Seoul Gazette - News from Seoul, the Dongan District, Manan District, Buk District, Busanjin District, South Korea and the world

Venezuela on Thursday threw open the country's vast mineral reserves to private investment, less than three months after rolling back state control over the oil sector, in line with US demands.

Detroit Tigers center fielder Parker Meadows was hospitalized for observation on Thursday after a scary collision with left fielder Riley Greene in a 3-1 Major League Baseball loss to the Minnesota Twins.

Israel and Lebanon will hold talks in Washington next week, a State Department official said Thursday, amid mounting international concerns that Israel's bombings could shatter an already fragile US-Iran ceasefire.

Rory McIlroy only found five of 14 fairways in Thursday's first round of the Masters but still managed to grab a share of the lead with his best Augusta start since 2011.

Ukraine and Russia will cease fire for the Orthodox Easter holidays, the warring countries' leaders said on Thursday, announcing a rare 32-hour halt in fighting.

Jean-Philippe Mateta inspired Crystal Palace to a 3-0 win over Fiorentina in their Conference League quarter-final, first leg on Thursday.

Groundbreaking US hip-hop artist and DJ Afrika Bambaataa, known for his 1982 hit "Planet Rock," has died at age 68, his former record label said Thursday.

Russia banned the Nobel Prize-winning human rights group Memorial and raided the offices of the independent newspaper Novaya Gazeta Thursday, in fresh blows to already diminished civil liberties in the country.

The Pentagon on Thursday denied a report that the Vatican's US envoy was summoned in January for a "bitter" dressing down over remarks by Pope Leo that were seen as criticizing the Trump administration’s use of military force.

Ollie Watkins scored twice as Aston Villa beat Bologna 3-1 in their Europa League quarter-final, first leg on Thursday, while Nottingham Forest held Porto 1-1 thanks to a comical own goal from Martim Fernandes.

Aston Villa have one foot in the Europa League semi-finals after a hard-fought 3-1 win at Bologna on Thursday.

Venezuelan police fired tear gas on Thursday to disperse around 2,000 protesters who marched towards the presidential palace to demand salary and pension increases, AFP reporters saw.

The president of the Confederation of African Football (CAF) on Thursday rejected accusations of corruption by the Senegalese government after the body's shock decision to strip Senegal of its AFCON title and award it to Morocco.

Israel and Lebanon will hold talks next week in Washington, a State Department official said Thursday, as concerns grow that fighting involving Hezbollah could cause the fragile US-Iran truce to unravel.

Wall Street stocks finished higher Thursday after a shaky start, adopting an optimistic view of the Middle East ceasefire despite largely stalled traffic in the Strait of Hormuz, which boosted oil prices.

The International Monetary Fund's chief urged governments on Thursday to "do no harm" as they face the massive economic shocks caused by the Middle East war, calling for "targeted" and disciplined fiscal actions.

Philadelphia 76ers big man Joel Embiid has been diagnosed with appendicitis and was scheduled for surgery in Houston on Thursday, the team said hours before their NBA game against the Rockets.

Russian law enforcement agents on Thursday raided the offices of the Novaya Gazeta independent media outlet, the paper said, adding that a reporter was detained by the police.

Tyson Fury insisted "I've still got it" as the former world heavyweight champion prepared for his latest return to the ring.

Iran's imposition of a toll for ships to pass through the Strait of Hormuz looks set to be a key point of contention at talks opening in Pakistan Friday.

Rory McIlroy reeled off three consecutive back-nine birdies to fire a five-under par 67 and seize a share of the lead in Thursday's opening round of the 90th Masters with top-ranked Scottie Scheffler lurking two adrift.

US First Lady Melania Trump made a surprise statement on Thursday denying any knowledge of Jeffrey Epstein's abuse, or that she herself was a victim of the convicted sex offender.

Boston star Jayson Tatum will try to set aside the emotions of his Madison Square Garden return on Thursday and help the Celtics lock up the NBA Eastern Conference second seed with a win over the New York Knicks.

Just 10 vessels have passed through Strait of Hormuz since the Middle East war ceasefire took effect, according to maritime tracking data, amid lingering fears about using the strategic waterway.

US First Lady Melania Trump on Thursday made a surprise statement denying unspecified allegations about her and Jeffrey Epstein, a scandal that her husband President Donald Trump has long downplayed.

Meg Jones is confident England will give supporters value for money when she leads the all-conquering world champions for the first time in their Women's Six Nations opener against Ireland at Twickenham on Saturday.

American Airlines said Thursday it will restore service to Venezuela as soon as April 30, making it the first US airline to return to the country since Washington captured leader Nicolas Maduro.

Venezuelan police fired tear gas on Thursday to disperse around 2,000 protesters who marched towards the presidential palace to demand salary and pension increases, AFP reporters saw.

Andy Robertson will bring down the curtain on his nine-year career at Liverpool at the end of the season, the faltering Premier League champions announced on Thursday.

Youngster Mukul Choudhary played the innings of his life, smashing seven sixes on his way to an unbeaten 54 to haul Lucknow Super Kings to a dramatic, last-ball, three-wicket victory over Kolkata Knight Riders in the IPL on Thursday.

Lawyers for Sean "Diddy" Combs urged an appeals court Thursday to overturn the US hip-hop mogul's prison term of more than four years for prostitution-related crimes.

Four-time world champion Max Verstappen's future in Formula One was again cast in doubt on Thursday after it was confirmed that his long-time race engineer will leave Red Bull for McLaren.