Briefly

UNITED STATES

Asian Americans get Biden's ear with pick

US President Joe Biden on Wednesday named Erika Moritsugu, a Capitol Hill veteran and vice-president of a women's rights advocacy group, as his liaison to the Asian American and Pacific Islander community. Biden committed to creating a senior-level role focused on the AAPI community after he received criticism from Democratic senators. Moritsugu is the vice-president of the National Partnership for Women &Families. She also served in the administration of Barack Obama.

Hunt for 12 in wake of deadly ship sinking

Coast Guard boats and aircraft have covered an area larger than the state of Rhode Island to search for 12 people still missing on Wednesday off the Louisiana coast after their offshore oilfield vessel capsized in hurricane-force winds. One worker's body was recovered on Wednesday and six people were rescued after the Seacor Power overturned on Tuesday afternoon in the Gulf of Mexico. The search had covered more than 3,730 square kilometers of Gulf waters by Wednesday afternoon. Coast Guard Captain Will Watson said earlier that winds were 130 to 145 kilometers per hour when the lift boat overturned.

UNITED NATIONS

Tigray put before Security Council

The United Nations Security Council was set to meet on Thursday to discuss the crisis in Ethiopia's northern Tigray region following a US request. The 15 Security Council members will hear from UN Humanitarian Chief Mark Lowcock, who will talk about the difficulties in getting aid to refugees, according to the UN. In early March, Lowcock called for Eritrea to withdraw its troops from Tigray, in the first recognition by a UN official of Eritrea's involvement in the fighting there.

Agencies Via Xinhua