90 Killed In Myanmar’s Bloodiest Day
More than 90 people, including children, were killed on Myanmar’s bloodiest day since last month’s military coup, despite appeals from local church leaders for peace.
EU
China, Iran expected to sign 25-year accord, Iranian state media says
Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi arrived in Iran on Friday for a visit that Iranian state media said would see the signing of a 25-year cooperation agreement between the two countries, which are both under U.S sanctions.
Iran-backed Houthis launch new attacks on Saudi Arabia while “exchanging ideas” with U.S.
Saudi Arabia said on Friday that its air defense systems had intercepted a ballistic missile over the southern city of Najran. It was the latest in a series of escalating attacks by Iranian-backed Houthi rebels, who have consistently targeted Saudi infrastructure in retaliation for the Saudi-led war against their insurgency in neighboring Yemen.
U.S. Congress approves extension of small business Paycheck Protection Program
The U.S. Senate on Thursday voted to extend the COVID-19 pandemic Paycheck Protection Program (PPP) until the end of May, giving small businesses more time to apply and the government more time to process requests.
EU, Britain Battle Over Vaccine Supplies
European Union leaders agreed to toughen export controls of coronavirus vaccines amid a row with Britain over deliveries. At an online summit attended by U.S. President Joe Biden, they also stressed the importance of a reliable global supply chain of COVID-19 jabs.
Massive ship runs aground in Suez Canal, blocks the waterway
A gigantic, fully loaded container ship has run aground and become wedged across Egypt’s Suez Canal, blocking all other vessels from passing through, and threatening the viability of a pandemic-beleaguered global shipping system, the Associated Press reports. The MV Ever Given, a Panama-flagged ship that transports cargo between Asia and Europe, ran aground Tuesday for reasons that were still not clear on Wednesday.
Border Patrol Agents: ‘Migrant Misery Growing’
Frustrated U.S. Border Patrol agents are risking their livelihoods to reveal what’s going on in illegal immigrant processing facilities, a major U.S. newspaper reported Tuesday.
German Pastor Facing Deportation From Turkey
A German pastor who faces expulsion from Turkey urged prayers Tuesday as he awaits the outcome of a trial that could effectively ban him from the country, supporters said.
China, Russia officials meet in show of unity against EU, US
The foreign ministers of China and Russia affirmed their countries’ close ties at a meeting Tuesday, amid intense criticism and new Western sanctions against them over human rights.
Mideast quartet discusses reviving Israel, Palestinian peace talks
The Middle East quartet of mediators – the United States, Russia, the European Union and the United Nations – discussed on Tuesday reviving “meaningful negotiations” between Israel and the Palestinians with the aim of a two-state solution.
EU Parliament Declares EU an ‘LGBTIQ Freedom Zone’ to Counter Poland’s More than 100 ‘LGBTIQ-Free Zones’
The European Parliament declared the European Union (EU) an “LGBTIQ Freedom Zone” on March 11, largely in reaction to various municipalities in Poland declaring themselves LGBTIQ-Free Zones. The vote in Parliament was 492 in favor, 141 against, and 46 abstentions, according to a European Parliament press release.
EU and U.S. sanctions step up pressure on Myanmar military over coup
The European Union and the United States on Monday imposed sanctions on individuals and groups linked to last month’s military coup in Myanmar as the repression of pro-democracy protesters by security forces reached what Germany’s foreign minister called “an unbearable” level.
U.S., allies announce sanctions on China over Uyghur ‘genocide’
The United States and its allies in Canada, Britain and the European Union on Monday announced sanctions on several Chinese officials alleged to have links to what U.S. officials say is a genocidal campaign against Uyghur Muslims.
U.S. Condemns Attacks Against Saudi Territory From ‘Iranian-Aligned’ Groups
The U.S. State Department says Secretary of State Antony Blinken has “strongly condemned” recent attacks against Saudi territory from “Iranian-aligned groups” in the region, and discussed cooperation to end the war in Yemen in a call with Saudi Arabia’s foreign minister.
EU plans ‘green certificate’ to allow vaccinated travelers free access to European bloc
The European Union has confirmed its plans to issue ‘digital green certificates’ to vaccinated members of its 450 million population, allowing them to travel freely across the bloc this summer, the UK’s Daily Mail reports. The new ‘passport’ would be issued to those who have been recently tested or who have recovered from the virus as well.
Anti Lockdown Protests Take Place World Wide (Video)
Demonstrators took to the streets in several European cities on Saturday to protest Covid-19 lockdown restrictions, with clashes between demonstrators and police erupting in the German city of Kassel while in London, police arrested dozens of people for breaching pandemic restrictions. Protests also erupted in Austria, Belgium, Britain, Croatia, Finland, Poland, Romania, Sweden and Switzerland as European authorities confront a third coronavirus wave.
Egypt prepares to start move to new capital, away from the chaos of Cairo
Egypt is racing to prepare a grandiose new capital city in the desert east of Cairo before the first civil servants move in this summer and ahead of the delayed official opening of President Abdel Fattah al-Sisi’s flagship project.
Iran has not yet recovered from Natanz explosion hit
Iran has yet to recover from a devastating explosion at its Natanz nuclear facility last July, sources have told The Jerusalem Post, undercutting IAEA reports this week that the Islamic Republic has made progress with advanced centrifuges for enriching uranium.
Dutch Prime Minister Rutte Wins Election
Dutch Prime Minister Mark Rutte was heading towards a fourth term in office as one of Europe’s longest-serving leaders in elections overshadowed by the coronavirus pandemic.
Bangladeshi Conjoined Twins Home After Separation
Two Bangladeshi girls who were born conjoined at the head returned to their hometown after they were successfully separated by a team of Hungarian doctors in 2019, officials confirmed.