Category: World

Senate OKs fast-track of COVID aid, Harris casts tie-breaker

In this image from Senate TV, Vice President Kamala Harris sits in the chair on the Senate floor to cast the tie-breaking vote, her first, Friday, Feb. 5, 2021 at the Capitol in Washington. The Senate early Friday approved a budget resolution that paves the way for fast-track passage of President Joe Biden's $1.9 trillion coronavirus relief plan without support from Republicans. (Senate TV via AP)

WASHINGTON (AP): The Senate early Friday approved a measure that would let Democrats muscle President Joe Biden’s $1.9 trillion coronavirus relief plan through the chamber without Republican support. Vice President Kamala Harris was in the chair to cast the tie-breaking vote, her first. Democrats in the chamber applauded after Harris announced the 51-50 vote at… Continue reading Senate OKs fast-track of COVID aid, Harris casts tie-breaker

Hundreds protest coup in Myanmar as resistance spreads

Supporters give roses to police while four arrested activists make a court appearance in Mandalay, Myanmar, Friday, Feb. 5, 2021. Hundreds of students and teachers have taken to Myanmar's streets to demand the military hand power back to elected politicians, as resistance to a coup swelled with demonstrations in several parts of the country. Photo Courtesy: AP

YANGON, Myanmar (AP): Hundreds of students and teachers took to Myanmar’s streets on Friday to demand the military hand power back to elected politicians, as resistance to a coup swelled with demonstrations in several parts of the country, even in the tightly controlled capital. In the largest rallies since the takeover, protesters at two universities… Continue reading Hundreds protest coup in Myanmar as resistance spreads

Mexico arrests ex-governor in case of tortured journalist

FILE - In this Feb. 15, 2006 file photo, the governor of the Mexican state of Puebla, Mario Marin speaks during a news conference in Puebla, Mexico. Mexican authorities arrested on Feb. 3, 2021 the former governor on charges that he had a reporter who investigated his role in a pedophilia ring illegally arrested and tortured, an official said Thursday, Feb. 4, 2021. Photo Courtesy: AP

MEXICO CITY (AP): Mexican authorities arrested a former governor on charges that he had a reporter who investigated his role in a pedophilia ring illegally arrested and tortured, an official said Thursday. Interior Secretary Olga Sánchez Cordero confirmed the arrest of Mario Marín, ex-governor of Puebla, in Acapulco the previous day. On Thursday, Marín was… Continue reading Mexico arrests ex-governor in case of tortured journalist

Myanmar charges Suu Kyi, giving legal basis to detain her

A convoy of army vehicles patrol the streets in Mandalay, Myanmar, Wednesday, February 3, 2021. In the early hours of Monday, Feb. 1, 2021, the Myanmar army took over the civilian government of Aung San Suu Kyi in a coup over allegations of fraud in November's elections. Photo Courtesy: AP

YANGON, Myanmar (AP): Police leveled their first formal charge against Myanmar’s Aung San Suu Kyi, her allies said Wednesday, accusing her of possessing illegally imported walkie-talkies and giving the military authorities who staged a coup a legal reason to detain her for two weeks. The charge came to light two days after she was placed… Continue reading Myanmar charges Suu Kyi, giving legal basis to detain her

Rohingya refugees fear returning to Myanmar after coup

Rohingya refugee Mohammad Jaffar, 70, talks to the Associated Press at the Balukhali refugee camp in Cox's Bazar, Bangladesh, Tuesday, Feb.2, 2021. Rohingya refugees from Myanmar living in camps in Bangladesh are condemning the military coup in their homeland and saying it makes them more fearful to return. “Repatriation will not be safe at all under this regime because the very people who are responsible for killing, torturing, raping, our mothers and sisters, have now come in power. After all this suffering we ran and came here. Now if we go back into the hands of people who are responsible for our torture, we will probably have to bear twice as much pain as before.”, Jaffar said. Photo Courtesy: AP

DHAKA, Bangladesh (AP): Rohingya refugees from Myanmar living in camps in Bangladesh condemned the military coup in their homeland and said it makes them more fearful to return. A counterinsurgency operation by Myanmar’s military in 2017 involving mass rape, murders and the torching of villages drove more than 700,000 Rohingya Muslims into neighboring Bangladesh. Bangladesh… Continue reading Rohingya refugees fear returning to Myanmar after coup

Myanmar’s Suu Kyi detained again — without her old support

FILE - In this Dec. 11, 2019, file photo, Myanmar's leader Aung San Suu Kyi waits to address judges of the International Court of Justice on the second day of three days of hearings in The Hague, Netherlands. After Myanmar’s military staged a coup Monday, Feb. 1, 2021, Aung San Suu Kyi finds herself back under house arrest. But this time, her standoff with the generals comes after she has sorely disappointed many once-staunch supporters in the international community. Photo Courtesy: AP

BANGKOK (AP): A day after Myanmar’s military pulled off a well-choreographed coup, the country’s civilian leader, Aung San Suu Kyi, finds herself right back where she was just over a decade ago — under house arrest. But this time, her standoff with the military comes after she has sorely disappointed many once-staunch supporters in the… Continue reading Myanmar’s Suu Kyi detained again — without her old support

Vietnam’s Communists proclaim pandemic, economic wins at Party congress

General view of the opening ceremony of the 13th national congress of the ruling communist party of Vietnam is seen at the National Convention Center in Hanoi, Vietnam January 26, 2021. VNA/Handout via REUTERS.

HANOI (Reuters): Vietnam’s ruling Communist Party chief Nguyen Phu Trong hailed booming economic development and containment of the COVID-19 pandemic as major achievements on Tuesday as he presided over the opening of a key party congress in Hanoi. Over nine days of meetings, mostly behind closed doors, delegates will pick a new leadership team, aiming… Continue reading Vietnam’s Communists proclaim pandemic, economic wins at Party congress

Trump impeachment goes to Senate, testing his sway over GOP

Clerk of the House Cheryl Johnson along with acting House Sergeant-at-Arms Tim Blodgett, lead the Democratic House impeachment managers as they walk through Statuary Hall in the Capitol, to deliver to the Senate the article of impeachment alleging incitement of insurrection against former President Donald Trump, Monday, Jan. 25, 2021 in Washington. Photo Courtesy: AP

WASHINGTON (AP): House Democrats delivered the impeachment case against Donald Trump to the Senate for the start of his historic trial, but Republican senators were easing off their criticism of the former president and shunning calls to convict him over the deadly siege at the U.S. Capitol. It’s an early sign of Trump’s enduring sway… Continue reading Trump impeachment goes to Senate, testing his sway over GOP

Biden walking a high wire with Russia ahead of Putin call

FILE - In this March 10, 2011, file photo, then-Vice President Joe Biden, left, shakes hands with Russian Prime Minister Vladimir Putin in Moscow, Russia. President Joe Biden has been thrown into a high-wire act with Russia as he seeks to toughen his administration's stance against Putin while preserving room for diplomacy in a post-Donald Trump era. Photo Courtesy: AP

WASHINGTON (AP): President Joe Biden has been quickly thrown into a high-wire balancing act with Russia as he seeks to toughen his administration’s stance against Vladimir Putin while preserving room for diplomacy in a post-Donald Trump era. The relationship is sure to be different than the one Putin enjoyed with Trump, who was enamored of… Continue reading Biden walking a high wire with Russia ahead of Putin call

33 missing children rescued in Los Angeles trafficking operation

A representative photo. Photo courtesy: Guardian Group

(NBC): A massive operation involving multiple law enforcement agencies resulted in the recovery of nearly three dozen missing children, including several who had been sexually exploited, authorities said. One person suspected of human trafficking was arrested on state charges, the Federal Bureau of Investigation said Friday in a press release. Details of the arrest were… Continue reading 33 missing children rescued in Los Angeles trafficking operation