YANGON -- At least 15 people were injured following a three-hour fire outbreak at a market in Myanmar's downtown Yangon on Thursday, an official from Myanmar Services Department told Xinhua.

Fire broke out at a market named "Than" in Latha township, downtown area of Yangon city at 06:05 a.m. local time.

According to an official, the blaze burned 41 shops from the second storey of the market where the fire erupted. The injured are now being treated at the Yangon General Hospital. (Myanmar-Fire)

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TOKYO -- Two Japanese passengers from the novel coronavirus-hit Diamond Princess cruise ship docked in Yokohama have died after being infected with the virus, government officials said Thursday.

The deaths of the two elderly passengers, a man and a woman both in 80s, are the first fatalities of the quarantined ship that has been docked in Yokohama Port near Tokyo.

According to the officials, both individuals had preexisting conditions and the man was taken off the ship on Feb. 11 to receive treatment at a medical facility, with the woman following a day later. (Diamond Princess-Two Passengers-Death)

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VIENTIANE-- Bounnhang Vorachith, general secretary of the Lao People's Revolutionary Party Central Committee and president of Laos, expressed here Thursday his confidence in China's fight against the novel coronavirus (COVID-19) outbreak and voiced his strong support for China.

Bounnhang said in his meeting with visiting Chinese State Councilor and Foreign Minister Wang Yi that he strongly believes that under the strong leadership of President Xi Jinping, the Chinese people will definitely defeat the COVID-19 soon.

He is also confident that China's economy will maintain rapid growth and the livelihood of the Chinese people will continue to improve when the epidemic is over. (Laos-China-Ties)

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SEOUL -- South Korean President Moon Jae-in's approval rating rose this week, a weekly poll showed Thursday.

According to the Realmeter survey, support for Moon gained 1.4 percentage points over the week to 48.0 percent this week.

The negative assessment on Moon's conduct of state affairs dipped 1.4 percentage points to 48.3 percent. (South Korean President-Approval Rating)

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