BEIJING (AP) ― Two Shanghai men have died from a lesser-known type of bird flu in the first known human deaths from the strain, and Chinese authorities said it wasn’t clear how they were infected but there was no evidence of human-to-human transmission. A third person, a woman in the nearby province of Anhui, also contracted the H7N9 strain and was in critical condition, China’s National Health and Family Planning Commission said in a report on its website Sunday. There was no sign that any of t

YANGON (AP) ― For most people in Myanmar, it will be a novelty when privately run daily newspapers hit the streets on Monday. Many weren’t even born when the late dictator Ne Win imposed a state monopoly on the daily press in the 1960s. But for 81-year-old Khin Maung Lay, the rebirth of daily newspapers is like a second lease on life. He is chief editor of Golden Fresh Land, one of four dailies going on sale Monday as Myanmar takes another step in its march toward democracy. He’s old enough to r

BAMAKO (AFP) ― French and Malian troops battled Islamist fighters in the city of Timbuktu in day-long clashes Sunday that left three jihadists and one Malian soldier dead, military sources said.The Islamists began their assault with a suicide bomb attack on an army checkpoint late Saturday on the edge of the fabled Saharan city that left a Malian soldier wounded.Militants then infiltrated the city, which French and Malian soldiers recaptured from Islamist rebels in January.Malian troops battled

VATICAN CITY (AP) ― Pope Francis marked Christianity’s most joyous day with a passionate plea for world peace, celebrating his first Easter Sunday as pontiff in the enthusiastic company of more than 250,000 people who overflowed from St. Peter’s Square. With eloquent words in his Easter message, Francis lamented enduring conflicts in the Middle East, on the Korean Peninsula and elsewhere and remembered the world’s neediest people. With physical gestures, he illustrated the personal, down-to-eart

   (AFP) -- Pope Francis prayed for a "political solution" in Syria and for "reconciliation" on the Korean peninsula in his first Easter Sunday message in front of a crowd in St Peter's Square.   Latin America's first pontiff also issued an appeal for hostages held by militants in Nigeria and condemned human trafficking as "the most extensive form of slavery in this 21st century".   The pope delivered his "Urbi et Orbi" blessing to Rome and the world from the same balcony of St Peter's Basilica

  (AP) -- Authorities in Tibet said Sunday that chances were slim that any survivors would be found after a massive mudslide at a gold mine buried 83 workers in piles of earth up to 30 meters deep. Searchers have found 11 bodies and were searching for the remaining missing.   The landslide Friday has spotlighted the extensive mining activities in the mountainous Chinese region of Tibet and sparked questions about whether mining activities have been excessive and destroyed the region's fragile ec

AMMAN (AP) ― Jordan’s royal palace says King Abdullah II has sworn in a new cabinet led for the first time by a prime minister elected by lawmakers. Earlier this month, Jordan’s new parliament chose Abdullah Ensour to head the new government. Ensour previously served as a caretaker prime minister in the run-up to the January parliamentary elections, which were billed as the centerpiece of Abdullah’s political reform program. The reforms granted parliament the power for the first time to pick a p

ULAN BATOR (AFP) ― Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe sought support from Mongolia on Saturday in Tokyo’s territorial row with Beijing over disputed East China Sea islands, during a visit to the country.Abe arrived in the Mongolian capital Ulan Bator seeking closer trade and diplomatic ties with the mineral-rich nation, a potentially important strategic partner due to its location on China’s northern border and diplomatic ties with North Korea.“I asked for Mongolian support relating to the Chine

TAIPEI (AFP) ― Taiwan’s President Ma Ying-jeou on Saturday unveiled two new ships that will join the patrol in waters off disputed islands in the East China Sea at the centre of a regional territorial row.“We will gradually build up our capabilities in the sea to enforce the law, to conduct rescue missions and protect fishermen,” Ma said before boarding a new ship to inspect a drill off the Kaohsiung port in the south.Taiwan will not “concede one step” in upholding its sovereignty claim over the

VATICAN CITY (AFP) ― Pope Francis led his first Easter Sunday celebrations in front of tens of thousands of people in St. Peter’s Square at a Mass marking the holiest day in the Christian calendar.The pope will then deliver a special blessing for Rome and the world from the same balcony where he made his first public appearance after being elected this month.The “Urbi et Orbi” message is expected to be read out in around 60 languages and could include appeals over various crises around the world