Ten people, including a police officer, have been killed by a gunman following an hours-long stand-off at a grocery store in Boulder, Colorado.
The attack ended with police detaining an injured suspect at the King Soopers market.
The shooting was live-streamed by witnesses and broadcast on YouTube.
Among the dead was 51-year-old Eric Talley, who was the first police officer to respond to the shooting.
“This is a tragedy and a nightmare for Boulder County,” the area’s district attorney, Michael Dougherty, said.
“These were people going about their day, doing their shopping. I promise the victims and the people of the state of Colorado that we will secure justice.”
No other details have been released about the nine other victims or a motive for the attack.
The grocery store is located in a busy shopping plaza in Boulder, a north-central Colorado city about 30 miles away from the state capital of Denver.
The supermarket attack comes less than a week after a mass shooting that left eight dead, including six Asian women, at three spas in Atlanta.
The incident began at about 14:30 local time on March 22 when the suspect entered the supermarket and began firing.
Shoppers and employees of the store said they had to dive for cover or run to safety as the shooting unfolded.
Some of the stand-off was captured on camera by a passer-by, showing victims near the grocery store.
Gunshots can be heard as he runs away from the shop.
The video continues, with police arriving on the scene and surrounding the market.
The Boulder police department later warned people to avoid the area and told them not to “broadcast on social media any tactical information you might see”.
Eyewitnesses said the suspect was armed with a rifle. A police source told CNN it was an AR-15 style rifle, a semi-automatic gun that has been used in several mass shootings across the US.
Aerial footage later showed a handcuffed, shirtless man with an apparent injury to his leg being put onto a stretcher for treatment. Authorities did not say whether he was the suspect or not.
Speaking at a press conference, Boulder police chief Maris Herold confirmed that a suspect was in custody and was receiving hospital treatment.
Maris Herold named the officer killed as Eric Talley, a father of seven who had been with the Boulder Police Department since 2010.
The names of the other victims will not be released until relatives have been informed.
Bobby Brown Jr., the son of R&B singer Bobby Brown, died of an overdose of alcohol, cocaine and the powerful opioid fentanyl, according to a coroner’s report.
The 28-year-old died at his Los Angeles home on November 18, 2020.
Bobby Brown Jr. was found unresponsive in his bedroom by his girlfriend. She called paramedics, who declared him dead. No foul play was suspected.
An autopsy report released on March 22 referred to his death as an accident.
The musician had a history of drug and alcohol use, the report said.
The night before his death, Bobby Brown Jr. had consumed tequila and cocaine, and “snorted” the painkiller Percocet, a witness told police.
The family said the musician was experiencing flu-like symptoms at the time, but had not tested positive for Covid-19.
Bobby Brown Jr. was one of two children from his father’s 11-year relationship with Kim Ward, which ended in 1991.
His death came eight years after his stepmother Whitney Houston accidentally drowned in a bath, and five years after his 22-year-old half-sister Bobbi Kristina died in similar circumstances.
Last November, Bobby Brown said his son’s death had “devastated my family,” adding: “There are no words to explain the pain.”
Bobby Brown Jr.’s brother, Landon, paid tribute by sharing a black-and-white photo of his late sibling on Instagram, alongside the caption: “I love you forever King.”
His girlfriend, Anna Reed, tweeted: “The heavens gained an angel but I lost my soulmate.”
The city of Miami has declared a state of emergency over concerns large crowds gathering for spring break pose a coronavirus risk.
A 20:00-06:00 curfew has been announced in Miami Beach and will remain in effect for at least 72 hours.
Traffic restrictions are in place during the curfew, while businesses in the busy South Beach area must close.
Miami Beach Mayor Dan Gelber said thousands of tourists had brought “chaos and disorder” to the city.
Mayor Gelber told CNN: “It feels like a rock concert, wall-to-wall people over blocks and blocks.
“If you’re coming here to go crazy, go somewhere else.”
Spring break is a holiday period for schools and universities that attracts thousands of students to Florida and other warm weather destinations around the country.
Officials warned tourists to “vacation responsibly or be arrested” prior to the holiday period, and a county-wide midnight coronavirus curfew was already in place due to the pandemic.
However, the Miami Beach area was thronged with revelers over the weekend, and many did not appear to be wearing masks or socially distancing.
One city official described South Beach, which includes the world famous Ocean Drive, as being “overwhelmed” by crowds over the weekend.
“You couldn’t see pavement and you couldn’t see grass,” city manager Raul Aguila said.
He added that the emergency measures were “necessary not only to protect our residents but our visitors, including our spring breakers who we want to keep safe”.
On March 21, Miami Beach police told CNN they had arrested at least a dozen people after the curfew had come into force.
https://platform.twitter.com/embed/Tweet.html?creatorScreenName=BBCWorld&dnt=false&embedId=twitter-widget-0&frame=false&hideCard=false&hideThread=false&id=1373448655189942273&lang=en-gb&origin=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.bbc.com%2Fnews%2Fworld-us-canada-56476904&siteScreenName=BBCWorld&theme=light&widgetsVersion=e1ffbdb%3A1614796141937&width=550px Until the measures are lifted, police will prevent pedestrians or vehicles entering the South Beach area’s main party strips.
Raul Aguila told the Miami Herald that he has recommended keeping the emergency measures in place until April 12.
However, the emergency orders will expire on March 23 unless they are extended by local authorities.
Florida continues to be a coronavirus hotspot in the US. The state has recorded nearly two million of the country’s 29 million infections since the pandemic began.
According to new reports, Donald Trump’s main residence, Mar-a-Lago, has been partially closed after some staff members tested positive for Covid-19.
The Florida resort has served as President Trump’s official residence since he left office in January.
The club said in a statement that the Beach Club and a la carte dining room were closed, but did not specify how many people had tested positive.
Donald Trump had coronavirus last October, and was vaccinated in January.
At the time of his diagnosis, he was hospitalized for several days and treated with the low-dose steroid treatment dexamethasone.
His wife Melania Trump and son Barron also tested positive for the virus, as did several White House officials close to the then-president.
In an email to members obtained by the Washington Post, Mar-a-Lago said it was following “all appropriate response measures” and its banquet and event services would remain open.
In January, images surfaced from a New Year’s Eve party at Mar-a-Lago that showed a number of guests not wearing masks. The resort was handed a formal warning by Palm Beach County which said the event had violated coronavirus regulations.
The New York Times reports that the club is planning to host events during the RNC spring retreat next month.
Bill Nelson was a driving force behind NASA’s Space Launch System (SLS) rocket, which was conceived in the wake of an Obama-era overhaul of the US space program.
He will succeed Jim Bridenstine, who led the agency for almost three years under the Trump administration.
Jim Bridenstine earned widespread praise for his efforts to promote NASA programs – in particular, its Artemis venture, which will see astronauts return to the Moon in the 2020s before mounting a mission to Mars.
Bill Nelson was among those who initially criticized Jim Bridenstine’s confirmation in 2018, saying: “The administrator must be a leader who has the ability to bring us together… on a shared vision for future space exploration.”
The Oklahoma Congressman had no formal qualifications in science and engineering, and there were concerns he would politicize the non-partisan agency.
However, following Jim Bridenstine’s successful tenure at NASA, the Biden administration has opted to appoint another politician as the agency’s head – albeit a former astronaut with a long history of working on space issues.
Bill Nelson served in Florida’s state legislature during the 1970s, representing the district that’s home to NASA’s Kennedy Space Center.
After his election to the House of Representatives in 1978, he became the second sitting member of Congress to travel into space when he flew as a payload specialist aboard the space shuttle Columbia in 1986.
After he won election to the Senate in Florida in 2000, Bill Nelson continued to be closely involved in formulating space policy.
He lost his last re-election bid and his Senate term ended in 2019.
France and Poland have re-imposed partial lockdowns as both countries battle a sharp rise in Covid-19 infections in recent weeks.
In France, some 21 million people in 16 areas, including Paris, are affected as the country fears a third wave.
In Poland, non-essential shops, hotels, cultural and sporting facilities are now closed for three weeks.
Poland has the highest new daily rates of Covid-19 cases since November 2020.
Covid-19 cases are also rising exponentially in Germany, with Chancellor Angela Merkel warning it is likely that the country will now need to apply an “emergency brake” and re-impose lockdown measures.
The vaccine rollout across the EU has been hindered by delayed deliveries, as well as the suspension in several countries of the use of the Oxford-AstraZeneca Covid-19 vaccine, over fears of possible side effects.
In France, the partial lockdown took effect from midnight on March 19.
Trains leaving Paris for parts of the country where lockdown restrictions do not apply, such as Brittany and Lyon, were reportedly fully booked hours before the measures were due to come into effect.
Traffic jams were reported on several roads leaving the capital.
The new restrictions are not as strict as the previous lockdown, with people allowed to exercise outdoors.
Non-essential businesses are shut, but schools remain open, along with hairdressers if they follow a “particular sanitary protocol”.
France has reported more than 4.2 million infections since the start of the outbreak, with nearly 92,000 Covid-related deaths, according to the data compiled by Johns Hopkins University in the US.
In Poland, the three-week lockdown began on March 20.
Polish health officials earlier warned the nationwide restrictions were necessary because of a rampant British variant of Covid-19 in the country. The variant now makes up more than 60% of infections.
Poland has had more than two million confirmed infections, and nearly 49,000 deaths, according to Johns Hopkins University.
Germany said on March 19 it was now classifying neighboring Poland as high risk. This means that from March 21 anyone crossing the border from Poland must provide a negative coronavirus test.
Despite assurances from the European medicines regulator that the AstraZeneca vaccine is safe and effective, some countries remain reluctant to resume their campaigns using the jab.
Germany, Italy, France, Spain and the Netherlands are among the countries that have restarted their AstraZeneca vaccination campaigns.
Health authorities in France have recommended that the AstraZeneca vaccine be offered only to people aged 55 and over.
Finland’s health authority has announced a pause in its use of the vaccine that will last at least a week. That move, which follows two reports of blood clots in patients who had received the jab in the country, was said to be a precautionary measure.
Meanwhile, Sweden, Denmark and Norway said on March 19 that they needed more time to determine whether they should resume AstraZeneca inoculations.
On March 20, Denmark said that two members of hospital staff in Copenhagen had developed blood clots after receiving the AstraZeneca vaccine.
The European Medicines Agency (EMA) has reviewed the AstraZeneca vaccine over fears of a link to blood clots and found it was not associated with a higher risk of clots.
Tanzania’s President John Magufuli has died aged 61, the country’s Vice-President Samia Suluhu Hassan has announced.
John Magufuli died on March 17 from heart complications at a hospital in Dar es Salaam, the vice-president said in an address on state TV.
He had not been seen in public for more than two weeks, and rumors had been circulating about his health.
Opposition politicians said last week that John Magufuli had contracted Covid-19, but this has not been confirmed.
President Magufuli was one of Africa’s most prominent coronavirus skeptics, and called for prayers and herbal-infused steam therapy to counter the virus.
“It is with deep regret that I inform you that today… we lost our brave leader, the president of the Republic of Tanzania, John Pombe Magufuli,” Vice-President Hassan said in the announcement.
She said there would be 14 days of national mourning and flags would fly at half mast.
According to Tanzania’s constitution, VP Hassan will be sworn in as the new president within 24 hours and should serve the remainder of John Magufuli’s five-year term which he began last year.
John Magufuli was last seen in public on February 27, but PM Kassim Majaliwa insisted last week that the president was “healthy and working hard”.
The prime-minister blamed the rumors of the president’s ill-health on “hateful” Tanzanians living abroad.
When Covid-19 arrived in Tanzania, President Magufuli called on people to go to churches and mosques to pray.
“Coronavirus, which is a devil, cannot survive in the body of Christ… It will burn instantly,” the president said.
John Magufuli declared Tanzania “Covid-19 free” in June 2020, saying the virus had been eradicated by three days of national prayer.
He also mocked the efficacy of masks, expressed doubts about testing, and teased neighboring countries which imposed health measures to curb the virus.
“Countries in Africa will be coming here to buy food in the years to come… they will be suffering because of shutting down their economy,” President Magufuli said, according to the Associated Press.
Tanzania has not published details of its coronavirus cases since May 2020, and the government has refused to purchase vaccines.
Vanessa Bryant, the widow of Kobe Bryant, has published the names of LA County police officerswho she said shared graphic photos of the scene of her husband’s death in a helicopter crash last year.
The 38-year-old is suing the Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department for negligence and invasion of privacy.
“We will refrain from trying this case in the media,” the sheriff said in response.
Kobe Bryant died with his daughter and seven others in the crash.
On March 17, Vanessa Bryant posted on Instagram the names of four sheriff’s deputies.
She says they took graphic pictures of the nine people who died in the crash close to Calabasas, California, in January 2020.
She alleges that one of the officers shared with a bartender photos of Kobe Bryant’s body and the others distributed “gratuitous photos of the dead children, parents, and coaches”.
The Los Angeles Times reported in February 2020 that an internal police investigation found officers shared photos of victims’ remains.
Vanessa Bryant claims the pictures, including those of her 13-year-old daughter Gianna, were taken and shared “for no reason other than morbid gossip”.
Last week a judge rejected an attempt to stop publication of the officer’s names, allowing Vanessa Bryant to disclose them.
LA County Sheriff Alex Villanueva responded on Twitter to Vanessa Bryant’s post, saying that the department would wait for a court to decide the outcome of the case.
The widow of Kobe Bryant alleges that at least eight officers took pictures of the crash site for their personal use, and claims that one took between 25 and 100 photos.
Last month, safety investigators said the helicopter pilot, Ara Zobayan, may have become disoriented in fog before the aircraft smashed into a hillside.
The NTSFB said the main cause of the crash was most likely the pilot’s decision to keep flying in inclement conditions “which resulted in the pilot’s spatial disorientation and loss of control”.
As well as Kobe Bryant, his daughter and the pilot, those killed included two of Gianna’s basketball teammates, their relatives and a coach. The group were on their way to a tournament in Thousand Oaks where Kobe Bryant had been set to coach.
Other than rent, spending money on food is many people’s second-biggest expense. Don’t feel too bad about it, good food is essential for good health. However, heading into troubling the economic times of 2021, the food bill is somewhere we can cut monthly spending. Here are some tips to help cut down weekly shopping bills.
Internet shopping and vouchers
The internet is your biggest resource when it comes to saving money in 2021. The internet allows us to compare prices more easily, opt for the best deals, and seek out vouchers. Iceland Vouchers, for example, can save customers 10% on their food bill. There are plenty of ways to find good deals online thanks to affiliate marketing and the fight for customer’s attention.
It’s much faster to compare the prices between two supermarkets online than in real life, so it’s great to use this to inform our decision – even if we do eventually shop in the physical store.
Making food last longer
Making food last longer is one of the most overlooked forms of waste. Fruit and veg contribute to around 50% of food wastage – a statistic that is damaging the environment. This starts with better education surrounding storing different products. For example, potatoes and onions need to be in a cool, dark place, separate from each other so the gases do not combine.
It’s also important to organise and utilise the refrigerator people, too. The bottom shelf is the coldest, and thus is where meat and fish should be stored, whilst dairy can take the top shelf. Cheese and other items that get opened then re-used should be re-wrapped in a resealable bag.
Bulk buying
Simple economics tells us that bulk buying is cheaper per unit. The reason for this is because companies save money on postage, packaging, and are happy to entice customers into bigger sales to offload stock.
Customers can make the most of this by looking at the price per kg (or price per unit) that exists on every label in a shop. For example, the largest box of washing powder will likely be cheaper per kg than the smallest box (presuming it’s the same brand). Alternatively, customers can shop at wholesalers.
The caveat here is only buy in large quantity if you’re 100% sure that you will not waste any, or come to the realisation that you did not need that much.
Frozen over fresh
Frozen food has a bad reputation, but it’s often undeserved. Frozen vegetables have been proven to be fresher than non-frozen vegetables because they’re frozen right after harvest. Not only this, but frozen fruit and veg is significantly cheaper than fresh fruit and veg. Plus, you’re going to sidestep the trap of perishable food waste.
Plant-based diet
Being a strict vegan or vegetarian is a personal choice and opinion. What isn’t up for debate, however, is that meat is expensive per gram compared to plant-based foods. The only meat that is cheap typically highly processesed and therefore very bad for your health.
Cutting down meat, such as meatless Mondays, can be a big money saver. Using black beans instead of mincemeat in a Con Carne, or a vegan burger instead of a steak burger is undoubtedly cheaper and can still provide good levels of protein. Plus, vegan alternatives are getting cheaper as the supply has begun to increase.
Donald Trump has urged his Republican supporters to be vaccinated against Covid-19, saying he would recommend it.
In a TV interview, the former president said the vaccine was “safe” and “something that works”.
Donald Trump’s conservative fan base has been one of the main groups resistant to the vaccine program.
The former president himself was criticized during his time in office for playing down the seriousness of the pandemic.
As the vaccination program has been rolled out across the United States, all other living ex-presidents have spoken out, urging Americans to get the jab.
However, Donald Trump has remained largely quiet on the subject.
The former president and his wife, Melania, were vaccinated at the White House in secret in January.
Donald Trump said during an interview on Fox News Primetime on March 16: “I would recommend it.
“I would recommend it to a lot of people that don’t want to get it and a lot of those people voted for me, frankly.”
He added: “It’s a great vaccine, it’s a safe vaccine and it’s something that works.”
A recent poll by CBS News suggested that a third of Republican supporters would not have the vaccine when it was available to them, compared to 10% of Democrats.
Donald Trump’s comments came a day after his successor, President Joe Biden, expressed frustration at the reluctance among some conservatives to get the shot.
White House spokeswoman Jen Psaki said on March 15: “If former President Trump woke up tomorrow and wanted to be more vocal about the safety and efficacy of the vaccine, certainly we’d support that.”
She added: “Every other living president… has participated in public campaigns. They did not need an engraved invitation to do so.”
The Netherlands has become the latest country to halt use of the Oxford-AstraZeneca Covid vaccine over concerns about possible side effects.
The WHO and the European Medicines Agency (EMA) say there is no indication of a link between the vaccine and reports of blood clots.
Eight countries have so far fully suspended the AstraZeneca vaccinations.
The WHO told Reuters it was important that vaccination campaigns continued.
About 17 million people in the EU and the UK have received a dose of the vaccine, with fewer than 40 cases of blood clots reported as of last week, AstraZeneca said.
Experts say the number of blood clots reported after the vaccine were no more than those typically reported within the general population.
However, the Dutch government said its suspension, which will last until at least March 29, was a precaution.
Ireland, Denmark, Norway, Bulgaria and Iceland have paused inoculations with AstraZeneca vaccine, while the Democratic Republic of Congo and Indonesia have delayed the start of their AstraZeneca rollouts. Several European countries, including Italy and Austria, have suspended the use of certain batches of the drug as a precautionary measure.
Thailand announced that it would start using the vaccine on March 16, following a brief delay to the rollout over safety concerns.
The EMA – which is currently carrying out a review into incidents of blood clots – said the vaccine could continue to be administered.
In a statement, the Dutch government said it was acting out of precaution following reports from Denmark and Norway of possible serious side effects.
Dutch drug watchdog Pharmacovigilance Centre Lareb later said that 10 cases of possible adverse side effects had been reported in the Netherlands, according to Reuters.
“We can’t allow any doubts about the vaccine,” Health Minister Hugo de Jonge said.
“We have to make sure everything is right, so it is wise to pause for now.”
Speaking on an early morning talk show on March 15, Hugo de Jonge said he hoped the suspension would last “no longer than a couple of weeks”, adding: “We need vaccines to be able to put this nasty period behind us.”
The government’s decision will now cause delays in the Dutch vaccination program.
The authorities had pre-ordered 12 million doses of AstraZeneca, with nearly 300,000 shots scheduled in the next two weeks.
AstraZeneca said there was no evidence of an increased risk of clotting due to the vaccine.
It said that across the EU and UK there had been 15 events of deep-vein thrombosis (DVT) – a blood clot in a vein – and 22 events of pulmonary embolism – a blood clot that has entered the lungs – reported among those vaccinated.
AstraZeneca said these figures were “much lower than would be expected to occur naturally in a general population of this size and is similar across other licensed Covid-19 vaccines”.
Beijing was covered in thick dust on March 15 as it experienced what its weather bureau has called the worst sandstorm in a decade.
The storm in the Chinese capital caused an unprecedented spike in air pollution measurements – with pollution levels in some districts at 160 times the recommended limit.
Hundreds of flights were canceled or grounded as the sky was covered by an apocalyptic-looking orange haze.
The sand is being brought in by strong winds from Mongolia.
In Mongolia the severe sandstorms have reportedly caused six deaths and left dozens missing.
China’s Global Times media outlet reported that at least 12 provinces in the country, including the capital, had been affected, and the weather was likely to continue through the day on March 15 before improving at night.
The WHO currently sets safe levels of air quality based on the concentration of polluting particles called particulate matter (PM) found in the air.
According to AFP quoting the Global Times, the PM 10 pollution in six central districts reached “over 8,100 micrograms per cubic meter” on March 15. The WHO considers levels between 0-54 as “good” and 55-154″ as “moderate” levels of PM 10.
AFP added that schools had been told to cancel outdoor events, and those with respiratory diseases advised to stay indoors.
The Chinese capital was historically hit by sandstorms on a much more regular basis, but pollution reduction projects – including prohibitions on new coal-fired power plants, restrictions on the number of cars on the road and reforestation – have significantly improved air quality. Sandstorms like the one seen this week, caused by wind, are harder to control.
Beijing and surrounding regions have suffered from high levels of pollution in recent weeks, with one Greenpeace activist telling AFP that it was a result of “intense” industrial activities. These, he said, exacerbated sandstorm conditions, which were the “result of extreme weather conditions and desertification”.
US attempts to communicate with North Korea have included the “New York Channel” – through the North Korean mission at the United Nations.
A US official told Reuters there had been “multiple attempts” to engage with North Korea, but no meaningful contact for more than 12 months, which includes much of Donald Trump’s final year as president.
President Biden has already announced a policy review on North Korea, which is expected to be unveiled in April.
He has called Kim Jong-un a thug and stressed the need for North Korean nuclear disarmament before heavy US and UN economic sanctions can be eased.
Kim Jong-un has continued to emphasize North Korea’s military capability, claiming the development of more accurate long-range missiles, super large warheads, spy satellites and a nuclear-powered submarine.
At the same time the North Korean leader has called on the US to ditch its “hostile policies”.
North Korea’s nuclear ambitions are expected to feature prominently during this week’s visit to Japan and South Korea by Secretary of State Anthony Blinken and Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin.
Relations between the US and North Korea plummeted in 2017 when North Korea tested long-range missiles capable of hitting American cities.
Tensions eased as President Trump bet on developing a personal rapport with Kim Jong-un.
However, the much-trumpeted meetings, including summits in Singapore and Vietnam, failed to overcome differences over nuclear disarmament and sanctions. The US rebuffed North Korean demands for the lifting of sanctions in return for only a partial reduction in nuclear capabilities.
North Korea is currently more cut off from the outside world than ever before. Its borders have been closed for over a year to prevent the spread of Covid-19.
Trade with North Korea’s main ally China has dwindled by more than 90% in the last few months.
Italy will close shops, restaurants and schools across most of the country on March 15, with PM Mario Draghi warning of a “new wave” of the coronavirus outbreak.
For three days over Easter, April 3-5, there will be a total lockdown.
Italy, which one year ago imposed one of the first national lockdowns, is once again struggling to contain the rapid spread of infections.
The country has reported more than 100,000 Covid-related deaths, Europe’s second-highest tally after the UK.
Its vaccination campaign has been hit by delays, as has been seen elsewhere in the EU.
AstraZeneca has announced a further shortfall in the amount of its vaccine it can supply to the EU, blaming export restrictions imposed by some countries. It did not elaborate.
In January, the pharmaceutical company announced a large cut in the 100 million doses it had originally expected to deliver to the EU by March, sparking a public spat with European Commission.
Last week, the Italian government blocked the export of 250,000 doses of the Oxford-AstraZeneca vaccine to Australia to address shortfalls of vaccines.
Elsewhere, Bulgaria, Denmark and Norway have all halted the use of the Oxford-AstraZeneca vaccine over fears it causes blood clots.
On March 12, the WHO said there was no indication this was true, stressing that countries should not stop using the vaccine.
From March 15, schools, shops and restaurants will shut in more than half of Italy, including the two most populous regions containing Rome and Milan.
Residents will be required to stay at home except for work, health or other essential reasons.
The extra restrictions would last until Easter, PM Draghi’s office said, and over the Easter weekend the whole country would be turned into the high-risk “red zone”.
Cases have been rising across Italy for the past six weeks, exceeding 25,000 a day.
In a majority of Italy’s regions “hospitals and above all intensive care units are already overloaded”, the GIMBE health think-tank warned this week, the AFP reported.
The island of Sardinia is the only region where infection rates are low.
Italy has had nearly 3.2 million confirmed infections since the outbreak began last year.
Bolivia’s former interim president Jeanine Áñez and several ex-ministers have been arrested over a 2019 coup.
Prosecutors say Jeanine Áñez and the ministers took part in a coup against the then President Evo Morales in 2019.
Evo Morales resigned and fled Bolivia after protests and allegations of electoral fraud.
Jeanine Áñez has said she is the victim of a political vendetta by Evo Morales’s Mas Socialist party, which has since returned to power.
The party won a landslide victory in presidential and congressional elections in October 2020, paving the way for Evo Morales to return to Bolivia from Argentina and take over the leadership of the Mas party.
As the most senior senator, Jeanine Áñez became caretaker president after Evo Morales fled. But members of the Mas party accused her, in cahoots with police and military figures, of engineering his overthrow.
Jeanine Áñez was detained in the early hours of March 13 in the city of Trinidad, government minister, Eduardo Del Castillo Del Carpio, announced on Facebook. She was then taken by plane to the city of La Paz.
She earlier tweeted “the political persecution has begun” and said an arrest document listed charges of terrorism, sedition and conspiracy.
Bolivian TV also aired images of former energy minister Rodrigo Guzman and former justice minister Alvaro Coimbra being detained.
Evo Morales fled Bolivia in November 2019 after weeks of violent protests and after losing the backing of the military over his controversial re-election to a fourth term in office.
Several of his allies in senior posts also left the country.
We all dream of that moment. The man of our dreams gets down to one knee, pulls a small square box from the inside of his suit jacket and opens it up with nothing but those four magical words: will you marry me? No matter what is inside that box, we know that our love will last forever. It’s is one of the most emotional and magical days for both partners of the relationship, and nothing could change that. But wouldn’t it be nice if that ring inside the box is your dream ring too?
Buying an engagement ring is tough, so we cannot fault our partners if they don’t get it right, but maybe there’s something we can do to nudge them in the right direction. After all, if you’re going to wear this ring every day for the rest of your life, it should suit you, no?
Watch Matchmaking Show Together
This trick only works if your boyfriend is a good listener and observer, but it can be the most foolproof way to let him know what you like in a ring. Sit down and watch a show together like The Bachelor or The 12 Dates of Christmas. In the final episode when one partner gets to pick out the ring they are going to give their soon to be fiancé, start talking. “Oh I love that ring. A Princess cut is so beautiful and rose gold is so classy.” And “Eww, that other one is gross. Too many sidestones are taking away from such a lovely center stone.” Tell him exactly what you want by commenting on the show.
Have a Friend Slip Some Hints
Another great way to get the message to the man who is picking out your engagement ring is to get your friends or sibling involved. You can tell your best friends exactly what you want in an engagement ring and then trust them to get that message across to your boyfriend. In many cases, a boyfriend will ask for help from your closest confidants anyway, so it would be a win-win.
Tell Him…
This may be a bit less traditional, but you can always just talk about it. There’s no rule that says you need to leave this completely to surprise. In fact, you can even engagement ring shop together. It’s 2021 and that is becoming more popular than ever. If your ring is something that you really care about getting exact, why leave it to chance? Talk to your man before you end up hating what he puts on your finger.
These are just a few of our tips. What about you? How would you make sure you get the perfect ring?
The city of Minneapolis has reached a $27 million settlement with the family of George Floyd, the unarmed black man whose death in May 2020 sparked protests worldwide.
George Floyd’s death after being trapped under the knee of former police officer Derek Chauvin was captured on camera.
Lawyers for the Floyd family said the footage created “undeniable demand for justice and change”.
Jury selection for Derek Chauvin’s murder trial is currently under way.
Six out of 12 jurors have been selected for hearings beginning on March 29.
The Minneapolis City Council voted unanimously to approve the pre-trial settlement, the largest ever awarded in the state of Minnesota.
“That the largest pre-trial settlement in a wrongful death case ever would be for the life of a black man sends a powerful message that black lives do matter and police brutality against people of color must end,” said Floyd family attorney Ben Crump.
In a video of George Floyd’s death that went viral on social media, four police officers confront the man for allegedly using a counterfeit $20 bill at a local shop.
They drag him to the ground and Derek Chauvin places his knee on George Floyd’s neck, even as he begs for his life and says “I can’t breathe”. He was later pronounced dead in hospital.
Lawyers for the Floyd family filed a civil suit one month later, in June 2020.
They argued the city of Minneapolis had been negligent for failing to train officers in proper restraint techniques and for not dismissing officers with a poor track record. Dozens of complaints had previously been filed against Derek Chauvin, who had been serving on the city police force for 19 years.
Speaking after the settlement was announced, Ben Crump said it was but “one step” on the journey to justice. George Floyd’s death was a catalyst for reckoning on race and bias, he said.
The civil settlement comes at the end of the first week in criminal court proceedings over Derek Chauvin’s murder trial.
Derek Chauvin is facing charges of second and third degree murder and second degree manslaughter. If found guilty on all counts, the former officer could face a maximum sentence of 65 years in prison. He has pleaded not guilty.
Six jurors have been selected for the trial so far.
The final bench will require 12 jurors and four alternates – or substitutes – but suitable jurors have been hard to find in this emotionally charged and high-profile case.
The three other officers involved in George Floyd’s death – J Alexander Keung, Tou Thao and Thomas Lane – were charged with aiding and abetting murder and manslaughter, and will be tried separately later this year.
Landscapers need a varied skill set. As well as understanding the environment they work in and the plants which thrive there, they must also be able to communicate well with clients and garden designers to achieve the required results. It’s also a very manual role that calls for the laying of new paving, pruning trees and carefully maintaining finished areas. The work is challenging, but with the right planning, a landscaping business can encompass both private and commercial clients to become very lucrative. Here are some ideas for growing your company and increasing your turnover.
Produce a new business plan
The decision to expand is often made as a result of a business doing well. To maximize on your success, it’s important to create a plan that takes into account your new goals. Think strategically to establish a set of clear targets. These could include the number of new customers you hope to take on, the additional hours you plan to work and the percentage increase you would like to see in your revenue. As some aspects of your plan, such as marketing, are likely to be costly, a budget is also required. Next, add a timeline to manage your overall plan. A set of weekly or monthly deadlines will provide information on your progress, so you can adjust your initiatives as and when required.
Show off your insurance certification
Primarily, the right insurance policy will safeguard your business from accidents and claims, but it can also prove your reliability to new and existing clients. Even if you are currently working as a smaller company and it’s just you at the helm, arranging cover from trusted insurance provider Next Insurance, gives you protection from unexpected losses. They work to deliver policies that are aimed at individual businesses, providing cover that’s right for you at an affordable price.
Remember that first impressions count
How you present yourself to potential clients is of key importance. Of course, you will need to be a friendly, polite and approachable person with plenty of innovative gardening ideas, but you should also be responsive to their queries. Provide a phone number and an email address, as well as a website where they can read reviews from past customers and see examples of your work. Your appearance can also have an impact on how your service is perceived. If you don’t have a van logo, then consider getting one made up to give your vehicle a professional look. This lets the neighborhood know you are running an established business and provides you with free advertising. Similarly, you could wear a uniform or even a t-shirt featuring your company logo. As you take on new staff, be sure to get them the same type of shirt, so customers know they are on your team.
Understand who your customers are
One of the most important factors in business success and expansion is knowing your target audience. You can’t create a service that people require if you aren’t entirely sure of who they are and what they want. Under the landscaping umbrella, there are services aimed at the owners of residential properties and services which are more suited to commercial spaces. You may be keen to offer premium outdoor projects or prefer working on general lawn maintenance, either way you’ll need to identify your customers in order to create worthwhile promotions and marketing.
Improve your digital marketing
Digital marketing is a sophisticated and popular tool that can help your business reach its full potential quickly. Building and maintaining a website is important, but it’s no longer enough. Your customers spend lots of time browsing for new products or services online and this means their tastes are more refined than ever. A modern website with uniform branding and design features will impress them, as will responsiveness and mobile compatibility. Having a portfolio of your previous work is a bonus and can certainly be used to your advantage, but the images will need to be high-quality. Pick out a varied selection which demonstrates your strongest skills. Then add explanations and curate them together in several labelled albums. An ordered approach allows visitors to quickly find pictures and content that relates to a project they have in mind.
Ultimately, some strategies will be more effective than others and you’ll soon learn which to concentrate on as your landscape business grows. You’ll need to be patient, but with hard work and a consistent approach, your goals will soon be within reach.
Myanmar’s military rulers have accused the ousted leader Aung San Suu Kyi of illegally accepting $600,000 and 11kg of gold.
The allegation is the strongest yet leveled by the military since it overthrew Aung San Suu Kyi and Myanmar’s democratic leadership on February 1.
No evidence was provided. A lawmaker from Aung San Suu Kyi’s NLD party denied the allegation.
Meanwhile a UN human rights investigator accused the military of committing “crimes against humanity.”
Thomas Andrews told the UN Human Rights Council in Geneva that Myanmar was currently being “controlled by a murderous, illegal regime” which was likely perpetrating “widespread” and “systematic” killings, torture and persecution.
His claims were supported by the rights group Amnesty, which accused the military of going on a “killing spree”.
Thomas Andrew also called for sanctions on junta leaders and on the military-owned Myanmar Oil and Gas Enterprise, which is set to reach $1 billion in revenue this year.
The US has already announced 10 coup leaders including Myanmar’s acting president, and three companies.
At least seven more people were killed by security forces on March 11, taking the total death toll to more than 70. Witnesses said some protesters had been shot in the head.
Six of those deaths took place in the central town of Myaing.
Meanwhile, a senior official said the military had been “exercising utmost restraint” and accused the protesters of violent behavior.
The accusation that she accepted $600,000 in cash and 11kg of gold was made by a former chief minister of Yangon, Phyo Mien Thein, who said he had given her the payments, junta spokesman Brig. Gen. Zaw Min Tun said. The anti-corruption committee was investigating, he added.
Gen. Zaw Min Tun also accused President Win Myint and several cabinet ministers of corruption.
Aung San Suu Kyi’s NLD won a landslide victory in the polls last year, but the military now claims the election was fraudulent.
Independent international observers have disputed the military’s claim – saying no irregularities were observed.
Aung San Suu Kyi has been held for the past five weeks at an undisclosed location and faces several charges including causing “fear and alarm”, illegally possessing radio equipment, and breaking Covid-19 restrictions.
Prince William has said the royals are “very much not a racist family” in his first comments after accusations by Prince Harry and Meghan Markle in a TV interview with Oprah Winfrey.
The Duke of Cambridge also said he had not yet spoken to his brother but would do so.
Meghan and Prince Harry said a royal had expressed concern over “how dark” their son Archie’s skin might be.
Buckingham Palace previously said the claim was “concerning” but it would be addressed privately.
In a statement, Buckingham Palace said “recollections may vary” but that the Duke and Duchess of Sussex would “always be much loved family members”.
During a visit to a school in Stratford, east London, on March 11, Prince William was asked by a reporter: “Is the Royal Family a racist family, sir?”
The prince replied: “We’re very much not a racist family.”
Asked whether he had spoken to Prince Harry since the Oprah interview, the Duke of Cambridge said: “No, I haven’t spoken to him yet but I will do.”
Prince William’s visit is not the first appearance by a senior royal since the interview aired – Prince Charles carried out an engagement earlier this week.
In the TV interview, Meghan told Oprah there were “concerns and conversations about how dark [Archie’s] skin might be when he was born”.
Both Prince Harry and Meghan Markle refused to say who made the comment – but Harry later clarified to Oprah that it was not the Queen or the Duke of Edinburgh.
During the interview Prince Harry also said it hurt him that his family never spoke out about the “colonial undertones” of news headlines and articles.
Asked by Oprah if the couple left the UK because of racism from the tabloid media, Prince Harry replied: “It was a large part of it.”
In the interview, Prince Harry also spoke about his relationship with his family – especially with his father, the Prince of Wales, and brother Prince William.
At one point after stepping back as senior royals, Prince Harry said Prince Charles “stopped taking my calls”.
And of William, Prince Harry said: “The relationship is ‘space’ at the moment. And time heals all things, hopefully.”
Buckingham Palace issued a response to the interview earlier this week following crisis meetings involving senior royals.
Figures from CBS suggest that nearly 50 million people around the world have watched Oprah’s interview with the couple.
The fallout from the interview has also seen broadcaster Piers Morgan leave his role as host of Good Morning Britain, after his comments about Meghan Markle attracted 41,000 complaints.
Denmark has temporarily suspended use of the Oxford-AstraZeneca Covid vaccine as a precaution, after reports of a small number of blood clots and one death.
According to the Danish health authority, it was too early to say whether there was a link to the AstraZeneca vaccine.
Austria earlier stopped using a batch of the drug, prompting the EU medicines agency (EMA) to say there was no indication the vaccine caused blood clots.
AstraZeneca says its safety has been studied extensively in clinical trials.
A spokesperson said: “Patient Safety is the highest priority for AstraZeneca.
“Regulators have clear and stringent efficacy and safety standards for the approval of any new medicine, and that includes Covid-19 Vaccine AstraZeneca.”
Peer-reviewed data confirmed it had been “generally well tolerated”, the statement added.
Denmark’s decision came days after Austria suspended use of a particular batch of the drug because a woman died 10 days after taking it. Estonia, Latvia, Lithuania and Luxemburg have also stopped using the batch.
Danish authorities said they were pausing use of the vaccine for 14 days in what Health Minister Magnus Heunicke called a “precautionary measure”.
Although no link had been established, he said “we must respond in a timely and careful manner” until a conclusion was reached.
The decision to put the vaccine on hold in Denmark and Austria is a setback for a European vaccination campaign that has stuttered into life, partly due to delays in delivery of the AstraZeneca drug.
The Danish authority said it was not an easy decision as it was during the biggest and most important rollout in the country’s history.
The EMA said its safety committee was reviewing the Austrian case, but made clear that “there is currently no indication that vaccination has caused these conditions, which are not listed as side effects with this vaccine”.
The number of “thromboembolic events in vaccinated people is no higher than that seen in the general population”, it added.
A lot can happen in a year. From finding out you’re expecting a new bundle of joy to eventually welcoming your little one, to getting engaged and then married, to adopting pets or buying a house, these milestone occasions are worth celebrating — and not just with those you see on a daily or weekly basis.
When it comes to sharing this important news with more distant friends and family members, though, never underestimate the power of a traditional paper card.
Looking for a thoughtful way to announce news of important milestones? Here are three great ideas you’ll love.
1. Add the News to Your Christmas Card
Sending Christmas cards to family and friends is a warm and welcoming holiday tradition. For many, receiving such wishes is one of the highlights of the season, and perhaps a chance to send and receive a little love from those you can’t be physically close to during the festive season.
Christmas cards are also a great way to update those friends and family members about major changes in your life that have happened in the past year.
When your loved ones are already anticipating a card, they’ll be even more excited to learn about the exciting news that you’re looking to announce. Whether you bought a new house or adopted a pet, adding a note and a photo to your custom Christmas cards is a great way to let everyone on your list know.
2. Send an Engagement Announcement or Save-the-Date
While weddings seem to become more extravagant year after year, the average length of an engagement is surprisingly short. In fact, most couples are only engaged for just 12 to 18 months before they tie the knot.
When you know you’ll only be engaged for a short time, it might be tempting to skip over formal traditions in favor of something quick and easy. But before you text or post to social media about the news, you might want to reconsider.
Sending an engagement announcement or even a save-the-date is a special gesture befitting of the occasion. Not only is it exciting mail for your friends and loved ones to receive, but it also acts as a special moment of your all-too-short engagement period.
3. Mail a Birth Announcement
In a time when social media reigns supreme, it’s no surprise that many parents choose to announce the arrival of their new little bundle of joy via a carefully worded, perfectly photographed Instagram or Facebook post. When you’re excited to share the news and want to show off your little one’s already adorable looks, it’s understandable that you’d opt for social media to get the word out as quickly as possible.
Regardless if you decide to post to social media, mailing a birth announcement is still an important tradition to keep. For grandparents, distant aunts and uncles, and even close friends, a beautiful paper birth announcement — especially one featuring a photo of your little one — is a great keepsake. Whether they display it on their refrigerator until they get to meet your newborn in-person or tuck it away in a scrapbook, it’s a small, simple token that can mean a lot to your friends and family members.
Sharing Your Big Moments
From birth and engagement announcements to sharing smaller milestones on your Christmas card, these are all great ways to celebrate life’s moments, both big and small, with your friends and loved ones near and far!
Despite expectations that, as a result of the Covid pandemic, Portuguese house prices would fall during 2020, there has been an average 1.1% increase across the country. In January 2020, the average house price in Portugal stood at 344,417 euros by December that price had risen to 348,223 euros. There has, however, been considerable regional variation in the sale price of property: Portalegre and Guada saw falls of 16.9% and 14% respectively, whilst Evora and Beja saw property prices rise by 16.9% and 7.7%.
Across Europe there has been a trend pandemic trend for increased sales outside of urban areas and in particular a move away from property purchases in capital cities. This trend does not seem to have made an impact on property prices in Portugal’s capital, Lisbon, where average prices increased from 551,607 euros in December 2019 to 557,595 euros in December 2020. Lisbon has experienced a property boom in recent years but 2019 saw a slowdown in the number properties being bought by foreigners. Estate agents report that purchasers have been choosing cheaper properties but also that there has been an increase in enquiries and clients from America.
One of the key factors driving Portugal’s property boom in recent years has been the ‘Golden Visa’ scheme, by which foreign purchasers of property valued in excess of 350,000 euros are entitled to residency rights and unhindered travel within the Schengen territories. The scheduled ending of this scheme in Lisbon, Porto and the Algarve may well create a last-minute surge of foreign purchases before the deadline.
The Portuguese government was widely commended for its handling of the first wave of the Coronavirus pandemic and the comparative low impact of the virus during most of 2020 may well have helped sustain the country’s buoyant property market. Unfortunately, the second and third waves of the virus which hit the country at the end of 2020 and the start of 2021 have proved much more serious and currently, Portugal is in a state of emergency until at least March 11th.
The Portuguese economy, so dependent on tourism, has been devastated by the pandemic. During the first nine months of 2020, the overall turnover in terms of taxable income, declined by 14.8%. Over 37,000 businesses in the hospitality sector face bankruptcy. The extent to which this catastrophic economic situation will impact on property prices which largely depend on whether Portugal is able to quash the virus in time for the resumption of a tourist summer season in 2021.
Even without the incentive of a ‘Golden Visa’ Portugal remains a very attractive location for foreign property purchasers. Year-round sunshine, some of the best beaches in Europe, outstanding cuisine, a rich cultural and architectural heritage, one of the lowest costs of living in Europe and an impressively low crime rate are all powerful incentives for foreign investors. The coming year is undoubtedly going to be one of extreme challenge, but it seems likely that demand for Portuguese real estate will continue to increase.
Meghan Markle has said she found life within the British Royal Family so difficult that at times she “didn’t want to be alive any more”.
In a deeply personal TV interview with Oprah Winfrey, the Duchess of Sussex said that she did not get help when she asked for it.
She also said a low point was when Prince Harry was asked by an unnamed family member “how dark” their son Archie’s skin might be.
Harry also revealed that his father, Prince Charles, stopped taking his calls when he wanted to step back.
The highly-anticipated interview with Oprah, which Meghan and Harry were not paid for, aired overnight in the US.
During the two-hour CBS special, to be screened in the UK on ITV at 21:00 GMT on March 8 and on ITV Hub, Courtesy of Harpo Productions/CBS, the couple covered a range of topics, including racism, mental health, their relationship with the media and Royal Family dynamics.
The couple announced their second child, which is due in the summer, is a girl.
They also revealed that they exchanged vows in a ceremony led by the Archbishop of Canterbury in their “backyard” three days before they were legally married at their public wedding in May 2018.
Prince Harry said his brother and father were “trapped within the system” of the Royal Family
He said his family cut him off financially at the beginning of last year.
However, Harry said he loved his brother “to bits” and wanted to heal his relationship with both him and his father.
Meghan revealed that she phoned the Queen after Prince Philip went into hospital last month.
The couple moved to California after formally stepping down from royal duties in March 2020, and it was announced last month that they would not be returning as working members of the Royal Family.
Meghan Markle said that she started to feel lonely when limits were placed on what she could do, revealing that at one point she did not leave the house for months.
At one point the Duchess of Sussex thought she “could not feel lonelier”, she told Oprah Winfrey.
Asked by Oprah if she was thinking of self-harm and having suicidal thoughts at some stage, Meghan Markle, 39, replied: “Yes. This was very, very clear. Very clear and very scary. I didn’t know who to turn to in that.”
The duchess said that she felt “haunted” by a photograph from an official event she attended with Prince Harry at the Royal Albert Hall while she was pregnant.
She said that she attended the event with Harry that night because she felt she could not be “left alone” and recalled Harry gripping her hand tightly while in attendance at the Royal Albert Hall.
Oprah also asked Meghan why she thought the Royal Family did not make her son Archie a prince – which Meghan said she wanted so that he would get police protection.
The couple’s children do not automatically become princes or princesses because of a rule that has been in place since 1917 – unless the Queen steps in.
She said the remarks about skin color were made to Prince Harry and he relayed them to her.
Asked by Oprah whether there were concerns that her child would be “too brown” and that would be a problem, Meghan said: “If that is the assumption you are making, that is a pretty safe one.”
When pressed, the duchess refused to reveal who the individual was, saying: “I think that would be very damaging to them.”
Prince Harry also refused to give further details, saying: “That conversation, I am never going to share.”
“At the time it was awkward, I was a bit shocked,” he added.
Prince Harry, 36, said that none of his relatives spoke out in support of Meghan following the racism he said his wife faced from the media.
“No-one from my family ever said anything over those three years. That hurts,” Harry said.
During the interview, the Royal Family were also accused of failing to protect the duke and duchess, with Meghan saying the situation “started to really worsen” after the couple married in May 2018.
Meghan was referencing rumors that she had made Kate Middleton cry during a disagreement about flower girl dresses – a story that prompted a flurry of tabloid stories.
She said the opposite happened. She added that Kate later apologized, bringing flowers and a note to make amends.
Joining Meghan and Oprah for the second half of the interview, Prince Harry talked about his relationship with the rest of his family.
He said his relationship with his grandmother, the Queen, was “really good” and that the two of them speak often.
However, his relationship with his father, Prince Charles, has suffered.
Prince Harry said that he feels “really let down” by his father. He added that he will always love him, but “there’s a lot of hurt that’s happened”.
He described his father and his brother as “trapped within the system” of the Royal Family.
“They don’t get to leave,” he added.
Of Prince William, he said they were on “different paths”.
Prince Harry also revealed that his family had cut him off financially at the beginning of last year, after the couple announced their intention to step back as senior royals.
The prince said deals with Netflix and Spotify were “never part of the plan” but they needed them to pay for security staff.
