Apr 23, 2019   World News

More than 50 feared killed in landslide at Myanmar jade mine

More than 50 people are feared killed after a landslide in northern Myanmar engulfed jade miners while they were sleeping, local police said Tuesday, the latest deadly accident in a notoriously dangerous industry.Three bodies had been pulled from the debris, Tin Soe, a lawmaker representing the jade-rich Hpakant area of Kachin state in the north, said.Deadly landslides and other accidents are common in the poorly regulated mines of Hpakant. Local people look around a jade mine where the mud dam

Apr 22, 2019   World News

US won’t renew sanctions waivers for importing Iranian oil

WASHINGTON (AP) -- The Trump administration is poised Monday to tell five nations, including allies Japan, South Korea and Turkey, that they will no longer be exempt from US sanctions if they continue to import oil from Iran.　 Secretary of State Mike Pompeo plans to announce that the administration will not renew sanctions waivers for the five countries when they expire on May 2, three US officials said. The others are China and India.　It was not immediately clear if any of the five would be giv

Apr 22, 2019   World News

Strong earthquake shakes areas north of Philippine capital

MANILA, Philippines (AP) -- A strong earthquake shook the Philippine capital and outlying provinces Monday, briefly knocking out power, causing boulders to roll down onto a highway, stopping an overhead train service and prompting thousands of people to flee to safety, officials said.　The US Geological Survey said the late afternoon quake had a preliminary magnitude of 6.1 and was centered near the northwestern town of Bodega. There were no immediate reports of injuries or widespread damage. (AF

Apr 22, 2019   World Business

[Graphic News] Venezuela world's most miserable economy

　Inflation that’s projected to reach an eyeball-popping 8 million percent this year has left Venezuela saddled with the title of the world’s most miserable economy.　The embattled South American nation topped the rankings of Bloomberg’s Misery Index, which sums inflation and unemployment outlooks for 62 economies, for the fifth straight year.　Joining Venezuela in the most-distressed crowd are Argentina, South Africa, Turkey, Greece and Ukraine -- each of which retained the same rank as last year,

Apr 21, 2019   World News

Sri Lanka Easter attack toll hits 290

At least 290 are now known to have died in a series of bomb blasts that tore through churches and luxury hotels in Sri Lanka, in the worst violence to hit the island since its devastating civil war ended a decade ago.Eight apparently co-ordinated explosions targeted Easter worshippers and high end hotels popular with international guests.The horrific death toll, which has risen dramatically overnight, was given on Monday morning by a police spokesman, who said a further 500 people had been wound

Apr 20, 2019   World News

Japan courts Trump using emperor, first lady’s birthday

TOKYO -- Without close friends in Asia, Japan‘s Prime Minister Shinzo Abe appears to be using every opportunity, even the emperor’s accession, to court President Donald Trump.Abe is scheduling a rushed visit to Washington to meet with Trump and celebrate first lady’s birthday, and then is inviting him to be first foreign leader to meet the new emperor, the two countries announced Friday.  (AP-Yonhap)Tokyo and Washington said that Trump and first lady Melania Trump will make a state visit to Japa

Apr 19, 2019   World News

All Notre-Dame paintings to be removed as officials head inside

PARIS -- The remaining paintings inside the Notre-Dame cathedral in Paris are to be removed on Friday and stored, with fire service officials now satisfied the damaged structure is safe enough to go inside.Firemen and engineering experts have been working on the fragile landmark since a devastating blaze on Monday night, erecting scaffolding and other wooden supports to stop any of the stonework collapsing."The paintings inside the cathedral have been saved from the flames and can now be taken d

Apr 18, 2019   World News

Strong 6.1-magnitude quake hits Taiwan, shakes buildings in Taipei

TAIPEI (AFP) -- A 6.1-magnitude earthquake jolted Taiwan on Thursday, the US Geological Survey said, shaking buildings and disrupting traffic.In the capital Taipei, highrises swayed while some panicked schoolchildren fled their classrooms in eastern Yilan county, according to reports.The quake was felt across the island and a highway connecting Yilan and Hualien was shut down due to falling rocks, authorities said.An official at the Hualien county fire department told AFP that two people, includ

Apr 17, 2019   World News

[Graphic News] Heritage landmarks devastated by fires

　The Notre Dame Cathedral in Paris is not the only heritage site to have been damaged by fire. Other heritage sites around the world have also been completely or partially destroyed by fires. 

Apr 17, 2019   World News

[Photo News] Notre Dame after the fire

Notre Dame Cathedral in Paris, France, is still standing after a devastating fire broke out Monday. French President Emmanuel Macron promised to rebuild the beloved 13th century building. The Notre Dame Cathedral in Paris is still standing despite major damage caused by a giant fire 16 April 2019. French President Emmanuel Macron vowed to rebuild the 13th century building that welcomes tens of millions of worshippers and tourists per year. (Yonhap) The devastating fire at Notre Dame Cathedral in

Apr 17, 2019   World News

Shared grief and memories make Notre Dame a unifier online

WARSAW, Poland (AP) - As foreign leaders expressed solidarity with France as it mourned the damage at Notre Dame Cathedral, people around the world shared their grief on social media along with unforgettable memories from the Paris landmark. They posted selfies and family photos that were taken at Notre Dame days, years or decades before a fire burned through the Gothic church's roof and brought down the spire on Monday. Some wrote of their disbelief. Others, saying no words adequately expressed

Apr 16, 2019   World News

Macron to discuss Notre-Dame with Pope Francis later Tuesday: presidency

French President Emmanuel Macron will discuss the fire that ravaged the famed Notre-Dame cathedral in Paris with Pope Francis in telephone talks later Tuesday, his office said."The president has already had several national and international calls this morning," including with US President Donald Trump, German Chancelor Angela Merkel and UN Secretary General Antonio Guterres, the presidency said. (AFP) French President Emmanuel Macron speaks as Prime Minister Edouard Philippe and Archbishop of P

Apr 16, 2019   World News

YouTube accidentally links Notre-Dame fire to 9/11 attacks

SINGAPORE, April  16, 2019 (AFP) - A YouTube fact-check feature which is meant to tackle misinformation accidentally tagged live broadcasts of a fire engulfing Notre-Dame Cathedral in Paris with details about the 9/11 terror attacks.The blaze erupted in the UNESCO world heritage landmark in the French capital Monday, sending its spire and roof crashing to the ground as flames and clouds of smoke billowed into the sky.The fire, which at one point threatened the entire edifice, was extinguished Tu

Apr 16, 2019   World News

As Notre Dame smolders, Macron vows to rebuild

The raging fire that tore through Notre-Dame Cathedral in central Paris was under control early Tuesday after the blaze brought its towering spire and roof crashing to the ground, wiping out centuries of priceless heritage central to French culture and history. French President Emmanuel Macron vowed to rebuild the cathedral described as the soul of the nation and expressed relief that "the worst had been avoided" in a blaze that had at one point threatened the entire edifice.French President Emm