DOZENS DEAD AFTER BLOODY DAY IN MYANMAR

Activists say 38 protesters have been killed in one of the bloodiest days yet in Myanmar since the military toppled the government.

Security forces opened fire in an area of Myanmar's largest city, Yangon, with protesters using sticks and knives.

The military declared martial law in the area after Chinese businesses were attacked. Protesters believe China is giving support to the Burmese military.

At least 21 people were reportedly killed in Yangon on Sunday. Further deaths and injuries were reported elsewhere in the country. The Assistance Association for Political Prisoners (AAPP) monitoring group said the day's death toll was at least 38.

Medical workers said the number of people killed in the Yangon area of Hlaing Tharyar was likely to rise, with dozens suffering gunshot wounds.

The junta has declared martial law in Hlaing Tharyar and neighbouring Shwepyitha after China said Chinese factories in the area had been targeted and demanded protection.

Beijing said people armed with iron bars, axes and petrol had set alight and damaged 10 Chinese facilities - mostly clothing production or storage factories - in Yangon. A Chinese hotel was also attacked.

China's embassy in Myanmar said many Chinese staff were injured and trapped when factories in the Hlaingthaya district of Yangon were looted and destroyed.

The embassy asked for security to be guaranteed quickly, a statement on the embassy's Facebook page said, describing the situation as "very severe". It said Chinese citizens in Myanmar had also been warned.

GLOBAL VACCINATION RATES ON RISE, BUT MANY COUNTRIES YET TO START

More than 345 million doses of Covid-19 vaccines have been administered worldwide in the three months since mass inoculation began in December, but there is still a huge disparity in the vaccination rates between countries. Israel continues to stand out in the vaccination race, with 58% of its population having received at least one dose of either the Moderna or Pfizer-BioNTech vaccines, and 46% having received both required doses. Despite a slow start, Chile is making swift progress, with at least a quarter of its population having received at least one dose.

Despite some initial criticism of Britain’s decision to delay second doses until 12 weeks after the first, the strategy seems to be paying off, as more than a third of its population has received at least one dose, far ahead of any of its European counterparts. Studies appear to have vindicated Britain’s decision after finding a single dose could avert most coronavirus-related hospitalisations.

Some of the starkest differences can be found when comparing continents. In North America, 18 doses have been administered for every 100 people, while in South America, there have been just 4.9 vaccinations per 100 people amid growing outbreaks across much of the continent. Many African nations have yet to start vaccinations, with less than one dose administered across the continent per 100 people.

MERKEL'S PARTY SLUMPS TO DEFEAT IN REGIONAL POLLS

Angela Merkel's ruling Christian Democrats (CDU) have suffered poor results in two key regional votes seen as an indication of what might happen in September's general election.

The CDU is on course for about a quarter of the vote in Baden-Württemberg and Rhineland-Palatinate.

The two western states were once conservative strongholds.

Mrs Merkel is due to step down as German chancellor in September, after 16 years in office.

The slump in the CDU vote comes amid anger in Germany at the slow pace of the coronavirus vaccine rollout and a mask procurement scandal.

Several conservative lawmakers have quit over allegations they received huge commissions for arranging government deals to buy face masks.

The results pave the way for regional alliances between the Greens, the SPD and the liberal Free Democrats and raise the prospect of a similar coalition forming a federal government after the September poll.

The SPD's candidate for chancellor Olaf Scholz said it showed a government without the CDU or its sister party the CSU could be possible. "A lot is possible," he said.

IRELAND, NETHERLANDS ARE THE LATEST TO HALT ASTRAZENECA SHOTS

The Netherlands and Ireland became the latest country to suspend the use of the AstraZeneca vaccine over concerns about patients developing post-jab blood clots, as nations across the world sought to step up their COVID-19 immunisation drives.

Several countries including Denmark, Norway, BulgariaIceland and Thailand last week paused the rollout of vaccines from the Anglo/Swedish pharma giant over fears of blood clots.

The Dutch government said the move, which will last until at least 29 March, was a precaution.

The World Health Organization has said no causal link had been established between the vaccine and blood clotting.

The manufacturer and Europe’s medicines watchdog have also insisted that the vaccine is safe.

The European Medicines Agency (EMA) - who is currently carrying out a review into incidents of blood clots - says the vaccine's benefits continue to outweigh its risks.

An AstraZeneca spokesman said “an analysis of our safety data that covers reported cases from more than 17 million doses of vaccine administered has shown no evidence of an increased risk” in blood clot conditions.

“In fact, the reported numbers of these types of events for COVID-19 Vaccine AstraZeneca are lower than the number that would have occurred naturally in the unvaccinated population.”

UK ROYAL PALACE TO ROPE IN LAW FIRM FOR MEGHAN MARKLE BULLYING PROBE

Buckingham Palace plans to hand over an investigation into allegations that Meghan Markle, the Duchess of Sussex, may have bullied staff during her time as a frontline royal with Prince Harry in Britain to external investigators, a UK media report said on Sunday.

Earlier this month, the palace had confirmed that a probe would be conducted after ‘The Times' published a leaked email from a staff member alleging that the former American actress drove two personal assistants out of the royal household and undermined the confidence of a third member of staff.

Now, 'The Sunday Times' reports that it has been decided that the inquiry would be handed to a third-party law firm to conduct an independent investigation, rather than an inhouse inquiry.

“Our commitment to look into the circumstances around the allegations from former staff of the Duke and Duchess of Sussex is being taken forward but we will not be providing a public commentary on it,” a Buckingham Palace spokesperson said.

Several former and current royal aides who could not give evidence in court during Meghan Markle's recent legal case about privacy against a British newspaper are expected to speak to the inquiry.

“The actual worst incidences haven't come out. There are some harrowing stories to tell,” the newspaper quoted a royal source as saying.

Meanwhile, after being accused of creating a toxic work environment at Buckingham Palace, Meghan Markle has legally demanded evidence against the probe.

'LOOK INSIDE HIS HEART': PELOSI, BIDEN SIDESTEP CALLING ON CUOMO TO RESIGN

US President Joe Biden sidestepped questions Sunday on whether New York Governor Andrew Cuomo should resign over sexual misconduct allegations, while House Speaker Nancy Pelosi said the state leader should "look inside his heart" to decide if he can govern.

The pair stopped short of joining a growing list of other politicians, including many fellow Democrats, in demanding Cuomo's resignation.

Exiting Marine One Sunday, Biden told a reporter that "the investigation is underway and we should see what it brings us."

Eight women have come forward since last month to denounce what they said were inappropriate words and gestures from Cuomo. One former employee said he slipped his hand under her blouse in an incident last year.

New York's senior senator, Chuck Schumer, now the majority leader in the US Senate, is among those who have explicitly called for the governor to step down.

Cuomo's accusers, most of them women who worked in the state government with him, "must be treated with respect," Pelosi said in carefully worded comments on ABC's "This Week" program earlier Sunday, adding that "they are credible and serious charges."

She added: "The governor should look inside his heart -- he loves New York -- to see if he can govern effectively."

Cuomo, who at 63 has been governor for the last 10 years, has repeatedly denied acting in any way he considered "inappropriate."

PAKISTAN HINDU COMMUNITY PARDONS TEMPLE VANDALS

Peshawar: The Hindu community in Pakistan's restive Khyber Pakhtunkhwa has decided to pardon the mob that vandalised and burned down a century-old temple in the province. The local Hindu clerics and others held a meeting on Saturday to resolve the dispute. The accused tendered an apology over the attack. The Muslim clerics have assured full protection to Hindus.     

CHINA WANTS ASTRONAUTS TO STAY ON MOON FOR LONG

Once China establishes a lunar research station, its astronauts will stay on the moon for long periods of time as they conduct studies, state media said on Sunday, citing the architect of China's lunar programme. China has mapped out a series of uncrewed missions this decade, including the setting up of a robotic base to explore the moon's south polar region, ahead of manned landings

SRI LANKA ASKS AMAZON TO NOT SELL FLAG-THEMED ITEMS

Sri Lanka has asked retail giant Amazon to take down bikinis, briefs and doormats featuring the nation’s lion flag from its site, authorities said on Sunday, two days after it protested against the Chinese-made products.

The country is highly sensitive to what it sees as any misuse of its national flag, as well as Buddhist symbols.

Sri Lanka said it had lodged a formal protest with the online retailer and asked Chinese authorities to ensure an end to the manufacture and sale of similar products.

“The company which marketed the product on Amazon was requested by letter from the embassy to immediately cease selling the doormats and any such products, misusing the Sri Lanka flag,” the Sri Lankan Embassy in China said.

Sri Lanka’s Embassy in Washington said it had also complained to the U.S. government over what it called a “violation of intellectual property rights” of the South Asian nation.

However, two days after Sri Lanka’s intervention, dozens of retailers were still selling the flag-themed items.

Several Chinese vendors on Amazon were offering the doormat at prices ranging from $10 to $24, and the lion-printed briefs and bikini from $9.20 to $17.30.

“This is how the Chinese see Sri Lanka,” said one Facebook user.