News

Hard Numbers: Myanmar's deadliest day, Brazil's COVID deaths peak again, Italy blocks Australia jabs, "Buttergate" in Canada

A Myanmar citizen living in India burns a poster of Myanmar's army chief Senior General Min Aung Hlaing with his face crossed out, during a protest organised by Chin Refugee Committee, against the military coup in Myanmar, in New Delhi, India, March 3, 2021.

38: At least 38 people were killed in Myanmar Wednesday, the bloodiest day since the military staged a coup there last month. Witnesses described scenes like "a war zone" when armed forces opened fire on peaceful protesters in cities across the Southeast Asian country.

1,910: Brazil recorded 1,910 COVID deaths on Wednesday, the highest daily toll since the virus first emerged there over a year ago. Brazil, which has recorded the second highest COVID death toll behind the US, is trying to contain a new variant that scientists say is more contagious, and its vaccine rollout is off to a patchy start.

250,000: Italy has blocked 250,000 doses of the AstraZeneca jab from being delivered to Australia after the EU introduced stricter rules for exporting vaccines in an attempt to make up for the bloc's sluggish vaccine rollout.

12.4: In Canada, butter purchases jumped 12.4 percent in 2020, as stay-at-home orders stirred up massive interest in making bread and baking cakes. But now there is controversy in cakeland! Canadians have hit social media to complain that their butter isn't softening as easily as it should. The mystery — dubbed "Buttergate" — has prompted the dairy industry to weigh in with its own findings.

More For You

Magyar, leader of the opposition Tisza Party, speaks during a press conference a day after the parliamentary election, in which Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orban conceded defeat, Budapest, Hungary, April 13, 2026.
REUTERS/Marton Monus/File Photo

At first glance, Hungary’s Prime Minister-elect Péter Magyar may appear to be the antithesis of the man he defeated in the April 12 election, Viktor Orbán. Yet the pair might be closer than you think – both on policy and politics.