S s norway cruise ship

* At the meeting on March 24 with French President Emmanuel Macron in the southern French city of Nice, Chinese President Xi Jinping stressed the importance of maintaining a sound China-France relationship to both countries' long-term development and its potential impact on the world. * New Zealand Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern announced on March 25 a royal commission inquiry into the events leading up to a March 15 attack on two mosques in Christchurch that killed 50 people, including into the country's intelligence services. * British Prime Minister Theresa May met senior colleagues and Brexit-supporting rebel lawmakers on March 24 at her country residence to discuss her strategy and whether there is sufficient support to put her deal to another vote this week, a Downing Street spokesman said. * Mali's President Ibrahim Boubacar Keita sacked and replaced two generals on March 24 after gunmen killed 134 Fulani herders in a surge of violence the insurgency-plagued country. * Britain's … [Read more...] about World News in Brief: March 25

The maritime rescue service said the Viking Sky, with 1,373 passengers and crew on board, had sent out a mayday signal as it had been drifting toward land in the Norwegian Sea. The ship was carrying 915 passengers, of which "a large number" were from the United States and Britain, the rescue service said, although it declined to be more specific. The crew was able to restart one of the ship’s four engines and the vessel was at anchor about 2 km (1.24 miles) from land and the passengers were considered safe although the evacuation was set to continue throughout the night. Some 155 people had been evacuated by 2140 GMT, rescue service spokesman Per Fjeld said. The sea was very rough and eight of those pulled from the ship had suffered injuries, with three of those considered severe, public broadcaster NRK reported, quoting unnamed sources. Passengers were hoisted one-by-one from the deck of the vessel and airlifted to a village just north of the town of Molde on Norway’s west … [Read more...] about Passengers airlifted from crippled cruise ship in storm off Norway

The maritime rescue service said the Viking Sky had been drifting towards land and had sent out a mayday signal. The vessel was later able to restart one engine, and was at anchor about 2 km from land and no longer adrift, the rescue service told Reuters. Passengers were hoisted up one by one from the deck of the vessel and airlifted to a village located just north of the town of Molde on Norway's west coast. "If we need to evacuate everyone, it will take a long time," a spokesman said. The ship, built in 2017, belongs to Viking Ocean Cruises, part of the Viking Cruises group founded by Norwegian billionaire Torstein Hagen. According to the company website, its passenger capacity is 930. Several vessels and four helicopters took part in the rescue and facilities to receive passengers have been set up on land, the rescue service said. Wind was blowing at a speed of 38 knots, police told Norwegian newspaper VG. All search and rescue teams in the region are mobilising, including 60 … [Read more...] about Cruise ship stalled off Norway, passengers evacuated

* New Zealand Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern said on March 18 that the cabinet has decided to reform the gun law within 10 days. The reform of the gun law is agreed by three coalition partners -- New Zealand Labour party, New Zealand First Party and Green Party, Ardern told a press conference after a cabinet meeting. * Preparations were underway on March 19 to begin burials of victims from the Christchurch mosques attacks after days of intense grieving for the 50 people killed by a lone gunman in New Zealand's worst-ever mass shooting. * US Vice President Mike Pence on March 18 talked with Iraqi Prime Minister Adel Abdul Mahdi over phone regarding security and economic issues. * Jordan's Foreign Minister Ayman Safadi on March 18 said the sole way to achieve just and lasting peace is realizing the legitimate rights of the Palestinians including their rights in statehood. * US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo said on March 18 that the United States will "re-engage" with Kim Jong Un, the … [Read more...] about World News in Brief: March 19