India’s biggest cities shut down as new virus cases hit 200K

A health worker takes a swab sample of a child to test for COVID-19 at a government hospital in Noida, a suburb of New Delhi, India, Thursday, April 15, 2021. India reported more than 200,000 new coronavirus cases Thursday, skyrocketing past 14 million overall as an intensifying outbreak puts a grim weight on its fragile health care system. Photo Courtesy: AP

NEW DELHI (AP): India’s two largest cities imposed stringent restrictions on movement and one planned to use hotels and banquet halls to treat coronavirus patients as new infections in the country shot past 200,000 Thursday amid a devastating surge that is straining a fragile health system. The soaring cases and deaths come just months after… Continue reading India’s biggest cities shut down as new virus cases hit 200K

Myanmar coup: ‘Dozens killed’ in military crackdown in Bago

Protests have been going on in Bago, as in other cities, for more than two months. Photo Courtesy: Reuters

(BBC): More than 80 people have been killed by Myanmar security forces in a crackdown on a protest in the city of Bago, activists say. The military is reported to have taken away the bodies of those killed, and the true number of deaths may never be accurately established. Witnesses told local media that soldiers… Continue reading Myanmar coup: ‘Dozens killed’ in military crackdown in Bago

India’s COVID-19 infections, deaths surge as migrants start to flee cities

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NEW DELHI (Reuters): India reported another record number of new COVID-19 infections on Friday and daily deaths hit their highest in more than five months, as it battles a second wave of infections and states complain of a persistent vaccine shortage. Evoking memories of the last national lockdown when tens of thousands of people walked… Continue reading India’s COVID-19 infections, deaths surge as migrants start to flee cities

Kim Jong-un warns of North Korea crisis similar to deadly 90s famine

Photo Courtesy: EPA

(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

Prince Philip has died aged 99, Buckingham Palace announces

Staff members bring a notice to the fence of Buckingham Palace after it was announced Prince Philip had died. Photo Courtesy: Reuters

(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

India’s daily virus cases soar past 100,000 for first time

People wait to get inoculated in New Delhi, India, Monday, April 5, 2021. India’s daily confirmed coronavirus cases have recorded the biggest single-day spike since the pandemic began, indicating a renewed crush of infections. The government has intensified its vaccination drive in recent weeks, now administering over 3 million jabs a day. Photo Courtesy: AP

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

UK to ease lockdown next week will test vaccine passports

Red hearts are painted on the COVID-19 Memorial Wall mourning those who have died, opposite the Houses of Parliament on the Embankment in London, Monday, April 5, 2021. Hearts are being painted onto the wall in memory of the many thousands of people who have died in the UK from coronavirus. Photo Courtesy: AP

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

Three dead, four injured in shooting at North Carolina house party

Photo Courtesy: NBC News

(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

France schools to close under third lockdown

(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

Funerals become scenes of Myanmar resistance, more violence

Anti-coup protesters run around their makeshift barricade they burn to make defense line during a demonstration in Yangon, Myanmar, Sunday, March 28, 2021. Protesters in Myanmar returned to the streets Sunday to press their demands for a return to democracy, just a day after security forces killed more than 100 people in the bloodiest day since last month's military coup. Photo Courtesy: AP

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