The Notre-Dame cathedral in Paris will host its first mass on Saturday (Jun 15), exactly two months after the devastating blaze that shocked France and the world. For safety reasons, worshippers attending the first mass at Notre-Dame since the devastating fire will be expected to don hard hats AFP/Geoffroy VAN DER HASSELT For safety reasons, the mass led by Archbishop of Paris Michel Aupetit will be celebrated on a very small scale. Worshippers will be expected to don hard hats but priests will be wearing their ceremonial garb. There will be just some 30 people - half of them clergy - although the mass will be broadcast live on Catholic TV channel KTO. It will take place at 6pm (12am Sunday, Singapore time) in the Chapel of the Virgin on the east side of the cathedral behind the choir, which has been confirmed to be safe. Aupetit will be joined by the rector of Notre-Dame, Patrick Chauvet, canons, volunteers, people working on the restoration as well a handful of lay … [Read more...] about Paris” Notre Dame to celebrate first mass after fire
Toyota set pace as 24 Hours of Le Mans starts
Hot favourites to defend their crown, Toyota dominated the first hour's racing as the 24 Hours of Le Mans endurance race got under way on Saturday (Jun 15). L'Espagnol Fernando Alonso, dans sa Toyota TS050-Hybrid LMP1, lors des essais libres, au Mans, le 12 juin 2019 AFP/JEAN-FRANCOIS MONIER Mike Conway got a flying start in car No 7 from pole position, while defending champion and fellow Toyota driver Sebastien Buemi, in car No 8, was running second after the first hour in the 61-car race due to finish at 1300 GMT on Sunday. Buemi, who won last year alongside teammates Kazuki Nakajima and the Formula 1 legend Fernando Alonso, was left under no illusions about the tussle ahead as Conway broke the lap record on his fourth lap of the Circuit de Sarthe with a time of 3min 17.297sec. A win for the Toyota hybrids is almost certain, barring an accident, as they have been the only manufacturer on the grid since Porsche and Audi pulled out of the elite LMP1 class, which this year … [Read more...] about Toyota set pace as 24 Hours of Le Mans starts
Man arrested after summoning gang to threaten cops
Ngo Van Giang, a gang leader in the southern town, was arrested by local police for disrupting public order. According to a police report, Giang summoned dozens of his gang members Wednesday, to chase down and manace a group of four people in a car, including two serving police officers and one retired colonel. The officials and a businessman friend were eating at a restaurant in Bien Hoa, Dong Nai Province, when the inebriated friend vomited on the foot of another customer, Nguyen Tan Luong. The man apologized, but his apology was met with physical assaults by Luong. Restaurant staff diffused the situation and the officials and their friend were about to leave in a car when Luong called up gangster Giang for help. The gangster and his minions blocked the car from moving by placing rocks in front of their tires, all the while hurling insults. The car managed to drive for about 200 meters when some police came to their rescue. But the gang followed the car on 10 bikes and … [Read more...] about Man arrested after summoning gang to threaten cops
1 killed, 2 injured in shooting at Long An border guard station
By Huu Loc  June 15, 2019 | 08:38 pm GMT+7 Roads leading to Binh Hiep Border Guard Station in Long An Province, southern Vietnam, have been blocked. Photo by VnExpress/Huu Loc A second lieutenant of a border guard station in Long An Province shot three colleagues and killed himself on Saturday evening. Ta Quang Dat, chief of staff of Binh Hiep Border Guard Station, shot at least three people in the station, said Chairman of Kien Tuong Town People's Committee Nguyen Van Vu. One of the three victims died at the provincial hospital while the other two are injured and under treatment. After hours of entrenching in the station, Dat killed himself, a reliable source told VnExpress. Local authorities said Dat held a gun that looks like an AK riffle. He entrenched in the station after the shooting. "The scene is very chaotic. The provincial government has called for residents evacuation. Authorities are negotiating with Dat," Vu said. All roads leading to the site has … [Read more...] about 1 killed, 2 injured in shooting at Long An border guard station
3 injured in shooting at Long An border guard station
By Huu Loc  June 15, 2019 | 08:38 pm GMT+7 Roads leading to Binh Hiep Border Guard Station in Long An Province have been blocked. Photo by VnExpress/Huu Loc A second lieutenant of Binh Hiep border guard station in Long An Province shot and injured three colleagues on Saturday evening. "Ta Quang Dat, chief of staff of Binh Hiep Border Guard Station, shot and wounded at least three people in the station," said Chairman of Kien Tuong Town People's Committee Nguyen Van Vu. The victims have been sent to the provincial hospital. Local authorities said Dat holds a gun that looks like an AK riffle and is still entrenching in the station. "The scene is very chaotic. The provincial government has called for residents evacuation. Authorities are negotiating with Dat," Vu said. All roads leading to the site has been cordoned off. People living near the station have been evacuated. … [Read more...] about 3 injured in shooting at Long An border guard station