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Barred windows trapped 72

Police say they will open a criminal investigation into a factory fire in the Philippines that killed at least 72 people.

Ambassador rebuffs US position as new tensions simmer

Chinese Ambassador to the United States Cui Tiankai rebuffed US criticism on Wednesday that China's land reclamations were responsible for tensions in the South China Sea.

At summit, US tries to calm Gulf leaders

US President Barack Obama and leaders from six Gulf nations are trying to work through tensions sparked by the US bid for a nuclear deal with Iran, a pursuit that has put regional partners on edge.

Gunfire, bombs punctuate Burundi coup bid

Sporadic gunfire rang out in Burundi's capital on Thursday, a day after an army general announced he had ousted President Pierre Nkurunziza, whose decision to seek a third term in office provoked angry street protests.

IN BRIEF (Page 11)

The House of Representatives voted by a wide margin on Wednesday to end the National Security Agency's bulk collection of US citizens' phone records, setting the stage for a showdown with the Senate just weeks before the Bush-era provisions authorizing the program are due to expire.

Refugee camp provides opportunity

Soon after dawn, Bashir Bilal sat outside on his usual plastic jerrycan surrounded by young girls and boys chanting Quranic verses.

Spike seen in patients with costly medication

More than a half-million US patients had medication costs in excess of $50,000 in 2014, an increase of 63 percent from the prior year, as doctors prescribed more expensive specialty drugs for diseases such as cancer and hepatitis C, according to a report released on Wednesday.

Jazz prodigy, 11, releases first CD

Eleven-year-old Joey Alexander's favorite things include The Avengers, SpongeBob SquarePants and the legendary jazz musician Thelonious Monk.

Souls find salvation with karaoke, coffee

Darkness is falling on another depressing night in one of America's most marginal neighborhoods.

Myanmar ruby sells for world-record $30m at auction

A 25.59-carat "pigeon blood" ruby sold for a world record $30.33 million at auction in Geneva on Tuesday, while a rare pink diamond believed to have once belonged to Napoleon's niece fetched $15.9 million, Sotheby's said.

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