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Historic domes of Hagia Sophia are renovated to protect the landmark from earthquakes
ISTANBUL (AP) — Turkey has begun a new phase in sweeping restorations of the nearly 1,500-year-old Hagia Sophia in Istanbul, focusing on preserving the monument's historic domes from the threat of earthquakes. Officials say the project will include reinforcing Hagia Sophia's main dome and half domes, replacing the worn lead coverings and upgrading the steel framework while worship continues uninterrupted in the mosque. A newly installed tower crane on the eastern façade is expected to facilitate
April 14, 2025 -
Trump warns no country 'off the hook' on tariffs
WASHINGTON (AFP) -- US President Donald Trump warned Sunday that no country would be "getting off the hook" on tariffs, as his administration suggested exemptions seen as favoring China would be short-lived. The world's two largest economies have been locked in a fast-moving, high-stakes game of brinkmanship since Trump launched a global tariff assault that particularly targeted Chinese imports. Tit-for-tat exchanges have seen US levies imposed on China rise to 145 percent, and Beijing setting a
April 14, 2025 -
Israel intensifies strikes across Gaza
A wave of Israeli strikes across Gaza on Sunday hit a hospital and other sites, killing at least 21 people, including children, as Israel vowed to expand its security presence in the small coastal strip. The predawn strike on Al-Ahli Hospital in Gaza City was the latest of several attacks on northern Gaza's last major hospital providing critical health care. Hospital director Dr. Fadel Naim said the emergency room, pharmacy and surrounding buildings were severely damaged, affecting over 100 pati
April 14, 2025 -
At least 50 people killed in east Congo as government and Rwanda-backed rebels trade blame
GOMA, Congo (AP) — At least 50 people were killed in weekend attacks in Congo’s conflict-battered east, authorities said Saturday. The government traded blame with Rwanda-backed rebels over who was responsible for the violence that quickly escalated the conflict in the region. The renewed violence that residents reported in and around the region’s largest city of Goma — which the M23 rebels control — was the biggest threat yet to ongoing peace efforts by both the Gulf Arab state of Qatar and Afr
April 14, 2025 -
Russian missile strikes Ukraine city
SUMY, Ukraine (AFP) -- A Russian missile strike on Sunday on the Ukrainian city of Sumy killed at least 34 people, authorities said as European and United States leaders condemned one of the deadliest attacks in months. Two ballistic missiles hit the centre of the northeastern city, close to the Russian border, on Sunday morning, Ukrainian authorities said. People ran for cover amid burning cars and bodies were left strewn in the street. President Volodymyr Zelenskyy stressed that the attack occ
April 14, 2025 -
Hungarian opposition leader pledges to restore alliances
BUDAPEST, Hungary (AP) — The leader of Hungary's largest opposition party on Sunday told thousands of supporters that he would guide his country out of its international isolation if he defeats Prime Minister Viktor Orban in elections scheduled for next year. Peter Magyar, the leader of the Respect and Freedom (Tisza) party, represents the most serious challenge to Orbán's power since the right-wing populist leader took power in 2010. Recent polling suggests that Tisza has overtaken Orban's Fide
April 14, 2025 -
Gabon junta chief wins presidency
LIBREVILLE, Gabon (AFP) -- Junta chief Brice Oligui Nguema celebrated a huge victory in Gabon's presidential election Sunday after provisional results gave him 90.35 percent of the vote. Oligui, who ended more than five decades of corruption-plagued rule by the Bongo family in August 2023, assuming the role of transitional president, had promised to return the country to democratic rule. "God does not abandon his people," Oligui told hundreds of delighted supporters at his campaign headquarters,
April 14, 2025 -
Behind the scenes of survival: Get to know Vietnam's hospital social workers
HANOI, Vietnam (Viet Nam News/ANN) — Behind the scenes of the health care system, hospital social workers quietly bridge the gap between medical treatment and patients' financial realities, making the difference between life and death for those who cannot afford care. Nguyen Thi Cuc, a social worker at the National Children's Hospital 1, has helped hundreds of families navigate the financial barriers to health care over the past six years. "I saw parents collapse in hallways when doctors told th
April 14, 2025 -
Group claims responsibility for bombing in Greece
ATHENS, Greece (AP) — A new extremist group claimed responsibility Sunday for a bomb that exploded near the offices of Hellenic Train, Greece’s main railway services operator and the planting of another near the Labor Ministry in early February. The explosion Friday evening resulted in limited damage and no injuries. The perpetrators had forewarned of the explosion by calling two media organizations about 40 minutes before it happened. In a lengthy posting on the website Athens.indymedia.org on
April 14, 2025 -
Yemen's Houthis say five killed in US strike
SANAA, Yemen (AFP) -- Yemen's Houthi rebels said on Sunday that a United States strike in Sanaa province had killed five people and wounded more than a dozen others. "The death toll from the US aggression on the Al-Sawari factory in the Matna area of Bani Matar has risen to 18, including five martyrs and 13 wounded, in a preliminary toll," the Iran-backed group said in a statement. Houthi media also reported that US strikes targeted various other areas in the country Sunday, including in the Saa
April 14, 2025 -
New certification system to safeguard Bhutan's local handcrafted products
THIMPHU, Bhutan (Kuensel/ANN) — Bhutan‘s Ministry of Home Affairs is working to address concerns regarding the huge influx of mass-produced arts and crafts products from neighboring countries, which undermine the authenticity of Bhutanese handicraft products and threaten the livelihoods of local artisans. At the meet-the-press session on April 1, Home Affairs Minister Tshering said that the situation is not as dire as some have suggested, asserting that Bhutanese traditional arts and crafts cont
April 14, 2025 -
If you have a sweet tooth, Mithai Gali in Pakistan's Karachi is a must visit
ISLAMABAD, Pakistan (Dawn/ANN) — Upon turning into the street and looking around, one wonders why the people have not gotten fat. In Liaquatabad, the street nicknamed “Mithai Gali” by locals is full of pakwan (commercial kitchen) shops busy preparing sweets in droves. They produce so many sweetmeats or “mithai” that they sell at wholesale rates — about one-fourth of the rates of a regular candy shop. At Azeem Sweets and Rabri House, the per-kilogram rate of gulab jamun is $1.25. Chumchum, the ne
April 14, 2025 -
More than 30 people killed, 84 injured in Russian missile attack on Ukrainian city of Sumy
At least 32 people have been killed in a Russian missile strike on the Ukrainian city of Sumy on Sunday, officials said. Two ballistic missiles struck the heart of the city at around 10:15 a.m. as people gathered to celebrate Palm Sunday, according to officials. Images posted from the scene on official channels showed lines of black body bags lying on the side of the road, while more bodies were seen wrapped in foil blankets among the debris. Video footage also showed fire crews as they fought t
April 13, 2025 -
Trump receives a standing ovation at Miami UFC event
MIAMI (AP) — US President Donald Trump entered to a standing ovation and cheers from a crowd of thousands attending a UFC event on Saturday night, shaking hands with supporters against a backdrop of fans waving his trademark MAGA hats. Just as Trump entered, he greeted podcast host Joe Rogan, who sat to the right of the president. On the other side of Trump sat Elon Musk, billionaire and chief of the Department of Government Efficiency. Trump, who accented his dark suit with a bright yellow tie,
April 13, 2025 -
Israel expanding Gaza offensive, seizes key corridor
Israel said Saturday it planned to expand its military offensive in Gaza after seizing a new corridor as part of a broader effort to take large parts of the war-battered Palestinian territory. It also told tens of thousands of residents of Khan Younis and surrounding areas in southern Gaza to evacuate and launched strikes after projectiles were fired from there. "Soon, IDF operations will intensify and expand to other areas throughout most of Gaza, and you will need to evacuate the combat zones,
April 13, 2025