Stranded Suez container ship reported freed

The ship's Japanese owners said tugboats and dredgers were working to free the ship. Photo Courtesy: EPA

(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

Myanmar: Dozens killed as army opens fire on protesters during ‘deadliest day’

Protesters in Yangon defied warnings from the military. Photo Courtesy: Reuters

(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’

North Korea fires two ballistic missiles into Sea of Japan

File Photo North Korean leader Kim Jong-un's return to testing missiles will be getting the attention of the White House. Photo Courtesy: Reuters

(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

At least 111 people died from the winter storm that hit Texas in February

Nancy Wilson boils water in her home in Houston on February 19, 2021. Photo Courtesy: CNN

(CNN): The number of people reported dead in the aftermath of winter storms that pummeled Texas in February now stands at 111, according to the Texas Department of State Health Services (DSHS).The agency reported the statewide total Thursday in its weekly report of winter storm-related deaths. The deaths included in the Thursday report occurred between… Continue reading At least 111 people died from the winter storm that hit Texas in February

10 people killed in Colorado supermarket shooting

Police work on the scene outside of a King Soopers grocery store where a shooting took place Monday, March 22, 2021, in Boulder, Colo. Photo Courtesy: AP

BOULDER, Colo. (AP): A shooting at a Colorado supermarket killed 10 people Monday, including a police officer who was the first to respond to the scene, authorities said. Police arrested a suspect, but didn’t reveal his name or any details about the shooting at an evening news conference where Boulder police Chief Maris Herold fought… Continue reading 10 people killed in Colorado supermarket shooting

Germany looks set to extend virus lockdown measures again

German Chancellor Angela Merkel addresses the media during a press conference at the chancellery in Berlin, Germany, Friday, March 19, 2021. Chancellor Angela Merkel conferred with the governors of the country's 16 states to discuss how to move forward with the vaccination in Germany. Photo Courtesy: AP

BERLIN (AP): German authorities are expected to extend lockdown measures again on Monday and possibly tighten some restrictions as they face a steady rise in new coronavirus infections. Chancellor Angela Merkel and the country’s 16 state governors, who in highly decentralized Germany are responsible for imposing and lifting restrictions, are holding a videoconference nearly three… Continue reading Germany looks set to extend virus lockdown measures again

Married 66 years, husband, wife die minutes apart of virus

This undated photo provided by Sarah Milewski shows Bill and Esther Ilnisky. The couple spent nearly seven decades together as Christian ministers and missionaries, including stints in the Caribbean and Middle East before preaching for 40 years in Florida. When they died minutes apart of COVID-19 on March 1, 2021, at a Palm Beach County hospice, it may have been a hidden blessing, their only child, Sarah Milewski, said.(Sarah Milewski via AP)

FORT LAUDERDALE, Fla. (AP): Bill and Esther Ilnisky spent nearly seven decades together as Christian ministers and missionaries, including stints in the Caribbean and Middle East before preaching for 40 years in Florida. They complemented each other — he the bookworm, she outgoing and charismatic. One without the other seemed unthinkable. So when they died… Continue reading Married 66 years, husband, wife die minutes apart of virus

U.S. plans to send four million doses of AstraZeneca vaccine to Mexico, Canada – official

FILE PHOTO: A test tube labeled with the vaccine is seen in front of AstraZeneca logo in this illustration taken, September 9, 2020. Photo Courtesy: Reuters

WASHINGTON (Reuters): The United States plans to send roughly 4 million doses of AstraZeneca’s COVID-19 vaccine that it is not using to Mexico and Canada in loan deals with the two countries, an administration official told Reuters on Thursday. Mexico will receive 2.5 million doses of the vaccine and Canada will receive 1.5 million doses,… Continue reading U.S. plans to send four million doses of AstraZeneca vaccine to Mexico, Canada – official

Myanmar junta orders martial law in 6 Yangon townships

Anti-coup protesters display signs and shout slogans as they protest against the military coup in Mandalay, Myanmar, Monday, March 15, 2021. Myanmar's ruling junta has declared martial law in parts of the country's largest city as security forces killed more protesters in an increasingly lethal crackdown on resistance to last month's military coup. Photo Courtesy: AP

YANGON, Myanmar (AP): Myanmar’s ruling junta has declared martial law in six townships in the country’s largest city, as security forces killed dozens of protesters over the weekend in an increasingly lethal crackdown on resistance to last month’s military coup. State broadcaster MRTV said Monday that the Yangon townships of North Dagon, South Dagon, Dagon… Continue reading Myanmar junta orders martial law in 6 Yangon townships

Europe records 1M coronavirus cases last week

A medical staff prepares Pfizer's COVID-19 vaccine at a vaccination site in Paris, Saturday, March 6, 2021. The government plans to inoculate 10 million citizens by mid-April, 20 million by mid-May and a total of 30 million, or two-thirds of the adults by summer. Photo Courtesy: AP

MILAN (AP): Europe recorded 1 million new coronavirus cases last week, an increase of 9 percent from the previous week and a reversal that ended a six-week decline, according to the World Health Organization. Among the hard-hit places is the Milan suburb of Bollate, where the virus swept through a nursery school and an adjacent… Continue reading Europe records 1M coronavirus cases last week