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TOKYO (AP) — Asian shares are mostly higher on optimism about a U.S.-China trade deal as regional markets open for the new year's first day of trading. Hong Kong's Hang Seng jumped 1.2% and the Shanghai Composite gained 1.5%. South Korea's Kospi was lower, while Tokyo was still closed for the New Year's holiday. President Donald Trump said an initial trade deal with China would be signed later this month. North Korea's promise to soon reveal a new strategic weapon weighed on sentiments. China's central bank is also lowering its reserve requirement, a move welcome because it frees money for lending ahead of the Lunar New Year.
DES MOINES, Iowa (AP) — Pete Buttigieg's campaign says he raised more than $24.7 million in the last three months and now has a campaign staff of 500 people nationwide. It's a show of financial and organizational strength heading into the presidential primaries. Buttigieg's campaign says he has raised $76 million since he launched his bid for president, including more than 2 million contributions from over 733,000 people. It’s a notable feat for the former mayor of South Bend, Indiana, who gave up the position Wednesday when his successor was sworn in. Buttigieg's average contribution was around $38.
SEOUL, South Korea (AP) — North Korean leader Kim Jong Un has expressed frustration over stalled nuclear negotiations and warned that his country will soon show to the world a new strategic weapon. Kim also says North Korea is no longer obligated to maintain a self-imposed suspension on the testing of nuclear weapons and intercontinental ballistic missiles. President Donald Trump has touted North Korea's moratorium as a major diplomatic accomplishment. Kim gave no clear indication that a resumption of such tests was impending and Trump urged him to hold to his alleged commitment. U.N. spokesman Stephane Dujarric said Secretary-General António Guterres “very much hopes" that the tests will not resume.
PERTH, Australia (AP) — Thousands of tourists are fleeing Australia's wildfire-ravaged eastern coast ahead of worsening conditions as the military started to evacuate people trapped on the shore further south. Cooler weather has aided firefighting and allowed people to replenish supplies. Vehicles formed long lines at gas stations and supermarkets, and traffic was gridlocked as highways reopened. But fire conditions are expected to deteriorate as high temperatures and strong winds return. Wildfires this week have burned more than more than 400 homes in Australia's two most-populous states. New South Wales ordered tourists to leave a large stretch of the coast.
WASHINGTON (AP) — The breach of the U.S. Embassy compound in Baghdad has prompted Secretary of State Mike Pompeo to delay his trip to Ukraine and four other countries. Pompeo was to arrive in Ukraine late Thursday in his first visit to the country at the center of President Donald Trump's impeachment. State Department spokeswoman Morgan Ortagus says Pompeo is postponing the trip “to continue monitoring the ongoing situation in Iraq and ensure the safety and security of Americans in the Middle East." She says he intends to reschedule soon. In Kyiv, Pompeo was to meet Ukraine's president and reaffirm U.S. support for Ukrainian sovereignty.
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