Myanmar rebels claim military helicopter downing

YANGON. May 3 (NNN-AGENCIES) — A leading Myanmar ethnic rebel army said that it had shot down a military helicopter on Monday, a day after a renewed junta crackdown on anti-coup protests left at least five civilians dead. The Kachin Independence Army (KIA) said it downed the helicopter gunship during fierce…

Updated: 26 killed in Bangladesh speedboat accident

Maritime accidents are common in Bangladesh, a delta nation crisscrossed by hundreds of rivers DHAKA, May 3 (NNN-AGENCIES) — At least 26 people were killed when a speedboat packed with passengers collided with a vessel transporting sand on Monday in the latest maritime disaster to hit Bangladesh. Police said the…

Covid-19: Western Australia reports zero cases, lockdown fears ease

PERTH, May 3 (NNN-AGENCIES) — The state of Western Australia reported no new locally acquired COVID-19 cases for the second straight day on Monday, allaying fears of a second lockdown in two weeks after three new coronavirus cases were detected over the weekend. The fresh cases forced officials to ban crowds…

Covid-19: EU eyes letting fully vaccinated travellers into bloc

BRUSSELS, May 3 (NNN-AGENCIES) — The European Union’s executive on Monday proposed that travellers who are fully vaccinated with EU-approved jabs be able once again to enter the bloc, if they come from countries keeping Covid-19 at bay. “The Commission proposes to allow entry to the EU for non-essential reasons…

Covid-19: Saudi Arabia to lift travel curbs on ‘immunised’ citizens

RIYADH, May 3 (NNN-AGENCIES) — Saudi Arabia will permit citizens immunised against Covid-19 to travel abroad from May 17, the interior ministry said, more than a year after Saudis were barred from external trips. The ministry said three categories of people would be considered immunised — those who have received…

Two rockets target Baghdad airport base housing US troops

BAGHDAD, May 3 (NNN-AGENCIES) –– Two rockets targeted an airbase at Iraq’s Baghdad airport housing US-led coalition troops on Sunday, in the second such attack in 10 days, the Iraqi army said. One of the projectiles was intercepted by the C-RAM counter rocket, artillery and mortar system deployed to protect…

Bangladesh: Death toll from speedboat-bulkhead cargo collision rises to 26

DHAKA, May 3 (NNN-BSS) — At least 26 passengers of a speedboat were killed when it collided with a sand-laden bulkhead cargo boat in the Padma river of Madaripur district Monday morning. Among the dead were three children and a woman, the Shibchar Fire Service and Civil Defense and River…

Covid-19: India’s case total nears 20 million

A suspected Covid-19 patient receiving oxygen at a Sikh shrine BENGALURU (India), May 3 (NNN-AGENCIES) — India on Monday reported more than 300,000 new coronavirus cases for a 12th straight day, taking its overall caseload to just shy of 20 million, while deaths from COVID-19 rose by 3,417. With 368,147 new…

Covid-19: Turkey’s death toll 340 as lockdown sets in

Workers dig new graves for coronavirus disease (COVID-19) victims at Kilyos cemetery in Istanbul ISTANBUL, May 3 (NNN-AGENCIES) — Turkey logged 340 coronavirus-related deaths and 25,980 new cases in the last 24 hours, Health Ministry data showed, the third day of a nationwide lockdown, including curfews, closed schools and many…

Israel holds day of mourning for stampede victims

45 people died at a stampede at the religious ceremony of Lag BaOmer in Mount Meron ERUSALEM, May 3 (NNN-AGENCIES) — Flags were flown at half-mast Sunday as Israel held a national day of mourning for 45 men and boys killed in a stampede at a packed Jewish festival. The deadly…