US Covid-19 deaths top 500,000 mark, and NASA releases audio recordings from Mars

*) Covid-19 deaths in the US top 500,000 mark

The US has passed the grim milestone of 500,000 coronavirus-related deaths and is also nearing 29 million infections.

President Joe Biden and Vice President Kamala Harris held a moment of silence at the White House to remember the victims.

Biden also ordered the US flag there to be flown at half-staff and said it was a heartbreaking moment for the country.

*) EU warns of sanctions for military as protests continue

Anti-coup protesters in Myanmar gather for another day of demonstrations against the military junta.

It comes after the EU warns that army-owned companies and generals may face tough sanctions after the military coup.

On Monday, the US sanctioned two more military officials.

*) El Chapo’s wife arrested in US

The wife of Mexican drug lord Joaquin ‘El Chapo' Guzman has been arrested at Washington DC's main airport on international drug trafficking charges.

The US Department of Justice says Emma Aispuro was taken into custody for participating in a conspiracy to distribute cocaine, meth, heroin and marijuana for importation into the US.

She's also accused of helping her husband escape from a Mexican prison in 2015.

*) Dozens of Boeing 777 planes grounded after engine failure issue

US aircraft manufacturer Boeing is recommending grounding all 777-model planes with the same type of engine that experienced failure over Denver on Saturday.

It says operations should be suspended until further inspections are carried out.

United Airlines and Japan's two main carriers have already stopped using planes with the same engine.

And finally…

*) NASA releases audio recordings from Mars

NASA scientists reveal first audio recordings from Mars, recorded by the Perseverance rover.

The rover landed on the Red Planet last week on a mission to find signs of life.

The recording was of a gust of wind.