World
Worldwide COVID-19 death toll surpasses 3 million
The global death toll from the coronavirus topped a staggering 3 million people Saturday amid repeated setbacks in the worldwide vaccination campaign and a deepening crisis in places such as Brazil, India and France. The number of lives lost, as compiled by Johns Hopkins University, is about equal to the… Read
Myanmar's junta releases 23,000 prisoners in New Year's amnesty
The junta is planning to release more than 23,000 prisoners nationwide, an official said Saturday, even as the military continues to detain and issue arrest warrants for anti-coup dissidents. Myanmar typically grants an annual amnesty to thousands of prisoners to mark its traditional Buddhist New Year holiday -- which in… Read
Australia to continue review of COVID vaccinations
Australia will continue its review of coronavirus vaccines after a 48-year-old woman's death was likely linked to the inoculation, Health Minister Greg Hunt said on Saturday. On Friday, Australia reported its first fatality from blood clots in a recipient of AstraZeneca's (AZN.L) COVID-19 shot. It was the third case of… Read
Kauai police chief suspended without pay for mocking Asians
The police commission on the Hawaii island of Kauai has suspended the police chief without pay for five days for making discriminatory comments after an investigation found he mocked people of Asian descent. The Kauai Police Department said in a statement Friday that Chief Todd Raybuck will be suspended from… Read
Russia bans top Biden officials as tensions soar
Russia on Friday banned top officials from U.S. President Joe Biden's administration from entering the country and announced a wave of tit-for-tat sanctions and expulsions of diplomats, as tensions soar between the rivals. The wave of Russian action comes a day after the Washington announced sanctions against Moscow and the… Read
FBI says it interviewed FedEx mass shooter last year
The FBI says that last year it questioned the man who fatally shot eight people at a FedEx plant in Indianapolis. Paul Keenan, the special agent in charge of the FBI’s Indianapolis field office, said Friday that agents questioned 19-year-old Brandon Scott Hole after his mother called police to say… Read
5 Hong Kong pro-democracy figures jailed as Beijing continues crackdown on dissent
A Hong Kong court on Friday sent five leading pro-democracy advocates, including media tycoon Jimmy Lai, to up to 18 months in prison for organizing a march during the 2019 anti-government protests that triggered an overwhelming crackdown from Beijing. A total of nine advocates were given jail terms, but four… Read
China says climate onus on U.S. after Kerry talks
China said Friday that the United States needed to take more responsibility on climate change but welcomed greater cooperation after a visit by envoy John Kerry, state media said. The former secretary of state turned U.S. climate emissary was the first official from President Joe Biden's administration to visit China,… Read
After outcry, White House says Biden will lift refugee cap in May
The White House said Friday that President Joe Biden is expected to increase the refugee cap for the remainder of this fiscal year by May 15. Biden earlier Friday moved to accelerate refugee admissions but kept his predecessor’s historically low cap of 15,000 refugees for this year, triggering a backlash… Read
Raul Castro confirms he's resigning, ending long era in Cuba
Raul Castro said Friday he is resigning as head of Cuba’s Communist Party, ending an era of formal leadership by he and his brother Fidel Castro that began with the 1959 revolution. The 89-year-old Castro made the announcement Friday in a speech at the opening of the Eighth congress of… Read
