Worldwide / 47

Rain heading our way for Sunday with temps in the 60s

December 29, 2019

That will help to keep temperatures from dropping to much. MONDAY: Light rain changing to snow showers, windy and colder. TODAY: Increasing clouds. Since then, the winter forecast has been updated to include the most recent prediction, which calls for milder temperatures along the B.C. coast and across much of Northern B.C.

Dlamini's arm broken in altercation with park rangers

December 29, 2019

According to Table Mountain National Park (TMNP), they stopped Dlamini because he had entered the Silvermine section without paying the conservation fee or having proof of activity permits. WorldTour team called SANParks to report the incident, to publicly apologize for the arrest, which was allegedly after Dlamini was forced to get off his bike at high speed, and to discipline the rangers involved.

512,000 more deaths than births this year in Japan

December 29, 2019

Meanwhile, the record low number of births has coincided with a record number of deaths. The estimate is 54,000 fewer than the actual number of births previous year. Marriage has also fallen by 3,000 year to year to 583,000 because many people in Japan postpone marriage for career opportunities or fear that they may not be able to afford a marriage and child.

Korea's Kim holds top party meeting ahead of United States deadline

December 29, 2019

Army base to the North Korean border. The alarm also came after Japan issued a false alert on Thursday saying that North Korea had fired a missile that landed in waters east of Japan's coastline, reports the Daily Mail . It covers more than 10 sq km and is home to several thousand United States troops. Those options could include everything from flights of bomber aircraft over the Korean Peninsula to quickly-called military drills of ground weapons.

More than 12 people hurt in blast at Kansas manufacturing plant

December 29, 2019

An investigation into the cause of the rupture is underway. Textron Aviation officials say everyone is accounted for and the plant was actually closed for the holidays so only a limited number of people were there. And earlier this month, Textron Aviation announced that it would lay off an unspecified number of workers , a lot of them in Wichita. "We are in the process of investigating the impact to Textron Aviation facilities", Textron Aviation said in a statement.

Australian volunteer firefighters could receive compensation for lost wages

December 29, 2019

Prime Minister Scott Morrison said payments of up to A$6,000 (RM17,237) would be available for eligible firefighters who had spent more than 10 days in the field this fire season. "What we are saying now, based on the conditions that will be confronting us tomorrow across the state, but in particular in East Gippsland, is that if you're holidaying in that part of the state, it's time that you left", Crisp said at a media conference on Sunday.

British authorities blinds and throws Elton John's handle on the road

December 29, 2019

A small number of the honours are in the Queen's personal gift. While the majority of honorees are locals who are being recognized for their work in their communities, several other celebrities were also included. Elton, who used to be given a CBE in 1995, can exhaust the post-nominal letters CH if he chooses, however the advise doesn't come with an additional title.

Somalia Bomb Death Toll Rises to at Least 80

December 29, 2019

The toll was likely to rise as scores of people were taken to hospitals, Ismail Mukhtar, a government spokesman, said . Security official Abdulahi Adan told the AFP news agency the blast came from a suicide bomb in a truck. However, Abdiqadir Abdirahman, director of the Aamin Ambulance service, said 61 people were killed in the attack. A soldier stands guard near wreckage of vehicles in Mogadishu after a auto bomb in Mogadishu, Somalia, Saturday, Dec.

Several Stabbed At Synagogue In New York, Says Jewish Affairs Group

December 29, 2019

Clips being circulated on social media show ambulances and security personal rushing to the site. Monsey is about 30 miles north of New York City . "I am deeply disturbed by the situation unfolding in Monsey, New York tonight", she tweeted. CBS New York reported that a man brandishing a machete attacked a Hanukkah celebration at the rabbi's property in Monsey - an area with a large population of ultra-Orthodox Jews.

‘Bipartisan acquittal for President Donald Trump in impeachment trial’

December 29, 2019

According to Biden, the subpoenas should instead "go to witnesses with testimony to offer to Trump's shaking down the Ukraine government -they should go to the White House ". House Speaker Nancy Pelosi, a California Democrat, has said she is waiting for the rules governing the trial to be set, expressing fairness concerns.

Japan to send warship, planes to Middle East to protect vessels

December 29, 2019

Japan imports almost 90 percent of its crude oil from the Middle East, and about 80 percent of it is transported through the Strait of Hormuz. Last Friday, Prime Minister Shinzo Abe explained the decision to send the MSDF units to the Middle East to Iranian President Hassan Rouhani , who was visiting Japan at the time.

Biden Says He Won't Testify In Possible Senate Impeachment Trial

December 29, 2019

With Biden and Sanders the only candidates to challenge Trump's physical might thus far, we can only speculate as to what the other 23 Democratic hopefuls have in store, and hope it's something spectacular - like sumo, or MMA, or a gladiatorial arena death-match.

Blumenthal: Some GOP 'have very severe misgivings' about McConnell impeachment strategy

December 29, 2019

A testimony before the Senate on this matter will divert attention from Trump and the charges against him, Biden told the Register on Friday. Biden said he had collaborated with all "legitimate Congressional supervision requests" for his 40 years in public life, but claimed that there was "no legal basis for republican subpoenas for my testimony in the impeachment court".

Vancouver forecast calls for seven straight days of rain

December 29, 2019

Partly cloudy with scattered showers arriving in the evening. Morning lows in the mid 20s. Scattered showers continue. Lows fall to around 40°. By the afternoon, skies should be bright and sunny. Sunday , Dec. 29 is predicted to be the warmest day of the week ahead with highs of 8 C and a possible break in the rain overnight. The system itself is looking to be lagging a little slower, so expect rain to enter in the morning on Sunday and exit by Monday morning.

Japanese Lawmaker Arrested for Receiving Bribes From China's 500.com

December 29, 2019

Asked about the impact of the arrest on the country's casino policy, he said the government "will steadily push ahead with it so that benefits from building IRs (integrated resorts) will be reaped as soon as possible". The three employees were also detained on Wednesday , prosecutors said. Japan's law allows for the establishment of three casino resorts, and Osaka , Yokohama and Tokyo are among the local governments seeking to attract a casino or considering doing so, according to the ...

'Civil war' among evangelicals is the last thing Trump needs

December 28, 2019

But, according to several prominent evangelicals who have always been critical of Trump , Christianity Today's editorial , and the subsequent fallout, was the moment at which a conflict within the evangelical community that had been bubbling up for at least three years - and, according to some, for decades - burst into the open.

Plane crash in Lafayette leaves 5 people dead

December 28, 2019

UPDATE: The Associated Press confirmed one of the people killed in the crash was the daughter-in-law of LSU offensive coordinator Steve Ensminger. Footage from the scene shows burning wreckage in a field. Witnesses told local media the small aircraft had hit a power line while trying to make an emergency landing. The plane crashed just after 9am local time.

Philippines bans two US senators from visiting

December 28, 2019

The Philippines has banned two United States lawmakers from visiting and will introduce tighter entry restrictions for U.S. citizens should Washington enforce sanctions over the detention of a top government critic, the president's spokesman said on Friday (Dec 27).

Armed forces very secular, says Army chief General Bipin Rawat

December 28, 2019

His comments drew sharp reactions from opposition leaders. General Rawat, who is due to retire on December 31, has spoken for the first time against the massive nationwide protests against the Citizenship Act. "It is not proper", Ramdas told PTI . No person shall deliver a lecture or wireless address, on a matter relating to a political question or on a service subject or containing any information or views on any service subject without the prior sanction of the Central Government or any ...

France Summons Iran's Ambassador Over Detention of Two French Academics

December 28, 2019

French researchers expressed concern in tweets and press comments. "As a result, I have been thrown into the high-security unit of the Revolutionary Guards' private prison within Evin and have been subjected to grievous violations of my legal and human rights, including psychological torture and spending prolonged periods of time in solitary confinement", she wrote in the letter addressed to the Australian prime minister.

Thailand cave rescuer dies after year-long blood infection

December 28, 2019

The rescue that captivated the world began in June of 2018 when the 12 boys from Wild Boars Academy and their coach Ekapol Chanthawong set out to explore the Tham Luang caves in Chiang Rai province. 17 months since the dramatic rescue of 12 boys and their soccer coach from the Tham Luamg Nang Non cave in northern Thailand, the incident has claimed its second victim-a Thai navy seal who was part of the rescue team.

"Ring Of Fire" Solar Eclipse is the Gift of Cosmos for Christmas

December 28, 2019

Avid nature enthusiasts keenly followed the eclipse even as experts warned against viewing the natural phenomenon with bare eyes and suggested specific instruments used for this objective. Along Singapore's harbor, hundreds of amateur astronomers watched Thursday's brief spectacle using special filters. According to Nur Fazilah Mohammad Hanafiah, who is Solarfest 2019 programme coordinator, the partial solar eclipse is expected to form and become visible in the Klang Valley starting 1.20pm ...

Rush hour auto bomb kills many in Somali capital

December 28, 2019

Dozens of wounded people were rushed to hospitals, including children. Among them were several university students who had been travelling in a bus, Hussein said. Government authorities have told medical personnel not to disclose figures as they have done in the past, and journalists are forbidden from going to attack sites.

Hong Kong protesters plan major rally on Jan 1

December 28, 2019

On the Kowloon Peninsula, the situation became more serious, as police fired rounds of tear gas at demonstrators. On Wednesday hundreds of activists marched through shopping centres shouting slogans such as "Liberate Hong Kong!" Christmas Eve night was anything but silent in Hong Kong as various members of the Hong Kong Police Force were dispersed to the Yoho Mall II in Yuen Long and Tsim Sha Tsui's Harbour City shopping center throughout the day and into the night.

A messy mix of winter weather targets Minnesota, slowing travel through Monday

December 28, 2019

As many travelers will be making their way home from holiday gatherings, the Nebraska Department of Transportation (NDOT) and Nebraska State Patrol (NSP) are urging motorists to be prepared for another round of winter weather. Therefore, Sunday will have a large temperature contrast across the state, from highs in the 20s in the northwest to near 50 in the southeast corner of the state.

'Bipartisan acquittal for Trump in impeachment trial'

December 28, 2019

There are plenty of ways the Senate's vote could go, but the most straightforward would still require every Democrat, and 20 more Republicans, to vote in favor of removal. Asked how he felt about going down in history as only the third president to be impeached, Trump quipped, "To me it doesn't feel like impeachment".

Japan executes first foreigner in 10 years in family murder

December 28, 2019

The men broke into the home of Matsumoto in Fukuoka, nearly 700 miles west of Tokyo , and strangled him and his two children, 8 and 11 years old, before drowning his wife in the bath. The country only began disclosing the names of executed inmates in 2007 - and since then, only one foreigner was named, a Chinese man hanged in 2009, according to the report .

At least 14 dead as plane with 98 people on board crashes

December 28, 2019

Almaty Airport said there were survivors in the crash and emergency services were working on site. Conflicting reports remain regarding the number of casualties, with medics reporting 15 dead, while the internal affairs ministry puts the figure at 12, including the plane's captain, Marat Muratbaev.

More than 235,000 flee northwest Syria violence

December 28, 2019

Donald Trump on Thursday urged Russia, Syria and Iran to stop bombing the providence of Idlib, echoing a Turkish demand for a ceasefire in the region. Turkish presidential spokesman Ibrahim Kalin said this week that Russian Federation will help trying to stop attacks in Idlib after talks with a Turkish delegation in Moscow .

15 suspected migrants brought to shore

December 27, 2019

Border Force was alerted to the small vessels heading towards the United Kingdom coast at around 1.30am on Thursday, the Home Office said. Two other boats carrying 14 more migrants were dealt with by French authorities. An RNLI lifeboat was launched from Dover shortly before midnight on Christmas Day. The Home Office said patrols on French beaches had doubled and drones, specialist vehicles and detection equipment have been deployed to deter crossings.

Tour Helicopter Goes Missing With 7 Onboard Off Hawaii Coast

December 27, 2019

Those onboard are a pilot and six passengers, the report said. A Coast Guard statement says the helicopter's owner contacted officials about 45 minutes after it was due back from a tour of Kauai's Na Pali Coast on Thursday evening. Further searches with a search-and-rescue airplane and fresh helicopter crew have been scheduled for first light, should they still be required. The forecast includes scattered rain showers and continued winds at around 23 miles per hour causing 6-foot waves, ...

Opponents of Putin raided in crackdown by Kremlin

December 27, 2019

Allies said Navalny, who was barred from running in a presidential election against Vladimir Putin previous year, had been due to present his own show, which is critical of the authorities, on his online TV channel later on Thursday. On Tuesday, he resurfaced at a secret air defense base on the remote Novaya Zemlya archipelago in the Arctic Ocean, Navalny said. Authorities have been steadily ramping up stress on Navalny and his allies in recent times with common searches and brief jail ...

ISIS claims execution of 11 Christians in Nigeria

December 27, 2019

DAILY POST had reported that the victims had appealed to President Muhammadu Buhari and the leadership of the Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN) to rescue them . ISWAP had reportedly opened a window of negotiations ostensibly to exchange the freedom of the captives with those of its members in government custody but the Nigerian government failed to take the offer".

Years On; Behind the Catastrophic Aceh Tsunami and natural disaster

December 27, 2019

Aceh was the hardest hit as it was the closest to the epicentre. People pray to mark the 15th anniversary when an natural disaster and resulting tsunami killed at least 170,000 people in Indonesia, at a cemetery containing mass graves in Ulee Lheue, Banda Aceh, on December 26, 2019.

Valparaiso Fires May Have Been Set Intentionally, Says Chilean President

December 27, 2019

Agriculture Minister Antonio Walker said the high temperatures at the height of the Southern Hemisphere summer, which runs from December to March, and dry conditions caused by a historic drought now blighting Chile had provided fertile ground for the fire.

Iran internet 'disrupted' ahead of Thursday protests

December 27, 2019

ILNA said worldwide connections would be limited in the provinces of Alborz , Fars, Kordestan and Zanjan, and that this was likely to be increased to include others. the repeat of armed action against the people". In a Twitter post , U.S. Secretary of State Mike Pompeo said: "The U.S. strongly denounces the arrest of Pouya Bakhtiari's parents, and calls for their immediate release".

Bruce Lee's daughter sues fast food chain for using father's image

December 27, 2019

She wants the chain to stop using her father's image, publish statements for 90 consecutive days that it has nothing to do with Bruce Lee, and pay compensation of 210 million yuan (S$41 million). So far, the most high-profile trademark case between a Western celebrity and a Chinese company has been the suit from United States basketball player Michael Jordan against Fujian-based sportswear firm Qiaodan Sports.

Brazilian President Bolsonaro Taken to Hospital After Fall

December 27, 2019

Brazil President Jair Bolsonaro fell at his presidential residence in the capital Brasilia on Monday and was taken to a hospital for a scan, according to a statement, Reuters reports. The president has undergone four surgeries to treat the stab wounds, most recently in September. "The knife wound together with age is a unsafe mixture", he mentioned.

China, Russia and Iran to hold joint naval drills Friday

December 27, 2019

On Thursday, Chinese Defense Ministry spokesman Wu Qian said the drill would deepen exchange and cooperation between the navies of the three countries. The Iranian TV also said the drill shows that Iran is not isolated, despite the USA withdrawal from the 2015 nuclear deal with world powers and the Trump administration's escalated sanctions on Iran.

Earthquakes rattle northern Vancouver Island on Christmas Day

December 27, 2019

December 18, according to the U.S. The latest quakes registered as magnitudes 3.6 and 4.9. The second, a 5.6 hit at 11:13am, the third was a 5.8 at 11:49am, and the fourth, which came in at 6.0, was detected at 12:56pm. "So major earthquakes are no stranger to this area". "It is a very complex area in which these tectonic plates that make up the surface of the earth move apart, slide past each other and also collide, and all in the same general area".

American service member killed in action in Afghanistan

December 27, 2019

At least seven Afghan soldiers were killed when the Taliban attacked their base Tuesday, the latest brazen assault in Afghanistan's north, where local and global forces are bracing for violent months ahead. He deployed to Afghanistan March through October 2007 and May 2008 through January 2009; Argentina in 2009; Guatemala in 2010; and Colombia in 2011. Names of service members are withheld until the family is notified.

Brazilian far-right group claims Molotov attack on 'gay Jesus' troupe

December 27, 2019

A group identifying itself as "Popular National Insurgency Command of the Large Brazilian Integralist Family", began circulating a video on Christmas day, saying it attacked the comedy troupe's offices in Rio de Janeiro. " Porta dos Fundos would like to reinforce our commitment to good humor and declare that we will move on stronger, more united, inspired, and confident that Brazil will survive this storm of hatred, and love will prevail along with freedom of speech".

Iran natural disaster: 5.1-magnitude quake hits near Bushehr nuclear plant

December 27, 2019

A 5.1 magnitude natural disaster struck Iran on Wednesday, according to the United States Geological Survey. A quake of 4.9 magnitude can cause moderate damage. In 2003, a magnitude 6.6 quake in Kerman province killed 31,000 people and flattened the ancient city of Bam. Pictured, the interior of Iran's sole nuclear plant in Bushehr.

Rockfield United Methodist Church gives a Christmas meal to the community

December 27, 2019

Pope celebrated a solemn Christmas Eve Mass in St. Peter's Basilica for thousands of people as hundreds of others watched on large screens outside. The diners aren't the only ones getting something positive out of the event, one longtime volunteer said.

Queen urges 'small steps' to 'rebuild trust' in her Christmas address

December 27, 2019

Ms Thunberg, whose solo protest outside Sweden's Parliament swelled into a global movement, was named Time Magazine's Person of the Year for 2019. Dressed in a bright red outfit, she arrived in a vehicle accompanied by her daughter-in-law Camilla, the wife of Prince Charles , for the 11 a.m.

Plane with 100 on board crashes in Kazakhstan

December 27, 2019

Seven people have so far been recorded as dead, but there are also survivors and emergency services are now working at the site. The plane appears to have lost altitude before crashing through a fence and hitting a two-storey building. There was no fire upon impact. The rescuers were dispatches to the scene immediately. People can be heard calling for help in videos of the crash site posted online.

Turkish Constitutional Court Rules Wikipedia Ban Violates Freedom of Speech

December 27, 2019

The ruling opens the way for lifting the website ban. "We join the people of Turkey , and the millions of readers and volunteers who rely on Wikipedia around the world, to welcome this important recognition for universal access to knowledge", the foundation said in its statement .

Mexico appeals to ICJ over diplomatic row with Bolivia

December 27, 2019

The government will submit a complaint to the International Court of Justice , a United Nations body based in the Hague, claiming Bolivia is violating diplomatic norms by surrounding its embassy with security forces, Mexican Foreign Minister Marcelo Ebrard said.

Trump warns Russia, Syria, Iran against killing civilians in Idlib

December 27, 2019

A reported escalation in strikes in the Idlib Province carried out by Russian and Syrian forces in December alone has killed dozens of innocent civilians and displaced tens of thousands of people, many of whom reportedly have sought safety in Turkey.

Avalanche at Swiss ski resort buries 'a number' of skiers

December 27, 2019

Local reports have indicated that 6 skiers were rescued from the snow by the afternoon, all of them of Swiss nationality, where two were airlifted to hospital by helicopter. Two of them were rescued with minor injuries, the other four could dig themselves out of the snow or could quickly be helped by others. The affected slope runs from the Schneehüenerstock mountain peak to the Oberalp Pass.

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