Author: News Desk

NASA astronaut Christina Koch has completed the longest-ever single spaceflight by a woman.  Koch landed back on Earth after spending 328 days at the International Space Station (ISS) surpassing fellow American Peggy Whitson’s record.  https://twitter.com/earth__photos/status/1225713311792205829 Her stay on the ISS was just 12 days short of the all-time US record set by Scott Kelly, who was on the ISS from 2015-2016. “I’m so overwhelmed and happy right now,” she told reporters as she sat outside the capsule after it touched down.  During her mission, Koch completed 5,248 orbits of the Earth and travelled 223 million km (139 million miles) -…

BRIEF – ME! – DAILY NEWS BRIEFING In today’s briefing update, The headlines are: Hero doctor who got into trouble with authorities for giving an early warning about the coronavirus, dies in hospital. Iowa Caucus long-delayed results show Pete Buttigieg is in a narrow lead over Bernie Saunders as they race to face US President Trump in the 2020 presidential elections. In Canada, a train carrying crude oil has drailed causing a nearby settlement to be evacuated. The authorities are investigating the accident and have expressed concerns as this is the second train to derail in a few months. UK, Jonty Bravery,…

A bomb found attached to a lorry on Monday in County Armagh may have been intended for a Brexit day attack, police have said.  Police received a report about an explosive device in a lorry at Belfast dock on 31 January – the day the UK quit the EU.  According to a report, the lorry was due to travel by ferry to Scotland and a search was conducted but nothing was found.  https://twitter.com/julianoneill/status/1225377446977056768 On Monday, a more detailed report helped locate the uncovered device at Silverwood Industrial Estate in Lurgan. Police believe dissident republicans were responsible.  Det Supt Sean Wright…

BRIEF – ME! – DAILY NEWS BRIEFING In today’s briefing update, The headlines are: the coronavirus death toll has again risen bringing today’s tally to 563. In further coronavirus news, two cruises ships holding 5,400 people on board have been quarantined in Japan and Hong Kong. A Canadian businessman has been sentenced to 30 days in jail after he told a court he had burned 1 million Canadian dollars in cash. His reason for doing so was to avoid paying child support to his ex-wife.  In the UK, ministers are racing against the clock to pass legislation that will end automatic early…

At least Thirty-three people have been killed on a second Turkish avalanche on Wednesday in eastern Turkey. This happened during a search and rescue mission after a similar avalanche the day before. https://twitter.com/ilginkarl/status/1225107726155558912 About 300 rescue workers were at the site. The bodies of 14 rescue workers and nine civilians were discovered at the scene in Van province, where they had been helping uncover a minibus buried by an avalanche late Tuesday. More than 50 people were believed to be trapped in vehicles in the area following the incident on Wednesday. Pictures from the scene showed people being carried away…

A Turkish plane carrying 177 passengers skidded off the runway at an Istanbul airport and split into two after landing in rough weather on Wednesday, but officials said no deaths have been confirmed. The aircraft had flown into Istanbul’s Sabiha Gokcen airport from the Aegean city of Izmir in very wet weather, NTV broadcaster reported, showing images of the badly damaged plane and a fire inside. The blaze was later put out by firefighters. https://twitter.com/HaticeDenizAVCI/status/1225082449241178112 Live images from the scene showed several people climbing through a large crack in the plane and escaping on one of the wings at the…

Prince Charles has appointed pop star Katy Perry as an ambassador of the British Asian Trust charity. Perry’s new role was announced at the charity’s annual dinner in London Tuesday. Her appointment comes after she met the prince in Mumbai last year and learned about the British Asian Trust’s work.  The trust was founded by Prince Charles and is an international development charity that tackles poverty and inequality in South Asia.  The American singer will support the charity’s work to reduce child trafficking and abuse in India.  “India has long held a special place in my heart, and on my…

Soho’s Dean Street was blocked off and workers were told to leave their offices

BRIEF – ME! – DAILY NEWS BRIEFING In today’s briefing update, The headlines are: Nearly 29,000 Afghanistan civilians have been killed in the past decade, according to a report. The report says all sides failed to comply with international human rights laws. President Trump has delivered a speech on the eve of what is likely to be his impeachment acquittal. The president refused to shake hands with House Speaker Nancy Pelosi – she was seen ripping up his speech. Hong Kong has confirmed its first coronavirus death. The official death toll for the coronavirus has jumped to 490 after a massive 65…

On Monday two people were killed and a third injured at a residential hall on the Texas A&M University campus in Commerce, the school website said.  The wounded person was taken to a hospital and the person’s condition was not disclosed.  The shooting is the latest in a wave of gun violence in schools and colleges in the US in recent years. The gun violence in the US has led to debate over whether tighter restrictions on access to guns should be imposed.  In October, near the Commerce campus, two people were killed and more than a dozen wounded in…