Foreign
10 people die in forest fires in Chile
February 4, 2024, 11:27 am
BOGOTA – Several people have died in forest fires in central and southern Chile, according to local authorities.Numerous fires broke out in the South American country's coastal cities of Valparaiso and Vina del Mar.About 10 people have died so far in the blazes that spread to residential areas.A… Read More
Meta’s Zuckerberg jumps to 4th place on world's billionaires list
February 3, 2024, 3:17 pm
ISTANBUL – Mark Zuckerberg, the founder and CEO of Facebook's parent firm, Meta Platforms, jumped to fourth place on the world's billionaires list Friday, as tech giant firm shares soared on strong financial results, according to a tally. The Forbes Real-Time Billionaires List said Zuckerberg's… Read More
Catalonia declares drought emergency
February 2, 2024, 4:16 pm
OVIEDO, Spain – For the first time, the government of Catalonia declared a drought emergency, announcing on Thursday new restrictions that will affect around 5.9 million people. “It is the worst drought on record,” Catalan President Pere Aragones told a press conference. “Climate change… Read More
Hundreds of flights grounded in Germany amid strikes
February 1, 2024, 8:19 pm
BERLIN – Hundreds of flights were canceled at Germany’s major airports on Thursday as security staff began a one-day strike over an ongoing dispute over pay. The strike grounded more than 1,100 flights in 11 airports, including the country’s busiest international airport Frankfurt, affecting… Read More
Tech giants' CEOs grilled over harmful online content
February 1, 2024, 4:42 pm
HOUSTON, US – Leaders of the largest social media companies testified before the US Senate Judiciary Committee on Wednesday regarding protecting children from harmful and dangerous online content. The CEOs of Meta (Facebook), TikTok, X (formerly Twitter) and Snapchat appeared before Congress to… Read More
Gaza death toll from Israeli attacks nears 27K
February 1, 2024, 3:25 pm
ANKARA – The death toll from Israeli attacks in the Gaza Strip has jumped to 26,900 since Oct. 7, the Health Ministry in the besieged Palestinian enclave said Wednesday. The Health Ministry issued a statement as the deadly Israeli onslaught entered its 117th day or almost four months. It also… Read More
Mongolian becomes 52nd language of Vatican media
February 1, 2024, 1:56 pm
ROME – Vatican media now transmits news in 52 languages after the inclusion of Mongolian on Wednesday. "We are happy about this new possibility to read the words of the Holy Father in Mongolian," said Cardinal Giorgio Marengo, Apostolic Prefect of Ulaanbaatar. "It is one of the fruits of his… Read More
US F-16 fighter jet crashes in South Korean waters
January 31, 2024, 4:29 pm
ANKARA – A US F-16 fighter jet crashed in waters off South Korea's west coast, local media reported on Wednesday. The pilot was rescued after ejecting from the aircraft. He is in stable condition, Seoul-based Yonhap News reported. "The jet assigned to the 8th Fighter Wing in Kunsan Air Base,… Read More
Somalia, humanitarian agencies appeal for USD1.6 billion aid
January 31, 2024, 3:00 pm
MOGADISHU, Somalia – The government and humanitarian agencies are seeking USD1.6 billion to assist 5.2 million people out of 6.9 million who need life-saving humanitarian and protection assistance in Somalia in 2024. Mogadishu, the United Nations in Somalia, and humanitarian partners, in a joint… Read More
US, China launch talks to counter illicit synthetic drugs
January 31, 2024, 2:49 pm
WASHINGTON – The US and China launched a joint counter-narcotics working group on Tuesday to combat global manufacturing and trafficking of illicit synthetic drugs including fentanyl. The move follows a summit last year in San Francisco, California where US President Joe Biden and his Chinese… Read More
Security staff at German airports to strike on Thursday
January 31, 2024, 2:07 pm
BERLIN – A German union has announced that security staff will go on strike at the country’s busiest airports on Thursday amid an ongoing dispute over pay. “As no agreement has been reached in the three rounds of collective bargaining for security staff, Ver.di has called an all-day strike… Read More
Ceasefire talks between Israel, Hamas advance
January 29, 2024, 7:06 pm
JERUSALEM – Progress has been made between Israel and the Palestinian group Hamas in negotiations on an exchange of hostages, the Israeli Broadcasting Authority reported Sunday. This follows the conclusion of a summit on Sunday in the French capital Paris with the participation of Israel, the… Read More
8 US troops with traumatic brain injuries evacuated from Jordan: CNN
January 29, 2024, 5:07 pm
TEHRAN – Eight US soldiers deployed at a US base in Jordan were evacuated to US medical centers in other countries after they were diagnosed of traumatic brain injuries, American TV network CNN reported. The United States Central Command (CENTCOM) also confirmed that eight service members were… Read More
Iran close to reaching geostationary space orbit
January 29, 2024, 4:36 pm
TEHRAN – Iran has successfully put for the first time three homegrown satellites into space orbits, getting close to reaching the Geostationary Orbit (GEO), also known as geosynchronous orbit. The 32-kilogram Mahda, and the nano Keyhan-2 and Hatef-1 research satellites, which weigh less than 10… Read More
Israel mourns fallen Philippine-born soldier
January 29, 2024, 2:06 pm
JERUSALEM – The story of Philippine-born Sgt. 1st Class (res.) Cydrick Garin captured the hearts of Israelis as they learned about his journey from a challenging upbringing to becoming a decorated soldier. Garin, 23, was among the 21 soldiers killed on Jan. 22 when a blast ripped through a Gaza… Read More
N. Korea fires several cruise missiles, says SoKor military
January 28, 2024, 3:46 pm
SEOUL – North Korea fired several cruise missiles from its east coast on Sunday, the South Korean military said, days after Pyongyang test-fired new strategic cruise missiles from the west coast. The Joint Chiefs of Staff (JCS) said the North's launch took place around 8 a.m. in waters off… Read More
Heavy rains flood camps sheltering displaced Palestinians
January 28, 2024, 1:06 pm
GAZA CITY, Palestine – Heavy rains in the Gaza Strip have exacerbated the suffering of hundreds of thousands of displaced Palestinians in tents and shelter centers. The water flooded thousands of camps and submerged the residents’ belongings, leaving them without blankets and warm clothes.… Read More
Trump ordered to pay writer Carroll $83.3-M in defamation case
January 27, 2024, 6:43 pm
NEW YORK – Former US President Donald Trump was ordered to pay writer E. Jean Carroll USD83.3 million whom he defamed in 2019, a Manhattan federal jury said Friday. The nine-person jury – two women and seven men - ordered Trump to pay Carroll USD11 million for a reputational repair program,… Read More
Female lawmaker attacked in Seoul; 15-y/o arrested
January 26, 2024, 2:55 pm
SEOUL – People Power Party lawmaker Rep. Bae Hyun-jin sustained a head injury after she was hit in the head with a rock Thursday by a 15-year-old male, her office said. The incident happened around 5 p.m. in the southern Seoul district of Gangnam. According to Bae's aide, a male pedestrian… Read More
New Galaxy S24 breaks preorder record in S. Korea
January 26, 2024, 1:50 pm
SEOUL – Samsung Electronics Co. on Friday said it has sold more than 1.2 million units of its new flagship Galaxy S24 in preorders in South Korea. It said preorders for the Galaxy S24 series, launched on Jan. 16, amounted to 1.21 million units from Jan. 19-25, outnumbering the 1.09 million set… Read More
