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Turkey: MPs approval of Libya military deal provokes USA unease

December 23, 2019

There are reports that Russian mercenaries are fighting alongside Khalifa's army and the USA - which has signed military cooperation deals with Greece although President Donald Trump backs Turkey - is anxious the conflict in Libya will escalate.

80 killed in clashes between Syrian troops, rebels

December 23, 2019

The Syrian government has repeatedly vowed to take it back under control. Thousands of people have fled to the Turkish border from the last big opposition stronghold in northwestern Syria because of an intensified bombardment by Russian forces and the Syrian army, residents and rescue workers said on Friday.

Top US Military General Pushes Back on Washington Post’s Afghanistan Reports

December 23, 2019

Milley contrasted the Post's expose on Afghanistan with the 1970s "Pentagon Papers", which revealed secret documents on the government's consistently gloom views on Vietnam. Blackburn said the Post's reporting "raised serious questions about the trustworthiness of an agency that has guided policy in Afghanistan for two decades".

China Says US Defence Act 'blatantly Interfered' in Its Affairs

December 23, 2019

China on Saturday voiced strong dissatisfaction and resolute opposition to negative clauses on Taiwan, Hong Kong and Xinjiang in the US 2020 National Defense Authorization Act. Many residents are upset by what they see as Chinese interference in the freedoms promised to the former British colony when it returned to Chinese rule in 1997.

West African nations to reform, rename joint French-backed currency

December 23, 2019

The West African Economic and Monetary Union has agreed with France to a number of changes to the CFA franc currency, including a new name, Ivory Coast's President Alassane Ouattara said Saturday, as the West African bloc inches closer to a split from the French-backed currency.

Don't sign China trade deal unless Canadians freed, Trudeau tells US

December 23, 2019

When asked how U.S. officials responded to Trudeau's request, Champagne said the Canadian government's "solemn commitment" was to use all available means to demand the immediate release of Kovrig and Spavor. Meng is accused of lying to banks about the company's dealing with Iran in violation of USA trade sanctions. Former diplomat Michael Kovrig and businessman Michael Spavor have been held in China's opaque legal system since they were apprehended on December 10 a year ago, accused of ...

Las Vegas apartment complex fire kills 6, injures 13

December 23, 2019

Szymanski said at 4:13 a.m. firefighters responded to a two-alarm fire at the Alpine Motel Apartments, where they found residents hanging and jumping from second-floor windows, and trying to escape using sheets . Because of the soot throughout the building, "none of those people will be able to go back into the building", Szymanski said. Officials later said that seven people were taken to the hospital, five of whom were in "critical" condition.

Traffic at a stand still after multi-vehicle crash in York Co

December 23, 2019

Officials say there was ice on the bridge and heavy fog in the area at the time of the crash. At this time, injuries range from minor to life-threatening. Mr Levy said the vehicle his wife had been driving was a Christmas gift. Fortunately, Levy was able to stop his vehicle and pull over before getting involved in the pile-up.

Australian firefighters access badly burnt towns; PM defends climate policies

December 23, 2019

Several new fires broke out to scores of blazes that have been burning for several days across New South Wales (NSW) state. In a media blitz this morning, the Prime Minister stood firm against ramping up Australia's climate change commitments after meeting with NSW fire crews and opening the door for compensation for volunteers fighting the almost 200 blazes across the nation.

Ethiopia launches first satellite with Chinese help

December 23, 2019

Scores of Ethiopian and Chinese officials and scientists gathered at the Entoto Observatory and Research Centre outside the capital, Addis Ababa , early Friday to watch a live broadcast. Another eight satellites, including wide-range, multi-spectral, and remote-sensing were launched into orbit by the same rocket. Paulos Alemayehu from the Ethiopian Space Science Technology Institute (ESSTI) said; "You know, this is a very poor country".

US sanctions cannot stop gas pipeline to Europe - Russia FM

December 23, 2019

The sanctions , included in the massive defense authorization bill Trump signed into law Friday night, target AllSeas Group , a Swiss company that is only weeks away from laying the final portion of the $11 billion Nord Stream 2 pipeline, running 760 miles under the Baltic Sea between Russian Federation and Germany .

Anti-CAA stir: Death toll in UP violence rises to 15

December 23, 2019

The child was buried amid tight police security on Saturday morning. Police banned public gatherings in parts of the Indian capital and other cities for a third day and cut internet services to try to stop growing protests against a new citizenship law that have left 14 people dead and more than 4000 detained.

Wine Wars: Warren's Debate Attack Dredged Up Her Own Boozy Fundraiser

December 23, 2019

Warren - who has eschewed fundraisers with top-dollar donors during her presidential bid as she instead focuses almost entirely on small-dollar grassroots contributions - slammed Buttigieg for holding big bucks fundraisers. His campaign has said he doesn't exclusively rely on big-dollar donations and has received an outpouring of small donations averaging $32 during the last three-month reporting period.

First Alert Weather: Bright and mild end to the weekend

December 23, 2019

Given the abundant moisture available from the Gulf, some periods of heavy rain are possible Sunday . We stay dry through late next week. Northerly winds 10-20 miles per hour will make for a raw and nasty day. Afternoon conditions should be pretty good with partly cloudy skies developing. Christmas will consist of more sunshine as high pressure slides in.

13 people injured following shooting at house party in Chicago

December 23, 2019

The shooting started inside following a dispute inside the South Side house, with more shots fired as people fled for their lives - with police saying more than one gunman was involved. He continued: "So this is how we remember??? Anywhere else in the Country this is a Mass Shooting, in Chicago it's just Another Shooting". That is 248 fewer than 2018 and is the third straight year of significant decline in the numbers, with the improvement being felt across the city, including in high-crime ...

Narendra Modi defends new citizenship law as protests rage across India

December 23, 2019

The police used batons and tear gas to disperse the crowds at Parivartan Chowk in Lucknow. Internet and text messaging services were suspended by government order for four hours in parts of Delhi, mobile carriers said , widening a communications clampdown in restive areas stretching from disputed Kashmir to the northeast.

Emails show Trump asked about Ukraine aid before Zelenskiy call

December 23, 2019

Officials were anxious about the hold from the start, Public Integrity reports . "Given the sensitive nature of the request, I appreciate your keeping that information closely held to those who need to know to execute direction". "Until we hear from the witnesses, until we get the documents, the American people will correctly assume that those blocking their testimony were aiding and abetting a cover up, plain and simple", Mr Schumer added.

13 people shot at house party in Chicago

December 23, 2019

The shooting victims range in age from 16 to 48-years-old, police said. "It's a chaotic scene", Chicago Police Chief of Patrol Fred Waller tells the Chicago Sun-Times. "If you have a magic bullet to stop the violence anywhere, not just in Chicago but in America, then please, share it with us", he said once in response to the president.

Space Force: Donald Trump forms new military service... for space!

December 23, 2019

In his address, Trump said the military was "very depleted" and suffering "devastating budget cuts" before he came to office - and described the funding as a "watershed event". Military systems in space provide crucial information to the troops. At the launch of Space Force Donald Trump said: "Amid grave threats to our national security, American superiority in space is absolutely vital".

Impeachment trial plans in disarray as Congress heads home

December 23, 2019

Nixon was investigated for about 14 months and the special counsel probe into President Bill Clinton went on for years. "But I look at her, and she's so honest, and what happens?" House Speaker Nancy Pelosi said on Thursday she will not send the case to the Senate until she gets a sense of the trial's parameters, comments seen as an effort to win concessions for Democrats who want high-profile witnesses who might embarrass Trump to testify.

Congress, urban Naxals spreading rumours over CAA, NRC: PM Modi

December 23, 2019

The total number of people killed has reached at least 23 since violence broke out over the Citizenship Amendment Act that was voted through government last week , and that shows no sign of abating. Modi slammed the Congress and " urban Naxals " for spreading rumours about the new law. Guha was released from police custody after being detained for protesting against the law in the southern city of Bengaluru .

Global prosecutor preparing to open Palestinian probe

December 23, 2019

The ICC's chief prosecutor, Fatou Bensouda , said a preliminary examination into alleged war crimes , opened in 2015, had provided enough information to meet all criteria for opening an investigation. "The ICC prosecutor's decision has turned the International Criminal Court into a political tool to delegitimise the State of Israel", he stated. Israel also considers East Jerusalem , which it regards as its sovereign territory, as outside the court's mandate.

13 shot at memorial party for shooting victim in Chicago

December 23, 2019

This latest shooting brings the weekend gun violence total in Chicago to 34 people injured and 4 people fatally shot, according to the Chicago Tribune's crime team. Fox News reports that the wounded ranged in age from 16 to 48 and police indicate there were multiple shooters. Four of the victims, including a 16-year-old, were hospitalized in critical condition.

Iowa woman runs down teen with vehicle because she was Mexican

December 23, 2019

On December 9, Natalia Miranda, 14, was walking on the sidewalk to the school when she was hit by a vehicle that left the road. The teenager, who is not named in reports because she is a minor, told Des Moines' KCCI that she was walking on a footpath on her way to a basketball game when she was ambushed by the auto.

Donald Trump responds to potential Senate impeachment delay, demands 'immediate trial'

December 23, 2019

Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell - a Republican from Kentucky - and Schumer have been at an impasse over the issue of new testimony, leaving open the possibility of a protracted delay until the articles are delivered. In the House, the vote to impeach on this charge passed by 230 votes to 197, nearly completely on party lines. The trial will pit Mr Trump against one of a field of Democratic contenders, including Mr Biden, who have repeatedly criticised Mr Trump's conduct in office.

North Korea: US will 'pay dearly' for criticising our human rights record

December 22, 2019

Earlier in December, Pyongyang had ominously threatened to send the USA a "Christmas gift". Lewis told CNN that North Korea in the past has been forced to import the heavy-duty chassis strong enough to transport massive missiles. But negotiations stalled this year after the US rejected North Korean demands for broad sanctions relief in exchange for a partial surrender of the North's nuclear capabilities at Kim's second summit with Trump last February.

Ex-CEO jailed after 35 workers took own lives

December 22, 2019

One 32-year-old female employee did later hurl herself to her death from a fifth-floor window. The ruling was a landmark because it sets a precedent for big business and could pave the way for other similar collective procedures in France, said French media.

Twitter suspends over 88,000 accounts linked to Saudi Arabia

December 22, 2019

For your information, let us tell you that even before that, Twitter had suspended some Twitter accounts of Saudi Arabia. The accounts used "inauthentic" and "coordinated" activity to spread the word, including replying, retweeting and liking pro-Saudi messages.

Australian prime minister apologizes for going on holiday amid wildfire emergency

December 22, 2019

A southerly change swept through fire-affected areas, spreading the blazes and making them behave erratically. Cartes was told to leave two days ago, but has stayed behind to defend his property as the fire front on Thursday destroyed most of his fence.

Son of Russian spies feels 'relief' to be Canadian

December 22, 2019

He was conceived in Canada, and until their capture he accepted his folks were Canadian as well. Vavilov said he and his brother were relieved that the Supreme Court decision recognized their citizenship rights and validated the Canadian identity they had grown up with.

2 dead, 2 hurt in shooting at municipal building

December 22, 2019

The shooter and the deceased victim had a "longstanding dislike for each other", Winston-Salem Police Captain Steven Tollie said. A police officer with the Winston-Salem Police Department responds to the Joycelyn V. "I just followed suit". 'I didn't know what was happening so I just kind of got out of the way until I could ascertain what was going on, ' he added.

Twitter removes 88000 accounts tied to Saudi Arabia disinformation

December 22, 2019

Twitter said its investigation traced the fake activity back to Smaat , which it said managed a range of accounts for unnamed "high-profile individuals" and government departments. He also arrested and imprisoned Twitter users. Last month, two former Twitter employees were charged with acting as agents of Saudi Arabia without registering with the U.S.

Massachusetts police therapy dog caught hoarding charity drive toys

December 22, 2019

The police department posted the video on their public Facebook page with a message to their followers. "When the officer followed him, he realised Ben had a number of plush toys under there". Keep the toys elevated If not, a golden retriever will slowly hoard them throughout the day and bring them back to his lair. When a couple of toys went missing, officers quickly identified a suspect and caught him in the act on camera.

President Trump accepts Pelosi's invitation to deliver State of the Union Address

December 22, 2019

Trump is very unlikely to be convicted and removed from office by the upper chamber of Congress because it is controlled by his Republican Party. "I want an immediate trial!" he wrote. The senators would join their colleagues to act as jurors during in the trial. Republicans have said they would vote to exonerate the president. But it's unclear how long a trial would take.

Ukraine, Russia make preliminary deal on gas transit, - Šefčovič

December 22, 2019

Russian Federation and Ukraine have reached an agreement in principle on a new gas transit contract, European Commission Vice-President Maros Sefcovic said here on Thursday evening. The parties are now in talks to sign a new contract. Russian Federation and Ukraine have agreed to continue to send gasoline through Ukraine to Europe for a further five years.

Queen to open British parliament after Boris Johnson election victory

December 22, 2019

The 2016 Brexit campaign was also dominated by debates over migrants and Britain's right to control its frontiers. Boris Johnson's healthy majority meant the EU Withdrawal Agreement Bill passed its second reading easily, but it was also backed by six Labour MPs.

The Winter Solstice is Tomorrow

December 22, 2019

The exact moment of solstice occurs at 11:19 p.m. EST (0419 GMT on December 22), according to the Farmer's Almanac . These solstices only happen twice a year. We may have less daylight than we'd like during this time of year, but we have it good compared with those farther north. Tonight may be the longest night of the year - but then nights will begin getting shorter for the next six months.

'NRC to be smooth, no Indian to be deprived of citizenship'

December 22, 2019

New Delhi's Jamia Millia Islamia university has witnessed an equally vicious assault by the heavily-armed police, who come directly under Mr Shah's command. Almost 2 million people were excluded from an official list of citizens, about half Hindu and half Muslim, and have been asked to prove their citizenship or else be considered foreign.

North Korea warns USA for human rights criticism

December 22, 2019

Chinese Vice Foreign Minister Luo Zhaohui and USA special envoy for North Korea Stephen Biegun met in the Chinese capital on Thursday and exchanged views on achieving denuclearization on the Korean Peninsula in stages, China's foreign ministry said.

Graham Says Pelosi Delaying Impeachment Articles in Senate Amounts to ‘Constitutional Extortion’

December 22, 2019

This makes Trump only the third president in US history to be impeached . "To be sure, if the House just never sends its articles of impeachment to the Senate, there can be no trial there". Betting on whether Trump would be impeached began shortly after his election in November 2016, with novelty betting sites around the world taking wagers on whether it would happen.

India's Modi holds security talks as protests rage over citizenship law - global

December 22, 2019

Two people were killed in southern Mangalore city and one in Uttar Pradesh's capital Lucknow due to gunshots but the protests continued a day after. This protest is not only about Muslims but the whole country. It's a good rallying point for the opposition because it is "a battle for liberal and democratic values", said Asaduddin Owaisi, a lawmaker and president of the All India Majlis-e-Ittehadul Muslimeen party.

"No Interest": S Jaishankar On "Cancelled US Meet" With Pramila Jayapal

December 22, 2019

Congresswoman Jayapal had moved Resolution 745 in Congress on Dec 6, 2019 against Indian atrocities in occupied Kashmir. Indian External Affairs Minister Subrahmanyam Jaishankar arrived here on Thursday for a two-day visit. Many from India's diplomatic corps are surprised that Jaishankar has cancelled the meeting despite being privy to the innards of Capitol Hill and to how the US Congress works.

Britain’s new parliament votes on Boris Johnson’s Brexit deal

December 22, 2019

Prime Minister Boris Johnson won approval for his Brexit deal in parliament on Friday, the first step toward fulfilling his election pledge to deliver Britain's departure from the European Union by January 31 after his landslide victory.

Sarah Sanders apologizes for tweet mocking Biden's stutter

December 22, 2019

Biden has repeatedly spoken about working to overcome his boyhood stutter to become an effective public speaker, such as in a recent profile in The Atlantic that explored whether any remnants of his stutter could be emerging during the Democratic debates .

If US wants cease fire, it should sign peace MoU: Taliban official

December 22, 2019

Five U.S. soldiers were slightly injured. "I believe we can responsibly reduce our forces-if the number 8,600 is chosen it's a good decision, it is not a threat to American national security, to go below that I believe would have to be substantial change-a peace agreement that's real, that would stand the test of time", said Graham.

17-Year-Old Sneaks onto Plane and Crashes it at Fresno Airport

December 22, 2019

Authorities found the 17-year-old seated in the pilot's seat of the plane, still wearing the pilot's headset. It remains unclear how the teen, who reportedly does not know how to drive a auto, was able to start the aircraft . The suspect's mother told KFSN that before the incident, she had not seen or heard from her daughter since Tuesday night. Police said she appeared disoriented.

Weather warning issued for dense fog

December 22, 2019

Do not forget to switch off your fog lights when visibility improves. "Don't use your high-beam headlights because all that does is reflect the light back". "There's a risk of extensive fog tonight and into tomorrow morning", said Brian Farrell from the RSA. Later in the night, shower will spread from the west and this should clear most of the fog.

Facial Recognition Software Has a Bias, New Government Report Finds

December 22, 2019

Translation: The algorithms misidentified people of color more than white people. But this report shows that the face recognition industry is breakthrough from the ground up. It said Microsoft had nearly ten times more "false positives" for women of colour than men of colour in one-to-many tests. People walk past a poster simulating facial recognition software at the Security China 2018 exhibition on public safety and security in Beijing, China October 24, 2018.

Driver Crashes Into Sarasota Airport Terminal

December 22, 2019

The last plane of the night had landed about 20 minutes earlier so the airport was quiet, said airport CEO Rick Piccolo. Police say the driver was a 40-year-old man Juan Monsivis, who sustained serious injuries in the crash and is being treated at Sarasota Memorial Hospital.

Airlines liable for hot drink spills, says European Union court

December 22, 2019

Schrems, a law student had earlier successfully fought against the EU's previous "Safe Harbour" privacy rules back in 2015. But in a blow to privacy advocates, Henrik Saugmandsgaard Øe , recommend general to the European Court docket of Justice, sided with Facebook and other companies by deeming their transfer of files in one other nation electronically as honest.

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