VIRGINIA – Two US journalists have been shot dead during a live TV report in the state of Virginia, their employer has confirmed. WDBJ7 TV reporter Alison Parker, 24, and cameraman Adam Ward, 27, were killed during an interview in Moneta, Bedford County, the TV station said. During the live broadcast, shots and the reporter’s…
LONDON – Stock markets across the US and Europe have fallen sharply as fears of a Chinese economic slowdown continue to haunt investors. Wall Street’s Dow Jones was down more than 4% after the first half-hour of trading, having earlier fallen 6%. London’s FTSE 100 index was 4.8% lower in afternoon trade, with major markets…
BEIJING – Controversial American sprinter Justin Gatlin underlined his status as 100m gold medal favourite as he produced the fastest time in the first round. Gatlin, who has twice served doping suspensions, clocked 9.83 seconds in the sixth heat, albeit with the assistance of a 2.1m/s tailwind. Reigning world and Olympic champion Usain Bolt won…
BEIJING – Usain Bolt is “sad” the focus is on doping ahead of the World Championships in Beijing but says he cannot save the sport’s reputation on his own. Bolt, who has never failed a drugs test, will race against American Justin Gatlin, who has served two suspensions for using banned substances. Jamaican sprinter Bolt,…
BANGKOK – The bomb attack that killed 20 people at Bangkok’s Erawan shrine on Monday was carried out by a “network”, Thailand’s chief of police has said. Police have released a sketch of the main suspect, a man in a yellow T-shirt who was filmed by security cameras leaving a backpack at the shrine. Police…
HAVANA – Former Cuban leader Fidel Castro has published an open letter to the nation in which he makes no mention of the historic reopening of the US embassy. Mr Castro instead criticises American foreign and economic policies since World War Two and accuses the US of owing Cuba millions of dollars. The letter was…
TIANJIN – The massive explosions in China’s northern city of Tianjin are now known to have killed at least 50 people. More than 700 have been injured and hospitals are struggling to cope with the number of casualties. The blasts, at a warehouse storing toxic chemicals, destroyed tower blocks and burned out thousands of cars….
BEIJING – China’s Central Bank has again cut the guiding rate for the national currency, the yuan, a day after Tuesday’s record 1.9% devaluation. The move sent fresh shockwaves through Asian markets, but the bank has sought to calm fears, saying it was not the start of a sustained depreciation. The yuan fell another 1%…
SEOUL – South Korea’s government says it is monitoring reports that North Korea’s vice-premier Choe Yong-gon was killed in May on the orders of Kim Jong-un. Mr Choe was executed after he “expressed discomfort against the young leader’s forestation policy”, South Korea’s Yonhap news agency reports. Close to 70 officials have been killed under Kim…
NEW YORK – Donald Trump continued to dominate the Republican race for US president by causing further controversies in the first debate. The tycoon’s refusal to rule out a third-party run drew boos from the audience on Thursday night. And he stood by offensive comments he has made in the past about women. The 10…
