Japan fell quiet at 2:46 p.m. to mark the minute that an earthquake began 10 years ago, before setting off a tsunami and nuclear crisis that devastated the country's northeast coast. One survivor said Thursday that he fears people are beginning to forget the disaster. Carrying bouquets of flowers, many walked to the seaside or visited graves to pray for relatives and friends washed away by the water. Dignitaries and representatives of the survivors spoke at a memorial, but most watched the ceremony online or on television because of restrictions to slow the coronavirus pandemic. The magnitude

One of Saudi Arabia's most prominent political activists has lost an appeal that would have allowed her to travel freely after her release from prison. Loujain al-Hathloul had hoped to lift a five-year ban on travelling outside Saudi Arabia that the court imposed as a condition of her release last month. Her 1001 day detention drew fierce international criticism of the kingdom's human rights record. She also faces three years of probation. Her supporters say the court on Wednesday upheld the original sentence. Her yearslong travel ban underscores the government's efforts to manage dissent in

Buckingham Palace has issued a statement in the wake of allegations from Prince Harry and his wife Meghan that have rocked the British royal family. It's the first comment from the palace about the couple's allegations of racism within the Royal Family. Meghan, who is biracial, told Oprah Winfrey that the palace had failed to help her when she had suicidal thoughts. She also alleges an unidentified member of the royal family had expressed concern about how dark her baby's skin would be when she was pregnant with her son, Archie. A statement issued on behalf of the Queen says the issues raised

Oprah Winfrey's explosive interview with Prince Harry and Meghan reached an estimated 17.1 million viewers in the United States on Sunday. That's according to preliminary numbers from the Nielsen company. Winfrey guided the two as they discussed racism and dysfunction inside the royal family in a two-hour special on CBS. Nielsen said it had the largest audience for any prime-time entertainment special so far this television season. In the interview, Meghan said she considered suicide, while Harry said he and his family were "trapped" in an oppressive institution.

British Prime Minister Boris Johnson is steadfastly refusing to comment on the explosive allegations of racism and dysfunction inside the royal family made by Prince Harry and Meghan in a television interview. Asked about the interview at a coronavirus news conference, Johnson said he had "always had the highest admiration for the queen and the unifying role that she plays in our country and across the Commonwealth." But he said that "when it comes to matters to do with the royal family the right thing for a prime minister to say is nothing." In contrast, Keir Starmer, leader of the main oppo

Authorities say a semitruck has crashed into an SUV carrying 25 people on a Southern California highway, killing 13 people. The head of the California Highway Patrol says 12 people died at the scene Tuesday and another died after arriving at the hospital. Hospital officials earlier reported there were 15 killed and more people in the SUV. Multiple people from the SUV were flown or sent to hospitals for injuries that included fractures and head trauma. Authorities say it's unclear if the SUV had stopped at a stop sign before crossing into the path of the semitruck, which hit the vehicle. The U

Prince Philip was moved by ambulance to a specialized London heart hospital earlier today. Doctors will run some tests and keep him under observation for a pre-existing heart condition as he continues to be treated for an unspecified infection. Philip will be 100 in June. He was first admitted to hospital almost 13 days ago on his doctor's advice because he wasn't feeling well. Prince Philip was shielded from photographers by people holdingopen umbrellas as he was moved by ambulance to a specialized London heart hospital. Buckingham Palace says the Queen's 99 year old husband will undergo tes

Lady Gaga's dog walker was shot and two of the singer's French bulldogs were stolen in Hollywood during an armed robbery, police said. The singer is offering a $500,000 reward. The dog walker was shot once Wednesday night and is expected to survive his injuries, according to Los Angeles Police Capt. Jonathan Tippett, commanding officer of the department's elite Robbery-Homicide Division. The man was walking three of Lady Gaga's dogs at the time but one escaped. That dog has been recovered safely. Tippett told The Associated Press that the dogs belong to pop star Lady Gaga. It's not yet clear

The World Health Organization's Europe unit is reporting that about one in 10 people who contracted COVID-19 continue to show "persistent ill health" 12 weeks after infection. Dr. Hans Kluge, the head of WHO Europe, says much about so-called "long COVID" remains unknown, but the "burden is real, and it is significant." In a policy brief released on Thursday, WHO Europe urged policymakers to do more to acknowledge and treat long COVID, which can bring severe fatigue, chest pain, heart inflammation, headache, forgetfulness, depression, loss of smell, recurrent fever, diarrhea and ringing in the