US House passes police reforms ahead of Floyd murder trial

The US House of Representatives passed a police reforms package that bears the name of George Floyd, the African-American man killed in May 2020 by a Minneapolis police officer who goes on trial for murder on March 8 WASHINGTON, March 4 (NNN-AGENCIES) — A sweeping police reform package that bans…

Migrants protest at US-Mexico crossing, pleading for asylum

Migrants trying to get into the United States protested at the border with Mexico TIJUANA (Mexico), March 4 (NNN-AGENCIES) — Migrants from central America, Cuba, Haiti and Mexico blocked two lanes of the US-Mexico border crossing in Tijuana, begging President Joe Biden’s administration to allow them to apply for asylum in…

Toronto van attacker found guilty of killing 10, injuring 16

TORONTO, March 4 (NNN-AGENCIES) — A 28-year-old Canadian who plowed a van into pedestrians in a deadly attack three years ago in Toronto was found guilty of murdering 10 people and trying to kill 16 others. Ontario Superior Court Judge Anne Molloy rejected defense arguments that Alek Minassian was incapable of…

Covid-19: Czechs launch mass testing to battle surge

PRAGUE, March 4 (NNN-AGENCIES) — The Czech Republic launched mass coronavirus testing at business premises, in a bid to stem the world’s highest infection rate. The government also enabled regions to call up private doctors and other medical staff to work in public COVID-19 hospitals, many of which have reached capacity.…

Sweden attack: Eight injured in “suspected terrorist” knife stabbings

Police investigators work at the scene where a man attacked eight people with a “sharp weapon,” STOCKHOLM, March 4 (NNN-AGENCIES) — A man attacked eight people with a “sharp weapon”, seriously injuring two in the Swedish city of Vetlanda, police said, adding they were investigating a potential “terror motive”. The…

13 dead in California SUV crash may have crossed at Mexico border gap

LOS ANGELES, March 4 (NNN-AGENCIES) — All 13 people killed when a packed vehicle collided with a truck in California are believed to have entered the US illegally through a nearby breach in the Mexico border fence, US authorities said. A 10-foot gap in the frontier barrier was found around…

Covid-19: Bowing to pressure, German Chancellor Merkel eases virus curbs

BERLIN, March 4 (NNN-AGENCIES) — German Chancellor Angela Merkel agreed to gradually ease virus curbs in Europe’s top economy,caving to political pressure and public discontent seven months before ageneral election. After more than nine hours of talks, Merkel and Germany’s 16 regionalleaders unveiled a step-by-step plan to relax restrictions after…

US: House scraps Thursday session as FBI, police warn of militia threat of US Capitol

WASHINGTON, March 4 (NNN-AGENCIES) — Washington’s security posture has been bolstered after threats of a possible Thursday “breach” of the USCapitol, with the House of Representatives changing its voting plans to avoid gathering members on a day of potential unrest. The warning was relayed by US Capitol Police, who said…

Covid-19: New cases in US fall below 50,000

WASHINGTON, March 4 (NNN-AGENCIES) — For the first time since Oct 18, the number of new coronavirus cases in the United States came down below 50,000.With 48,092 new cases reported, the total number of infections in the country rose to 28,664,463, as per the COVID Tracking Project’s latest update.The seven-day…

Covid-19: World Bank readies vaccine funding for about 30 African countries

The global lender has yet to disclose how much money is involved WASHINGTON, March 4 (NNN-AGENCIES) — The World Bank is preparing emergency financing to help about 30 African countries access COVID-19 vaccines, as the continent scrambles to secure doses and start immunising vulnerable groups.Only a handful of African governments have launched…