country | Common News Update

Feb152021 by adminNo Comments

Myanmar coup: Military takes country offline for second night

World

Getty ImagesAccess to the internet appears to have been blocked for a second night running by Myanmar's new military rulers. UK-based monitor NetBlocks reported a "near-total internet shutdown" from 01:00 local time (18:30 GMT) on Tuesday. It is the fourth shutdown since the 1 February coup as the junta tries to stifle dissent, much of it online.Earlier, the military authorities announced stiff penalties for those opposing the coup leaders. Signs that another outage was imminent came after an internet service provider told BBC Burmese that online access was being blocked. The latest shutdown follows a pattern aimed at disrupting continuing opposition to the coup, which overthrew elected leaders including longtime democracy campaigner, Aung San Suu Kyi, who is still in custody.Access to Fac...

Feb82021 by adminNo Comments

Explosion of kidnappings in Haiti shows a country sliding into absolute anarchy

World

The impoverished country of Haiti - already an economic disaster zone with organised crime and kidnapping for ransom out of control - now finds itself in the midst of a constitutional crisis with violent confrontations between anti-government protesters and the police a daily occurrence.The country's leading opposition parties, the judiciary and activist groups say the presidency of Jovenel Moise ended on Sunday after a five-year term. The president says he has one year left in office, as an interim government ran the country for a year after his election. Image: Makeshift barricades are set up around the city Despite repeated efforts and a continual weakening of his position the president, supported by the United States and most of t...

Feb42021 by adminNo Comments

Morgan Wallen: US country star dropped by his record label over racial slur

Entertainment

Getty ImagesUS country star Morgan Wallen has been dropped by his record label, after a video emerged of him using a racial slur.Nashville's Big Loud Records said it had "made the decision to suspend Morgan Wallen's recording contract indefinitely" in light of the video.In the footage, reportedly filmed by a neighbour last weekend, the 27-year-old is seen saying goodbye to some friends and calling one of them the N-word.He has apologised for the incident. "I'm embarrassed and sorry," he told TMZ, which first published the footage. "I used an unacceptable and inappropriate racial slur that I wish I could take back. There are no excuses to use this type of language, ever. I want to sincerely apologise for using the word. I promise to do better."Radio silenceWallen, whose career began on the...

Oct222020 by adminNo Comments

Spain becomes first country in western Europe to record one million COVID cases

World

Spain has become the first country in western Europe to record one million coronavirus cases - marking a doubling of its tally in just six weeks.The total number of COVID-19 cases in the country is now at 1,005,295, after reporting 16,973 cases on Wednesday, according to the Spanish health ministry. Spain's coronavirus infection rate began to climb rapidly in late August, and began hitting 10,000 cases a day after a slowdown in positive tests over the summer. Please use Chrome browser for a more accessible video player September: Inside a locked down district in Spain ...

Sep242020 by adminNo Comments

Download contact tracing app to ‘make country a safer place’, Hancock urges

Technology

Every person who downloads the NHS coronavirus contact tracing app will be helping "make the country a safer place", the health secretary has told Sky News.Speaking to Kay Burley, Matt Hancock said the app - which has finally been launched in England and Wales after months of delay and questions about its effectiveness - was a "helpful tool" in the fight against COVID-19. Live updates on coronavirus from UK and around the world Asked what percentage of the population would need to download it for it to be effective, Mr Hancock said "there isn't a figure for that"."Every single person who downloads the app is helping to improve how it can keep us safe. It helps you to keep yourself and your loved ones safe," the health secretary said. ...