Category: World

(BBC): North Korean leader Kim Jong-un has told citizens to prepare for hard times ahead, following warnings from rights groups that the country faces dire food shortages and economic instability. Speaking at a party conference, Mr Kim appeared to compare the situation to the devastating 1990s famine, estimated to have killed hundreds of thousands. North… Continue reading Kim Jong-un warns of North Korea crisis similar to deadly 90s famine

(BBC): Prince Philip, Queen Elizabeth II’s husband, has died aged 99, Buckingham Palace has announced. In a statement shortly after midday, the palace said: “His Royal Highness passed away peacefully this morning at Windsor Castle.” The Duke of Edinburgh, who was the longest-serving consort in British history, had returned to Windsor Castle on 16 March… Continue reading Prince Philip has died aged 99, Buckingham Palace announces

NEW DELHI (AP): India reported its biggest single-day spike in confirmed coronavirus cases since the pandemic began Monday, and officials in the hard-hit state home to Mumbai are resuming the closure of some businesses and places of worship in a bid to slow the spread. The Health Ministry reported 103,558 new COVID-19 infections in the… Continue reading India’s daily virus cases soar past 100,000 for first time

LONDON (AP): Britain’s slow but steady march out of a three-month lockdown remains on track even as coronavirus cases surge elsewhere in Europe, Prime Minister Boris Johnson announced Monday, as he confirmed that businesses from barbers to bookstores will be allowed to reopen next week. Johnson said it’s too soon to decide, however, whether U.K.… Continue reading UK to ease lockdown next week will test vaccine passports

(NBC News): Three people were killed and four others were injured during an early morning shooting at a house party in Wilmington, North Carolina. Gunfire erupted at a home on Kidder Street just after midnight Saturday, the Wilmington Police Department said in a series of tweets. When officers arrived they found seven people who had… Continue reading Three dead, four injured in shooting at North Carolina house party

(BBC): French schools will close for at least three weeks as part of new national restrictions to fight rising Covid cases, President Emmanuel Macron says. Mr Macron said that schools would move to remote learning from next week. Lockdown measures, introduced in some areas of France earlier this month, are also being extended to other… Continue reading France schools to close under third lockdown

YANGON, Myanmar (AP): Myanmar security forces opened fire Sunday on a crowd attending the funeral of student who was killed on the bloodiest day yet of a crackdown on protests against last month’s coup, local media reported. The escalating violence — which took the lives of at least 114 people Saturday, including several children —… Continue reading Funerals become scenes of Myanmar resistance, more violence

(BBC): A huge container ship that has been wedged in the Suez Canal since Tuesday has reportedly been refloated. Video posted on social media on Monday appeared to show the stern of the Ever Given swung towards the canal bank, opening space in the channel. Maritime services company Inchcape also reported the vessel was freed.… Continue reading Stranded Suez container ship reported freed

(BBC): Dozens of people have been killed by security forces in Myanmar, on what activists say is the deadliest day since last month’s military takeover. At least 89 deaths, including children, were recorded by the Assistance Association for Political Prisoners (AAPP) as of early evening local time. The lethal crackdown came as protesters defied warnings… Continue reading Myanmar: Dozens killed as army opens fire on protesters during ‘deadliest day’

(BBC): North Korea has fired two ballistic missiles into the Sea of Japan, says the US and Japan – the first such test since Joe Biden became US president. Pyongyang is banned from testing ballistic missiles, considered threatening weapons, under UN Security Council resolutions. Both Japan and South Korea have condemned the test. It comes… Continue reading North Korea fires two ballistic missiles into Sea of Japan