OPEC+ meeting to be delayed on new Saudi, Russia rift

LOS ANGELES - It feels like a never-ending uphill battle for many homebuyers across the United States. "My experience with looking for a house has been frustrating," one Georgia resident told FOX Television Stations Group. "I have been texting my agent day and night to squeeze in a showing only for the house to go before I could even go see it." The woman, who desires a home in Atlanta, revealed, not too long ago, she put in an offer on a house above the asking price only to discover the seller went with someone else's offer who paid $200,000 over the asking price with no contingencies. "At this point, instead of being able to take my time to find a house that I truly like, I have resorted to finding one that is good enough because that’s all I can afford," she added.But this is only the tip of the iceberg for first-time homebuyers and likely not the first story you’ve heard, especially lately: tight inventory, multiple offers on rundown properties, houses selling for well over the asking price (sometimes by hundreds of thousands of dollars) and home renovations taking substantially longer than predicted due to low supply on flooring, cabinets, and, well, literally everything. "COVID has flipped our life upside-down, disturbed many aspects of everyday life, but the housing market [had] exceptional performance," Lawrence Yun, chief economist of the National Association of Realtors (NAR), told FOX Television Stations.

JUPITER, Fla. - Major League Baseball’s negotiations to salvage opening day resume at a new venue Monday: Roger Dean Stadium in Jupiter, Florida.Colorado Rockies CEO Dick Monfort, chairman of the owners’ labor policy committee, was expected to join a management delegation that includes Deputy Commissioner Dan Halem, the clubs’ lead negotiator.Bruce Meyer, the union’s chief negotiator, was expected to be joined by players. The site of negotiations is about 3 miles from the home of New York Mets pitcher Max Scherzer, among the eight players on the union’s executive subcommittee.The ballpark usually would be the spring training home of the Miami Marlins and St.

US Air Force veteran Gail Halvorsen (M), known as "Candy Bomber", takes part in the celebration of 70 years of the Berlin Airlift. (Arne Dedert/picture alliance via Getty Images) U.S.

COVID-19 as the province entered a new phase of reopening Monday.Pandemic-related hospitalizations stood at a total of 1,776, an increase of 18 from the previous day. Of those patients, 119 were in intensive care units, an increase of five.In the last 24 hours, 101 people were admitted to Quebec hospitals while 83 were discharged.It’s the first net increase in COVID-19 hospitalizations in the province since Feb.

COVID-19 despite a significant slowdown in the effort to immunize that segment of the population, the province’s health department contends.Provincial figures show around 65 per cent of children five to 11 have received at least one dose of a COVID-19 vaccine, the lowest rate of any age group eligible for the shot.“Quebec is continuing its vaccination campaign for children under 12. Appointments are available across Quebec for this age group,” Health Department spokesman Robert Maranda said in an email.“Quebec will not abandon its efforts, as long as people want to get the vaccine, they will be able to receive it.” Quebec adds 3 new COVID-19 deaths as hospitalizations rise Fifty per cent of children five to 11 got their first dose of vaccine between Nov.

Ottawa for the first time in more than three weeks on Sunday as police continued their efforts to put a final end to anti-government demonstrations that immobilized the national capital.Roadways once choked with trucks and protesters opposed to COVID-19 public health measures and Prime Minister Justin Trudeau’s government were largely clear, though debris and other signs of the blockade dubbed an illegal occupation by its critics were still in evidence.Ottawa Police, working in tandem with forces from across the country, said they’d arrested 191 people and laid 391 charges related to the demonstrations, though Ottawa Interim Police Chief Steve Bell said the mammoth law enforcement operation was far from over.“There is another phase that will identify how we maintain the streets, how we eventually demobilize, once we’ve identified that there is no threat of further protests coming to our city,” Bell said at a news conference. “We aren’t there yet.” Ottawa’s convoy occupation mostly clear, but police ‘not done’ with operation yet Bell said charges laid to date include obstructing police, disobeying a court order, assault, mischief, possessing a weapon and assaulting a police officer.Law enforcement is “with every hour” getting closer to delivering on its promise to clear streets and give them back to residents, he added.Chris Harkins, deputy commissioner with the Ontario Provincial Police, said commercial and private vehicle driver’s licenses have been suspended, while 76 vehicles have been seized and towed in Ottawa.But the massive enforcement blitz also drew attention from Ontario’s police watchdog on Sunday.

coronavirus in spring 2020 and the number of people having Covid-19 recorded on their death certificate has now risen to more than 183,000 according to the Office for National Statistics.

Never miss a story! Stay connected and informed with Mint. Download our App Now!!

WASHINGTON - Presidents’ Day is a federal holiday in the U.S. celebrated on the third Monday of February each year. The day recognizes George Washington’s birthday, as well as honors the history of the American presidency and all of those who have served as our nation’s leader. From Abraham Lincoln’s Gettysburg Address to Ronald Reagan’s "tear down this wall" speech more than a century later, here are some famous presidential remarks of the past.The two-minute speech was given by President Abraham Lincoln following the Battle of Gettysburg during a cemetery dedication for the Union war dead on Nov. 19, 1983.

Rye Jr. High School students launched a mini boat in 2020 that landed in Norway last week. (Photo courtesy of Rye Jr.

Queen’s Covid scare will not deter the Royal Family from being an “example” following the Government's expected relaxing of restrictions, a royal expert has insisted.Buckingham Palace confirmed the Queen would continue to carry out “light duties” despite showing “mild cold like” symptoms. Despite calls from royal fans for the reigning monarch to rest, it seems as though The Firm look set to carry on as normal as Kate Middleton looks to continue onto her trip to Copenhagen, Denmark.

WASHINGTON - An organizer of one of the truck convoys headed to D.C. later this week says there are plans to shut down the Capital Beltway.Download the FOX 5 DC News App for Local Breaking News and Weather"We will be along the Beltway where the Beltway will be shut down," Bob Bolus said in an interview Sunday.Bolus owns a truck parts and towing business in Scranton.

Former President Donald Trump speaks during the 'Save America' rally at the Montgomery County Fairgrounds on January 29, 2022 in Conroe, Texas. T (Brandon Bell/Getty Images) Classified information was found in the 15 boxes of White House records that were stored at former President Donald Trump’s Mar-a-Lago residence, the National Archives and Records Administration said in a letter that confirmed the matter has been sent to the Justice Department.The Friday letter from the agency follows numerous reports around Trump's handling of sensitive and even classified information during his time as president and after he left the White House.

NEW ORLEANS - A New Orleans zoo has officially named its baby Sumatran orangutan: "Roux."The infant was born on Christmas Eve 2021 at the Audubon Zoo and has been getting round-the-clock care since a few days after his birth because Menari, a first-time mother, wasn’t producing enough milk. The Audubon Zoo said the name Roux paid homage to New Orleans and is a French term for "a reddish-brown like the color of an orangutan's fur and the thickening base used to make gumbo."The zoo's orangutan care team narrowed their selection of names to three — Rudy, Roux and Maymuun — and asked the public to vote on the winner."We are grateful to the community for helping us pick a name and extremely overwhelmed by the nearly 10K total votes that were cast," Audubon Zoo’s Curator of Primates Liz Wilson said in a statement. "Our team feels that Roux perfectly fits the newest member of our orangutan family and loves that it pays homage to his New Orleans roots." The great apes with long red hair are considered critically endangered by the International Union for Conservation of Nature.

CAPE CANAVERAL, Fla. - SpaceX launched another batch of 46 Starlink satellites into orbit on President's Day.The launch was supposed to happen on Sunday, but weather conditions in the recovery zone pushed it back. The Falcon 9 rocket successfully lifted off at 9:44 a.m.

Elderly and vulnerable people will be offered another booster jab by the government, following recommendations from the Joint Committee on Vaccination and Immunisation (JCVI).

COLOMBO (News 1st); Sri Lanka’s Irrigation Minister Chamal Rajapaksa has hinted that working hours should likely be changed as a solution to the morning traffic in Colombo and suburbs.He made these comments on Monday (21) after he was delayed by traffic in attending an event in Kaduwela.“I was delayed by 15 minutes to reach this location. The reason was the traffic and the congestion of vehicles on the road,” said the Minister adding that there needs to be a focus on reducing traffic ac well.He suggested that consideration needs to be given to travel convenience and work hour convenience, thereby reducing fuel consumption and protecting the foreign reserves.

Nicki Minaj has responded to the Philadelphia Public Health Department’s take on her viral COVID tweet from last year, where she expressed scepticism around the vaccine.The rapper originally discussed the COVID vaccine in a series of tweets posted on September 13. She started by replying to a Twitter user who noted Minaj had last appeared in public over a year ago.

In Rwanda, the ‘land of a thousand hills’, reaching the nearest health facility usually means a long walk that, until recently, took an average of 95 minutes. Although the walking time was halved to 47 minutes in 2020, it is still a challenge for many people to access health care in a timely manner. Through an innovative approach that brings greater numbers of health posts close to communities, the Government aims to further reduce walking time to under 25 minutes by 2024. The health posts serve as an interface between community health workers and health centres. Here, health workers provide essential primary care services and make referrals to hospitals for specialized services, ultimately strengthening the foundation of the health system and improving the way people receive the care they need. The health posts have also contributed to an effective national response to COVID-19, with communities still able to access basic care despite the crisis.

Covid-19 curbs in Maharashtra may be relaxed further in March as daily new cases continue to show a declining trend, said state health minister Rajesh Tope on Monday. 

Omicron BA.2 is more transmissible than the previously identified BA.1 subvariant, it will not cause another surge, the official asserted. 

Never miss a story! Stay connected and informed with Mint. Download our App Now!!

The Queen is reportedly set on continuing with her royal duties despite battling Covid-19 behind closed doors. Buckingham Palace confirmed that Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II, 95, caught the deadly bug on 20 February as they released a statement explaining that she's been experiencing "mild cold symptoms". While she remains in isolation as she recovers from the virus, the Queen will only cancel one face-to-face appointment and go ahead with her scheduled meetings over phone and video calls this week, according to the Daily Mail.

Photo courtesy of SpaceX CAPE CANAVERAL, Fla. - SpaceX will try and launch its next batch of 46 Starlink satellites into orbit on President's Day.The launch was supposed to happen on Sunday, but weather conditions in the recovery zone pushed it back. Monday's liftoff is scheduled for 9:44 a.m.

Queen contracting Covid after they beg her to “rest” after Buckingham Palace revealed she would continue “light duties”.Her Majesty, 95, is said to be experiencing mild cold-like symptoms and is currently self-isolating at Windsor Castle.However, officials at the Palace have worried users on Twitter after revealing she would continue working in some capacity.The announcement has led to many calling for the Queen to “rest” and to take a “duvet day”.Buckingham Palace said in a statement on Sunday: “Buckingham Palace confirm that The Queen has today tested positive for Covid.“Her Majesty is experiencing mild cold-like symptoms but expects to continue light duties at Windsor over the coming week.“She will continue to receive medical attention and will follow all the appropriate guidelines.The Queen is the latest member of the Royal Family to test positive for Covid following Prince Charles and Camilla, Duchess of Cornwall.One Twitter user said: “Oh come on, I'm no royalist but she's got Covid and she's bloody 95 years old, let the lass have a duvet day.”Another commented: “She’s 95 years old, with Covid and working. Surely our queen is allowed a few days off to rest! I was unmovable, wrapped in blankets sipping tea for days with Covid.”While another user said: “‘Light duties’.

Photo courtesy of SpaceX CAPE CANAVERAL, Fla. - SpaceX will try and launch its next batch of 46 Starlink satellites into orbit on President's Day.The launch was supposed to happen on Sunday, but weather conditions in the recovery zone pushed it back. Monday's liftoff is scheduled for 9:44 a.m.

FILE - Jamal Edwards poses on the red carpet on arrival for the BRIT Awards 2019 in London on Feb. 20, 2019.

COLOMBO (News 1st); The Public Utilities Commission of Sri Lanka on Monday (21) announced that 2-hour power cuts will be imposed on Tuesday (22).The power cuts will be between 4:30 PM & 10:30 PM from groups A, B, C, and 3 hours for other groups, said the Chairman of the PUCSL.Power-Interruption-Schedule-22-02-2022

The Pacific Highway border crossing in Surrey was open again on Sunday, but the second closure in as many weeks of the key link with the U.S. is raising questions about managing protests against COVID-19 measures. Kamil Karamali reports.

Emergencies Act helped end the Ottawa blockades, Public Safety Minister Marco Mendicino said on Sunday ahead of a House of Commons vote on the controversial measure.Conservatives, however, are highly critical of the government move and some are pushing the Liberals to revoke the act now that blockades that effectively shut the city down for more than three weeks appear to be over.There is one day left of debate on the government’s decision to invoke the act.MPs will vote on the motion Monday at 8 p.m. ET, and it is expected to pass with the joint support of the Liberals and NDP.

Covid-19 vaccine Covovax for the 12 to 17 year age group, reported PTI, quoting sources, on Monday. 

British Prime Minister Boris Johnson has postponed a cabinet meeting to have a security briefing and to finalise plans for the removal of all of remaining Covid-19 restrictions, his spokesman said.

MOSCOW – Spring is not turning out the way Russian President Vladimir Putin might have planned it.

Russian leader Vladimir Putin will use the coronavirus crisis to recruit an unknowing army of Western sleeper agents, an ex-spy chief has warned.

Vladimir Putin said Boris Johnson’s “energy, optimism and sense of humour” would help him defeat coronavirus.

Khabib Nurmagomedov has every right to be mad at the UFC over their handling of his showdown with Tony Ferguson, which has fallen through for a fifth time.

Russia would target a 1 million barrel-a-day cut in any new deal with other key oil producers, on condition the U.S. joins cuts, according to four people familiar with the sentiment in the industry.

Italy has accused Russia of sending spies "disguised as coronavirus doctors" in a fierce exchange of words.

WASHINGTON – An odd new front in the U.S.-Russian rivalry has emerged as a Russian military cargo plane bearing a load of urgently needed medical supplies landed this week at New York’s JFK airport.

Italy was engaged in a war of words with Russia over allegations Moscow hid spies among doctors it had sent to the country's coronavirus epicentre near Milan.

WASHINGTON – President Donald Trump said Thursday that he expects Saudi Arabia and Russia will end an oil war and dramatically cut production.

Russia has escaped the worst of the coronavirus pandemic according to official figures – but rumours have been circulating that President Vladimir Putin has disappeared from public view.

The outbreak of the coronavirus has dealt a shock to the global economy with unprecedented speed. Following are developments on Wedy related to the global economy, the work place and the spread of the virus.

Trump, speaking at the White House Tuesday, said he’s raised the issue in conversations with Russian President Vladimir Putin and Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman

NEW YORK (AP) - The U.S. death toll from the coronavirus climbed past 3,500 Tuesday, eclipsing China's official count, as New York's mammoth convention center started taking patients to ease the burden on the city's overwhelmed health system and the tennis center where the U.S. Open is held was being turned into a hospital.

MOSCOW : A doctor who gave Russian President Vladimir Putin a tour of Moscow's main coronavirus hospital last week said on Tuesday he had himself been diagnosed with the virus.

MOSCOW – The Russian capital, Moscow, on Monday woke up to a lockdown obliging most of its 13 million residents to stay home, and many other regions of the vast country quickly followed suit to stem the spread of the new coronavirus.

Russian President Vladimir Putin has called for fellow G20 countries to come together and lift sanctions on essential goods amid the coronavirus pandemic.