led genocide campaign aimed at wiping out the Palestinian population. The court is expected to rule on possible emergency measures later this month, but not on the genocide allegations - which could take years to address.

Israel’s Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said Thursday that “Israel is accused of genocide while it is fighting against genocide.”

In a televised address this week, Netanyahu said Israel’s goal is to “rid Gaza of Hamas terrorists and free our hostages. Once this is achieved Gaza can be demilitarized and deradicalized”. He said that “Israel has no intention of permanently occupying Gaza or displacing its civilian population.”

The Oct. 7, 2023 surprise attack on Israel by Hamas killed 1,200 Israelis. Close to 130 hostages taken by Hamas are still being held in Gaza.

A Hamas spokesperson this week said the ‘enemy prisoners’ will not be returned alive to their families unless Israel meets its conditions, “the first of which is a comprehensive cessation of the aggression against Gaza.”

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South Africa accused Israel of the crime of genocide this week at the International Court of Justice (ICJ) in the Netherlands. On the second day of hearings, Israel defended its operation in Gaza, maintaining that its offensive against Hamas that has killed more than 23,000 Palestinians falls under self-defense.

The ICJ is not expected to rule on the genocide accusations for some time, but it is considering South Africa’s request to order an immediate halt to Israel’s military operations in Gaza. Israel’s Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu made it clear on Saturday that any such ruling would not be complied with.

What is the ICJ?


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The Republic of South Africa has formally accused Israel of committing genocide against the Palestinian people of Gaza, The case, which is being heard at the International Court of Justice (ICJ), demands that Israel immediately halt its military operation in Gaza, while also demanding justice for the victims harmed during the campaign.

During opening statements at the International Court of Justice, South African lawyers said the latest Gaza war is part of decades of Israeli oppression of Palestinians. South African lawyers urged for an immediate ceasefire and the suspension of hostilities. Israel will begin is rebuttal on Friday when its lawyers present their case to the tribunal.

Israel, which was founded in the aftermath of the Holocaust, has vehemently denied South Africa's allegations. As a sign of how seriously they regard the case, Israeli leaders have taken the rare step of engaging with the court to defend their international reputation.

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PM Alexander De Croo has arrived in on an official visit. The Chinese Foreign Ministry says the 2-day visit comes at the invitation of Premier Li Qiang. This is the 1st visit to by a European leader in 2024.
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New York's Nassau County authorities responded on Thursday, Jan. 11, to a bomb threat at the home of Judge Arthur Engoron, the judicial official presiding over the civil trial of former U.S. President Donald Trump.

A court spokesperson confirmed that Engoron had been threatened and a Nassau County spokesperson confirmed that police had responded to a security incident at a residence at 5:30 a.m. Eastern time, without providing further details.

Security has been an issue throughout the months-long trial. Engoron's top staffer faced threats after Trump criticized her as politically biased, prompting the judge to issue a gag order barring him from disparaging court staff. Trump has been fined $15,000 for twice violating the order.

Most recently, Engoron on Wednesday denied Trump's bid to deliver his own closing arguments after the former president would not accept ground rules barring him from making a "campaign speech."

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The Photography 4 Humanity exhibit, supported by United Nations Human Rights, showcases stories that bring to life the power of human rights through the lenses of photographers from around the world.

Check out some of this year’s winning and finalist photos. https://www.un.org/en/exhibits/exhibit/photography-4-humanity-2023
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Denmark has officially crowned Frederik X as its new king of the country, after his mother Queen Margrethe II formally stepped down, the first time a Danish ruler voluntarily abdicated in nine centuries.

Margrethe signed her abdication in a meeting with the government at the Christiansborg Palace, which houses the Danish Parliament, the Prime Minister’s office, and the Supreme Court.

Danish Prime Minister Mette Frederiksen proclaimed Frederik the new king in front of thousands of people outside of the royal palace. Frederik greeted the crowd, joined by the new Australian-born Queen Mary and their four children.
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A staggering 50 million court cases are backlogged in India’s nationwide judiciary system.

It would take at least 300 years at the current pace to clear the docket.

A slew of issues, including the number of judges per population, lack of funding, and other institutional issues have created a lengthy number of court cases. Here’s a breakdown of why India’s courts are so backed up. CGTN

Bernardo Arevalo, Guatemala's new President was inaugurated on Monday. Arevalo, known for being a staunch anti-corruption and social justice advocate, was supposed to be inaugurated on Sunday but members of congress delayed it.

Pressure from protesters who clashed with riot police and an intentional outcry by the U.S. and the Organization of American States pushed the constitutional process forward.

Arevalo, considered the most progressive head of state in Guatemala since the 1980’s stunned the country’s political establishment through a comfortable victory in the polls last August.

Arevalo, a former academic turned politician is also son of a former president, Juan Jose Arevalo who was in power during the 1940-50’s and implemented key social reforms. Nevertheless, his plans for the country have already faced big resistance among the political elite of the most populous Central American country.

Having little support in Congress and a concoction of legal cases being thrown at him from the country’s Attorney General, Arevalo is set for a term full of tension and political infighting.


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Severe cold swept through extensive areas of the Rockies, Great Plains, and Midwest on Tuesday, bringing wind chills plummeting below minus 30 degrees (minus 34.4 Celsius) across central parts of the U.S.

Early Tuesday, over 120,000 homes and businesses in the U.S., primarily in Oregon, Texas, and Louisiana, faced power outages stemming from widespread disruptions that began on Saturday.

Portland General Electric cautioned that the risk of freezing rain on Tuesday might impede restoration efforts. Authorities advised against travel as icy roads were expected, posing a hazardous threat with the potential to burden trees and power lines, leading to collapses.

The impact of storms and icy temperatures rippled through various sectors, affecting air travel, NFL playoff games, and even Iowa's presidential caucuses. Tragically, the severe weather conditions contributed to several fatalities across the nation.

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in a fancy bookstore within Daxing International Airport in southern , a perfect place for a short rest during travel

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China's northernmost province Heilongjiang has recently emerged as a top star in the country's booming winter tourism. As the temperature here can drop to minus 20C and even lower in winter, it has also been endowed with picturesque ice and snow landscape, from all-white mountain forest to powder-dusted city roof tops. And thanks to its unique history, the place boasts a cornucopia of diverse cultures that surely would not disappoint you!
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On Thursday, Jan. 18, Haiti's capital, Port-au-Prince, experienced a lockdown due to flaming barricades in several neighborhoods, compelling residents to seek shelter or return home amidst ongoing gang violence in the Caribbean nation.

Burning tires and rocks blocked streets, generating large columns of black smoke in different parts of the city, as reported by eyewitnesses to Reuters. Analysts suggest that violence has been intensifying over several months as rival gangs vie for control and attempt to exert influence on interim Prime Minister Ariel Henry.

This escalation is notably timed ahead of the February 7 expiration of a political accord that solidified Henry's authority.
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The death toll in Gaza reached a grim milestone Sunday, with the Health Ministry reporting over 25,000 killed in the conflict between Israel and Hamas.

Israel, meanwhile, announced the death of another hostage. It is still struggling to free more than 100 remaining hostages and destroy the militant group.

Gadi Eisenkot, a minister in Israel's War Cabinet, caused recent divisions in the government, casting doubt on its current strategy to defeat Hamas and rescue hostages.

Eisenkot said people making claims that hostages could be freed by means other than a cease-fire were spreading “illusions.” Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu continued to reject Hamas’s demands for the release of hostages after the militants released a 16-page document justifying their Oct 7 attack

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There have been 92 confirmed weather-related fatalities linked to the past week's in the United States, according to a CBS News tally, even as dangerous cold continues to impact the nation.

have walloped the Pacific Northwest, Midwest, Plains, South and Northeast with low temperatures, heavy snow, ice storms, freezing rain and high winds for the past two weeks.

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الصين المتنوعة.. مكتبة بمدينة شنتشن الصينية تدمج شريط موبيوس في تصميمها

في الـ3 من شهر يناير الجاري، بدأ فرع الانطباع في منطقة لونغهوا لمكتبة يوشين بمدينة شينتشن الافتتاح التجريبي، حيث قامت المكتبة بدمج شريط موبيوس في تصميمها

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The Library, known as the "Forest Reading Hall", is designed with the traditional cultural symbol "Red Seal", and composed of 144 ginkgo leaf-shaped roofs, which support and shape the building, and supply acoustic comfort and rainwater treatment.
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Police and rescue teams continued on Thursday to search through the rubble of homes and buildings destroyed in the New Year’s Day earthquake in Japan.

Dogs moved between the tiles of crushed roofs of wooden houses throughout the Noto Peninsula searching for more than 170 people still missing.

At least 84 people were killed after a major 7.5 magnitude earthquake rocked the region in the Ishikawa prefecture. Heavy rains, lack of power and blocked roads have complicated the search and rescue efforts of 4,600 police and first responders. Japan’s defense minister said Thursday 122 people were rescued on Wednesday, including an elderly woman who was found by a search dog in Wajima City

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The U.S. State Department says they haven’t observed acts of genocide in Gaza. "Those are allegations that should not be made lightly ... we are not seeing any acts that constitute genocide," said State Department spokesperson Matthew Miller during a press briefing. The statement comes after South Africa launched genocide proceedings at the International Court of Justice (ICJ). Public hearings on the issue have been scheduled for Jan. 11 and 12. Israel says they will defend themselves from the charges. More than 22,000 Palestinians have been killed in Israel’s military operation in Gaza, Reuters reports. CGTN

حادث تصادم الطائرات في #اليابان | وزارة الخارجية الصينية: لم يصب أي مواطن صيني خلال الحادث
رد المتحدث باسم وزراة الخارجية الصينية على استفسار أحد الصحفيين حول حادث الخطوط الجوية اليابانية الذي وقع يوم الثلاثاء، حيث قال وانغ ون بين إنه لم يصب أي مواطن صيني في الوقت الحالي، وسيواصل إيلاء اهتمام وثيق بشأن الحادث.
قال وانغ ون بين المتحدث باسم وزارة الخارجية الصينية: " نحزن على ضحايا الحادث ونعرب عن تعازينا للمصابين. ووفقا لما هو متوفر، فإن الجانب الياباني لم يقدم أي طلب ذي صلة للمساعدة في الوقت الحاضر. بعد الحادث، تأكدت السفارة الصينية في اليابان على الفور من الوضع مع السلطات الحكومية المحلية وشركة الطيران. كان هناك 14 سائحا من هونغ كونغ على متن الطائرة المعنية، وقد تواصلت معهم السفارة الصينية في اليابان، أعادت إصدار وثائق السفر لبعض السياح الذين فقدوا وثائقهم. سنواصل مراقبة تقدم الحادث عن كثب وتقديم المساعدة للمواطنين الصينيين في الوقت المناسب."
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The Library has the world’s biggest single reading room, a staircase reading area with a wide view. The library has an open-shelf storage capacity of 200,000 volumes and about 1,400 reading seats.
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The Library, known as the "Forest Reading Hall", is designed with the traditional cultural symbol "Red Seal", and composed of 144 ginkgo leaf-shaped roofs, which support and shape the building, and supply acoustic comfort and rainwater treatment.
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